Purpose: Rule 4 covers the equipment that you may use during your round. Based on the principle that golf is a challenging game in which success should depend on your judgment, skills and abilities, you:
You must use a club that conforms to the requirements in the Equipment Rules.
If your conforming club is damaged during your round or while play is stopped, you may continue to make strokes with the damaged club for the rest of the round, or have your club repaired by restoring it as nearly as possible to its condition before the damage happened.
See Full Rules For more information on restrictions in repairing damage and deliberate changing of a club's performance characteristics.
Penalty for Making Stroke in Breach of Rule 4.1a: Disqualification.
You must not start a round with more than 14 clubs or have more than 14 clubs during the round.
If you start a round with fewer than 14 clubs, you may add clubs during the round up to the 14-club limit.
When you become aware that you are in breach of this Rule by having more than 14 clubs, you must immediately take the excess club or clubs out of play, using the procedure in Rule 4.1c.
See Full Rules For more information on sharing, adding or replacing clubs, including the limited Exception when you did not cause the damage.
Penalty for Breach of Rule 4.1b: The penalty applies based on when you become aware of the breach:
Penalty in Match Play - Match Score Revised by Deducting Hole, Maximum of Two Holes:
Penalty in Stroke Play - Two Penalty Strokes, Maximum of Four Strokes: You get the general penalty (two penalty strokes) for each hole where a breach happened, with a maximum of four penalty strokes in the round (adding two penalty strokes at each of the first two holes where a breach happened).
When you become aware during a round that you have more than 14 clubs or made a stroke with another player's club, you must immediately take an action that clearly indicates each club that you are taking out of play (such as by advising another player or turning the club upside down in your bag).
Penalty for Not Taking Immediate Action to Indicate Each Club that You are Taking Out of Play: Disqualification.
See Full Rules For information on taking a club out of play shortly before you start your round.
You must use a ball that conforms to the requirements in the Equipment Rules. You may get a conforming ball to play from anyone else, including another player on the course.
You must not make a stroke at a ball whose performance characteristics have been deliberately altered.
Penalty for Making Stroke in Breach of Rule 4.2a: Disqualification.
If you reasonably believe that your ball has been cut or cracked while playing a hole, you may lift it to check. First, you must mark the spot of the ball and then lift it without cleaning it (except on the putting green).
If you lift your ball without having this reasonable belief, fail to mark the spot of the ball before lifting it, or clean it when not allowed, you get one penalty stroke.
You may only substitute another ball (by replacing it on the original spot) if it can be clearly seen that your original ball is cut or cracked and this damage happened during the hole you are playing – but not if it is only scratched or scraped or its paint is only damaged or discoloured.
Penalty for Playing Incorrectly Substituted Ball or Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Rule 4.2c: General Penalty.
Rule 4.3 applies to all types of equipment that you might use during your round.
This Rule only concerns how you use equipment. It does not limit the equipment that you may have with you during a round.
You may use equipment to help your play during a round, except that you must not create a potential advantage by:
See Full Rules For common examples of uses of equipment that are allowed and not allowed during your round, such as the use of equipment to measure distance or wind conditions, the use of a device to provide club recommendations or the use of a training aid.
See Full Rules For information on requesting the use of equipment for medical reasons and the factors the Committee should consider.
Penalty for Breach of Rule 4.3:
The specifications and other regulations for clubs, balls and other equipment that you are allowed to use during a round. The Equipment Rules are found at RandA.org/EquipmentStandards.
A form of play where you or your side plays directly against an opponent or opposing side in a head-to-head match of one or more rounds.
The specifications and other regulations for clubs, balls and other equipment that you are allowed to use during a round. The Equipment Rules are found at RandA.org/EquipmentStandards.
The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee. The boundary edge extends both up above the ground and down below the ground.
To show the spot where a ball is at rest by either placing a ball-marker right behind or right next to the ball, or holding a club on the ground right behind or right next to the ball.
The area on the hole you are playing that is specially prepared for putting, or the Committee has defined as the putting green (such as when a temporary green is used).
To show the spot where a ball is at rest by either placing a ball-marker right behind or right next to the ball, or holding a club on the ground right behind or right next to the ball.
To change the ball you are using to play a hole by having another ball become your ball in play.
To change the ball you are using to play a hole by having another ball become your ball in play.
Any place on the course other than where you are required or allowed to play your ball under the Rules.
Anything used, worn, held or carried by you or your caddie. Objects used for the care of the course, such as rakes, are equipment only while they are being held or carried by you or your caddie.
Anything used, worn, held or carried by you or your caddie. Objects used for the care of the course, such as rakes, are equipment only while they are being held or carried by you or your caddie.
Anything used, worn, held or carried by you or your caddie. Objects used for the care of the course, such as rakes, are equipment only while they are being held or carried by you or your caddie.
Anything used, worn, held or carried by you or your caddie. Objects used for the care of the course, such as rakes, are equipment only while they are being held or carried by you or your caddie.
Anything used, worn, held or carried by you or your caddie. Objects used for the care of the course, such as rakes, are equipment only while they are being held or carried by you or your caddie.
Anything used, worn, held or carried by you or your caddie. Objects used for the care of the course, such as rakes, are equipment only while they are being held or carried by you or your caddie.