Rules · Tip
How to Mark and Lift Your Ball
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Under Rule 14.1, mark your ball's spot before lifting it if you'll put it back there. Set a marker just behind or beside it, or rest a club on the ground at the spot. After you put the ball back, pick up the marker before you play. Lifting without marking, marking wrong or hitting with the marker still down costs one stroke. You don't need to mark when taking relief. Only you, or someone you allow each time, can lift your ball. Your caddie can lift it on the green.
Step by step
- Put a marker behind or beside the ball.
- Or rest a club there.
- Lift the ball.
- Replace it, then take the marker away.
- Give permission each time someone else lifts it.
Why it works
The ball's spot is what you must return to, and a marker records that spot exactly. If the spot is not recorded, you cannot put the ball back in the same place, so the rules treat it as a breach. Picking up the marker before you play removes anything that could touch your club or ball during the stroke.
Common mistakes
- You lift the ball before putting anything down.Place the marker first, then lift, every time you plan to replace the ball.
- You put the marker down in a different spot, such as a club-head away from the ball.Set the marker directly behind or beside the ball so it sits at the exact spot.
- You replace the ball and then putt with the marker still on the ground.Pick up the marker right after you replace the ball and before you take your stance.
How you'll know it's working
- The marker sits right against the ball's edge before you lift it.
- The ball goes back into the same spot and the marker is gone before you set up.
- You can say who is allowed to lift your ball and that you gave permission each time.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice on a putting green with one ball and a flat coin, and say each step aloud as you do it.
Harder: Practice with a playing partner who lifts your ball on request, so you must give permission each time, and mark and replace on a sloped green without moving the ball.
Common questions
Do I have to mark my ball before I lift it?
Yes, if you plan to put it back in the same spot. You do not need to mark it when you are taking relief, because you will drop or place it elsewhere.
What is the penalty for lifting a ball without marking it?
The penalty is one stroke. The same one-stroke penalty applies if you mark the wrong spot or play with the marker still on the ground.
