Rules · Tip
Not Sure of the Rule? Play Two Balls
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In stroke play, if you're unsure what the rules allow, Rule 20.1c(3) lets you finish the hole with two balls. No penalty. Decide after the problem comes up and before you hit again. Tell your marker or another player which ball you want to count. If you don't, the first ball you played counts. Before you hand in your card, tell the Committee what happened. Even if both scores are the same. Skip that and you're disqualified. This isn't a provisional ball.
Step by step
- Decide before your next shot.
- Say which ball you want to count.
- Finish the hole with both.
- Tell the Committee before handing in your card.
- It's not a provisional.
Why it works
When you are unsure of the correct procedure, a wrong guess can mean a penalty or a serious breach. Playing a second ball lets you finish the hole under both options, so the ruling can be made afterward by the Committee. Naming your preferred ball in advance and reporting the facts keeps the process clear and on the record.
Common mistakes
- You hit another shot with the first ball before deciding to play two balls.Decide to play two balls before your next stroke, as soon as the doubt comes up.
- You don't say which ball you want to count.Tell your marker or another player which ball you choose before you play either one, because otherwise the first ball you played counts.
- You hand in your card without telling the Committee, because both scores came out the same.Report the facts to the Committee before you return your card every time, even when both scores match.
How you'll know it's working
- You say out loud that you are playing two balls and name the one you want to count before you hit again.
- You finish the hole with both balls and write down both scores.
- You report the situation to the Committee before you hand in your card, and you have not signed it yet.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Practice the routine in a casual round by stating the doubt, naming your chosen ball and noting both scores on the card before you move on.
Harder: Use it in a competition when the ruling is truly unclear and the Committee is not nearby, and keep clear notes on where each ball was played from.
Common questions
Can I play two balls in match play?
No. Rule 20.1c(3) applies to stroke play only. In match play you have to sort out the doubt with your opponent in other ways.
Is playing two balls the same as playing a provisional ball?
No. A provisional ball is for a ball that may be lost or out of bounds. Two balls is for when you are unsure of the correct procedure, and you must decide before your next stroke.
