Rules · Tip
Searching For and Identifying Your Ball
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Rule 7 lets you search for your ball fairly. You can move sand, water, long grass or bushes, even if that improves things a little. You get three minutes. To check if a ball is yours, mark it and lift it. Clean it only enough to see your mark. The best protection is simple. Put your own mark on every ball, and know your brand and number before you start. Then you'll never hit the wrong one.
Step by step
- Mark every ball with your own symbol.
- Tell your group your ball.
- Search fairly and watch the time.
- Mark before you lift to check.
- Clean only enough to see your mark.
Why it works
A ball that is not marked looks like many others, so you cannot be sure which one you found. A personal mark on the ball lets you identify it without guessing, and marking the spot before you lift keeps your position exact. The search rules allow reasonable movement of grass, sand or bushes because a ball cannot be found if you are not allowed to disturb what hides it.
Common mistakes
- You play a ball without a personal mark and then cannot tell it from another ball of the same brand and number.Draw your own symbol on every ball before you start, and check it is easy to see.
- You lift a ball to identify it without marking its spot first.Place a marker behind or beside the ball, then lift it and read your mark.
- You lose track of time and keep searching past the three minutes.Start counting when you begin the search, and agree with your group when the time is up.
How you'll know it's working
- You can name your brand, number and mark to your group before every shot from the tee.
- You can identify a found ball in seconds without cleaning more than the mark area.
- You never play a ball that turns out to belong to someone else.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Use a thick marker to draw a bold, simple symbol such as a line or a dot pattern, so you can see it from a distance.
Harder: Practise on a course in thick rough, searching for a ball while timing yourself and moving grass only as much as you need.
Common questions
How long do you have to search for a lost ball in golf?
You get three minutes to search once you begin looking for your ball. If you have not found it by then, it is lost.
Can you lift your ball to check if it is yours?
Yes, but you must mark its spot first. Then lift it and clean it only enough to see your mark.
