Switching Golf Balls Question | USHandicap Classic

CARitter Professional Champion
Go to Last Reply 78 Views 9 Replies 1 Like
OK, so I know you must finish the hole with the same ball you started with. Now many things can happen from tee to green as most of us know. My question is this: When using a new ball to take a drop, must I use the same brand of ball? Example: I hit a Pinnacle off the tee and land in a hazard. I take my drop using a Titleist. Is this permitted or must I use another Pinnacle? And if I use the same brand, must it be the exact same type? I couldn't find anything in the USGA rule book about having to use the same brand of ball on a substituted ball, but my playing partner told me this was the case. I am skeptical.
Goynes42 Professional Champion
# 1 8/28/2009 4:33:47 PM
It can be a different ball, according to the USGA. You may switch balls if a ball is out of bounds or lost (in a hazard or otherwise). You can even switch balls between the play of two holes. If a ball is kept in play (not lost), but determined unfit for play, then another ball may be used. You may NOT substitute a different ball on the putting surface. Basically, if you keep the ball in play, you gotta finish the hole with it. But if it gets lost or cracked, another ball may be used, even a different brand. The one-ball rule is an optional rule usually reserved for events involving highly-skilled players. Whether or not this rule is in effect is determined by the tournament organizing Committee. My club championship, for example, used the one-ball rule. But for any casual stipulated round, the one-ball rule is not in effect. Here it is, straight from the source! http://www.usga.org/RulesFAQ/r..
CARitter Professional Champion
# 2 8/28/2009 6:48:55 PM
When you say, "I take my drop from the hazard". I assume you lost the ball. If you find the ball in the hazard and take a drop then you have to play the same ball. But in the case of a lost ball, no, you do not have to play the same brand of ball. Yes, I did mean the ball went into the hazard and could not be recovered. Thanks for everyone for clarifying my interpretation of the rule.
dewsweeper Legend
# 3 8/28/2009 11:58:45 PM
During competition golf, it must be the same type of golf ball from tee to green and though out the round. You can't use a ProV1 for a par 3 when the spin matters more and use a ProV1X on a par 5 where the distance matters more. i.e. Tiger Woods was playing a proto type of Nike golf ball in a tournament; last day of the tournament he had one left standing on the 18th tee, with water hazard along the left of the fairway, you'd bet Stevie was praying that TW put it in the fairway and not in the water, because he'd sure had to dive for it since they could not replace the golf ball with another like one from the pro shop.
CARitter Professional Champion
# 4 8/29/2009 8:13:36 PM
During competition golf, it must be the same type of golf ball from tee to green and though out the round. You can't use a ProV1 for a par 3 when the spin matters more and use a ProV1X on a par 5 where the distance matters more. i.e. Tiger Woods was playing a proto type of Nike golf ball in a tournament; last day of the tournament he had one left standing on the 18th tee, with water hazard along the left of the fairway, you'd bet Stevie was praying that TW put it in the fairway and not in the water, because he'd sure had to dive for it since they could not replace the golf ball with another like one from the pro shop. I am sure this is what my playing partner was referring to. Where do you find this in the rule book though? Is it up to the competition committee? Your TW story reminds me of Tin Cup. Last ball in the bag, homes!
Brian Watson Professional Champion
# 5 9/2/2009 9:31:31 AM
Here is a funny one. A friend invited one of his friends to play with us. Everytime he got on the green he switched his ball to a PRO-V1. He tees off with a much cheeper ball. I think he just did not want to lose the PRO-V1. I did say something during the round, but said we arent playing for money so I don't care. I just wanted him to know I saw him swapping the ball and it was a breech of the rules.
CARitter Professional Champion
# 6 9/4/2009 8:36:17 AM
Here is a funny one. A friend invited one of his friends to play with us. Everytime he got on the green he switched his ball to a PRO-V1. He tees off with a much cheeper ball. I think he just did not want to lose the PRO-V1. I did say something during the round, but said we arent playing for money so I don't care. I just wanted him to know I saw him swapping the ball and it was a breech of the rules. LOL...although I know it's against the rules, I do this sometimes too. If there is a high probability I will lose a ball off the tee, I sometimes opt for the cheaper ball and switch out at the green. Of course, I only do this when playing for fun, not in competitions. I just feel much better losing a $0.50 ball than a $4 one.

CARitter

Professional Champion

Go to Last Reply

78 Views 9 Replies 1 Like

OK, so I know you must finish the hole with the same ball you started with. Now many things can happen from tee to green as most of us know. My question is this: When using a new ball to take a drop, must I use the same brand of ball?

Example: I hit a Pinnacle off the tee and land in a hazard. I take my drop using a Titleist. Is this permitted or must I use another Pinnacle? And if I use the same brand, must it be the exact same type?

I couldn't find anything in the USGA rule book about having to use the same brand of ball on a substituted ball, but my playing partner told me this was the case. I am skeptical.

Goynes42

Professional Champion

# 1 8/28/2009 4:33:47 PM

It can be a different ball, according to the USGA. You may switch balls if a ball is out of bounds or lost (in a hazard or otherwise). You can even switch balls between the play of two holes. If a ball is kept in play (not lost), but determined unfit for play, then another ball may be used. You may NOT substitute a different ball on the putting surface.

Basically, if you keep the ball in play, you gotta finish the hole with it. But if it gets lost or cracked, another ball may be used, even a different brand.

The one-ball rule is an optional rule usually reserved for events involving highly-skilled players. Whether or not this rule is in effect is determined by the tournament organizing Committee. My club championship, for example, used the one-ball rule. But for any casual stipulated round, the one-ball rule is not in effect.

Here it is, straight from the source! http://www.usga.org/RulesFAQ/r..

CARitter

Professional Champion

# 2 8/28/2009 6:48:55 PM

When you say, "I take my drop from the hazard". I assume you lost the ball. If you find the ball in the hazard and take a drop then you have to play the same ball. But in the case of a lost ball, no, you do not have to play the same brand of ball.

Yes, I did mean the ball went into the hazard and could not be recovered. Thanks for everyone for clarifying my interpretation of the rule.

dewsweeper

Legend

# 3 8/28/2009 11:58:45 PM

During competition golf, it must be the same type of golf ball from tee to green and though out the round. You can't use a ProV1 for a par 3 when the spin matters more and use a ProV1X on a par 5 where the distance matters more.
i.e. Tiger Woods was playing a proto type of Nike golf ball in a tournament; last day of the tournament he had one left standing on the 18th tee, with water hazard along the left of the fairway, you'd bet Stevie was praying that TW put it in the fairway and not in the water, because he'd sure had to dive for it since they could not replace the golf ball with another like one from the pro shop.

CARitter

Professional Champion

# 4 8/29/2009 8:13:36 PM

During competition golf, it must be the same type of golf ball from tee to green and though out the round. You can't use a ProV1 for a par 3 when the spin matters more and use a ProV1X on a par 5 where the distance matters more.
i.e. Tiger Woods was playing a proto type of Nike golf ball in a tournament; last day of the tournament he had one left standing on the 18th tee, with water hazard along the left of the fairway, you'd bet Stevie was praying that TW put it in the fairway and not in the water, because he'd sure had to dive for it since they could not replace the golf ball with another like one from the pro shop.

I am sure this is what my playing partner was referring to. Where do you find this in the rule book though? Is it up to the competition committee?

Your TW story reminds me of Tin Cup. Last ball in the bag, homes!

Brian Watson

Professional Champion

# 5 9/2/2009 9:31:31 AM

Here is a funny one. A friend invited one of his friends to play with us. Everytime he got on the green he switched his ball to a PRO-V1. He tees off with a much cheeper ball. I think he just did not want to lose the PRO-V1. I did say something during the round, but said we arent playing for money so I don't care. I just wanted him to know I saw him swapping the ball and it was a breech of the rules.

CARitter

Professional Champion

# 6 9/4/2009 8:36:17 AM

Here is a funny one. A friend invited one of his friends to play with us. Everytime he got on the green he switched his ball to a PRO-V1. He tees off with a much cheeper ball. I think he just did not want to lose the PRO-V1. I did say something during the round, but said we arent playing for money so I don't care. I just wanted him to know I saw him swapping the ball and it was a breech of the rules.

LOL...although I know it's against the rules, I do this sometimes too. If there is a high probability I will lose a ball off the tee, I sometimes opt for the cheaper ball and switch out at the green. Of course, I only do this when playing for fun, not in competitions. I just feel much better losing a $0.50 ball than a $4 one.

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