Question:

The only time you cannot change balls during a round is when, during a competition, there is a rules for the competition stipulating "one ball". (kinda like what the pros use) This rule is part of the "local rules" list that are imparted sometimes. I find, personally, that I have a little better time anticipating the actions of the ball imparted by the operator when I stick with one ball. (Although changing because I run out of my normal ball has happened before, but not in a competition.)

My partner and I have our own "local rule" for informal play, that when we’re playing from a lie with a high likelihood of losing the ball (over water or from the escarpment on Milton’s 17th hole, for instance), we may substitute an old beat-up ball for that shot. Doesn’t affect play, but it does have a major impact on the wallet after a few games as both of us are on limited budgets. Eliyahu

Response:

The original post said you could replace when "lost" or dropped and I was questioning the dropped. — Ball Marks: Fix yours and one more

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Huh?? You can replace the ball only if it is unfit for play per Rule 5-3 Under Rule 15-1 "A player must hole out with the ball played from the teeing ground unless a Rule permits him to substitute another ball". Some circumstances under which you can legitimately substitute another ball are: 1. If the ball is unfit for play (Rule 5-3), as you noted 2. Resuming after play has been discontinued (Rule 6-8c) 3. When your ball goes in a water hazard (Rule 26) 4. When your ball is lost (Rule 27) 5. When your ball is out of bounds (Rule 27) 6. When your ball is unplayable (Rule 28) With the exception of 1. above, all the others are characterised by the statement "drop (or place) *a* ball" under the Rules, and have a penalty attached. There is logic to this e.g. if you hit a ball out of bounds, it alleviates you from having to all the way forward to get it before playing another, or if you declare your ball unplayable in a dangerous situation. Obviously if you’ve lost it (inside or outside a hazard) there’s no way you can *not* play a substitute ball. The only one that is somewhat contradictory is Rule 18-1, where a ball at rest is moved by an outside agency. This Rule says *the* ball must be replaced which is fine in most situations. However, if you were to clearly see (i.e. have reasonable evidence — see Decision 18/1-1) your ball moved by, say, a squirrel or crow, who takes it high up into a tree, you would obviously have a hard time replacing *the* ball. Cheers Colin Wilson Australian handicap: 10.7 RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/wilsonc.htm

Response:

Hi: I was told recently that you cannot change balls during a round. That is, if you start the round with a balata ball you cannot change to a different type of ball (i.e.. Surlyn) during the round.

I believe that the PGA tour has a rule that you must play the entire round with the same ball, but unless stipulated by a local rule,there is no such rule. "Someone likes every shot" bk

Response:

Huh?? You can replace the ball only if it is unfit for play per Rule 5-3

Under Rule 15-1 "A player must hole out with the ball played from the teeing ground unless a Rule permits him to substitute another ball". Some circumstances under which you can legitimately substitute another ball are: 1. If the ball is unfit for play (Rule 5-3), as you noted 2. Resuming after play has been discontinued (Rule 6-8c) 3. When your ball goes in a water hazard (Rule 26) 4. When your ball is lost (Rule 27) 5. When your ball is out of bounds (Rule 27) 6. When your ball is unplayable (Rule 28) With the exception of 1. above, all the others are characterised by the statement "drop (or place) *a* ball" under the Rules, and have a penalty attached. There is logic to this e.g. if you hit a ball out of bounds, it alleviates you from having to all the way forward to get it before playing another, or if you declare your ball unplayable in a dangerous situation. Obviously if you’ve lost it (inside or outside a hazard) there’s no way you can *not* play a substitute ball. The only one that is somewhat contradictory is Rule 18-1, where a ball at rest is moved by an outside agency. This Rule says *the* ball must be replaced which is fine in most situations. However, if you were to clearly see (i.e. have reasonable evidence — see Decision 18/1-1) your ball moved by, say, a squirrel or crow, who takes it high up into a tree, you would obviously have a hard time replacing *the* ball. Cheers Colin Wilson Australian handicap: 10.7 RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/wilsonc.htm

Response:

1. If the ball is unfit for play (Rule 5-3), as you noted 2. Resuming after play has been discontinued (Rule 6-8c) 3. When your ball goes in a water hazard (Rule 26) 4. When your ball is lost (Rule 27) 5. When your ball is out of bounds (Rule 27) 6. When your ball is unplayable (Rule 28) With the exception of 1. above, all the others are characterised by the statement "drop (or place) *a* ball" under the Rules, and have a penalty attached.

Correction, 2. above doesn’t have a penalty either. Cheers Colin Wilson Australian handicap: 10.7 RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/wilsonc.htm

Response:

Hi: I was told recently that you cannot change balls during a round. That is, if you start the round with a balata ball you cannot change to a different type of ball (i.e.. Surlyn) during the round. I argued that any ball on the Conforming List can be used at any time during a round. The only stipulation is that the ball cannot be changed from tee to holing out. Who is correct.

Some pro competitions and high level amateur events involving expert players have a ‘one ball condition’ written into the "Conditions of Competition’….this is effectively an addition to the ‘Rules’ for a stipulated round of that competition only and will involve penalties for a breach of the ‘conditions’. A recommended example of this ‘condition’ can be found in the ‘Rule Book’ under Appendix l, Part C: Conditions of the Competition. Note item 1.b. :’One Ball Condition’.( page 121 in my R&A book) You are basically correct when you say that ‘ the ball cannot be changed from tee to holing out’…however, even that is not strictly true. Clearly, if you lose your ball you can ‘change’ it!…and, of course, any procedure that calls for you to drop *a* ball means that you don’t have to drop *the* original ball….thus you CAN ‘change’ your ball between teeing off and holing out if you wish…it will usually involve a penalty though! david

Response:

The only time you cannot change balls during a round is when, during a competition, there is a rules for the competition stipulating "one ball". (kinda like what the pros use) This rule is part of the "local rules" list that are imparted sometimes. I find, personally, that I have a little better time anticipating the actions of the ball imparted by the operator when I stick with one ball. (Although changing because I run out of my normal ball has happened before, but not in a competition.) — Teresa Williamson roll call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/williamsont.htm RSG FAQ:  http://ttsoft.com/thor/rsggolf.html

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi: I was told recently that you cannot change balls during a round. That is, if you start the round with a balata ball you cannot change to a different type of ball (i.e.. Surlyn) during the round. I argued that any ball on the Conforming List can be used at any time during a round. The only stipulation is that the ball cannot be changed from tee to holing out. Who is correct. I cannot find any mention of "ball type" in the rules. Thanks, Skil

Response:

I was told recently that you cannot change balls during a round. That is, if you start the round with a balata ball you cannot change to a different type of ball (i.e.. Surlyn) during the round. I argued that any ball on the Conforming List can be used at any time during a round. The only stipulation is that the ball cannot be changed from tee to holing out. Who is correct. I cannot find any mention of "ball type" in the rules.

Under the Rules of Golf, a committee (meaning essentially the club or course running the competition) is able to institute certain conditions of competition under Rule 33-1. Appendix I, Part C "Conditions of the Competition" specifies some "Notes" to certain Rules of Golf. These basically allow the committee to institute certain competition conditions, including such things as starting times, pace of play and practice. One of these is Note 1: Specification of the Ball (Note to Rule 5-1) which allows the committee to make the following conditions 1a. List of Conforming Golf Balls … balls used by competitors must be on the conforming list, and 1b. One Ball Condition … prohibits changing the type of ball during a round. If the committee does not include these under the stated conditions of the competition, then *they are not in operation*. So if there is no "List of Conforming Golf Balls condition" or "One Ball condition" posted for the competition in question, you can play what you like and change it every hole, if you like. (Note that under the One-Ball Condition it states: "In Club events it is recommended that no such conditions be applied".) If these condtions are not in operation for the competition, the only Rule you need to follow in this regard is Rule 15-1, which states that you must hole out with the ball played from the teeing ground unless another Rule permits substitution (e.g. ball no longer fit for play, lost etc.) Cheers Colin Wilson Australian handicap: 10.6 RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/wilsonc.htm

Response:

if your tournament or Mens/Ladies club has a 1 ball rule then you have to play your entire round with the ‘exact’ same type of ball

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi: I was told recently that you cannot change balls during a round. That is, if you start the round with a balata ball you cannot change to a different type of ball (i.e.. Surlyn) during the round. I argued that any ball on the Conforming List can be used at any time during a round. The only stipulation is that the ball cannot be changed from tee to holing out. Who is correct. I cannot find any mention of "ball type" in the rules. Thanks, Skil

Response:

Huh?? You can replace the ball only if it is unfit for play per Rule 5-3 — Ball Marks: Fix yours and one more – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You are basically correct when you say that ‘ the ball cannot be changed from tee to holing out’…however, even that is not strictly true. Clearly, if you lose your ball you can ‘change’ it!…and, of course, any procedure that calls for you to drop *a* ball means that you don’t have to drop *the* original ball….thus you CAN ‘change’ your ball between teeing off and holing out if you wish…it will usually involve a penalty though! david

Response:

You have been BS’d.  There is nothing in the Rules preventing you from changing ball types during a round.  Some tournaments have this requirement, but this is not a rule. Kenny says… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hi: I was told recently that you cannot change balls during a round. That is, if you start the round with a balata ball you cannot change to a different type of ball (i.e.. Surlyn) during the round. I argued that any ball on the Conforming List can be used at any time during a round. The only stipulation is that the ball cannot be changed from tee to holing out. Who is correct. I cannot find any mention of "ball type" in the rules. Thanks, Skil

Kenny Stultz RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/stultzk.htm

Response:

Hi: I was told recently that you cannot change balls during a round. That is, if you start the round with a balata ball you cannot change to a different type of ball (i.e.. Surlyn) during the round. I argued that any ball on the Conforming List can be used at any time during a round. The only stipulation is that the ball cannot be changed from tee to holing out. Who is correct. I cannot find any mention of "ball type" in the rules. Thanks, Skil

Response: