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**EspanaCamsInfo** · 08-06-2012, 03:53 PM

Always thought that if it's not on the green, it does not get replaced, but I see that was wrong. I am glad this was brought up.

If both balls are on the green:

The ruling here is covered in Rule 19-5a.

From the green, Player A hits his putt, but the ball strikes the ball of Player B, who was also on the green. In match play there is no penalty. In stroke play, it's a 2-stroke penalty to the player whose ball was in motion when the balls collided.

Repeat: It's not a penalty against the player whose ball was at rest; the penalty is against the player who struck the putt.

The player whose ball was at rest replaces it to its original position; the player whose ball was in motion plays it as it lies.

If the ball that was struck is not replaced:

The person whose shot struck the ball at rest plays his ball as it lies; the person whose ball was moved returns the ball to its original position.

Failure to replace the ball that was moved to its original spot; or moving the ball that did the striking (rather than playing it as it lies) results in loss of hole in match play or a 2-stroke penalty in stroke play.

I wonder what would happen if this was in the fairway and no one saw there was a collision? Technically it would be a penalty or loss of hole.

08-06-2012, 03:53 PM	#15
EspanaCamsInfo Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 468 Senior Member	Always thought that if it's not on the green, it does not get replaced, but I see that was wrong. I am glad this was brought up. If both balls are on the green: The ruling here is covered in Rule 19-5a. From the green, Player A hits his putt, but the ball strikes the ball of Player B, who was also on the green. In match play there is no penalty. In stroke play, it's a 2-stroke penalty to the player whose ball was in motion when the balls collided. Repeat: It's not a penalty against the player whose ball was at rest; the penalty is against the player who struck the putt. The player whose ball was at rest replaces it to its original position; the player whose ball was in motion plays it as it lies. If the ball that was struck is not replaced: The person whose shot struck the ball at rest plays his ball as it lies; the person whose ball was moved returns the ball to its original position. Failure to replace the ball that was moved to its original spot; or moving the ball that did the striking (rather than playing it as it lies) results in loss of hole in match play or a 2-stroke penalty in stroke play. I wonder what would happen if this was in the fairway and no one saw there was a collision? Technically it would be a penalty or loss of hole.
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