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Rule 6.3c

Wrong ball

Also searched as: playing someone else's ball, played the wrong ball, mixed up balls

Any ball that is not your ball in play: another player’s ball, a stray ball, or your original ball after it is no longer in play.

There is no penalty if you strike a wrong ball that is moving in water in a penalty area. Even then you must continue with your own ball.

If someone else played your ball as a wrong ball, place a ball on the original spot, estimated if necessary. The safest way to avoid all this is to identify your ball before your stroke.

Step by step

  1. 1Add the penalty. Two penalty strokes in stroke play, loss of hole in match play.
  2. 2Correct the mistake. Continue with your own ball. If it is lost, the rules for a lost ball apply.
  3. 3In time. If you do not correct it in stroke play before teeing off on the next hole, you are disqualified.