Rules question · Rule 7.3 · Hard
Lifted my ball to identify it without marking: what is the penalty?
In the rough you find a ball and want to check whether it is yours. You lift it without marking its spot first. It is your ball. What is the ruling?
Answer
One penalty stroke, and you replace it on its spot
Before you lift a ball to identify it, you must mark its spot. If you do not, you get one penalty stroke. You must still replace the ball on its original spot, estimating it if necessary. Note that even rotating the ball counts as lifting it.
Video on this RuleIdentifying your ballIn the lexiconIdentifying your ballTest yourselfTen questions in the rules quiz →