Golf Rules officionados

[IrishGolfer]

Happy New Year to all ShotTalkers!!

Here's a good one. During one of my rare visits to the course I had a strange experience. Playing on the 7th I boomed my drive only to see it flying about 60-70 yards up the middle. I was playing with my dad and brothers and everyone commented on how short I'd become off the tee. (HA HA!!).

Anyway, when I reached my ball, I marked it and picked it up to examine, only to disciover about a 1 - 2" crack in the ball. A ProV1x if you don't mind!! What are the odds of that happening. It was a cold day but not freezing. The ball was about 25 holes young! I'ma gonna take a photo of the wee beastie.

Well the rules are clear. You can replace the damaged ball, but the stroke still counts. Tough shit in other words. It was a friendly game but it got me thinking. Here's the question and I guess it is aimed at some of the older members. If the ball explodes into several pieces, I guess you identify the largest part and play from there. But what if the largest part goes OB? Or what if the ball explodes into smitherines? Ever happen to anyone in a tourney?

[Pa Jayhawk]

Not sure if the rules are the same for all governing bodies, but according to USGA, you must replay the ball if it breaks apart.


"If a ball breaks into pieces as a result of a stroke, the stroke is canceled and the player must play a ball without penalty as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was played (see Rule 20-5). "

[Ravenous Bugblatter Beast]

That'd be something to see. Betcha wish that you had hit some harder now, so that it had exploded.

[SiberianDVM]

I've been wanting to buy some of these:

[DaveE]

Originally Posted by SiberianDVM

I've been wanting to buy some of these:

My neighbor had some of those and we tricked his brother into hitting one off the tee. His reaction was priceless.

[Rockford35]

Jayhawk has it there. You replay the shot from the original lie, no penalty.

That's why exploding golf balls are so sweet, it doesn't cost the guy any strokes!


PS...Prov's suck....

R35

[IrishGolfer]

Originally Posted by Rockford35

Jayhawk has it there. You replay the shot from the original lie, no penalty.

Even if it is just cracked? How do you deem it "fit for play"? eg a scuff, slight mark on it. I'm not so sure the R&A agree. Anyone from UK (or those that abide by the proper rules of golf) know?

R35
I sorta toggle between ProV1x and HX Tours. The HX's don't last the pace, lose their shine, scuff easily etc. but they sure are good in the wind. I find the PV1x better to putt with.

[Ravenous Bugblatter Beast]

Originally Posted by IrishGolfer

Even if it is just cracked? How do you deem it "fit for play"? eg a scuff, slight mark on it. I'm not so sure the R&A agree. Anyone from UK (or those that abide by the proper rules of golf) know?

R35
I sorta toggle between ProV1x and HX Tours. The HX's don't last the pace, lose their shine, scuff easily etc. but they sure are good in the wind. I find the PV1x better to putt with.

But yours didn't break apart, it just cracked.

[Ravenous Bugblatter Beast]

By break apart, I believe that means that the ball separates into two or more separate pieces.

[Pa Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by Ravenous Bugblatter Beast

By break apart, I believe that means that the ball separates into two or more separate pieces.

Correct, and is different than the rules regarding a ball that is "Unfit for Play"

[Pa Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by IrishGolfer

How do you deem it "fit for play"? eg a scuff, slight mark on it. I'm not so sure the R&A agree. Anyone from UK (or those that abide by the proper rules of golf) know?

USGA:
"A ball is unfit for play if it is visibly cut, cracked or out of shape. A ball is not unfit for play solely because mud or other materials adhere to it, its surface is scratched or scraped or its paint is damaged or discolored."

R&A:
Identical wording as USGA (See very bottom about ball breaking in pieces):
A ball is unfit for play if it is visibly cut, cracked or out of shape. A ball is not unfit for play solely because mud or other materials adhere to it, its surface is scratched or scraped or its paint is damaged or discoloured.
If a player has reason to believe his ball has become unfit for play during play of the hole being played, he may lift the ball without penalty to determine whether it is unfit.
Before lifting the ball, the player must announce his intention to his opponent in match play or his marker or a fellow-competitor in stroke play and mark the position of the ball. He may then lift and examine it provided that he gives his opponent, marker or fellow-competitor an opportunity to examine the ball and observe the lifting and replacement. The ball must not be cleaned when lifted under Rule 5-3. If the player fails to comply with all or any part of this procedure, he incurs a penalty of one stroke.
If it is determined that the ball has become unfit for play during play of the hole being played, the player may substitute another ball, placing it on the spot where the original ball lay. Otherwise, the original ball must be replaced. If a player substitutes a ball when not permitted and he makes a stroke at the wrongly substituted ball, he incurs the general penalty for a breach of Rule 5- 3, but there is no additional penalty under this Rule or Rule 15-1.
If a ball breaks into pieces as a result of a stroke, the stroke is cancelled and the player must play a ball without penalty as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was played (see Rule 20-5).

[Rockford35]

I rest my case.

Jayhawk is my assistant, running to research what I could if I had the patience....lol.

Once again, stellar work Jayhawk.

R35

[Pa Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by Rockford35

I rest my case.

Jayhawk is my assistant, running to research what I could if I had the patience....lol.

Once again, stellar work Jayhawk.

R35

I will even list the sources, so as not to give anyone the impression that I store all this @#!+ in my head like a walking rule book or something. Or in case anyone ever needs a ruling, and I am not on the board to service your needs

http://www.usga.org/playing/rules/rules_of_golf.html
http://www.randa.org/index.cfm?cfid=...ion=rules.home

Although I did in fact know the ruling about a ball breaking into pieces, because I was playing in a friendly (and drunken) match one day, and a Mower ran over my friends ball. We decided that he could have a free drop as opposed to walking back and rehitting, as we decided is was probably covered under a different rule. Although we did tell the clubhouse they owed him a ball.

[Ravenous Bugblatter Beast]

Originally Posted by FKA Pa Jayhawk

I will even list the sources, so as not to give anyone the impression that I store all this @#!+ in my head like a walking rule book or something. Or in case anyone ever needs a ruling, and I am not on the board to service your needs

http://www.usga.org/playing/rules/rules_of_golf.html
http://www.randa.org/index.cfm?cfid=...ion=rules.home

Although I did in fact know the ruling about a ball breaking into pieces, because I was playing in a friendly (and drunken) match one day, and a Mower ran over my friends ball. We decided that he could have a free drop as opposed to walking back and rehitting, as we decided is was probably covered under a different rule. Although we did tell the clubhouse they owed him a ball.

That's great. I can just see and tell that the mower guy was gunning for his ball. Reminds me of the day I could swear the giant-leaf-blower-attached-to-the-tractor guy was gunning for me apparently by going around the course from hole-to-hole counting upwards instead of backwards. Oy oy oy.

[IrishGolfer]

Originally Posted by FKA Pa Jayhawk

I will even list the sources, so as not to give anyone the impression that I store all this @#!+ in my head like a walking rule book or something. Or in case anyone ever needs a ruling, and I am not on the board to service your needs

http://www.usga.org/playing/rules/rules_of_golf.html
http://www.randa.org/index.cfm?cfid=...ion=rules.home



Although I did in fact know the ruling about a ball breaking into pieces, because I was playing in a friendly (and drunken) match one day, and a Mower ran over my friends ball. We decided that he could have a free drop as opposed to walking back and rehitting, as we decided is was probably covered under a different rule. Although we did tell the clubhouse they owed him a ball.

Thanks PA

We are not worthy!