Linda,
Surely if you make a practice swing at a ball and it is
moved it then becomes the shot and therefore there should be no penalty and the
ball is played from where it lies.
Lou from the UK
Dear Lou,
Surely not. A practice swing is not a stroke –
there was no intention to move the ball [Definition of “Stroke”]. A practice
swing that accidentally moves the ball comes under the heading of “player
causes the ball to move,” which is governed by Rule 18-2. There is a one-stroke
penalty for accidentally moving your ball in play, and the ball must be
replaced.
This penalty does not apply to a practice swing on the teeing ground, as your ball is not yet in play.
This penalty does not apply to a practice swing on the putting green if your club has adopted the Local Rule exempting players from penalty for accidental movement of the ball on the putting green. Here is a link to that Local Rule:
https://www.usga.org/rules-hub/2017-local-rule/new-local-rule.html
This penalty does not apply to a practice swing on the teeing ground, as your ball is not yet in play.
This penalty does not apply to a practice swing on the putting green if your club has adopted the Local Rule exempting players from penalty for accidental movement of the ball on the putting green. Here is a link to that Local Rule:
https://www.usga.org/rules-hub/2017-local-rule/new-local-rule.html
Response from Lou:
Thank you for correcting me. Sometimes reading all the rules
is better than only the ones you think you need to know.
Linda
Copyright © 2017 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
