Practice swing rule

MasterKZG

Guys,

I'm in a sticky position here. Last week at my club on the fairway,i was ready to hit my 2nd shot with my pratice swing but i accidently hit my ball to a few feets away. What the ruling here, penalty and replace the ball or penalty and play where it ends up?

I know...silly!!! :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

BUACHAILL

that was your second shot so your now playing your third from where the ball finished !!

Jasonw

BUACHAILL wrote: »

that was your second shot so your now playing your third from where the ball finished !!

not sure you're right there Buachaill.

Under rule 18-2 (ii)
equipment of the player causes the ball to move. One stroke penalty and if the ball is moved it must be replaced. If you failed to replace the ball it's a two stroke total penalty.

Thekingofhearts

Its a one shot penalty and the ball must be replaced.

BUACHAILL

yes your right the ruling is as you described from what i gather just had a look.
its still unclear though, if its on a tee box rule 18-2hitting from a tee box: says as ball is not yet in play no penalty should be incurred and ball be replaced on tee, but as was second shot ball is in play, rule 18-2 a states its a one stroke penalty and ball must be replaced ( bit i got wrong )

learn something knew everyday

Legwinski

Are you serious?
So if you're taking a full practice swing off the tee-box and hit the ball by accident... 50 yards or something, you can replace the ball with no penalty

And on the fairway, why can't you just count it as a shot and move on...like what's the logic?

Jasonw

who said the rules of golf had to be logical?

'scorthy

MasterKZG wrote: »

...i was ready to hit my 2nd shot with my pratice swing...

I often think that's the best way to hit the ball...with your practise swing when the ball's not lookin'

Is'nt there another factor here..."intention" I pleade ignorance to a lot of rules but thanks to my friends here on boards.ie I'm learning.

stevire

Jasonw wrote: »

Under rule 18-2 (ii)
equipment of the player causes the ball to move. One stroke penalty and if the ball is moved it must be replaced. If you failed to replace the ball it's a two stroke total penalty.

Just to confirm... this rule applies on the fairway??

I could just say I topped the ball and continue to play on with no penalty? Surely another player cannot call this ruling on another player?

Jasonw

stevire wrote: »

Just to confirm... this rule applies on the fairway??

I could just say I topped the ball and continue to play on with no penalty? Surely another player cannot call this ruling on another player?

That's true. But personally I'd prefer to call the penalty on myself than drive home knowing I had cheated.

MasterKZG

Why a penalty if it a pratice swing...its confusing..like the above said, what if i topped my shot?

Daithio9

MasterKZG wrote: »

Why a penalty if it's a pratice swing...its confusing..like the above said, what if i topped my shot?

Because it would be open to abuse and, the difference between a practice swing and a proper swing is defined by the term "addressing".

Jasonw

not sure that's entirely correct Daithi. theoretically you could address the ball then step off it and take a practice swing.

It's to do with intent. if you intended to make a stroke then you did whatever the outcome - even if you miss it. if you did not intend to make a stroke then you didn't - even if you hit the ball. Only you know whether you intended to hit the ball or not.

IITYWYBMAD

Jasonw wrote: »

not sure that's entirely correct Daithi. theoretically you could address the ball then step off it and take a practice swing.

It's to do with intent. if you intended to make a stroke then you did whatever the outcome - even if you miss it. if you did not intend to make a stroke then you didn't - even if you hit the ball. Only you know whether you intended to hit the ball or not.

Does addressing it, not put it into play? Irrespective of him moving away or not? I would have thought that addressing it, stepping away, and the ball moves, would incur a penalty? I don't really see where intent comes into it, in the case of addressing it.

Daithio9

Jasonw wrote: »

not sure that's entirely correct Daithi. theoretically you could address the ball then step off it and take a practice swing.

It's to do with intent. if you intended to make a stroke then you did whatever the outcome - even if you miss it. if you did not intend to make a stroke then you didn't - even if you hit the ball. Only you know whether you intended to hit the ball or not.

IITYWYBMAD wrote: »

Does addressing it, not put it into play? Irrespective of him moving away or not? I would have thought that addressing it, stepping away, and the ball moves, would incur a penalty? I don't really see where intent comes into it, in the case of addressing it.

Afaik as long as you don't ground the club your considered not to have addressed the ball and once you've grounded the club you have addressed the ball.
Intent doesn't really come into it atall as it'd be next to impossible to prove that kind of intent.

Su Campu

Daithio9 wrote: »

Afaik as long as you don't ground the club your considered not to have addressed the ball and once you've grounded the club you have addressed the ball.

That's only for putting. Some people don't ground the driver at all for instance.

Jasonw

IITYWYBMAD wrote: »

I would have thought that addressing it, stepping away, and the ball moves, would incur a penalty?

that is correct.

Dathai, when i spoke about addresing the ball i was saying that it had nothing to do with the original post about hitting the ball on the practice swing.

It's not up to anyone to prove the intent. Golf is a game of honour where we call penalties on ourselves. IOW if the player knew he didn't intend to strike the ball then he must replace it and penalise himself one shot.

It's also worth remembering not to confuse the issue any further that you are considered to have addressed the ball when you have taken your stance if the ball lies in a hazzard.

1united

Had a similar incident happen today. A playing partners ball was on the green and as he was walking behind the ball to look at his line his putter slipped and knocked the ball forwards - does Rule 18-2 still apply in this case, one of the lads was fairly sure that he played the ball from it's new location under 2 stroke penalty, but the rest of us were in agreement that he replace it in original position under 1 stroke penalty, I think we were correct as I read this thread last week, but just checking

Jasonw

you were correct.

Mr check raise

You learn something new everyday:D I never knew this after the couple of times ive done i've just treated it as my 2nd(or 7th!!), cursed myself, and moved on.

Its an obscure ruling because nobody has heard of it really