What happens if a golfer accidentally makes contact when addressing the ball?

It only becomes a ball in play once a stroke is made. When the practice swing accidentally hits the ball, you are considered to have not made a stroke. Thus, the golf rules simply allow you to re-tee the moved ball (or replace it with another one) without penalty. This is covered under Rule 6.2b(5) and 6.2b(6).
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What happens if you accidentally touch your golf ball?

There would be no penalty for lifting that ball (after marking its spot), or even for accidentally causing your ball to move while taking reasonable actions to lift it. You will just need to replace your ball back on its original spot.
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Is it a penalty if ball moves when addressing it?

Generally, you will still be penalized if you move your ball or accidentally cause it to move. However, exceptions have been made in the new Rules for some of the most common times when a ball is accidentally moved during a round.
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In which of the following situations would get a one stroke penalty for causing your ball to move?

9.5 Ball Lifted or Moved by Opponent in Match Play

gets one penalty stroke for lifting the player's ball unless one of the Exceptions applies. For example, during a search Player A finds a ball and states that it is his or hers.
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Are you allowed to touch the ball in golf?

Penalty for Lifting or Deliberately Touching Ball or Causing It to Move. If the player lifts or deliberately touches his or her ball at rest or causes it to move, the player gets one penalty stroke.
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Rules of Golf Explained: What happens if you hit your ball with a practice swing?



Can you pick up and clean a ball on the fairway?

Here's how lift, clean and place works (typically): If a golfer is hitting their current shot from a lie in the fairway of the hole they're playing, then they're able to pick up the golf ball (after first marking the original spot with a tee or other marker), clean off the golf ball, then put it back by placing it in a ...
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Are you allowed to clean your golf ball on the fairway?

A golfer cannot clean their ball in any other situation, including when the ball is in the fairway, when the ball is in the rough, when the ball is in a bunker.
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What happens if a player accidentally moves his or her ball while searching for the ball?

The player gets no penalty for causing it to move, and. The ball is always replaced; if the exact spot is not known, the player will replace the ball on the estimated original spot (including on, under or against any attached natural or man-made objects which the ball had been at rest under or against).
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Is it a penalty stroke if you swing and miss?

Under the Rules of Golf, any stroke in which you intend to hit the ball counts. It doesn't matter how far the ball goes. If you swing and miss, and you were trying to hit the ball, then it counts.
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What is the penalty for hitting someone else's golf ball?

Even attempting to hit someone else's ball is a violation of the Rules of Golf. Decision 15/1 states that if a player swings at the wrong ball he suffers a two-stroke penalty, or loses the hole in match play.
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What happens if a player accidentally moves his or her ball or ball-marker on the putting green?

If you accidentally cause a ball to move while it is at rest on the putting green, there is no penalty provided the ball is replaced. If the ball is not replaced after it is accidentally moved on the putting green, the player will incur the general penalty of loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play.
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Is it a stroke if you accidentally knock ball off tee?

No. Rule 6.1a tells us that we start a hole by making a stroke and a stroke, by definition, is the forward movement of the club with the intent to hit the ball. Knocking the ball off the tee by accident is not intent to hit the ball so it doesn't count as a stroke.
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Does an air shot count in golf?

An air shot is not imposed as a penalty for a tee shot as already mentioned. No matter how many times a player swings, if the club does not touch the ball, it is not considered a stroke. However, when the ball moves with an air shot, it counts as one stroke.
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Does a whiff in golf count as a stroke?

If the golfer was trying to hit the ball, then, yes, it's a stroke. However, as noted above, if the golfer missed the ball intentionally, that "whiff" is not a stroke.
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Can you have two putters in your golf bag?

According to the USGA and R&A rules, you can have two putters in your bag when playing a professional round of golf provided the total number doesn't exceed 14. The same thing applies when you're playing a normal golf round.
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Can I mark my ball off the green?

You can mark, lift and clean a ball on the green, but it's a violation to do so when another ball is in motion, as your ball might influence the outcome of that stroke. You can also mark and clean your ball in some instances when it's off the green: cleaning it, for example, just to the point where you can identify it.
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Can you take relief from a tree?

When a player's ball lies above the ground (such as in a bush or a tree), the player may take lateral relief by using the point on the ground directly below the spot of the ball as his or her reference point: The relief area.
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Can you wipe your golf ball on the green?

May a player clean his ball by rubbing it on the putting green? A. Yes, provided the act is not for the purpose of testing the surface of the putting green. It is recommended that a ball be cleaned in other ways to eliminate any question as to the player’s intentions.
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Can you brush sand off the green?

Yes. Sand and loose soil may be removed on the putting green (see Rule 13.1c(1)).
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Can you mark your ball before everyone is on the green?

Under Rule 15.3, a ball at rest on the putting green only must be marked and lifted if it is interfering with play or helping another player; otherwise, there is no requirement to do so.
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Can I ground my club in a bunker 2021?

Not allowed to ground your club in the bunker

The main rule to follow in bunkers is you are not allowed to touch the sand with your club whether that be grounding it behind the ball, shifting sand on your backswing or having a practice shot in the sand.
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Can you tee off in front of markers?

Your ball must be between the two markers, but you can stand outside. You may tee your ball up to two club-lengths behind the markers, but not an inch in front. Your front foot can be in front of the markers, though.
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What's a whiff in golf?

Updated on 01/24/20. In golf, a "whiff" is when you swing at the golf ball and ... miss. If you were trying to hit the ball but missed, you just whiffed it.
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Can you refuse a conceded putt?

When the concession is made, the ball is considered holed and the golfer whose putt was conceded is finished playing that hole. Once a stroke is conceded, the concession can't be refused or withdrawn.
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