It's always good to review and be reminded of even the most basic of rules, especially with the major revision (and reduction from 34 to 25) in the ROG. Most golfers are so used to playing casual rounds with friends that when they play a "serious" round in a comp or with a club that they're unfamiliar with the rules and thus can, as I've seen, result in breaches of the rules that lead to confusion and arguments. 😮
Hold on. For an unplayable ball, you have 2 club lengths for lateral relief as she mentions. However, you can ALSO take stroke and distance OR back on the line relief (with 1 club length).
Yes. She only covered one option because it is the option players might do incorrectly. She should have made it clear she only covered one of three option. However, it's pretty hard to mess up if you've chosen to replay your shot. And going back on a line is either straight forward or virtually impossible.
She should have covered the other options on this rule. This is probably one of the most encountered penalties and knowing all the rules can really help you.
I recently hit my ball in front of a movable 150 yard marker and to hit without moving it would have interfered with my swing. I moved it and then replaced it after my shot. Is that correct under the rules?
Problem with slope on rangefinders (and now some GPS) is that many dont have a visible indication that slope is on (unlike my Bushnell) so you can be playing against someone who is using slope all the time. So I think R&A should allow slope for armature golf.
I think there are lots of elements of golf where you have to trust people so not sure where you would draw the line. Maybe just say you need an indicator on lasers to show if it is on or off, all mine have green/red colour sliders
There are two other factors: In the amateur game, knowing the exact slope won't make a difference. It would be quite OK to have a printed table of distance vs elevation which would give you a very reasonable estimate of slope
@@KeithWhittingham don't you think having a look up table would slow down play? I agree that in some cases it might not benefit, but played a course yesterday and the difference on slope was 20 yards.
@@antd684 Yes of course using a table might slow the game down. BUT. What percentage of shots in a round are played where the slope is relevant? 4 or 5? Then, most of the time the slope can be looked up while others are taking their shots, so no impact. Then, if you're using slope all the time when you practice you're going to have a pretty good idea of what the slope is going to be. And, if you're playing in a competition, you're going to have all these slopes marked on your shot plan before you start. The OP is absolutely right. Banning slope calculators makes no sense. It's just ludism.
So, on the unplayable drop (7/10). What if 2 club lengths doesn't get you to playable? Is going back and hitting from the previous spot (with penalty) your only real option? Is it an option? For example, one of the courses I play has an enormous ditch on the left on your second shot, and if you hook it into that ditch (which is not marked as out of bounds), if you get lucky and find your ball, 2 club lengths won't get you out of it. What should you do?
If 2 clubs lengths doesn't get you out, you have a few options. 1. go back and play from where you last hit. 2. go back in line with the point of entry and the pin 3. take a second drop. However, if it is a ditch and marked at the edge, you can usually take your two club lengths from the edge of the ditch, depending on if it's red or yellow.
Ok. I was thinking you have one club length from that point to drop and the ball has to stay in that one club length area. Thanks for clearing that up.
@@nationalclubgolfer the spot where the ball first touches the ground when dropped creates the relief area which is 1 club length in any direction from that spot
@@superduperawesome6858 As I understand it until this year you could drop within a club length but from 2023 on you must drop on the line and it can roll up to a club length (and until 2023 it could not roll forward, now it can, within that club length).
How do you play a wrong ball off the tee, please? I understand the concept once you have teed off, but I would have thought you can play any ball you like off the tee.
The penalty area drops still confuse me from time to time and I’ve been playing for decades ! We have one hole where the penalty area is behind and to the left of the green and I don’t understand how you can drop ‘no nearer’ the hole? (There is no shot on the other side of the area as it’s a stream then heavy wooded area) The other one is 95% certain it’s in the penalty area. If the area is out of sight of where you’re hitting from and you don’t see it go in, how can you be that certain… ? 😂
If you can’t drop next to it no nearer the hole then you would have to take stoke and distance and go back and play from where you originally played! Agreed on the 95% rule it is funny
Yes. So, if you want to play the game, you either need to play it at a low level for fun (which can be great) or you learn rules that nobody can remember...@@nationalclubgolfer
I’m afraid you need to look again. Identifying your ball isn’t listed as a clock stop in the examples in 18.2a(1)/1 and the second paragraph of 18.2a(1)/3 states the player may take as much time WITHIN the 3 minutes to identify. if the clock did stop there would be no need for the additional time granted for a ball found close to the expiry of the 3 minute search time Feel free to double check with the R&A directly.
The worst is when you hit an absolutely fine shot with no trouble possible, but it just disappears into thin air. I actually think losing balls in plain sight is the worst aspect of the game.
Yes, you can. However, if you hit a provisional ball, and find your original ball, you are required to abandon the provisional ball. By declaring it provisional you have announced your intent to only use the provisional if the original ball cannot be found. So in that circumstance, you would need to abandon the provisional and go back to the spot the original shot was played from under stroke and distance.
@@tnsquire3195 correct but I suggested declaring it unplayable and playing a new ball. That is not a provisional. Then it doesn't matter if you find the previous ball it is no longer in play.
@@adrianbauze1864 the problem here is that in order to declare you’re ball unplayable, you must find it. Unless you are saying to just immediately declare it unplayable, drop another ball and play stroke and distance - but there would be no sense in doing this. You’d be better off playing the provisional and seeing if you can find the original ball. If you find it, then declare it unplayable, take the drop/stroke, but save the distance. So, I guess you could do that - I made the mistake of assuming you were asking for an option that made sense. Tin Cup was fiction.
@@tnsquire3195 i can’t remember the context i posted a month ago but show me where the rules say you need to find the ball to declare it unplayable. you won’t be able to. a player can declare any ball unplayable at any time he or she chooses. there are times when this makes sense. mainly to speed up play when you don’t want to find the ball because it is almost certain to be in a terrible position
@@adrianbauze1864 awwwwww - how cute. Totally embarrassed by his lack of understanding how to apply the rules. And he runs away and hides. No more stupid snarky takes?
Clear, concise and informative.. great work as usual.
Much appreciated!
Thanks for the info/ lesson, Hannah! You’re the best!
You're so welcome!
It's always good to review and be reminded of even the most basic of rules, especially with the major revision (and reduction from 34 to 25) in the ROG. Most golfers are so used to playing casual rounds with friends that when they play a "serious" round in a comp or with a club that they're unfamiliar with the rules and thus can, as I've seen, result in breaches of the rules that lead to confusion and arguments. 😮
Agree!
Hold on. For an unplayable ball, you have 2 club lengths for lateral relief as she mentions. However, you can ALSO take stroke and distance OR back on the line relief (with 1 club length).
Yes. She only covered one option because it is the option players might do incorrectly. She should have made it clear she only covered one of three option. However, it's pretty hard to mess up if you've chosen to replay your shot. And going back on a line is either straight forward or virtually impossible.
She should have covered the other options on this rule. This is probably one of the most encountered penalties and knowing all the rules can really help you.
And they are penalty areas now
Awesome job on teaching us viewers - thank you for clarity in your lesson to us . Fore !
I recently hit my ball in front of a movable 150 yard marker and to hit without moving it would have interfered with my swing. I moved it and then replaced it after my shot. Is that correct under the rules?
@@roslynmounsey9639 yes you can move 150 yard markers! They are classed as movable obstructions so you are all good 👍🏼
I think under the new rules you can opt for stroke and distance at anytime you want see rule 18.1
A lot of my mates seem to think they can flatten all the long grass around their ball ball as long as the ball itself doesn’t move 🤦♂️
Is one Peter Reed?
Oh dear 😂😂😂
Problem with slope on rangefinders (and now some GPS) is that many dont have a visible indication that slope is on (unlike my Bushnell) so you can be playing against someone who is using slope all the time. So I think R&A should allow slope for armature golf.
I think there are lots of elements of golf where you have to trust people so not sure where you would draw the line. Maybe just say you need an indicator on lasers to show if it is on or off, all mine have green/red colour sliders
There are two other factors:
In the amateur game, knowing the exact slope won't make a difference.
It would be quite OK to have a printed table of distance vs elevation which would give you a very reasonable estimate of slope
@@KeithWhittingham don't you think having a look up table would slow down play?
I agree that in some cases it might not benefit, but played a course yesterday and the difference on slope was 20 yards.
@@antd684 Yes of course using a table might slow the game down.
BUT.
What percentage of shots in a round are played where the slope is relevant? 4 or 5?
Then, most of the time the slope can be looked up while others are taking their shots, so no impact.
Then, if you're using slope all the time when you practice you're going to have a pretty good idea of what the slope is going to be.
And, if you're playing in a competition, you're going to have all these slopes marked on your shot plan before you start.
The OP is absolutely right. Banning slope calculators makes no sense. It's just ludism.
Thanks for the great video, but with rule 10, do you get a stroke penalty for that drop?
Yes 👍🏼
I hardly know any rules. These videos are very helpful.
So, on the unplayable drop (7/10). What if 2 club lengths doesn't get you to playable? Is going back and hitting from the previous spot (with penalty) your only real option? Is it an option? For example, one of the courses I play has an enormous ditch on the left on your second shot, and if you hook it into that ditch (which is not marked as out of bounds), if you get lucky and find your ball, 2 club lengths won't get you out of it. What should you do?
If 2 clubs lengths doesn't get you out, you have a few options. 1. go back and play from where you last hit. 2. go back in line with the point of entry and the pin 3. take a second drop. However, if it is a ditch and marked at the edge, you can usually take your two club lengths from the edge of the ditch, depending on if it's red or yellow.
Like the channel and have subscribed
@@roslynmounsey9639 thank you!!
On dropping the ball back on a line, do you now have the option of one club length from that point and (small point) its a penalty area not a hazard 👍
You have to drop back on the line but the ball can roll/bounce one club length sideways from that point.
Ok. I was thinking you have one club length from that point to drop and the ball has to stay in that one club length area. Thanks for clearing that up.
@@nationalclubgolfer the spot where the ball first touches the ground when dropped creates the relief area which is 1 club length in any direction from that spot
@@superduperawesome6858 As I understand it until this year you could drop within a club length but from 2023 on you must drop on the line and it can roll up to a club length (and until 2023 it could not roll forward, now it can, within that club length).
In your penalty drop example, could you drop it on the path and then get a free drop of the path.
Yes
@@thegolfref Really? That's a great rule to know about.
Yes as long as that course allows you to get free relief off the path
@@nationalclubgolfer Indeed. I forgot to add that important qualification 😬
#10, you can drop it on the other side of the path or even ion teh path and declare the path as of free relief and maybe get a better angle.
How do you play a wrong ball off the tee, please? I understand the concept once you have teed off, but I would have thought you can play any ball you like off the tee.
It is more likely from somewhere else on the hole other than the tee
The penalty area drops still confuse me from time to time and I’ve been playing for decades ! We have one hole where the penalty area is behind and to the left of the green and I don’t understand how you can drop ‘no nearer’ the hole? (There is no shot on the other side of the area as it’s a stream then heavy wooded area) The other one is 95% certain it’s in the penalty area. If the area is out of sight of where you’re hitting from and you don’t see it go in, how can you be that certain… ? 😂
If you can’t drop next to it no nearer the hole then you would have to take stoke and distance and go back and play from where you originally played! Agreed on the 95% rule it is funny
with the last rule, can you drop on the path, and then take relief from the path?
Yes if you get relief from the path which varies by course
It's such a shame that many of golf's rules make it confusing and inaccessible to many. So many easy gains that could be done by simplifying.
True but you only really need to know them for competitive golf, when you start anything goes really as you get into it
Yes. So, if you want to play the game, you either need to play it at a low level for fun (which can be great) or you learn rules that nobody can remember...@@nationalclubgolfer
The search clock does not stop when identifying a ball during the 3 minute search time. See clarification 18.2a(1)/3 second paragraph.
I can’t see it on that list but it does. I have watched R&A rules officials put this in place during elite amateur events
I’m afraid you need to look again. Identifying your ball isn’t listed as a clock stop in the examples in 18.2a(1)/1 and the second paragraph of 18.2a(1)/3 states the player may take as much time WITHIN the 3 minutes to identify. if the clock did stop there would be no need for the additional time granted for a ball found close to the expiry of the 3 minute search time
Feel free to double check with the R&A directly.
@@johnball2353Hi John, I didn't see your response before I posted the same comment. Sadly, too many referees fall foul on this rule!
Rule 1: learn the "unusual" rules and make the most of them (access to the rules *phone* is highly advisable)
Definitely!
The worst is when you hit an absolutely fine shot with no trouble possible, but it just disappears into thin air. I actually think losing balls in plain sight is the worst aspect of the game.
instead if declaring your ball lost can’t you just declare it unplayable and take stroke and distance?
Yes, you can. However, if you hit a provisional ball, and find your original ball, you are required to abandon the provisional ball. By declaring it provisional you have announced your intent to only use the provisional if the original ball cannot be found. So in that circumstance, you would need to abandon the provisional and go back to the spot the original shot was played from under stroke and distance.
@@tnsquire3195 correct but I suggested declaring it unplayable and playing a new ball. That is not a provisional. Then it doesn't matter if you find the previous ball it is no longer in play.
@@adrianbauze1864 the problem here is that in order to declare you’re ball unplayable, you must find it. Unless you are saying to just immediately declare it unplayable, drop another ball and play stroke and distance - but there would be no sense in doing this. You’d be better off playing the provisional and seeing if you can find the original ball. If you find it, then declare it unplayable, take the drop/stroke, but save the distance. So, I guess you could do that - I made the mistake of assuming you were asking for an option that made sense. Tin Cup was fiction.
@@tnsquire3195 i can’t remember the context i posted a month ago but show me where the rules say you need to find the ball to declare it unplayable. you won’t be able to. a player can declare any ball unplayable at any time he or she chooses. there are times when this makes sense. mainly to speed up play when you don’t want to find the ball because it is almost certain to be in a terrible position
@@adrianbauze1864 awwwwww - how cute. Totally embarrassed by his lack of understanding how to apply the rules. And he runs away and hides. No more stupid snarky takes?
Forget you lady...I'm kicking the ball past the tree trunk....and yes I'm having a laugh..
Same here....LOL everyone i play with does as well, we play "modified" rules...LOL
Rule 18.2 - it is worth knowing that you cannot make your original ball lost by declaration.
I never even look for my ball anymore. If I took 3 minutes to look for every ball I lost, a round of golf would take 4 days……
3 minutes is way too long. and it doesn't make sense how some players actually take 3+minutes just to take a dam shot....that should be a penalty.
@@sonicsega1699 No kidding. Takes freaking forever nowadays to play a round, if it’s not early on a Tuesday or something
I can imagine the guys in the dogfight see me riding back to the teebox to hit another one cause I hit the wrong ball
Check your ball carefully then 😂
Those legs !!!