Provisional Ball Rule Golf

What It Looks Like

A provisional ball is a second ball you may play, to save time, when your original might be lost outside a penalty area or might be out of bounds. It is played from where your previous stroke was made: anywhere in the teeing area (it may be teed), or dropped within one club-length of that spot elsewhere. The provisional ball is not in play until the original is lost or out of bounds, or until you play the provisional from a spot nearer the hole than where the original is estimated to be.

Before you play it, you must tell someone you are playing a provisional ball. Saying 'I'll hit another' is not enough. If you don't announce it, that ball is in play under stroke and distance and the original is out of play.

Main Causes

The provisional ball rule is used when:

• Your ball might be lost (not found within 3 minutes after you or your caddie begin to search).
• Your ball might be out of bounds (OB).
• Your ball might be lost outside a penalty area or might be out of bounds. You may not play a provisional for a ball that can only be in a penalty area.

Quick Self-Check

Ask yourself:

• Might my ball be lost outside a penalty area, or might it be out of bounds?
• Have I announced "provisional" before playing the second ball?
• If the original is found, is it on the course outside a penalty area, in a penalty area, or out of bounds?

Main Fix

If your ball might be lost outside a penalty area or might be out of bounds, announce and play a provisional from where your previous stroke was made. If the original is found on the course outside a penalty area within the 3-minute search time, play it as it lies and abandon the provisional. If it is found in a penalty area, you must abandon the provisional and play the original as it lies or take penalty-area relief under Rule 17. If the original is lost or out of bounds, the provisional becomes your ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance. The one penalty stroke is already counted: a provisional played from the tee is your third stroke.

You don't have to search at all. You may simply continue with the provisional. But if your original is found on the course outside a penalty area within the 3-minute search, and you have not yet played the provisional from a spot nearer the hole than where the original is estimated to be, you must play the original.

Source: Rules of Golf (R&A/USGA, 2023 edition), Rules 18.1–18.3: https://www.randa.org/en/rog/the-rules-of-golf/rule-18

Common Mistakes

• Playing the provisional from the wrong spot: Play it from where your previous stroke was made: anywhere in the teeing area (it may be teed), or dropped within one club-length of that spot elsewhere.
• Not announcing it: Saying 'I'll hit another' is not enough. Without the word "provisional" or an equally clear statement, the second ball is in play under stroke and distance.
• Adding an extra stroke: The one penalty stroke is already counted. A provisional played from the tee is your third stroke.
• Moving the original when it is found: If the original is found in time, play it as it lies.
• Playing a provisional for a ball that can only be in a penalty area: That is not allowed. Use penalty-area relief under Rule 17 instead.

Drills

Drill 1: 3-Minute Search Simulation

Setup: Practice the search clock in a realistic scenario, such as light rough.

Steps:

1. Have a friend drop a ball somewhere in the rough without showing you.
2. At the tee, announce "I'm playing a provisional" before hitting a second ball.
3. Start a 3-minute timer when you begin to search.
4. If the original is found on the course outside a penalty area within 3 minutes, play it as it lies and pick up the provisional.
5. If not found, continue with the provisional. From the tee, your next stroke is your fourth.

Reps: 5 times per session.

What Good Looks Like: You announce every time, start the clock when the search begins, and count strokes correctly.

Drill 2: Provisional Ball Placement

Setup: Practice putting a provisional in play from the correct spot.

Steps:

1. Hit a shot from the teeing area and pretend it might be out of bounds.
2. Tee it up in the teeing area, or drop it within one club-length of where the previous stroke was made.
3. Repeat from a spot in the fairway, this time dropping within one club-length of where the previous stroke was made.
4. Repeat with different starting points.

Reps: 5 times per session.

What Good Looks Like: You tee or drop the provisional in the right place every time.

Drill 3: Provisional Ball Decision-Making

Setup: Practice deciding whether a provisional is allowed.

Steps:

1. Have a friend describe where a ball went: trees, near a white-stake boundary, or into a pond.
2. Decide whether the ball might be lost outside a penalty area or might be out of bounds.
3. If yes, announce and play a provisional. If the ball can only be in a penalty area, don't; plan Rule 17 relief instead.
4. After each scenario, check your decision against Rule 18.3.

Reps: 5 times per session.

What Good Looks Like: You only play a provisional when one is allowed, and you always announce it.

When to See a PGA Professional

You should see a PGA professional if:

• You're unsure about the rules of the provisional ball.
• You're unsure about when the 3-minute search starts.
• You're unsure about when the provisional becomes your ball in play.
• You're struggling with decision-making under pressure or in complex situations.

FAQ

What is a provisional ball?

A second ball you may play, after announcing it, to save time, when your original might be lost outside a penalty area or might be out of bounds.

When can I play a provisional ball?

When your ball might be lost outside a penalty area or might be out of bounds. You may not play a provisional for a ball that can only be in a penalty area.

What happens if I find my original ball within 3 minutes?

If it is on the course outside a penalty area, you must play it as it lies and abandon the provisional. If it is in a penalty area, abandon the provisional and play the original as it lies or take penalty-area relief under Rule 17.

What happens if I find my original ball out of bounds?

The provisional becomes your ball in play under stroke and distance. The one penalty stroke is already counted: a provisional played from the tee is your third stroke.

What happens if I don't find my original ball within 3 minutes?

The original is lost. The provisional becomes your ball in play under stroke and distance.

Do I have to search for 3 minutes?

No. You don't have to search at all. You may simply continue with the provisional. But if your original is found on the course outside a penalty area within the 3-minute search, and you have not yet played the provisional from a spot nearer the hole than where the original is estimated to be, you must play the original.

Can I play a provisional if I'm unsure whether my ball is lost or out of bounds?

Yes. That is exactly when a provisional is allowed: your ball might be lost outside a penalty area or might be out of bounds.

What if I don't say "provisional"?

Then the second ball is in play under stroke and distance and the original is out of play. Saying 'I'll hit another' is not enough.

Related pages

• Unplayable ball rule
• Out of bounds rule
• Mark, lift and clean rules
• Uneven lies
• Mental game

Sources

• Rules of Golf (R&A/USGA, 2023 edition), Rules 18.1–18.3: https://www.randa.org/en/rog/the-rules-of-golf/rule-18
• Rule 14.6 (making next stroke from where previous stroke made): https://www.randa.org/en/rog/the-rules-of-golf/rule-14