Rule 5. The Ball
Definitions
All defined terms are in italics and are listed alphabetically in
the Definitions section — see pages 5-18.
5-1. General
The ball the player plays must conform to the requirements
specified in Appendix III.
Note: The Committee may require, in the conditions of a competition
(Rule 33-1), that the ball the player plays must be named
on the current List of Conforming Golf Balls issued by the
United States Golf Association.
5-2. Foreign Material
Foreign material must not be applied to a ball for the purpose
of changing its playing characteristics.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 5-1 or 5-2: Disqualification.
5-3. Ball Unfit for Play
A ball is unfit for play if it is visibly cut, cracked or out of
shape. A ball is not unfit for play solely because mud or other
materials adhere to it, its surface is scratched or scraped or its
paint is damaged or discolored.
If a player has reason to believe his ball has become unfit for
play during play of the hole being played, he may lift the ball,
without penalty, to determine whether it is unfit.
Before lifting the ball, the player must announce his intention
to his opponent in match play or his marker or a fellow-competitor
in stroke play and mark the position of the ball. He may
then lift and examine it, provided that he gives his opponent,
marker or fellow-competitor an opportunity to examine the ball
and observe the lifting and replacement. The ball must not be
cleaned when lifted under Rule 5-3.
If the player fails to comply with all or any part of this procedure
or if he lifts the ball without having reason to believe
that it has become unfit for play during play of the hole being
played, he incurs a penalty of one stroke.
If it is determined that the ball has become unfit for play during
play of the hole being played, the player may substitute
another ball, placing it on the spot where the original ball
lay. Otherwise, the original ball must be replaced. If a player
substitutes a ball when not permitted and makes a stroke at the
wrongly substituted ball, he incurs the general penalty for a
breach of Rule 5-3, but there is no additional penalty under
this Rule or Rule 15-2.
If a ball breaks into pieces as a result of a stroke, the stroke is
canceled and the player must play a ball, without penalty, as
nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was
played (see Rule 20-5).
28 Rule 5
Rule 6 29
*PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 5-3:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.
*If a player incurs the general penalty for breach of Rule 5-3,
there is no additional penalty under this Rule.
Note 1: If the opponent, marker or fellow-competitor wishes to dispute
a claim of unfitness, he must do so before the player plays
another ball.
Note 2: If the original lie of a ball to be placed or replaced has
been altered, see Rule 20-3b.
(Cleaning ball lifted from putting green or under any other
Rule — see Rule 21.)
