Ball moving off the Tee

[NorfolkShaun]

On a note to an earlier thread if you take a practice swing on the tee and hit the ground which then knocks the ball off the tee is this classed as a stroke?

or take a practice swing and accidently move the ball from the tee is this also a stroke. i.e. wind from the club passing moving the ball or accidently clipping the ball with the club

I know watching Keegan Bradley he takes some practice swings very near the ball if he caused the ball to move the ball would he incur a penalty?

 

[Colin L]

A practice swing is not a stroke because you do not intend to hit the ball. If you do move the ball there is no penalty if it is before your first stroke at a hole as your ball is not in play. You often, however, have to put up with your mates trying to con you by shouting "One!"

lf your ball is in play, and your practice swing (whether directly or indirectly) moves your ball, you incur 1 penalty stroke and must replace the ball.

 

[NorfolkShaun]

Thank you Colin, great answer as usual.

To be honest rather than carrying a rule book around it may be easer for us to all carry a Colin around.

 

[Kellfire]

lf your ball is in play, and your practice swing (whether directly or indirectly) moves your ball, you incur 1 penalty stroke and must replace the ball.

Let's say your practice swing makes contact and it's a half decent shot, by sheer luck.

Can you choose to play on with no penalty?

If not, what is the penalty if you play from the new position?

 

[Colin L]

No you can't. Your practice swing was not made with the intention of hitting the ball so it can't become a stroke just because you liked the outcome

Rule 18-2 requires you to replace your ball. If you do not, and play from where the ball ends up, you lose the hole in match play or get a 2 stroke penalty in stroke play. If your half-decent "shot" gains you a significant advantage it could be a "serious breach" of the rule which in stroke play would lead to disqualification unless you went back to the tee and played from the right place (with the 2 stroke penalty) before teeing off at the next hole or if it happened on the 18th, before leaving the green for your beer.

(You could, of course, pretend that you intended to hit the ball from the outset, but that's a matter of the player's integrity.)