Ball Unplayable

[CliveW]

Another scenario you might wish to use S&D is that you putt off the green and leave yourself a horrid and very difficult pitch off a bare lie. An option is to use S&D, put your ball back on the green , and have your putt again (you know the putt much better this time )

This I understand, but what is confusing me is that Rule 28a states that you proceed under the stroke and distance provision of Rule 27-1, but Rule 27-1 relates to Stroke and Distance; Ball Out of Bounds;Ball not Found Within Five Minutes, which none applies to the initial scenario.

I think what else I have misunderstood is that you are playing from where the original shot was taken, as you would if you hit your tee shot into a bunker and then elect to take three off the tee.

 

[bladeplayer]

Just read the rules article in this months GM regarding 'ball unplayable'. Would I be correct in thinking that: if I putted off the green I could deem the ball unplayable and place my ball back on the green, under penalty of course?

Not true. Rule 28 states, "If the unplayable ball is in a bunker, the player may proceed under Clause a, b, or c. If he elects to proceed under Clause b or c, a ball must be dropped in the hazard."

The confusion here is, itswhere he played the ball from not where the ball ended up ..

He played the ball from the putting surface , so the fact he putted into a bunker is irrelevent , he goes back to where he played his last shot .. on the green

 

[Spuddy]

This I understand, but what is confusing me is that Rule 28a states that you proceed under the stroke and distance provision of Rule 27-1, but Rule 27-1 relates to Stroke and Distance; Ball Out of Bounds;Ball not Found Within Five Minutes, which none applies to the initial scenario.

I think what else I have misunderstood is that you are playing from where the original shot was taken, as you would if you hit your tee shot into a bunker and then elect to take three off the tee.

Clive I've covered this in post 15. Rule 27-1 is split into 3 sections. The only part that is applicable is the "stroke and distance provision". The other two provisions (OOB and ball not found...) are irrelevant.

 

[CliveW]

Clive I've covered this in post 15. Rule 27-1 is split into 3 sections. The only part that is applicable is the "stroke and distance provision". The other two provisions (OOB and ball not found...) are irrelevant.

Then why is the heading for Rule 27 "Ball Lost or Out of Bounds; Provisional ball"? In this scenario the ball is neither of these so surely the whole of Rule 27 has no relevance to the situation.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Then why is the heading for Rule 27 "Ball Lost or Out of Bounds; Provisional ball"? In this scenario the ball is neither of these so surely the whole of Rule 27 has no relevance to the situation.

They are separate topics under that rule. I imagine they put Stroke and Distance under that heading as all three topics and circumstances include returning to where you played your previous shot - and 'Not Found' and 'Out of Bounds' include as an option returning to where you played your previous shot. So for example 'going back to the tee and playing three off the tee' is precisely the same as taking S&D - just that the circumstances are specific for the former.

 

[MashieNiblick]

Then why is the heading for Rule 27 "Ball Lost or Out of Bounds; Provisional ball"? In this scenario the ball is neither of these so surely the whole of Rule 27 has no relevance to the situation.

Think of it this way. Rule 27 tells you what you can do if your ball is lost or out of bounds. One of those options - 27-1a is also something you can do at any time hence the wording.

a. Proceeding Under Stroke and Distance

At any time, a player may, under penalty of one stroke, play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5), i.e. proceed under penalty of stroke and distance.

and why there are separate sections (b and c) for ball OOB or lost

Rule 28 and other Rules e.g Rule 26, simply confirm that you can also use that option in the specific circumstances covered by those Rules.

 

[Spuddy]

Then why is the heading for Rule 27 "Ball Lost or Out of Bounds; Provisional ball"? In this scenario the ball is neither of these so surely the whole of Rule 27 has no relevance to the situation.

I've no idea why they named rule 27 as such. Im presuming the stroke and distance rule is in that section as the most common scenario where you would take S&D would be when the ball is lost or OOB. The rules are long enough without repeating the S&D option in every section where it is applicable, hence why it just provides the reference to where it is written.

 

[rulefan]

Then why is the heading for Rule 27 "Ball Lost or Out of Bounds; Provisional ball"? In this scenario the ball is neither of these so surely the whole of Rule 27 has no relevance to the situation.

Mentioning 27-1a (in 28 and 26) is simply a pointer to the facility/procedure not a constraint on the circumstances.

The title to 27 is about three specific situations. One of which is 'Stroke and Distance'. The other 2 are 'Ball Out Of Bounds' and 'Ball not Found Within Five Minutes'
Each has it's own Clause. a, b and c respectively.