Hit wrong ball *by accident

[garyinderry]

As the title says I hit the wrong ball by accident recently. Isnt it always I hear you say?

I say by accident because that's what actually happened. I hooked my tee shot into shin high rough. With the next shot requiring a carry over water the sensible play was to pitch out sideways on the fairway.
The lie wasnt great so I took a few swipes in the rough a few feet away to get a feel for the shot. On the 2nd practice swing in the rough, a Callaway ball popped out of the rough. It was completely hidden from my view. I had no intention of hitting it. It was just hiding in there.

So what happens here. I've hit the wrong ball. Is this still a penalty?

Real bad rub of the green?

 

[doublebogey7]

No penalty, you had no intention to hit any ball so what you did does not meet the definition of a "Stroke".

 

[Foxholer]

No 'cost' (penalty or stroke) imo! The foreign ball was not 'in play'. I disagree with doulbebogey's logic as unintentionally hitting your ball ithat is n play still costs a stroke (though no penalty).

Btw. Here's an interesting-ish variation on 'no penalty for accidentally hitting your own ball' though!

 

[rulefan]

No 'cost' (penalty or stroke) imo! The foreign ball was not 'in play'. I disagree with doulbebogey's logic as unintentionally hitting your ball ithat is n play still costs a stroke (though no penalty).

db7 is correct. There is a difference between moving the ball in play accidentally (9.4b) and moving a stray ball accidentally (6.3c).

 

[Foxholer]

db7 is correct. There is a difference between moving the ball in play accidentally (9.4b) and moving a stray ball accidentally (6.3c).

On reflection, I agree. As happens quite frequently in RofG, some situations are covered by default or exclusion/absence. Player's action didn't breach 3(c) because, as db7 posted, it wasn't a 'Stroke'. even though it WAS a 'wrong ball' (as defined by Rule 9).
And Zach Johnson's accidental hitting of his teed ball cost him nothing as the ball was not 'in play' (as per definition of 'in play') - so he hadn't made a 'Stroke' (as per that definition) at it.