Hitting another ball on the green

Jigger

Club Champion
Joined
Aug 25, 2009
Messages
1,822
Visit site
The below suggests it’s a two shot penalty in stroke play only. Is there anything in the rules that I can be pointed to that suggests it’s a penalty under match play or stableford? A search on the R&A app did not present anything. Is stableford classed as stroke play in the instance (I didn’t check for this in the terms)?

Thanks

11.1a

No Penalty to Any Player​

If a player’s ball in motion accidentally hits any person (including the player) or outside influence:
  • There is no penalty to any player.
  • This is true even if the ball hits the player, the opponent or any other player or any of their caddies or equipment.
Exception – Ball Played on Putting Green in Stroke Play: If the player’s ball in motion hits another ball at rest on the putting green and both balls were on the putting green before the stroke, the player gets the general penalty (two penalty strokes).
 

backwoodsman

Tour Winner
Joined
Mar 3, 2008
Messages
6,800
Location
sarf Lunnon
Visit site
As rule 11.1a says, there's no penalty if a player's ball strikes an outside influence - and another ball is, by definition, (see definitions) an outside influence. But the exception goes on to say it is a penalty in the circumstances described. So, it's only a penalty in strokeplay, and not a penalty in matchplay.

Stableford is strokeplay (again, see definitions)
 

Jigger

Club Champion
Joined
Aug 25, 2009
Messages
1,822
Visit site
As rule 11.1a says, there's no penalty if a player's ball strikes an outside influence - and another ball is, by definition, (see definitions) an outside influence. But the exception goes on to say it is a penalty in the circumstances described. So, it's only a penalty in strokeplay, and not a penalty in matchplay.

Stableford is strokeplay (again, see definitions)
Thanks for clarifying
 

rulefan

Tour Winner
Joined
Feb 21, 2013
Messages
14,578
Visit site
The below suggests it’s a two shot penalty in stroke play only. Is there anything in the rules that I can be pointed to that suggests it’s a penalty under match play or stableford? A search on the R&A app did not present anything. Is stableford classed as stroke play in the instance (I didn’t check for this in the terms)?
A very timely question. The R&A have just published a new Clarification effective from January this year.

Rule 11:
Rule 11.1:
11.1b(2)/1 – Ball played from putting green hits another ball in motion on the putting green. A ball is a movable obstruction, including when it is in motion on the putting green.
If it is known or virtually certain that a player’s ball in motion played from the putting green accidentally hits another ball in motion on the putting green, the player must replay the stroke by playing the original ball or another ball from the spot where that stroke was made (see Rule 14.6).(Added January 2024)


See the new thread I posted earlier today.
 
Last edited:

salfordlad

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 16, 2020
Messages
891
Visit site
A very timely question. The R&A have just published a new Clarification effective from January this year.

Rule 11:
Rule 11.1:
11.1b(2)/1 – Ball played from putting green hits another ball in motion on the putting green. A ball is a movable obstruction, including when it is in motion on the putting green.
If it is known or virtually certain that a player’s ball in motion played from the putting green accidentally hits another ball in motion on the putting green, the player must replay the stroke by playing the original ball or another ball from the spot where that stroke was made (see Rule 14.6).(Added January 2024)


See the new thread I posted earlier today.
I caution readers not to confuse these two issues. The OP relates to a stroke from the putting green hitting a ball in play (ie at rest) on the putting green, which is not the subject of the clarification - the stroke from the green making contact with a ball in motion. The first is the stuff of the 11.1a Exception, the second is adding more public information about the application of 11.1b(2) - they are different beasts.
 

cliveb

Head Pro
Joined
Oct 8, 2012
Messages
2,445
Visit site
A very timely question. The R&A have just published a new Clarification effective from January this year.

Rule 11:
Rule 11.1:
11.1b(2)/1 – Ball played from putting green hits another ball in motion on the putting green. A ball is a movable obstruction, including when it is in motion on the putting green.
If it is known or virtually certain that a player’s ball in motion played from the putting green accidentally hits another ball in motion on the putting green, the player must replay the stroke by playing the original ball or another ball from the spot where that stroke was made (see Rule 14.6).(Added January 2024)


See the new thread I posted earlier today.
Can I ask the experts here:

1. If both balls in motion were played from the putting green, presumably both must be replayed from their original positions?

2. As far as I can tell there is no penalty - is that right?
 

salfordlad

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 16, 2020
Messages
891
Visit site
When the Rules refer to a ball at rest or in motion, this means a ball that is in play.

However, your warning was worthwhile although I would expect readers would have spotted the difference..
Of course it does. I wrote that in to contrast with the very different situation you were writing about (in motion).
 

salfordlad

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 16, 2020
Messages
891
Visit site
Can I ask the experts here:

1. If both balls in motion were played from the putting green, presumably both must be replayed from their original positions?

2. As far as I can tell there is no penalty - is that right?
Yes and Yes (to be clear, we are referring to accidental contact).
 

Rlburnside

Challenge Tour Pro
Joined
Jan 16, 2014
Messages
3,280
Visit site
I caution readers not to confuse these two issues. The OP relates to a stroke from the putting green hitting a ball in play (ie at rest) on the putting green, which is not the subject of the clarification - the stroke from the green making contact with a ball in motion. The first is the stuff of the 11.1a Exception, the second is adding more public information about the application of 11.1b(2) - they are different beasts.
I’m confused are you saying if a stroke from the putting green hits another ball on the putting green this is not the subject of the clarification? Only salfordlads reply to cliveb seems to contradict this.
 

Rlburnside

Challenge Tour Pro
Joined
Jan 16, 2014
Messages
3,280
Visit site
I’m confused are you saying if a stroke from the putting green hits another ball on the putting green this is not the subject of the clarification? Only salfordlads reply to cliveb seems to contradict this.
I see where I got confused, it was the term ‘in motion’
 

salfordlad

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 16, 2020
Messages
891
Visit site
I see where I got confused, it was the term ‘in motion’
The scenario in the OP has nothing to do with the clarification that Rulefan discussed - contacts with ball at rest or ball in motion get different treatment. The scenario in cliveb's post was completely different than the one in the OP, but it followed up on the different subject that Rulefan discussed.
 
Top