Identifying your ball

[muttleee]

If a particular friend of mine needs to identify his ball in the rough, he puts his finger on top of it and spins it around on its axis till he can see for sure if it has his identifying mark. I can't help thinking that this is illegal under the rules but he insists that since he's not actually lifting the ball, he doesn't have to mark it. The rule book defines penalties for not marking the ball before lifting it but doesn't say whether you have to lift it. Does it sound legit to touch your ball in this way?

 

[need_my_wedge]

Nope. I got NR'd a couple of weeks back for lifting and checking without notifying my playing partner. I don't think you can rotate the ball without moving it one way or the other, or lifting it slightly in order for it to rotate it.

 

[Doh]

There is a correct way to identify your ball anything other than that is a penalty.

 

[Matty]

Surely marking and lifting is the recognised way of identifying your ball and returning it to it's original position.

Surely, holding it on an axis and rotating it could move it slightly or improve the lie, both of which incur penalty strokes.

 

[CMAC]

you are allowed to FAIRLY identify your ball, safest way is to do it while your playing partners look on, marking with a tee first is also good. maybe someone knows the official rule now as its prob been updated

 

[Tommo21]

If a particular friend of mine needs to identify his ball in the rough, he puts his finger on top of it and spins it around on its axis till he can see for sure if it has his identifying mark. I can't help thinking that this is illegal under the rules but he insists that since he's not actually lifting the ball, he doesn't have to mark it. The rule book defines penalties for not marking the ball before lifting it but doesn't say whether you have to lift it. Does it sound legit to touch your ball in this way?

If need be, I shout my partner over and I always turn it on it's axis, that way the ball is still in the same spot. Dont see anything wrong with that.

 

[MashieNiblick]

Those clever chappies at the R&A have as usual already thought about it and pronounced as follows:

Decision 12-2/2 Touching and Rotating Half-Buried Ball in Rough for Identification Purposes

"Q. A ball is half buried in the rough. Having announced his intention in advance to his opponent, marker or fellow-competitor, the player, for the purpose of identifying the ball, touches the ball and rotates it. By so doing he identifies the ball as his ball. Is there a penalty?

A. Yes, for touching the ball other than as provided for in the Rules (Rule 18-2a). Under Rules 12-2 and 20-1, a ball may be lifted (or touched and rotated) for identification purposes after its position has been marked. If the player had marked the position of the ball before rotating it, there would have been no penalty, assuming the rotating did not result in the ball being cleaned beyond the extent necessary to identify it."

I always thought it was OK just to rotate the ball if your opponent/playing partner/marker was watching but it appears you have to mark it first. Rule 18-2a prohibits a player from touching his ball purposely except with a club in the act of addressing it or as provided by the Rules - penalty 1 stroke.

 

[CMAC]

marking with a tee first is also good.

common sense really

 

[HomerJSimpson]

marking with a tee first is also good.

common sense really

True but how many would think of doing it in the monthly medal with a group waiting behind

 

[JCW]

you can mark it lift it to see if its your ball and replace it , but you have to inform the player in your group marking your card of your intentions before you proceed , you are not allowed to clean the ball

 

[Tommo21]

There are times when the rules are so stupid. If your balls in the rough, you have more chance of moving it when trying to mark it. You cant mark right on the ball for fear of moving it, so if it moves how will you know you've put it back on the same spot.

Would anyone call a penalty if he says he's goind to ID his ball when you're there. TBH I never have and never will as long as I'm there to see his actions.

 

[Doh]

There is a correct way to identify your ball anything other than that is a penalty.

As I said

 

[Imurg]

The daft thing in the rules is that it says you MUST be able to identify your ball.
It also says you SHOULD mark your ball in a way that you can identify it.

MUST and SHOULD have very different meanings. SHOULD means it's a good idea but not compulsory.

How then are you to identify your ball if you haven't put an identifying mark on it - which you don't have to do...??

No mark = no identification.

 

[Tommo21]

My HC is wrong then.

 

[muttleee]

Ah, good stuff. I'll point that out to him next time he tries it.