Provisional ball

[Laverymj]

Hi. You’ve hit your ball deep into the rough and thinking it might be lost you play a provisional ball. You find your first ball but decide it’s unplayable. But there’s not any better ground within 2 club lengths. The rules allow you to play a ball from the original position - so why aren’t you allowed to then play the provisional ball?

 

[rulefan]

Hi. You’ve hit your ball deep into the rough and thinking it might be lost you play a provisional ball. You find your first ball but decide it’s unplayable. But there’s not and better ground within 2 club lengths. The rules allow you to play a ball from the original position - so why aren’t you allowed to then play the provisional ball?

Because you cannot have a choice about which ball you prefer to play. Otherwise everyone would be hitting a provisional just to see if they could get a better position. Technically your first ball is still the ball in play so you must play it.

 

[jim8flog]

It is in the wording -'provisional'

You may play that ball 'provided' you do not find the first one.

 

[Laverymj]

Because you cannot have a choice about which ball you prefer to play. Otherwise everyone would be hitting a provisional just to see if they could get a better position. Technically your first ball is still the ball in play so you must play it.

Hi. And thank you for your swift response. But I’m sorry that doesn’t make sense. No one would give up 2 shots just to get a better position. A player can decide at any time if the ball is unplayable and take relief from either of the three options, one of which is stroke and distance from the original spot. You’ve already played that with the provisional ball. So why not?

 

[rulefan]

Because you now know the outcome of the provisional. You are the one who makes the decision on the original being unplayable. If the provisional is better than the first, whether or not it is actually unplayable, you will choose it. Although you might have paid the S&D penalty, it is with a guaranteed outcome. Going back under 'unplayable' S&D doesn't give you any guarantee that next won't be OOB (say).

 

[Laverymj]

Because you now know the outcome of the provisional. You are the one who makes the decision on the original being unplayable. If the provisional is better than the first, whether or not it is actually unplayable, you will choose it. Although you might have paid the S&D penalty, it is with a guaranteed outcome. Going back under 'unplayable' S&D doesn't give you any guarantee that next won't be OOB (say).

Ok. Thank you. So I’d have to go back and play again and hope to avoid the trouble. ?