Why Does He get To Choose?

Best thing to do is to forget the discussion (which probably won't be difficult) and definitely ignore all the stuff I started on multiple choice questions. Hold on to what you can or can't do. I'll try to find a few moments later in the day to summarise the outcome.
 
But should I be worried that it's taken those who have more than a decent grasp of the rules this long to agree..?
What chance do us mere mortals have?
I don't think that's a fair representation of the 5 pages.

The original post questioned why a player was permitted to have a choice of which ball to play in one of the answers given to a multiple choice question, but not in another, seemingly similar question.

There was no disagreement with the answer to this apparent riddle - you may always proceed under stroke and distance, so you always have an additional choice where continuing with the original ball is also one. That this point is not contained within one of the answers offered by whoever set the other quiz doesn't detract from an appropriate answer existing; however, this led to a discussion on the issues associated with multiple choice questions and aspects of wording.

What the discussion did throw up was a potential procedural anomaly, closely related to another recognised one in the same area of the new rules, which has already been flagged (it's not been raised in these forums). In this instance it wouldn't have any negative impact on playing or ruling but appears to need tidying up - probably with an interpretation or clarification.
 
...and so - if I understand what has changed.

If I get to where I think my ball is and start looking - but it isn't immediately found - I have a NEW option to deciding to take stroke and distance (and putting a new ball into play) - something I can do at any time under any circumstances.

When I get to where I think my ball is - as long as I am within three minutes I can go back to where I played my shot from and play a provisional - previously I was not able to do that unless I was close to the place I played the shot from and made a quick decision to play the provisional.

Now I can be e.g. 250yds down the hole from where I played the shot - and may not get to the point I think the ball lies for e.g. ten minutes. At that point I can decide to walk all the way back and play a provisional. If I play before 3minutes is up then that ball is a provisional - if not and my original is not found then it is the ball in play - the original is dead. No change to the rule in respect of finding my original ball - so that if my original ball is found within - now - 3minutes - then I have to play my original.
 
...and so - if I understand what has changed.

If I get to where I think my ball is and start looking - but it isn't immediately found - I have a NEW option to deciding to take stroke and distance (and putting a new ball into play) - something I can do at any time under any circumstances.

When I get to where I think my ball is - as long as I am within three minutes I can go back to where I played my shot from and play a provisional - previously I was not able to do that unless I was close to the place I played the shot from and made a quick decision to play the provisional.

Now I can be e.g. 250yds down the hole from where I played the shot - and may not get to the point I think the ball lies for e.g. ten minutes. At that point I can decide to walk all the way back and play a provisional. If I play before 3minutes is up then that ball is a provisional - if not and my original is not found then it is the ball in play - the original is dead. No change to the rule in respect of finding my original ball - so that if my original ball is found within - now - 3minutes - then I have to play my original.
1. Unless you are really confusing things here, and are referencing the new 2 stroke LR option, there is no NEW option.
2. Yes, revised rule in that the previous restrictions on playing a provisional after going forward to search have been removed.
3. Yes, revision in respect of your second paragraph only.
 
1. Unless you are really confusing things here, and are referencing the new 2 stroke LR option, there is no NEW option.
2. Yes, revised rule in that the previous restrictions on playing a provisional after going forward to search have been removed.
3. Yes, revision in respect of your second paragraph only.
I think the 1st para should read "I have an ALTERNATIVE to deciding to take stroke and distance ...."
 
That's goodt! We can enter 2019 in the warm glow of agreement. (y)

Seems odd to me though - because the lie of the dropped ball could influence the decision as to which ball to use. If you have dropped into a divot hole (poor dropping from knee height I know), then you maybe more likely to play the original ball. Hence there is an element of choice beyond what you would have if you hadn't dropped the ball prior to finding the original.
So I don;t know whether backed up by the rules or not but I'd like to shatter the warm glow and say that if not already required by the rules you should have to make your decision on the basis of having to pick up the dropped ball.
 
Top