Golf rules: What to do after a double-hit or when the ball hits another object?

These situations are not uncommon on the golf course, but many golfers don't know how to handle them according to the rules.

When situations like this happen, you and your playing partners can't help but laugh.

It happens when you chip with a decelerating swing through impact, resulting in a double-hit. Or when you take a high-speed sand shot but unfortunately the club 'cuts' the ball, causing it to hit your right-hand bag and bounce to another location. So how do you handle a situation like this?

Fortunately, since the latest golf rules have been revised, handling these situations is no longer as complicated as before, it's even relatively simple.

What you need to do is follow Rules 10a and 11, which outline how to handle situations where you accidentally hit the ball twice in succession or when a moving ball strikes a person, animal, equipment, or any other object on the course. If these occurrences are accidental, there is no penalty. Players must accept the result of the situation and play the ball from where it lies. This rule applies even if the ball hits you, another player, or their equipment (like a golf bag or a sand rake).

Intentionally and punishable

A player will incur a general penalty (two-stroke penalty in stroke play or loss of hole in match play) if they deliberately alter the position or direction of a moving ball. This applies whether it is their own ball or a ball in play by another player.

If done deliberately, the ball will no longer be played from where it lies. Instead, you must estimate where the ball would have come to rest had it not been deflected or obstructed, and drop the ball within one club-length of that spot. As usual, the ball must not be nearer the hole.

If the incident occurs on the green, the penalty still applies, but the stroke is not counted and the ball is replaced in its original position.

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