Broken Ball

[RmoorePE]

The Setup:

 

This came up last night during a HS match. It may have even decided the outcome of the match, so not an insignificant issue (of course it could have been the ten 2 footers our team missed).

 

Player hit her second shot, and the ball went about 100 yards, but it cracked down the middle. I happened to be standing there and heard it go by making a fluttering sound. As she came up I said "I think your ball broke" and she thought it hit a tree bringing a leaf. Sure enough when we got to it a crack was right through but the pieces were still attached via the end of the crack.

 

We called the club pro, and he stated to go to the biggest piece of the ball and play next shot from there with a new ball. I tried to use the rules app, but my app wasn't updated so that was out the window.

 

I sort of doubt it happens again, but I coach High Schoolers and many of them have no problem taking a ball out of a pond and playing it in a match the next day because "I liked the color". So I guess it could.

 

The Question:

 

What is the correct way to handle a partially broken ball?

 

Drop at initial hit? Drop at where biggest piece landed? Place in landing spot, or place in initial hit location?

 

 

[Schulzmc]

If the ball breaks into pieces the stroke does not count and the shot is replayed with a new ball. But it sounds like the ball was still in one piece (albeit barely). In that case the player may mark the ball and lift it to inspect it. If indeed it is cracked the player may use a new ball placed at the spot of the mark. 

 

There is nothing I can find in the rules about going to where the biggest piece ended up. 

 

EDIT: Check out rule 4.2 for more detail.

Edited May 3 by Schulzmc

[Newby]

36 minutes ago, Schulzmc said:

 

There is nothing I can find in the rules about going to where the biggest piece ended up. 

 

 

In 1875 a player could put down a new ball where the largest piece lay, amended slightly in 1891 to being where either piece lay if they were of approximately equal size, and finally to wherever any piece lay in 1908.

 

Subsequently, better durability was perhaps the reason that in 1933, rule 24 did not mention a ball breaking into pieces separately, but was reworded as being 'so damaged as to be unfit for play'.  The rule reappeared in 1976, specifying the player was to replay the stroke.

[nsxguy]

Broken into pieces - one of the few times one gets a "do-over" in golf.

[James the Hogan Fan]

9 hours ago, nsxguy said:

Broken into pieces - one of the few times one gets a "do-over" in golf.

I like the power line shot. You get the reward of one of the whackiest sounds on the planet (twayuupyuupyuup) AND a do-over. A win win all around.

[Nels55]

12 hours ago, James the Hogan Fan said:

I like the power line shot. You get the reward of one of the whackiest sounds on the planet (twayuupyuupyuup) AND a do-over. A win win all around.

When you nut one dead center of the face right down the middle on a really tight hole and it hits the wire it is not a win win.  I  have had this happen to me on two holes on my course several times and I  have seen it happen to other golfers a lot of times.  Lol I have hit a wire on two consecutive shots a couple of times also.  
 

Also I have twice hit balls that were heading ob and was very happy to see them hit the wire.  The good shot scenario happens way more often though.

 

Now that I think about I have seen good shots strike wires on two other holes.  Not a good thing.

Edited May 4 by Nels55
typo

[davep043]

4 hours ago, James the Hogan Fan said:

I like the power line shot. You get the reward of one of the whackiest sounds on the planet (twayuupyuupyuup) AND a do-over. A win win all around.

 

4 hours ago, Nels55 said:

When you nut one did center of the face right down the middle on a really tight hole and it hits the wire it is not a win win.  I  have had this happen to me on two holes on my course several times and I  have seen it happen to other golfers a lot of times.  Lol I have hit a wire on two consecutive shots a couple of times also.  
 

Also I have twice hit balls that were heading ob and was very happy to see them hit the wire.  The good shot scenario happens way more often though.

 

Now that I think about I have seen good shots strike wires on two other holes.  Not a good thing.

You should remember that you get a "do over" ONLY if Model Local Rule E-11 is in effect, and if it is, you MUST replay the shot, you don't have the option of accepting the results of the first shot.

15 hours ago, Newby said:

In 1875 a player could put down a new ball where the largest piece lay, amended slightly in 1891 to being where either piece lay if they were of approximately equal size, and finally to wherever any piece lay in 1908.

 

Subsequently, better durability was perhaps the reason that in 1933, rule 24 did not mention a ball breaking into pieces separately, but was reworded as being 'so damaged as to be unfit for play'.  The rule reappeared in 1976, specifying the player was to replay the stroke.

I love that www.ruleshistory.com describes the way that changes in technology led to changes in the wording of the rules.  

[James the Hogan Fan]

 

5 hours ago, davep043 said:

 

You should remember that you get a "do over" ONLY if Model Local Rule E-11 is in effect, and if it is, you MUST replay the shot, you don't have the option of accepting the results of the first shot.

I love that www.ruleshistory.com describes the way that changes in technology led to changes in the wording of the rules.  

I am yet to play a course where wires were in play without the automatic do-over rule in place, to the point where it almost feels like just a standard rule. At my home course it is certainly in place, and guys have hit bad shots and yelled "hit it! HIT IT! (twayuupyuupyuup!) YEEEEAAHBABY DO-OVER!!"

 

Very obnoxious but a lot of fun

[Mr. Bean]

9 hours ago, Nels55 said:

When you nut one did center

 

What exactly did you try to say there???

[Nels55]

1 hour ago, Mr. Bean said:

 

What exactly did you try to say there???

Thanks, typo fixed.  Dead center.