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Golf Rules FAQ: Accidentally Hitting Ball with Practice Swing

By , About.com Guide

You take a practice swing. You step a little closer to the ball and take another. Whoops - you accidentally hit the ball with that practice swing! What where you thinking?

What you're thinking now is: Do I have to count that? And, is there a penalty?

The answer depends on whether the ball was already in play.

If the ball is on the teeing ground and you have not yet made a stroke at the ball, then the ball is not yet in play. And accidentally hitting the ball with a practice swing in that situation does not result in a stroke or a penalty. (You can read more explanation on this scenario in the FAQ "Does it count as a stroke if I accidentally bump the ball off the tee?")

However, once you've made a stroke at the ball on the teeing ground, the ball is considered in play until you hole out. Then the question of whether a practice swing that makes contact is a stroke or penalty (or both) is covered under Rule 18, "Ball at Rest Moved."

And here's the ruling: If you accidentally move a ball in play with a practice swing, it's a one-stroke penalty. You must replace the ball to its original position and play it correctly.

Failing to replay the ball from its original position results in a total penalty of two strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play.

So be careful with those practice swings!

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