Pretty sure it isn’t permitted by rules during round that will be used for handicap, but also pretty sure nobody gives a shit as long as it isn’t slowing everything down.
That’s not a loophole for the rules obsessed. A provisional would not be allowed. Rule 18.3 only allows a provisional if your ball *might* be lost or OB. If you’ve duffed it and can still see it, there’s no chance it *might* be lost, and therefore a provisional is not allowed.
That said, no one gives a shit if your pace is OK.
The rules require the player use "reasonable judgment" in determining that a ball may be lost.
Hate vague terms like that but if you did it and your playing partner protested, you would definitely lose that argument that you thought the duffed ball in front of you was lost.
You can only hit a provisional "if your ball might be lost". If you or your partners can clearly see the ball, you are not allowed to hit a provisional.
You can only do that when you think you won't find your first. So if you can see your first, then you can't. If you duff it into a water hazard, you also can't. It's called cheating
I wouldn’t care at all about someone submitting their score, but if we’re in a match I’d say something after the first time they did it, but not hold the first one against them at all
Just something lighthearted like “alright now, no more practice shots — we got two whole dollars on this, so let’s try to act serious”
I may do that after I have effectively lost the match, or won the match. Hit a safe shot, and then ask if they mind if I try to ride the wind to see how far it can actually go. I wait till everyone has gone, then, as they walk to their carts, hit that one for fun, usually a different color ball. Probably happend 5 times in 4 years. Often, if we are held up, others will join in as well. Its fun to just swing away.
I’ve done it once in a blue moon, that second shot is normally more so to prove I can actually hit the ball decent, but I’ll play the first
Normally I only do this around the green when I’m chipping because that’s where I lose a lot of my strokes or leave myself for a lot longer putts than needed
So I think it’s fine to do once in a while, but not every shot
I do it all the time. Wouldn't do it in a competitive round but when I'm playing at the weekend and I cock up a shot, I chuck the ball in my pocket down and whack it just to test that I'm not a fuckwit.
Doesn't take more than 5 seconds, it's not as if I'm lining up again or anything.
I like learning. If I have time and couldn't decide on what shot to hit, I'll sometimes hit a second or third chip shot just to see how the ball reacts and if I "could" have hit a different shot. Still play the first in these cases.
Technically against the rules but not in a way that I'd be concerned about. It's similar to me as submitting solo rounds for handicap when 99% of the time my non-solo rounds are with people not paying attention to if I'm playing by the rules anyway: against the letter of the law but not the spirit.
I call them Mental Health balls. If I hit a great second shot I feel better about playing my duffed shot.
It’s a double edged sword though, if I duff the MH ball….
Same idea but I call it my do better ball, I still play the first ball for my score because while I don't keep an official handicap I still want to track my scores. 100 percent agree with the poor second shot really getting in my head. I play alone most of the time on weekday afternoons where I am not backing up the course at all.
I play golf to have fun with my mates, we follow the basic rule. If my friend did this during the game I couldn’t really care less to be honest. Thankful that I don’t play with anybody who follows every single rule none of us are good enough for that shit
I do this when walking with a group and the others are still walking to their ball. I'm not slowing the rate of play, and need to get that shot out of my head.
this. when i play my local course at my normal time. theres normally nobody around, so i have plenty of time to hit a few greenside chips or hit another ball like op. but i can also play fast if need be and not do that obviously.
I agree with this except for how can it not slow down the round? You are sharing a cart or walking and have to retrieve said second shot which is likely not near 1st shot. If this happens once or twice a round not a big deal. If this happens 4 times or more in a round I thinks it rude and annoying. Hitting a second chip or putt would be the exception because it takes almost no time to retrieve the ball
I take it he sunks a lot of holes in one then 😂
If i played golf a lot i'd do it too. So long as i have fun and aren't a dick to other idgaf about "rules"
Don't care. I don't play to be competitive. I play to enjoy the game, enjoy the surroundings, and enjoy the company. If my playing partners want to do things that help them to enjoy themselves, without making us fall behind, then it doesn't bother me.
It’s fine once in a while if you’re having a terrible day, otherwise I find it annoying. I have a buddy who does this and we have to drive around picking up all his “second shots” and there’s been times where these extra shots will end up on the green resulting in a dispute of who’s playing what ball. It always slows the round down unless you just leave the second shot which would be crazy. It’s chaos and rude imo
In tournament play you'd get disqualified. Technically it's against the rules. But I don't have too many issues with it, honestly. I respect playing the first ball. My dad used to do it all the time. He was about the best dude in all of history.
In reality everyone does it in casual rounds and it’s fine. Hell, I even see it in our money rounds with guys I play with who are big sticklers for the rules. Never heard anyone complain.
If you want to be letter of the law though it is technically against the rules and gaining an unfair advantage. You only get the strokes in the round to “fix” yourself. Put it this way, most of us have had a bad round and went to the range after and eventually “fixed” whatever problem we had after pounding a bunch of balls. It’s much harder to fix yourself during the round as you have a limited amount of shots. The spirit of rule is to shoot the best score possible withn the strokes you have.
I’d compare it to playing poker and the guy next to you secretly telling you what he had after the hand was done. You didn’t cheat in the hand but it is against the rules and for a skilled player that little bit of information is giving him an unfair advantage. If it happens once it’s super marginal but if it happens all night it starts to add up
Therapy ball.
I'd bet you're better off in the end if you don't do it, because in tournaments/money games you probably are not able to do that and you'll have to figure it out without the therapy ball. A friend of mine put it well: "Any asshole can hit the second ball."
If you are not doing it in competitions or money games, I wouldn't be concerned. I would be annoyed if you are doing it in a round that's for handicap. You are also putting your score adjudicator in an awkward position as you are asking them to break the rules by signing an incorrect card.
The problem you have is that if your card is for handicap you can't practice on the course. So what you're doing is against the rules.
We all know it happens in general play rounds but it is against the rules of golf.
If you did that in your weekend competition round for example, you'd be dq'd as it's a breach of the rules.
The rule is that you can hit practice shots between holes. Only on the previous hole's putting green, the next hole's tee box or a practice green. You can practice "on the course" just not during an active hole.
Wow, that's wild. Disc golf is very strict about practice throws during around. Any throw from the start of the round to the finish that isn't a competitive attempt to change your lie is a penalty stroke. The only exception is tossing an unused disc back to your bag, but even that's only allowed if it's < 5 meters.
He's only 'hurting' his handicap, which is even debatable, but he's certainly not sandbagging by doing it. If he's not playing for money/event at the time, he's hurting no one aside from debatably himself.
You'll notice I didn't even condem him, he asked a question so I just let him know the actual rule. We've all done it in a general play round, but not everyone knows it's actually not allowed. So thought I'd best point it out, because it will get picked up in a comp round.
I do this in pretty much all my solo rounds, which don't count towards a handicap anyway. I'm usually going to be waiting on a group ahead of me, so I have the time, and more practice making specific shots on course is worth a ton. Particularly on short game shots, because there are so many different angles, lies, distances, etc., and so many option on what club to choose.
But it is a clear rule violation, so just don't forget and do it in a comp, and don't do it when you are not solo, because it is annoying.
I do it most times I have a shit shot. And sometimes the 2nd shot is good. And sometimes it’s bad. If it’s good I usually think “okay I should’ve done X differently “ if it is a bad 2nd shot I usually think “okay I need to practice this”. I play in one “tournament” per year and I wouldn’t do this there.
If there's no money on the line and it's not in a tournament, I could give two shits. My dad does this pretty often but always plays the first, picks up the other ball, and doesn't slow down play at all. I do it every now and then and it's usually for training, like finding out wtf I did wrong there.
I actually get more concerned if he's having a real bad round and stops doing it because I know he just doesn't give a shit anymore and isn't having a good time.
Don't slow down play and its fine.
You are not playing in the US Open. Typically I will hit one after I hit a shot really really fat. I will still play the first ball but I want to get the bad taste out of my mouth.
To all the guys answering it’s cheating in competitive rounds. Yes. If you’re having a competitive round every time you go out to play, you’re probably why the rest of us have to play 5-6 hour rounds so you can grind out your 89.
Hit 10 balls per hole for all I care. Just fix your divots, don’t slow us all down and don’t be a dick on the course.
Not everyone is playing a tournament every time they go out to play.
If you’re posting the round to your GHIN though, you should play by the rules, which don’t allow this. But it appears people have told you already.
I do this once in a while if I’m having a bad round or not hitting the ball well. Like after 3 horrible tee shots in a row, sometimes I just need to feel myself hitting it well to get back on track mentally. I’ll still play the shitty first ball that hole, but it tends to help future holes.
Or if I’m chipping/putting and I hit a bad one, sometimes I’ll hit another for practice since I’m really working on that part of my game.
I’ll never do either of these things if I’m holding others up, only if nobody’s behind me and I’m alone or with a friend that doesn’t care. That’s really the bottom line with things like this.
I do it all the time. I don't really have an opinion on it other than it helps my mental game and adds some extra practice. Just don't do it often and need to make sure that second shot isn't a duff as well or it's a bad look haha
Casual round: No fucks given as long as the pace of play isn't egregiously lengthened. If my playing parter is having a bad day, I encourage extra shots to see if they can find something in those swings and make my day more enjoyable.
In any sort of serious round (handicapping, money, tourney): It's a bad look, and you could get called out for it. Dont be one of those guys who has to test the boundaries, there's enough of them in the world and they are all pricks.
Not who you asked but an honest answer: it does slow people down and usually quite a lot.
OP gave a very generous take when he said duffed shots because the reality is people do this for all types of bad shots. So they hook it left into the woods, throw another ball down and try to correct for it and hit a fade to the right of the green. Now they walk left to go get their original ball, hit that (hopefully) near the green, walk up to the green and possibly have to walk to the complete opposite side of the green/in a bunker/or off the side of the green to get their other ball. Then they go play their real ball (or do this first, depending what's quicker).
If someone duffs it 5 ft, then hits a practice ball onto the green and follow it up with their next ball onto the green then it's quick and fine but the type of person to do this likely isn't hitting 2 balls onto the green in a row.
If you and you're playing partner are fucking around it isn't too bad, but if your round goes to shit and your playing partner is trying to play well then don't do this sort of stuff. You definitely shouldn't when you're recording your handicap or in competition.
Going against the grain here. I didn’t have any problem with it until you said you are still posting the rounds for a handicap. If doing that, you need to play by the rules as written. This is not permitted.
I agree. If you're having a practise round then crack on. If it's a handicap round then the rules apply.
I'm not very popular in this, but the only way we can assure that everyone does the same thing to normalise handicaps is if everyone follows the rules of golf (or at least makes a decent attempt to!).
Imagine playing any other sport where you choose to leave out or ignore a rule from time to time. 😆
5.5 Practising During Round or While Play Is Stopped
a. No Practice Strokes While Playing Hole
While playing a hole, a player must not make a practice stroke at any ball on or off the course.
These are not practice strokes:
A practice swing made with no intent to strike a ball.
Hitting a ball back to a practice area or to another player, when done solely as a courtesy.
Strokes made by a player in playing out a hole whose result has been decided.
Which is weird if you think about it because you could walk by the driving range, hit a bunch of balls back into the range and get a ton of “practice shots” but it’s a courtesy so it’s fine.
A bit of a strange exception.
I do it occasionally as well to see if I can correct something. I'll continue with my first ball though.
I take a quick look behind me beforehand. If next group is getting close then I hold off.
I do it occasionally, but only if nobody is behind me. Most of the time it is when I miss a green in reg, and to see if I had actually used the right club in the first place.
If the course isn’t busy I will do this. I call them my mental health mulligans. So long as my first ball is in play I’ll play that ball but just for my own sanity I want to see the shot I was trying to hit.
A friend of mine does it. It's always after a chunked pitch or chip shot. Sometimes when I don't notice I wonder why the fuk there are 5 balls on the green, lol.
By rule you can’t do that - but for the casual golfer I think it’s okay, and I don’t think that it will greatly affect your handicap in terms of reducing it
Who cares if you’re having fun. If you’re trying to play like a pro or in a league or tournament then you shouldn’t probably.
If it’s just a day out playing then go ahead and hit a second. I wouldn’t care if you played the second better ball frankly.
Just let your playing partners know. I played with a guy who skulled a chip over a green so I started walking to my ball and didn’t know that he immediately dropped another and he chipped that one into my head! I was not happy.
A couple of times a round is fine. I have played with people who do this after nearly every shot, and that gets old by the third hole. I refused to play with them again.
Yea, that would be brutal.
It’s usually only on wedge shots, I don’t want to walk 100 yards in the opposite direction to get another ball when I shank my 5iron for the 2nd time. That would take too long.
I did this on the last par 3 I was looking forward to. Duffed the 1st shot but I tee’d up another and hit the green. Had no intention of playing that 2nd shot, but as I’m fairly new I’ll take the opportunity to improve where I can
As long as there's no money on it, and no competition involved, I say go for it. Golf is hard and when you start to get down on yourself it's only harder. I always say that 2nd shot is for my pride haha.
As we don't play on the pga tour .. When playing a friendly round, we often do this. If there's no one behind us, we always play our original ball. It's good practice
I once had a guy at my club who did this. At first it was once every several holes. Then once every few holes. Then once a hole. One time he literally did 2 in a row because he again messed up his second shot.
I think it’s a bad habit to do regularly. If you are going to do that then make it a true practice round and don’t count it against your handicap.
Yea, I didn’t realize you could make it a “practice round” until I saw some other comments here.
I was told you have to count every round you play and took that as gospel.
I’ve been making some adjustments, trying to flight my wedges..and it’s not been working out for me. My handicap has gone up significantly because I’ve been trying to make adjustments on the course while range has been closed…is I couldn’t practice.
Have fun. Do whatever you want. (Perfect) practice makes perfect.
Just don’t slow the pace of play, and don’t do it in a tournament.
And you shouldn’t post those scores for your handicap. I don’t think you’re allowed to practice shots in the middle of your round, even if you are being honest by using the first (bad) shot for your total tally.
Eh, if the round is bad enough, posting a bad score likely wont even be included in your handicap.
My handicap is a 13 and i did this in a round i shot a 98 and still posted because i knew it wouldnt affect my handicap.
It was my worst round by 7 strokes. I post it mainly because there is still data i am capturing in the round on the app, too.
Take your licks and get to work.
Don’t want to fluff that handicap and then get disappointed when you think you’re a sixteen but actually a 21. This usually leads to “that” guy that talks about how he played last time and if you just adjusted x you’d stop y etc etc etc.
All in all no one cares but if you truly want to get better you’ve got to sip the meds.
Wait, we all don’t think about that shot on 7 that was a lost ball in bounds, causing a 2-stroke penalty making your best ever 9-hole score a 37 instead of a 35?
If I had just factored in the wind, rotation of the planet, tides and phase of the moon…I would’ve broken par on the front 9.
Screw your partner.
If you are playing for fun, and working on your game, play whatever ball you want as long as you are behind the group in front of you and not in front of the group behind you so to speak.
So you duff it, and then your next shot is worse than the duff?
At this point, I just hoping you can move down the fairway.
I don’t care how you do it.
Considered practicing on the course during the round of following the rules. Akin to taking 3 steps on a layup in basketball. NBA rules on the course you are good. USGA rules not so much…. Duffer rules, Is money on the line?
I do it on putts because that’s where I want to work the most. It’s more for my head than anything else. Never use the 2nd ball and never slow down play. I gotta quick trigger.
I think if it like this, count the second ball as an additional stroke since it's technically your provisional. that makes it pretty easy to figure out if you want to hit you shitty first ball or slightly less shitty second for an extra stroke 😂
also, don't slow down the group but that point has been beat to death
I do it occasionally. Its the happy medium between keeping an honest score and not feeling like shit the whole round. You hit a really shitty drive, you hit one more to try and correct and feel a bit better about your swing, and you go and take your drop.
I want to do this often but I never do. I hit the first shitty shot and I don't deserve to try it again. You get one swing at the ball for each stroke you take. It's like a little discipline game I play with myself. If I want to see the ball fly the way I want it to, then I need to do better next time.
That being said, it doesn't bother me when someone else does it occasionally.
We call that Irish rules. Sometimes it helps to hit one right away to get that duff out of your head. Still gotta play the duff.
That being said. We are all friends that play together every week. And would never do it if we were playing slower that the group behind us.
I’m f your just out on a Sunday afternoons and still keeping pace with the group ahead, who cares absolutely hit a second ball… play both for all it matters. Handicap won’t be affected by 2 holes that you hit a second shot from the rough in front of the tee box rather than the rough 150 years further up the fairway.
I wouldn’t use it for my handicap since one of the hardest things about golf is that (almost) every shot is different and you don’t get a practice shot.
However, if that makes you feel better about your round and you’re not holding anything up, have fun.
Strictly speaking agains the rules and not something you should do constantly… but something that most of us find no problem in doing from time to time. Even when my buddies and I are playing for a bit of money we don’t begrudge this mostly.
I will be that guy. Like everyone said - who cares.
But it must be bothering the OP. I would ask why do you need to know your handicap? If you need it to be accurate, then it means you follow the rules.
It has a much greater affect than just being able to practice. We all can be “range ball heroes” when there is no jeopardy in the value of the shot. The reason that is the case is because in a round of golf with 3 partners, you get 5 minutes to mentally destroy yourself as you wait for others to hit and then you walk up to your shanked shot. The mental game is the part you are not practicing. Those with low handicaps are able to forget that bad shot and not repeat it with 4 more. Additionally, you are erasing the form mistakes — and muscle memory that comes with — that you just produced by practicing on a shot with no jeopardy.
Again, who cares. We aren’t pros and most likely never will be. If you want an accurate handicap, then don’t do it.
For everyone saying its cheating just declare it a provisional because you're not sure if the next ball is playable. Boom problem solved. Not cheating.
I do this and if the first ball is in a considerably worse position than the practice shot I play the second ball and count it as a penalty. If it’s not, the second ball is a provisional and I play my “found” ball.
I would never do this in a competitive round and I only do it occasionally in casual rounds but always scoring it correctly so my I’m not banging myself with handicapping.
As a guy that walks and waits for someone to hit than starts walking again make sure you announce it because I start walking past you after I see your shot.
I do it often on practice rounds w/o handicap, and I don’t think it’s a big deal but it is a penalty. You may practice after you’ve holed out within reason
Depends entirely on who you're playing with. When I play with my family or friends and slice one off the tee, I'll often times hit another just to avoid walking up to the next tee with a bad swing in my head.
I would not do this with coworkers, clients, or if there was any pressure from the group behind me.
If it's a casual round and you don't have a group waiting on you i think it's a good thing to do for practice. Just tell your group that you're hitting a 2nd practice shot and if they're cool w/ it then shouldn't be an issue.
I do this all the time. It's a sport that requires practice in unique positions every shot. a
As long as your counting the true flub, who cares.
Sticks are meant to be swung, not shoved up a pretentious rule hole.
I don't do it but also don't care if ppl do. The only times I do care is playing someone for money or they duff their shot, I start walking to my ball, and all the sudden an unexpected ball whizzes by my head, which has happened.
I only play the first if it's better than the second. I've been lucky a lot of the times I've played recently I've been by myself or close too and all the older people have been super friendly so I've been able to play how I want with no one caring. Which is a personal 2 ball scramble.
Unless it’s slowing down the pace, I do it. Often I’m trying to learn/practice what I did wrong. I play the original shot so I can keep a more accurate score to better understand my overall game.
I'd get annoyed if you did more than 2 or 3 times a round, personally. But, within those boundaries, I don't mind. I'll do it once every half a dozen rounds or so.
I always play the first ball, even if I hit an absolutely perfect shot on the second shot. Sometimes I just want to hit a second ball to see if there’s something seriously wrong or if it was just an isolated fuck up.
We have a hole next to the driving range and people were getting called out for cheating for chipping the stray range balls back onto the range. Club made a local rule that it was ok to do so as it helped the pro out. So not that big of a deal to take an extra one off the tee, but keep it to a minimum and only when your handicap round has gone to shit.
You’re playing recreational golf, your freedom to call a provisional and hit another one is unlimited as those who are playing alongside you are not your competitors, nor are they your rules committee, nor are they required to attest your score, they simply must be present for the round to count for your handicap so it “can be confirmed or challenged.” Outside of organized competition, I’ve never seen or heard of a score being confirmed or challenged.
With that said, be quick about it and don’t even think of it if you’re getting pushed with open space in front, use the same time to walk up and hit the in play ball again and keep moving.
I’ve done this and played with some guys that have done this after a bad shot as long as they play the original ball I don’t care. I learned after awhile not to do it because more then likely you will hit a really good shot and then you feel even worse lol
I don't mind in select situations and do it about once every few rounds myself. I limit it to shots within 100y, though. Easier to contain and easier to just drop another ball and try again. Usually just short chips that I *really* wanted, and I try again to see if it was just an execution issue.
I will only do this when playing with people I'm really comfortable with, like my dad, and I always check and ask if my playing partner is cool with it. And obviously only if pace of play allows.
The reason this is not allowed in a competitive round is for the mental boost that hitting a good shot gives...you don't earn it, you don't get it.
That being said, nobody really cares.
My buddy does something like this. If he has a bad shot, he'll drop a ball just to prove to himself that he can do better. Then usually takes the first ball.
My group has this huge thing about "I can do better!!" , because 3 years ago our friend had just said goodbye to his Grandmother who was terminally ill, and wouldn't last the night. He was gonna stay at the hospital, but she insisted that he go with his friends and not to worry about her. She had a good life, and she wanted him to remember when she was healthy.
So as we were golfing he got drunk, hit a ball in the water, got another and yelled "I CAN DO BETTER!!", then proceeded to lose maybe 5 more in the water yelling "I can do better" before each swing. It was rough seeing him like that, but he had some shit work through that day. Fortunately no one was behind us watching or waiting, so we were able to let him just sort things out before he finally sat down.
I’m not sure on the handicap situation, could be kinda shady getting in extra practice mid round, but otherwise, if you’re not playing for money, do whatever you want.
I golf with a guy who does the same thing during our golf outings. We don’t play for money just trying to shoot the lowest score for bragging rights. Anyways, when they hit a poor shot and take a new swing and hit a ball but still play the first, it’s sort of annoying. I play my shots good or bad. It’s golf. You’re tryin to play the game like it’s meant to be played and that’s honorable. Yea, we’re not competing per se , but when he brags he shot 88 and I played my ball all day long good or bad and shot 92. Yea it irks me. Those extra strokes do count IMHO
If you do the second ball to retry getting it right or reassure yourself, and don’t delay play, but never use it, I see no issue at all.
Do the rules even address this possibility either way?
Edit: Found this. Technically a violation, probably not bad etiquette in non-tournament play. https://www.golfdigest.com/story/burning-golf-question-answered-is-it-ok-to-drop-a-second-ball-during-a-friendly-match
The rule is no practicing during the round if you are going to post the score. Question is; do you want to follow the rules or not. It’s a slippery slope.
Is this like the gateway drug of breaking golf rules?
he took a couple practice shots during a round…and now he’s improving his lie, not counting OB, and taking 7 foot gimmies!
I do this frequently. I’m a low handicap, but I’m out there to have fun. It’s no fun to flub a chip or flail one out to the right when you know you can hit the shot. So I drop one quick, hit the shot, then go play the flub because you gotta take your medicine, score is a matter of honor. But I feel better knowing I could’ve hit the shot. My dad’s a high handicap, he just plays the second one and doesn’t count the first, and that’s ok. That’s his version of fun.
I call it a “mental health swing” and it’s usually pitches or tee shots. I’ll take my stroke and go play from/drop where I should but I’ll hit a second ball just to not hate myself as much lol
A lot of my friends are 30+ handicappers. I encourage them to throw down another and take a whack at it, as long as we don’t have a group waiting on us. We’re out there to have fun
It’s out of frustration, but you still want to be true to your score. Hit a second ball
Just to prove
To yourself you can do it… but it’s cheating if you play it.
If it's counting toward your handicap, you can never play the second shot. I wouldn't care if you played it, as long as pace keeps up. I call it a proof shot. I know I can hit it better, I'm going to, and then I'll eat my pie and play my shit shot through the hole. You only get one per hole, though.
If you care about this in a normal round of golf you are taking it too seriously... But I had a buddy who was doing it at our annual golf tournament (2 man scramble) which is definitely not cool. Same with the people who practice putt the ball they are not using for the scramble shot
I do it every couple holes no doubt as well. I don’t see an issue with it. It’s just like fuck, i know I can hit that shot and for whatever reason you didn’t there, you just replay it and then you get the confidence back. Sometimes it goes the opposite way and then you’re like yeah not pulling that out the bag when the scramble is on the line 😂
If you don’t record the stroke for your handicap, you’re just cheating yourself. Take a couple practice swings and find your divot before you duff your first ball.
Pretty sure it isn’t permitted by rules during round that will be used for handicap, but also pretty sure nobody gives a shit as long as it isn’t slowing everything down.
Loophole for the rules-obsessed: Declare second ball a provisional, then "find" the first ball.
That’s not a loophole for the rules obsessed. A provisional would not be allowed. Rule 18.3 only allows a provisional if your ball *might* be lost or OB. If you’ve duffed it and can still see it, there’s no chance it *might* be lost, and therefore a provisional is not allowed. That said, no one gives a shit if your pace is OK.
Idk man. Can't be certain it really is my ball 5ft in front of me...
Its all a construct. I can't be certain it is a ball. What is a ball? What is "found"? Noone knows. 👻
Is it even my ball if I found it in the woods where I lost my last ball?
As long as no one says "I got eyes on it" you are probably ok.
The rules require the player use "reasonable judgment" in determining that a ball may be lost. Hate vague terms like that but if you did it and your playing partner protested, you would definitely lose that argument that you thought the duffed ball in front of you was lost.
You can only hit a provisional "if your ball might be lost". If you or your partners can clearly see the ball, you are not allowed to hit a provisional.
Still doing it
You can only do that when you think you won't find your first. So if you can see your first, then you can't. If you duff it into a water hazard, you also can't. It's called cheating
I wouldn’t care at all about someone submitting their score, but if we’re in a match I’d say something after the first time they did it, but not hold the first one against them at all Just something lighthearted like “alright now, no more practice shots — we got two whole dollars on this, so let’s try to act serious”
I may do that after I have effectively lost the match, or won the match. Hit a safe shot, and then ask if they mind if I try to ride the wind to see how far it can actually go. I wait till everyone has gone, then, as they walk to their carts, hit that one for fun, usually a different color ball. Probably happend 5 times in 4 years. Often, if we are held up, others will join in as well. Its fun to just swing away.
I have no opinion. Do whatever you want.
Bold. I like it.
I’ve done it once in a blue moon, that second shot is normally more so to prove I can actually hit the ball decent, but I’ll play the first Normally I only do this around the green when I’m chipping because that’s where I lose a lot of my strokes or leave myself for a lot longer putts than needed So I think it’s fine to do once in a while, but not every shot
I do it all the time. Wouldn't do it in a competitive round but when I'm playing at the weekend and I cock up a shot, I chuck the ball in my pocket down and whack it just to test that I'm not a fuckwit. Doesn't take more than 5 seconds, it's not as if I'm lining up again or anything.
i'll line it up again, but that only takes 5 seconds - might be the issue actually
I like learning. If I have time and couldn't decide on what shot to hit, I'll sometimes hit a second or third chip shot just to see how the ball reacts and if I "could" have hit a different shot. Still play the first in these cases.
For sure a “prove it to myself” kind of thing.
Same. I call it a “sanity shot” and call it out before I hit it so people don’t think I’m trying to sneak in a mulligan.
Typically 100 yards and in is when i do it, never out of the sand though.
I always tell my buddies this one is pure frustration and then hit the best shot of the day only to have to play the first one that counts.
Technically against the rules but not in a way that I'd be concerned about. It's similar to me as submitting solo rounds for handicap when 99% of the time my non-solo rounds are with people not paying attention to if I'm playing by the rules anyway: against the letter of the law but not the spirit.
I call them Mental Health balls. If I hit a great second shot I feel better about playing my duffed shot. It’s a double edged sword though, if I duff the MH ball….
Same idea but I call it my do better ball, I still play the first ball for my score because while I don't keep an official handicap I still want to track my scores. 100 percent agree with the poor second shot really getting in my head. I play alone most of the time on weekday afternoons where I am not backing up the course at all.
We aren’t on tour. Who cares.
[удалено]
That's what the upvote button is for mate
I play golf to have fun with my mates, we follow the basic rule. If my friend did this during the game I couldn’t really care less to be honest. Thankful that I don’t play with anybody who follows every single rule none of us are good enough for that shit
As long as you’re not slowing everyone down, I see no problem. Like you said, it’s not like you continue to play it afterwards.
I do this when walking with a group and the others are still walking to their ball. I'm not slowing the rate of play, and need to get that shot out of my head.
Like anything else, if it doesn't slow down the round, they can do whatever they want.
this. when i play my local course at my normal time. theres normally nobody around, so i have plenty of time to hit a few greenside chips or hit another ball like op. but i can also play fast if need be and not do that obviously.
I did 100 putts on the 9th hole at a muni when nobody was behind me. The green had a whisked slope, not something I can normally practice.
I agree with this except for how can it not slow down the round? You are sharing a cart or walking and have to retrieve said second shot which is likely not near 1st shot. If this happens once or twice a round not a big deal. If this happens 4 times or more in a round I thinks it rude and annoying. Hitting a second chip or putt would be the exception because it takes almost no time to retrieve the ball
Yeah my father in law says the same thing “I just do it for practice” when he takes 30 mulligans in a round and the scorecard ends up saying 78. 😂
I take it he sunks a lot of holes in one then 😂 If i played golf a lot i'd do it too. So long as i have fun and aren't a dick to other idgaf about "rules"
Don't care. I don't play to be competitive. I play to enjoy the game, enjoy the surroundings, and enjoy the company. If my playing partners want to do things that help them to enjoy themselves, without making us fall behind, then it doesn't bother me.
It’s fine once in a while if you’re having a terrible day, otherwise I find it annoying. I have a buddy who does this and we have to drive around picking up all his “second shots” and there’s been times where these extra shots will end up on the green resulting in a dispute of who’s playing what ball. It always slows the round down unless you just leave the second shot which would be crazy. It’s chaos and rude imo
This 100%
Totally agree. This is a practice limited to duffed chips or full swings where the divot flies further than the ball.
It’s the best way to practice on course, plenty of people will tell you this. Just remember when you’re at The Open you can only play 1 ball
Keeping pace…you’re fine
If the course isn’t full it’s cool. If you are out of position, no way
In tournament play you'd get disqualified. Technically it's against the rules. But I don't have too many issues with it, honestly. I respect playing the first ball. My dad used to do it all the time. He was about the best dude in all of history.
In reality everyone does it in casual rounds and it’s fine. Hell, I even see it in our money rounds with guys I play with who are big sticklers for the rules. Never heard anyone complain. If you want to be letter of the law though it is technically against the rules and gaining an unfair advantage. You only get the strokes in the round to “fix” yourself. Put it this way, most of us have had a bad round and went to the range after and eventually “fixed” whatever problem we had after pounding a bunch of balls. It’s much harder to fix yourself during the round as you have a limited amount of shots. The spirit of rule is to shoot the best score possible withn the strokes you have. I’d compare it to playing poker and the guy next to you secretly telling you what he had after the hand was done. You didn’t cheat in the hand but it is against the rules and for a skilled player that little bit of information is giving him an unfair advantage. If it happens once it’s super marginal but if it happens all night it starts to add up
Therapy ball. I'd bet you're better off in the end if you don't do it, because in tournaments/money games you probably are not able to do that and you'll have to figure it out without the therapy ball. A friend of mine put it well: "Any asshole can hit the second ball."
Therapy ball. Oh I’m stealing that.
If you are not doing it in competitions or money games, I wouldn't be concerned. I would be annoyed if you are doing it in a round that's for handicap. You are also putting your score adjudicator in an awkward position as you are asking them to break the rules by signing an incorrect card.
The problem you have is that if your card is for handicap you can't practice on the course. So what you're doing is against the rules. We all know it happens in general play rounds but it is against the rules of golf. If you did that in your weekend competition round for example, you'd be dq'd as it's a breach of the rules.
The rule is that you can hit practice shots between holes. Only on the previous hole's putting green, the next hole's tee box or a practice green. You can practice "on the course" just not during an active hole.
That's a slightly liberal interpretation of the rules. You can only practice chips and putts between holes.
Wow, that's wild. Disc golf is very strict about practice throws during around. Any throw from the start of the round to the finish that isn't a competitive attempt to change your lie is a penalty stroke. The only exception is tossing an unused disc back to your bag, but even that's only allowed if it's < 5 meters.
He's only 'hurting' his handicap, which is even debatable, but he's certainly not sandbagging by doing it. If he's not playing for money/event at the time, he's hurting no one aside from debatably himself.
You'll notice I didn't even condem him, he asked a question so I just let him know the actual rule. We've all done it in a general play round, but not everyone knows it's actually not allowed. So thought I'd best point it out, because it will get picked up in a comp round.
I do this in pretty much all my solo rounds, which don't count towards a handicap anyway. I'm usually going to be waiting on a group ahead of me, so I have the time, and more practice making specific shots on course is worth a ton. Particularly on short game shots, because there are so many different angles, lies, distances, etc., and so many option on what club to choose. But it is a clear rule violation, so just don't forget and do it in a comp, and don't do it when you are not solo, because it is annoying.
I do it most times I have a shit shot. And sometimes the 2nd shot is good. And sometimes it’s bad. If it’s good I usually think “okay I should’ve done X differently “ if it is a bad 2nd shot I usually think “okay I need to practice this”. I play in one “tournament” per year and I wouldn’t do this there.
If you take a second shot it should only be in the case that you really can’t see your ball. Otherwise. Your ass is always playing that first ball.
If there's no money on the line and it's not in a tournament, I could give two shits. My dad does this pretty often but always plays the first, picks up the other ball, and doesn't slow down play at all. I do it every now and then and it's usually for training, like finding out wtf I did wrong there. I actually get more concerned if he's having a real bad round and stops doing it because I know he just doesn't give a shit anymore and isn't having a good time.
Don't slow down play and its fine. You are not playing in the US Open. Typically I will hit one after I hit a shot really really fat. I will still play the first ball but I want to get the bad taste out of my mouth.
To all the guys answering it’s cheating in competitive rounds. Yes. If you’re having a competitive round every time you go out to play, you’re probably why the rest of us have to play 5-6 hour rounds so you can grind out your 89. Hit 10 balls per hole for all I care. Just fix your divots, don’t slow us all down and don’t be a dick on the course. Not everyone is playing a tournament every time they go out to play. If you’re posting the round to your GHIN though, you should play by the rules, which don’t allow this. But it appears people have told you already.
I do this once in a while if I’m having a bad round or not hitting the ball well. Like after 3 horrible tee shots in a row, sometimes I just need to feel myself hitting it well to get back on track mentally. I’ll still play the shitty first ball that hole, but it tends to help future holes. Or if I’m chipping/putting and I hit a bad one, sometimes I’ll hit another for practice since I’m really working on that part of my game. I’ll never do either of these things if I’m holding others up, only if nobody’s behind me and I’m alone or with a friend that doesn’t care. That’s really the bottom line with things like this.
I do it all the time. I don't really have an opinion on it other than it helps my mental game and adds some extra practice. Just don't do it often and need to make sure that second shot isn't a duff as well or it's a bad look haha
Yeah fuck that guy and his dick corn
i hate it but to each their own
Casual round: No fucks given as long as the pace of play isn't egregiously lengthened. If my playing parter is having a bad day, I encourage extra shots to see if they can find something in those swings and make my day more enjoyable. In any sort of serious round (handicapping, money, tourney): It's a bad look, and you could get called out for it. Dont be one of those guys who has to test the boundaries, there's enough of them in the world and they are all pricks.
Yeah I always say pop another one if the situation is right. Tee up another one bud.
not a great habit but I'm pretty sure we've all been there
This would annoy the hell out of me. But you do you.
why would it? honest question, how would affect you in the slightest? bear in mind, hes making sure its slowing noone down.
Not who you asked but an honest answer: it does slow people down and usually quite a lot. OP gave a very generous take when he said duffed shots because the reality is people do this for all types of bad shots. So they hook it left into the woods, throw another ball down and try to correct for it and hit a fade to the right of the green. Now they walk left to go get their original ball, hit that (hopefully) near the green, walk up to the green and possibly have to walk to the complete opposite side of the green/in a bunker/or off the side of the green to get their other ball. Then they go play their real ball (or do this first, depending what's quicker). If someone duffs it 5 ft, then hits a practice ball onto the green and follow it up with their next ball onto the green then it's quick and fine but the type of person to do this likely isn't hitting 2 balls onto the green in a row. If you and you're playing partner are fucking around it isn't too bad, but if your round goes to shit and your playing partner is trying to play well then don't do this sort of stuff. You definitely shouldn't when you're recording your handicap or in competition.
Going against the grain here. I didn’t have any problem with it until you said you are still posting the rounds for a handicap. If doing that, you need to play by the rules as written. This is not permitted.
Fair criticism. It’s against the rules, I’ll not do it unless it’s a practice round (which I just learned was a thing).
Your 2nd ball would become the ball in play under the rules of golf with a stroke and distance penalty. Unless you announced a provisional.
I agree. If you're having a practise round then crack on. If it's a handicap round then the rules apply. I'm not very popular in this, but the only way we can assure that everyone does the same thing to normalise handicaps is if everyone follows the rules of golf (or at least makes a decent attempt to!). Imagine playing any other sport where you choose to leave out or ignore a rule from time to time. 😆
It makes no difference
5.5 Practising During Round or While Play Is Stopped a. No Practice Strokes While Playing Hole While playing a hole, a player must not make a practice stroke at any ball on or off the course. These are not practice strokes: A practice swing made with no intent to strike a ball. Hitting a ball back to a practice area or to another player, when done solely as a courtesy. Strokes made by a player in playing out a hole whose result has been decided.
Which is weird if you think about it because you could walk by the driving range, hit a bunch of balls back into the range and get a ton of “practice shots” but it’s a courtesy so it’s fine. A bit of a strange exception.
It must be done solely as a courtesy, so if there is any intention to practice you violate the rule.
I would advise against it, when in company of others. Make a note when this happens and work on the range. If you’re alone it doesn’t matter.
If you’re playing a round that’s going towards your handicap then you definitely can’t do that lol
I do it occasionally as well to see if I can correct something. I'll continue with my first ball though. I take a quick look behind me beforehand. If next group is getting close then I hold off.
I do it occasionally, but only if nobody is behind me. Most of the time it is when I miss a green in reg, and to see if I had actually used the right club in the first place.
If the course isn’t busy I will do this. I call them my mental health mulligans. So long as my first ball is in play I’ll play that ball but just for my own sanity I want to see the shot I was trying to hit.
A friend of mine does it. It's always after a chunked pitch or chip shot. Sometimes when I don't notice I wonder why the fuk there are 5 balls on the green, lol.
As long as you're not holding people back, I'm fine with that. Its like a little practice a shot. I don't do it often, but I have..
If you're just playing casually and not holding up anyone , go for it. Whatever makes you enjoy the game more
By rule you can’t do that - but for the casual golfer I think it’s okay, and I don’t think that it will greatly affect your handicap in terms of reducing it
Who cares if you’re having fun. If you’re trying to play like a pro or in a league or tournament then you shouldn’t probably. If it’s just a day out playing then go ahead and hit a second. I wouldn’t care if you played the second better ball frankly.
Just let your playing partners know. I played with a guy who skulled a chip over a green so I started walking to my ball and didn’t know that he immediately dropped another and he chipped that one into my head! I was not happy.
A couple of times a round is fine. I have played with people who do this after nearly every shot, and that gets old by the third hole. I refused to play with them again.
Yea, that would be brutal. It’s usually only on wedge shots, I don’t want to walk 100 yards in the opposite direction to get another ball when I shank my 5iron for the 2nd time. That would take too long.
Fine as long as you are taking the penalty strokes if you end up playing the 2nd ball, obviously.
If I hit a terribly unsatisfying shot, then I will hit another for "fun", lose the fun ball, then go hit my first ball or drop for 3.
I wouldn’t care if you weren’t counting the scores towards your handicap.
I did this on the last par 3 I was looking forward to. Duffed the 1st shot but I tee’d up another and hit the green. Had no intention of playing that 2nd shot, but as I’m fairly new I’ll take the opportunity to improve where I can
As long as there's no money on it, and no competition involved, I say go for it. Golf is hard and when you start to get down on yourself it's only harder. I always say that 2nd shot is for my pride haha.
As we don't play on the pga tour .. When playing a friendly round, we often do this. If there's no one behind us, we always play our original ball. It's good practice
I once had a guy at my club who did this. At first it was once every several holes. Then once every few holes. Then once a hole. One time he literally did 2 in a row because he again messed up his second shot. I think it’s a bad habit to do regularly. If you are going to do that then make it a true practice round and don’t count it against your handicap.
Yea, I didn’t realize you could make it a “practice round” until I saw some other comments here. I was told you have to count every round you play and took that as gospel. I’ve been making some adjustments, trying to flight my wedges..and it’s not been working out for me. My handicap has gone up significantly because I’ve been trying to make adjustments on the course while range has been closed…is I couldn’t practice.
It’s a game. Play it as you like it.
Just call it a provisional ball in case the first is lost. Then find the first and play it 😜
As long as you're not betting with me on the round and don't take forever to play 18 I could care less what you do
Have fun. Do whatever you want. (Perfect) practice makes perfect. Just don’t slow the pace of play, and don’t do it in a tournament. And you shouldn’t post those scores for your handicap. I don’t think you’re allowed to practice shots in the middle of your round, even if you are being honest by using the first (bad) shot for your total tally.
Eh, if the round is bad enough, posting a bad score likely wont even be included in your handicap. My handicap is a 13 and i did this in a round i shot a 98 and still posted because i knew it wouldnt affect my handicap. It was my worst round by 7 strokes. I post it mainly because there is still data i am capturing in the round on the app, too.
We call the second ball a Shapiro in case you can’t find he first. For handicap purposes it’s cheating. For fun, who cares
Technically against the rules but it’s more of a who gives a shit kinda thing if it’s not slowing down play and you still play the first ball out
Take your licks and get to work. Don’t want to fluff that handicap and then get disappointed when you think you’re a sixteen but actually a 21. This usually leads to “that” guy that talks about how he played last time and if you just adjusted x you’d stop y etc etc etc. All in all no one cares but if you truly want to get better you’ve got to sip the meds.
Wait, we all don’t think about that shot on 7 that was a lost ball in bounds, causing a 2-stroke penalty making your best ever 9-hole score a 37 instead of a 35? If I had just factored in the wind, rotation of the planet, tides and phase of the moon…I would’ve broken par on the front 9.
That’s my guy!!! Someone get this pro a tour card lol
Screw your partner. If you are playing for fun, and working on your game, play whatever ball you want as long as you are behind the group in front of you and not in front of the group behind you so to speak.
So you duff it, and then your next shot is worse than the duff? At this point, I just hoping you can move down the fairway. I don’t care how you do it.
Considered practicing on the course during the round of following the rules. Akin to taking 3 steps on a layup in basketball. NBA rules on the course you are good. USGA rules not so much…. Duffer rules, Is money on the line?
I do it on putts because that’s where I want to work the most. It’s more for my head than anything else. Never use the 2nd ball and never slow down play. I gotta quick trigger.
I think if it like this, count the second ball as an additional stroke since it's technically your provisional. that makes it pretty easy to figure out if you want to hit you shitty first ball or slightly less shitty second for an extra stroke 😂 also, don't slow down the group but that point has been beat to death
I do it occasionally. Its the happy medium between keeping an honest score and not feeling like shit the whole round. You hit a really shitty drive, you hit one more to try and correct and feel a bit better about your swing, and you go and take your drop.
I want to do this often but I never do. I hit the first shitty shot and I don't deserve to try it again. You get one swing at the ball for each stroke you take. It's like a little discipline game I play with myself. If I want to see the ball fly the way I want it to, then I need to do better next time. That being said, it doesn't bother me when someone else does it occasionally.
I’m not a fan when others hit multiple balls while I’m trying to stay focused. This goes for tee box, fairway, and especially greens. Bad etiquette 💯
“Provisional”
Whatever you want to do is fine by me, as long as you aren’t trying to play the second one.
It’s a complete waste of time. And now you made two divots
We call that Irish rules. Sometimes it helps to hit one right away to get that duff out of your head. Still gotta play the duff. That being said. We are all friends that play together every week. And would never do it if we were playing slower that the group behind us.
I do that when I’m playing solo. I still keep the real score from the duffed shot but I try to get better. I don’t do it when I’m playing with others.
I’m f your just out on a Sunday afternoons and still keeping pace with the group ahead, who cares absolutely hit a second ball… play both for all it matters. Handicap won’t be affected by 2 holes that you hit a second shot from the rough in front of the tee box rather than the rough 150 years further up the fairway.
I wouldn’t use it for my handicap since one of the hardest things about golf is that (almost) every shot is different and you don’t get a practice shot. However, if that makes you feel better about your round and you’re not holding anything up, have fun.
Cheating at golf? I don't like it.
Strictly speaking agains the rules and not something you should do constantly… but something that most of us find no problem in doing from time to time. Even when my buddies and I are playing for a bit of money we don’t begrudge this mostly.
That’s why my pocket ball is a different color or marked as such - so there is no question that I’m playing my bad first shot.
I will be that guy. Like everyone said - who cares. But it must be bothering the OP. I would ask why do you need to know your handicap? If you need it to be accurate, then it means you follow the rules. It has a much greater affect than just being able to practice. We all can be “range ball heroes” when there is no jeopardy in the value of the shot. The reason that is the case is because in a round of golf with 3 partners, you get 5 minutes to mentally destroy yourself as you wait for others to hit and then you walk up to your shanked shot. The mental game is the part you are not practicing. Those with low handicaps are able to forget that bad shot and not repeat it with 4 more. Additionally, you are erasing the form mistakes — and muscle memory that comes with — that you just produced by practicing on a shot with no jeopardy. Again, who cares. We aren’t pros and most likely never will be. If you want an accurate handicap, then don’t do it.
If you're not holding up play...who really cares?
You can’t practice during a round. Not sure why you would think this is okay. Plus if you’ve got time to play you’ve got time to practice.
For everyone saying its cheating just declare it a provisional because you're not sure if the next ball is playable. Boom problem solved. Not cheating.
I do this and if the first ball is in a considerably worse position than the practice shot I play the second ball and count it as a penalty. If it’s not, the second ball is a provisional and I play my “found” ball. I would never do this in a competitive round and I only do it occasionally in casual rounds but always scoring it correctly so my I’m not banging myself with handicapping.
As a guy that walks and waits for someone to hit than starts walking again make sure you announce it because I start walking past you after I see your shot.
If it’s not an official round and you’re not holding people up don’t worry about it.
I do it often on practice rounds w/o handicap, and I don’t think it’s a big deal but it is a penalty. You may practice after you’ve holed out within reason
It happens. I sometimes do with putts. Only do when playing with friends, and not slow teams behind down.
Depends entirely on who you're playing with. When I play with my family or friends and slice one off the tee, I'll often times hit another just to avoid walking up to the next tee with a bad swing in my head. I would not do this with coworkers, clients, or if there was any pressure from the group behind me.
It can get very annoying as another person in your group. I wouldn't do it more than once tbh.
If it's a casual round and you don't have a group waiting on you i think it's a good thing to do for practice. Just tell your group that you're hitting a 2nd practice shot and if they're cool w/ it then shouldn't be an issue.
even if you did use the second shot, if were not in a tournament, or playing for money, i don't care.
"Partner said you should do that." Do what? Exactly what you're doing?
There's nothing wrong with it lol we don't get paid to pay it's quite the opposite
I do it all the time. Second ball is to make myself feel better. First ball is to post a legitimate score
I do this all the time. It's a sport that requires practice in unique positions every shot. a As long as your counting the true flub, who cares. Sticks are meant to be swung, not shoved up a pretentious rule hole.
I don't do it but also don't care if ppl do. The only times I do care is playing someone for money or they duff their shot, I start walking to my ball, and all the sudden an unexpected ball whizzes by my head, which has happened.
I only play the first if it's better than the second. I've been lucky a lot of the times I've played recently I've been by myself or close too and all the older people have been super friendly so I've been able to play how I want with no one caring. Which is a personal 2 ball scramble.
It’s called a provisional ball Carl.
Unless it’s slowing down the pace, I do it. Often I’m trying to learn/practice what I did wrong. I play the original shot so I can keep a more accurate score to better understand my overall game.
I'd get annoyed if you did more than 2 or 3 times a round, personally. But, within those boundaries, I don't mind. I'll do it once every half a dozen rounds or so.
I always play the first ball, even if I hit an absolutely perfect shot on the second shot. Sometimes I just want to hit a second ball to see if there’s something seriously wrong or if it was just an isolated fuck up.
ITT: nerds.
We have a hole next to the driving range and people were getting called out for cheating for chipping the stray range balls back onto the range. Club made a local rule that it was ok to do so as it helped the pro out. So not that big of a deal to take an extra one off the tee, but keep it to a minimum and only when your handicap round has gone to shit.
You’re playing recreational golf, your freedom to call a provisional and hit another one is unlimited as those who are playing alongside you are not your competitors, nor are they your rules committee, nor are they required to attest your score, they simply must be present for the round to count for your handicap so it “can be confirmed or challenged.” Outside of organized competition, I’ve never seen or heard of a score being confirmed or challenged. With that said, be quick about it and don’t even think of it if you’re getting pushed with open space in front, use the same time to walk up and hit the in play ball again and keep moving.
If you are practicing or just trying to have fun who cares?
I’ve done this and played with some guys that have done this after a bad shot as long as they play the original ball I don’t care. I learned after awhile not to do it because more then likely you will hit a really good shot and then you feel even worse lol
Do they even make penis flavored popcorn?
https://preview.redd.it/dal5i0tsbisc1.jpeg?width=839&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ff84c71a768d59cd322a8a143485283b3d580aff SURE DO
Are you in a tournament or playing for money? If no then who cares?
I don't mind in select situations and do it about once every few rounds myself. I limit it to shots within 100y, though. Easier to contain and easier to just drop another ball and try again. Usually just short chips that I *really* wanted, and I try again to see if it was just an execution issue. I will only do this when playing with people I'm really comfortable with, like my dad, and I always check and ask if my playing partner is cool with it. And obviously only if pace of play allows.
The reason this is not allowed in a competitive round is for the mental boost that hitting a good shot gives...you don't earn it, you don't get it. That being said, nobody really cares.
My buddy does something like this. If he has a bad shot, he'll drop a ball just to prove to himself that he can do better. Then usually takes the first ball. My group has this huge thing about "I can do better!!" , because 3 years ago our friend had just said goodbye to his Grandmother who was terminally ill, and wouldn't last the night. He was gonna stay at the hospital, but she insisted that he go with his friends and not to worry about her. She had a good life, and she wanted him to remember when she was healthy. So as we were golfing he got drunk, hit a ball in the water, got another and yelled "I CAN DO BETTER!!", then proceeded to lose maybe 5 more in the water yelling "I can do better" before each swing. It was rough seeing him like that, but he had some shit work through that day. Fortunately no one was behind us watching or waiting, so we were able to let him just sort things out before he finally sat down.
I do this too. Thats why I call myself the SECOND TEAM ALL AMERICAN!!
I’m not sure on the handicap situation, could be kinda shady getting in extra practice mid round, but otherwise, if you’re not playing for money, do whatever you want.
If you're playing for money or in a tournament obviously do not do this. Otherwise, who cares?
I golf with a guy who does the same thing during our golf outings. We don’t play for money just trying to shoot the lowest score for bragging rights. Anyways, when they hit a poor shot and take a new swing and hit a ball but still play the first, it’s sort of annoying. I play my shots good or bad. It’s golf. You’re tryin to play the game like it’s meant to be played and that’s honorable. Yea, we’re not competing per se , but when he brags he shot 88 and I played my ball all day long good or bad and shot 92. Yea it irks me. Those extra strokes do count IMHO
Idgaf unless money is on table.. or if it's effects pace of play enough to matter.
When I know for a fact I can hit a shot… and my first is a flop… everything in me makes me go again.
If you do the second ball to retry getting it right or reassure yourself, and don’t delay play, but never use it, I see no issue at all. Do the rules even address this possibility either way? Edit: Found this. Technically a violation, probably not bad etiquette in non-tournament play. https://www.golfdigest.com/story/burning-golf-question-answered-is-it-ok-to-drop-a-second-ball-during-a-friendly-match
Yes you can’t hit practice shots during an official round
The rule is no practicing during the round if you are going to post the score. Question is; do you want to follow the rules or not. It’s a slippery slope.
Is this like the gateway drug of breaking golf rules? he took a couple practice shots during a round…and now he’s improving his lie, not counting OB, and taking 7 foot gimmies!
in our league if you take a breakfast ball you: a) have to use the same club and, b) have to play the second ball
Love doing this, my buds and I refer to them as mental health shots. No intention of playing/scoring it, but it helps
I do this frequently. I’m a low handicap, but I’m out there to have fun. It’s no fun to flub a chip or flail one out to the right when you know you can hit the shot. So I drop one quick, hit the shot, then go play the flub because you gotta take your medicine, score is a matter of honor. But I feel better knowing I could’ve hit the shot. My dad’s a high handicap, he just plays the second one and doesn’t count the first, and that’s ok. That’s his version of fun.
I call it a “mental health swing” and it’s usually pitches or tee shots. I’ll take my stroke and go play from/drop where I should but I’ll hit a second ball just to not hate myself as much lol
For practise round? Sure, why not. Play 3 balls for all I care. (Just please keep moving) For handicap? Seriously?
A lot of my friends are 30+ handicappers. I encourage them to throw down another and take a whack at it, as long as we don’t have a group waiting on us. We’re out there to have fun
Ah the ol mental health ball. Plenty of times it’s backfired and I shank it again and walk off twice as mad
It’s out of frustration, but you still want to be true to your score. Hit a second ball Just to prove To yourself you can do it… but it’s cheating if you play it.
It’s cheating even if you don’t play it, which I don’t.
Well sure by the letter of the law, But doesn’t count towards Your round I guess. But I don’t play serious enough golf For that to come into play.
You’re not allowed to count your handicap if you do this. Pro players don’t get practice shots mid round to get back into rythym
You’re the 329th person to post this.
If it's counting toward your handicap, you can never play the second shot. I wouldn't care if you played it, as long as pace keeps up. I call it a proof shot. I know I can hit it better, I'm going to, and then I'll eat my pie and play my shit shot through the hole. You only get one per hole, though.
It is practicing on the course and specifically prohibited in the rules. If you are counting those rounds for handicap then it is cheating.
It is practicing on the course and specifically prohibited in the rules. If you are counting those rounds for handicap then it is cheating.
If you care about this in a normal round of golf you are taking it too seriously... But I had a buddy who was doing it at our annual golf tournament (2 man scramble) which is definitely not cool. Same with the people who practice putt the ball they are not using for the scramble shot
In competition or a money game, I wouldn’t do it. I’ve decided I won’t do it moving forward.
I do it every couple holes no doubt as well. I don’t see an issue with it. It’s just like fuck, i know I can hit that shot and for whatever reason you didn’t there, you just replay it and then you get the confidence back. Sometimes it goes the opposite way and then you’re like yeah not pulling that out the bag when the scramble is on the line 😂
I don't mind. It's your game, you are trying to improve
If you don’t record the stroke for your handicap, you’re just cheating yourself. Take a couple practice swings and find your divot before you duff your first ball.
Good practice. Know what you did wrong and then corrected it. My 2 low caps do this.
It's ok, but not to play the second.