When can I substitute a ball?A ball is substituted when the player changes the ball she is using to play a hole by having another ball become the ball in play. When a ball has been substituted the original ball is no longer in play, even if it is at rest on the course. A player may substitute a ball:
• Any time the player is taking relief under a Rule, including when either dropping a ball or placing a ball (such as when a ball will not stay in the relief area or when taking relief on the putting green)
• When playing again from where the previous stroke was made (Rule 6.3b)
When replacing a ball on a spot, the player is not allowed to substitute a ball and must use the original ball. (Rule 6.3b) There are five exceptions when a ball may be substituted when replacing on a spot (Rule 14.2a):
• The original ball cannot be recovered with reasonable effort and in a few seconds, so long as the player did not deliberately cause the ball to be unrecoverable
• The original ball is cut or cracked (Rule 4.2c)
• Play resumes after it had been stopped (Rule 5.7d)
• The original ball was played by another person as a wrong ball (Rule 6.3c(2))
• The ball played from the putting green strikes a person (other than the player or flagstick attendant), animal, or movable obstruction (other than the flagstick, ball, ball marker, or the club with which the player was making the stroke) (Rule 11.1b(2))
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