Accidental Deflection Off a Player
Also known as: ball bounced back and hit me, my ball hit my bag, ball deflected off me, hit myself with my own ball, ball bounced off my foot, ball rebounded and hit me, accidental deflection, ball hit my caddie
No, there is no penalty if your ball accidentally hits you, your bag or your cart. Under Rule 11.1a, the ball is usually played as it lies. Two exceptions apply on the putting green. A putt that hits another person on the green, other than you or someone attending the flagstick, must be replayed. In stroke play, a putt that hits another ball at rest on the green costs two strokes.
Before 2019, hitting yourself with your own ball brought a penalty. The current Rules removed it. If the ball accidentally hits any person or outside influence, no one is penalized. That includes you, your caddie, your opponent and any of your equipment.
You normally play the ball where it ends up. If it comes to rest on a person or a moving object, you take relief instead. The putting green has its own rules. If a ball played from the green hits any person on the green other than you or a person attending the flagstick. You must replay the stroke from where you played it (Rule 11.1b(2)). The same applies to most movable obstructions and animals on the green. If you do not replay it, you get the general penalty and the stroke counts. In stroke play, if your putt hits another ball that was also on the green, you get two penalty strokes.
A double hit is related. If your club accidentally hits the ball twice in one swing, Rule 10.1a counts it as one stroke with no penalty.
Tips by skill level
If your ball hits you by accident, play it from where it stops. No penalty.
Deliberately deflecting or stopping a ball is a different breach under Rule 11.2. Never stop a ball on purpose.
Example
A golfer's shot from under a tree hits a branch and bounces back off his shoe. There is no penalty. He plays the ball from where it stopped.
Why it matters
Many golfers still add a penalty here from old rules. Knowing the current rule keeps your score right.
Common mistakes
- Adding a penalty stroke because the ball hit your own foot
- Replaying the shot instead of playing it as it lies
- Forgetting the two-stroke penalty for hitting a ball on the green
Frequently asked questions
Is it a penalty if my ball hits me?
No. Under Rule 11.1a there is no penalty when your ball accidentally hits you. Play it from where it comes to rest.
Is a double hit a penalty in golf?
No. Under Rule 10.1a, if your club accidentally hits the ball more than once in one stroke, it counts as one stroke with no penalty.
What if my ball hits another player?
There is no penalty to anyone, and you normally play the ball as it lies. On the green it is different. A putt that hits another person on the green, other than someone attending the flagstick, must be replayed, or you get the general penalty (Rule 11.1b(2)). In stroke play, a putt that hits another ball on the green costs two strokes.
Is it a penalty if my ball hits my own bag or cart?
No. Under Rule 11.1a there is no penalty if your ball accidentally hits your equipment. Play it as it lies.
Sources
Related terms
- Double-HitA double hit is when the club strikes the ball twice during one swing. It is most common on slow, decelerating chips and pitches near the green. Under Rule 10.1a it counts as one stroke with no penalty, and you play the ball as it lies.
- Ball Moved at Rest (Accidentally Moving Your Ball)If you accidentally move your ball at rest, replace it and add one penalty stroke under Rule 9.4. There is no penalty on the putting green, while searching for it, or while marking, lifting or replacing it under a Rule. If wind or water moves it, play it from its new spot without penalty.
- Recovery ShotA recovery shot is played from trouble like deep rough, trees, a bad lie, or an awkward stance. Its goal is getting back into play, not maximum distance.
- Flagstick In or Out When PuttingUnder the Rules of Golf you choose before each stroke: leave the flagstick in, have it removed, or have someone attend it. This applies even when putting from on the green. If your ball hits a flagstick left in the hole, there is no penalty and you play it as it lies. A ball resting against the flagstick counts as holed if any part of it is below the surface of the green.
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