Ball Overhanging the Hole (Ten-Second Rule)
Also known as: ball overhanging the hole, ball hanging on the lip, ten second rule, ten-second rule, wait for the ball to drop, ball on the edge of the cup, how long can I wait for my putt to drop
You get a reasonable time to walk to the hole, then ten more seconds to see if the ball drops. If it falls in during that time, you holed it with your last stroke. If it falls in after that, it still counts as holed, but you add one penalty stroke.
This is Rule 13.3a. It applies when any part of your ball hangs over the lip of the hole. Walk up at a normal pace. Then wait up to ten seconds.
If the ball drops in that time, it is holed with the previous stroke, with no penalty. If it has not dropped, it is treated as at rest. If it then falls in before you play it, you have holed out, but you get one penalty stroke. So the score is the same as if you had tapped it in.
If someone lifts or moves the ball before the waiting time ends, it must be replaced on the lip. The waiting time then no longer applies.
Tips by skill level
Walk to the hole at your normal pace, then count ten seconds. If it has not dropped, tap it in.
In match play, an opponent who moves your overhanging ball before the time ends has consequences. Know Rule 13.3b if it happens.
Example
A putt stops on the edge. The golfer walks to the hole and counts to ten. On nine, the ball drops. She holed it with her putt and adds no penalty.
Why it matters
Rushing or waiting too long can change your score. Knowing the ten-second rule keeps it fair and keeps play moving.
Common mistakes
- Running to the hole to start the clock early or late
- Waiting a minute for the wind to blow the ball in
- Lifting the ball before the waiting time ends
Frequently asked questions
What happens if my ball falls in after ten seconds?
It counts as holed with your last stroke, but you add one penalty stroke. That gives the same score as tapping it in.
Can I wait for my ball to fall in the hole?
Yes. You get a reasonable time to reach the hole and ten more seconds under Rule 13.3a.
Sources
Related terms
- PuttingPutting is rolling the ball along the ground toward the hole using a flat-faced club (putter). A round of 90 with 36 putts spends 40% of its strokes on the green, so putting adds up fast.
- Lip-OutA lip-out is when the ball catches the edge of the hole and spins around or away instead of dropping in. It usually happens when the ball arrives too fast or only clips the side of the cup. A ball that circles the hole and comes back toward you is often called a horseshoe.
- 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.
- Marking Your Ball on the GreenOnce your ball is on the putting green, you may mark, lift and clean it whenever you like. First place a ball-marker, or hold a club on the ground, right behind or right next to the ball. Replace the ball on exactly the same spot, and remove the marker before you putt. Lifting a ball without marking it first costs one penalty stroke.
Related guides & benchmarks
Have a question about this?
There is nothing here to film. Ask SwingVantage a follow-up question, or keep reading the related terms above.