Can You Change Golf Balls During a Round?

You've striped a drive down the fairway, but as you approach your ball, you see it - a big, ugly cart path scuff staring back at you. Or maybe your trusty ball found a watery grave, and you have to reach into your bag for a replacement. In that moment, a question that every golfer has asked pops into mind: Can you change golf balls during a round? The short answer is yes, but the rules around *when* and *how* you can swap are very specific. This guide will walk you through exactly when it's legal to change your ball, the strategy behind it, and how to avoid any unnecessary penalty strokes.

The Straight Answer: Yes, But It's All About Timing

In golf, you can almost always change your ball between holes. Once you hole out on the 10th green, you are completely free to put a brand new ball into play on the 11th tee. No restrictions, no announcements, no problem. Think of the golf ball you tee off with on a hole as your designated player for that hole only. Your primary responsibility is to complete the hole with that same ball.

However, as with most things in golf, there are specific situations where the rules allow you to substitute your ball in the middle of a hole. Understanding these exceptions is what separates a knowledgeable player from one who might accidentally incur a penalty. Let's break down those scenarios one by one.

When You Can Legally Change Your Ball Mid-Hole

Once you’ve made your first stroke on a hole, your ball is "in play." You cannot simply exchange it for another because you don't like its lie or because it's scuffed. But, under Rule 6.3b of the Rules of Golf, specific situations grant you permission to make a change. Here are the most common ones.

Exception 1: Your Ball Is Damaged (Cut or Cracked)

This is probably the most well-known exception, but it’s also the most misunderstood. You can substitute your ball if, during the play of the hole, it becomes cut, cracked, or otherwise out of shape. A simple surface scuff or a paint scratch from hitting a tree or cart path does not count as damage. The damage must be significant enough to alter the ball's flight characteristics - think a deep gash or a visible crack.

How to Correctly Substitute a Damaged Ball:

• Announce Your Intention: Before you touch the ball, you should tell your playing partner or marker that you are going to check your ball for damage.
• Mark the Spot: Always place a tee or ball marker behind your ball's original position before lifting it.
• Inspect, Don't Clean: You are allowed to lift and inspect the ball, but you cannot clean it beyond what is necessary to identify the damage. So, wiping off a clump of mud to see a potential crack is okay, polishing the entire ball is not.
• Get Confirmation: Show the damage to another player for agreement. This helps avoid any disputes.
• Make the Switch: If the ball is truly damaged, you can replace it with a new ball on the exact same spot you lifted the original from. If it isn't damaged, you must replace the original ball.

Relatable Example: You skull a wedge shot from a bunker. When you find your ball on the other side of the green, you notice a deep, crescent-shaped cut in the cover from where it hit a rock. This is a perfect example of a ball that is "cut or cracked," and you are allowed to substitute it after following the procedure above.

Exception 2: Taking Any Form of Relief

This is the easiest and most common way to legally change your ball mid-hole. Anytime you are taking relief - whether it's free relief or a penalty drop - you have the option to substitute a ball. It's a simple, universal rule that’s easy to remember.

Here are just a few examples of when you can take relief and change your ball:

• Penalty Relief: Dropping from a red or yellow penalty area, or taking an unplayable lie. If your ball goes into the water, the ball you fish out isn't the one you're going to play. You'll be dropping a new one.
• Free Relief from an Immovable Obstruction: This includes cart paths, sprinkler heads, irrigation boxes, and french drains.
• Free Relief from Abnormal Course Conditions: This covers things like temporary water (a puddle) or ground under repair.

The simple takeaway: If you are lifting your ball to drop it, you can swap it for a new one.

Exception 3: Your Ball is Lost or Out of Bounds

This situation is less of a choice and more of a necessity. If your ball is lost (you can't find it within the 3-minute search time) or comes to rest out of bounds (marked by white stakes or lines), your original ball is officially out of play. You have no choice but to put a new ball into play, either by re-teeing from the original spot or using a local rule for an alternative drop, both with a penalty.

Exception 4: Playing From a Wrong Green

If your ball comes to rest on a green that is not for the hole you are currently playing (for example, your approach to the 7th green ends up on the 12th green), you must take free relief. You'll find the nearest point of complete relief, drop within one club-length, and in doing so, you have the option to substitute your ball.

Strategy Corner: *Should* You Change Balls?

While the rules tell you when you *can* change your ball, the strategy of the game asks if you *should*. This is where a bit of coaching insight comes into play.

The Case for Consistency

For the vast majority of amateur golfers, consistency is paramount. Different golf ball models are designed with different characteristics - some spin more, some spin less, some feel softer off the clubface, and some are harder for more distance. Switching from a high-spin ball like a Titleist Pro V1 to a low-spin distance ball like a Titleist Tour Soft between holes can affect your game.

While you might gain a few yards off the tee, that same low-spin ball might not check up on the green on your approach shot. My strongest recommendation to players looking to improve is this: Find a ball that suits your game and your budget, and stick with it. If you switch out a scuffed ball, replace it with the exact same make and model. This removes a significant variable and helps you build a predictable feel and performance from tee to green.

The "One Ball Rule": What It Is and Why It Probably Doesn't Affect You

You may have heard of the "One Ball Rule." This is a Model Local Rule (G-4) that, when in effect, requires a player to use the exact same brand and model of ball for the entire round. For example, if you start with a Callaway Chrome Soft X, you must finish with one. You couldn't switch to a standard Callaway Chrome Soft.

Here's the important part: This rule is only used in professional tournaments and elite-level amateur competitions. For your everyday round of golf with friends or even most weekly club competitions, this rule is almost never active. You're free to switch between a Bridgestone and a Srixon from one hole to the next if you'd like (though, as mentioned above, it's not always the best strategy for consistency).

The Penalty for Getting It Wrong

Accidentally changing your ball when you aren’t supposed to results in a penalty. The Rules of Golf are designed to be fair, but violating them has consequences. If you improperly substitute a ball in the middle of a hole, you will receive the General Penalty.

• In Stroke Play, that’s a two-stroke penalty.
• In Match Play, it results in the loss of the hole.

This is an easily avoidable penalty. By just remembering the key scenarios - damage, lost/OB, or any form of relief - you can play with confidence, knowing you're following the rules.

Final Thoughts

So, can you change golf balls during a round? Definitely. You are always welcome to swap your ball for any reason between holes. During a hole, you're restricted to the one you started with, unless it gets properly damaged, is lost, or you find yourself taking relief from something like a cart path. Remembering these simple scenarios a will keep you free of penalties and let you focus on your shots.

Knowing the rules is a huge part of being a confident golfer, but sometimes you run into situations on the course where the "right" play isn't in a rule book. That’s where we wanted to help. With Caddie AI, you get instant support for those tricky on-course decisions when you’re unsure of the strategy or stuck with a weird lie. You can simply ask a question or snap a photo of your ball, and get the kind of smart, simple advice that takes the guesswork out of the game, helping you commit to every shot.