If you about to putt golf ball and the ball move is that a stock against you?

Question

If you about to putt golf ball and the ball move is that a stock against you?

Answer 1

If it moves after you have set your putter in regard to hit it, then it is a penalty stroke.

But if you're like looking at the line or something and it moves, then you dont count a penalty stroke.

Answer 2

Kitchen is very close to the correct answer. Just a few details:

If the ball moves after you 'address' the ball, it is a one stroke penalty. You 'address' the ball when you take your stance and ground the club. It doesn't matter whether you ground the club in front of or behind the ball.

If you haven't begun your backstroke, you must replace the ball. If you don't replace the ball, you are penalized two strokes for not replacing the ball (but NOT the one stroke penalty for the ball moving). It's the same net effect as what kitchen said - a total of two strokes penalty.

If you have begun your backstroke, or you're already moving the club forward, you can continue with the shot with no additional penalty. There is still the one stroke penalty for moving the ball.

If you ground your club but don't take your stance, you will most likely still be penalized one stroke for causing the ball to move, unless there was a huge gust of wind or something else that caused the ball to move.

One of the amateurs in the Masters this year called the penalty on himself. The ball moved about half an inch, but he still called it. That is one classy dude!

This is also why Jack Nicklaus never grounded his club before taking a shot.

Answer 3

It depends on when the ball moves.  If it happens before you are set up to hit the ball and you have not grounded your club, then there is no penalty.  However, if you have set up to putt and have grounded your club behind the ball when it moves, you are assessed a one stroke penalty and must return the ball to it's original point before putting out.  If you do not replace the ball, it is another stroke.

Answer 4

penalty stroke