I played with a bloke last week, who after hitting into a hazard, took his drop correctly. As he stood in a position to address the ball – but his club 4-6 inches above the ball with no intention of playing the shot as he tried to get a stance on uneven ground, the ball moved about a mill or two. He saw it and mentioned it to me, and I did not believe that a penalty should apply (and did not have a copy of the rules on me to check) – call this example A.

He took a wipe anyway, but its one for the rules geeks.

Example B – Hypothetically, lets say the same situation occurred, where he has taken his stance, and the ball moves slightly off the tuft of grass that it is sitting on, but this is in no way caused by the players actions, what is the ruling?

Example C – If he is halfway through his downswing and the ball moves – again through no action of the player but the grass the ball is on giving way, what is the ruling?

Appreciate any advice

Rule 18-2 b. Ball Moving After Address If a player’s ball in play moves after he has addressed it (other than as a result of a stroke), the player is deemed to have moved the ball and incurs a penalty of one stroke. The ball must be replaced unless the movement of the ball occurs after the player has begun the stroke or the backward movement of the club for the stroke and the stroke is made.

Addressing the ball includes taking your stance (putting feet in position for and prepatory to making a stroke) and grounding the club, (in a hazard taking the stance only). Example A – no penalty; Example B – in a hazard – one stroke penalty and replace the ball, TtG – no penalty (unless he grounded the club ie addressed the ball); Example C – one penalty stroke in a hazard and TtG (assuming he addressed the ball TtG). If he checks his swing the ball must be replaced.

Thanks Thieftaker

Appreciate the advice.