Marking Your Ball Correctly

Video Transcript

Etiquette is important, but it is really important when you are marking your ball. Whatever is in your hand first do first. Let me show you what I mean by that. I want to be able to mark the ball, so what I do is I am going to put the coin down directly behind the ball as close to it as I can and then I pick up the ball. When I replace that I want to put the ball down first in the same position and then pick up the coin. So whatever is in my hand first I do that first. Here is what I see a lot of times. When people go to mark their ball they will pick the ball up first and then put the coin down. When they go to put the ball back they will pick up the coin first and then put down the ball. You can see that the ball ended up in a completely different position from where it started. When the rules of golf allow you to touch the ball please be very careful that when the ball is on the ground you mark it very carefully then you pick the ball back up. When you go to put the ball back in play put it in the same exact spot. Sometimes if your ball is in a depression you say gosh it would be a little better for me if I put it off to the side and it would not be in the depression. The ball is not in the same place. You are basically taking advantage of the rules and that would be a penalty for hitting the ball from the wrong spot and then you have to go back and do it again. So when you are going to be moving the ball please follow the routine of whatever is in your hands first do first. If I am going to put the ball back in play, the ball is in my hand first, so put it down first. Then pick up your coin. If you are going to mark the ball coin goes down first then pick up the ball. It is very simple. Practice it a little bit so you become familiar with it and when you are playing with other partners they know that you know the rules.

Laird Small
Pebble Beach Golf Academy
1700 17-Mile Drive
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Tel: 831-622-8650

Laird Small is Director of The Pebble Beach Golf Academy and is listed as one of Golf Magazine's Top 100 Teachers and Golf Digest's #23 instructor in the world.

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