Rules of Golf 101: My Ball Has a Cut, What Can I Do?

Ball Becomes Cut or Cracked While Playing Hole

(1) Lifting Ball to See If Cut or Cracked. If a player reasonably believes that their ball has become cut or cracked during the hole being played:
The player may lift the ball to look at it, but:

--The spot of the ball must first be marked, and the ball must not be cleaned (except on the putting green) (see Rule 14.1).

--If the player lifts the ball without having this reasonable belief (except on the putting green where the player may lift under Rule 13.1b), fails to mark the spot of the ball before lifting it or cleans it when not allowed, the player gets one penalty stroke.

(2) When Another Ball May Be Substituted. The player may substitute another ball only if it can be clearly seen that the original ball is cut or cracked and this damage happened during the hole being played – but not if it is only scratched or scraped or its paint is only damaged or discoloured.

--If the original ball is cut or cracked, the player must replace either another ball or the original ball on the original spot (see Rule 14.2).

--If the original ball is not cut or cracked, the player must replace it on its original spot (see Rule 14.2).

--If a player makes a stroke at an incorrectly substituted ball, the player gets one penalty stroke under Rule 6.3b

Nothing in this Rule prohibits a player from substituting another ball under any other Rule or changing balls between two holes.

Learn More About the Rules of Golf

Want to take a bit of a deeper dive into the Rules of Golf? The NCGA's Rules experts are hosting a series of In-the-Classroom and also On-the-Course Rules Seminars throughout the early part of 2026.

Check out the schedule for In-the-Classroom Seminars here

Check out the schedule for On-Course Seminars here