---
title: "Rules of Golf 101: My Ball Is Overhanging the Hole!"
description: Learn the rules for handling a ball overhanging the hole in golf, including waiting times and penalties for moving the ball. Essential tips for every golfer.
---

<https://blog.ncga.org>

# [Rules of Golf 101: My Ball Is Overhanging the Hole!](https://blog.ncga.org/rules-of-golf-101-my-ball-is-overhanging-the-hole)

 Written by [NCGA Staff](https://blog.ncga.org/author/ncga-staff) | Apr 2, 2026 12:40:41 AM

 

Play long enough, and it's bound to happen to you or someone in your group. You hit that perfect putt--be it from 6 feet or 24 feet--and the ball agonizingly stops just on the edge of the cup. 

Now what? 

Do you wait? For how long? What if a gust of wind comes?

This situation falls under Rule 13.3: Ball Overhanging Hole

Here's how to proceed for when/if this situation ever arises.

### **a. Waiting Time to See If Ball Overhanging Hole Will Fall into Hole**

If any part of a player’s ball overhangs the lip of the [*hole*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_d5643333-a6f6-4845-8127-1e4deeadaa20):

- The player is allowed a reasonable time to reach the [*hole*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_d5643333-a6f6-4845-8127-1e4deeadaa20) and 10 more seconds to wait to see whether the ball will fall into the [*hole*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_d5643333-a6f6-4845-8127-1e4deeadaa20).
- If the ball falls into the [*hole*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_d5643333-a6f6-4845-8127-1e4deeadaa20) in this waiting time, the player has [*holed out*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_13de00d6-13f6-4010-98c0-4d87725b6cae) with the previous [*stroke*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_8382be70-e833-4f60-83e6-f23f390edb19).
- If the ball does not fall into the [*hole*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_d5643333-a6f6-4845-8127-1e4deeadaa20) in this waiting time:

### **b. What to Do If Ball Overhanging Hole Is Lifted or Moved Before Waiting Time Has Ended**

If a ball overhanging the [*hole*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_d5643333-a6f6-4845-8127-1e4deeadaa20) is lifted or [*moved*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_47c699a8-e323-4e55-bff4-8559626c795b), other than by [*natural forces*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_1cb9eaf9-b1bd-4b7e-9cd9-4312a8484fb3), before the waiting time under [Rule 13.3a](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/rule-13.html#_28c551c0-10da-4fda-bc0a-2361e0314e15) has ended, the ball is treated as having come to rest:

- The ball must be [*replaced*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_94a28039-9caa-417d-97e4-d5fedcfafb6a) on the lip of the [*hole*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_d5643333-a6f6-4845-8127-1e4deeadaa20) (see [Rule 14.2](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/rule-14.html#_be1e6bab-96a9-47b3-9b14-7af8e2be5698)), and
- The waiting time under [Rule 13.3a](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/rule-13.html#_28c551c0-10da-4fda-bc0a-2361e0314e15) no longer applies to the ball. (See [Rule 9.3](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/rule-9.html#_a898fed2-58ff-4248-8c8c-7a3a6e890f00) for what to do if the [*replaced*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_94a28039-9caa-417d-97e4-d5fedcfafb6a) ball is then [*moved*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_47c699a8-e323-4e55-bff4-8559626c795b) by natural forces.)

If the [*opponent*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_8263b3d6-d2d3-44d3-999a-91d4024a1eab) in [*match play*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_e7cd78d5-5aa9-4708-b049-e19e956ad7e8) or another player in [*stroke play*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_d90e8575-8f7f-4f77-ab80-dfc2c0dc60e9) deliberately lifts or [*moves*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_47c699a8-e323-4e55-bff4-8559626c795b) the player’s ball overhanging the [*hole*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_d5643333-a6f6-4845-8127-1e4deeadaa20) before the waiting time has ended:

- In [*match play*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_e7cd78d5-5aa9-4708-b049-e19e956ad7e8), the player’s ball is treated as [*holed*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_13de00d6-13f6-4010-98c0-4d87725b6cae) with the previous [*stroke*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_8382be70-e833-4f60-83e6-f23f390edb19), and there is no penalty to the [*opponent*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_8263b3d6-d2d3-44d3-999a-91d4024a1eab) under [Rule 11.2b](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/rule-11.html#_1bda288b-3cf2-4003-9d83-88602e95ad33).
- In [*stroke play*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_d90e8575-8f7f-4f77-ab80-dfc2c0dc60e9), the player who lifted or [*moved*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_47c699a8-e323-4e55-bff4-8559626c795b) the ball gets the [***general penalty***](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_ddee7cb0-9828-4234-b6c2-6e0636066c2c)** (two penalty strokes)**. The ball must be [*replaced*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_94a28039-9caa-417d-97e4-d5fedcfafb6a) on the lip of the [*hole*](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/definitions.html#_d5643333-a6f6-4845-8127-1e4deeadaa20) (see [Rule 14.2](https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-of-golf/rule-14.html#_be1e6bab-96a9-47b3-9b14-7af8e2be5698)).

Want to learn more about the Rules of Golf?

The NCGA Rules experts are hosting eight On-Course Rules Seminars starting April 16 and running until June 18 at various sites across the NorCal region. 

These one-day seminars get you out on the course where you will see practical demonstrations of the Rules of Golf in action via four distinctive “stations”-- (Bunkers, Greens, Penalty Areas/OB and Immovable Obstructions). Attendees rotate from station to station throughout the four-hour morning presentation.

[Visit the NCGA's On-Course Rules Seminar page to learn more](https://pages.ncga.org/rules-seminars-on-course?hsLang=en)

[View full post](https://blog.ncga.org/rules-of-golf-101-my-ball-is-overhanging-the-hole)

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