What happens if my ball hits someone and I need relief?

No penalty if your ball accidentally hits anyone or anything — just play it as it lies. But if the ball comes to rest on a person, animal, or moving object, you get free relief: drop within one club-length of where it first landed on them (not nearer the hole), or place it on the green.

When you play from anywhere except the green

If your ball hits someone or something by accident, there's no penalty to anyone. You normally play the ball where it stops. The exception: if the ball ends up resting on a person, animal, or moving outside influence (like a cart or a dog), you can't play it from there. Instead, find the spot right under where the ball first came to rest on them — that's your reference point. Drop the original or another ball within one club-length of that spot, in the same area of the course, not nearer the hole. No penalty.

When you play from the putting green

Same deal: accidental hit, no penalty, play it as it lies. But if it's known or virtually certain your ball hit a person (other than you or the flagstick attendant), a movable obstruction (other than your club, ball-marker, ball at rest, or the flagstick), or an animal on the green, you must replay the stroke from the original spot. The original stroke doesn't count. If you don't replay and just play from where it stopped, the stroke counts and you get the general penalty (two strokes).

The putting-green exception in stroke play

There's one case where an accidental hit costs you: if your ball played from the green hits another ball at rest on the green, and both were on the green before your stroke, you get two penalty strokes in stroke play. In match play, no penalty — just play your ball as it lies and the other player replaces theirs.

Exceptions that change the answer

• Ball played from putting green hits another ball at rest on the green (both on green before stroke) in stroke play → Two penalty strokes (general penalty). In match play, no penalty.
• Ball comes to rest on a person, animal, or moving outside influence → Free relief: drop within one club-length of the point right under where the ball first came to rest (same area, not nearer hole). On the green, place instead of drop.
• Ball played from green hits a person (not you, not flagstick attendant), movable obstruction (not club, ball-marker, ball at rest, flagstick), or animal on the green → Must replay the stroke from the original spot. Original stroke cancelled.

Frequently asked questions

My ball hit my playing partner's bag and stopped against it. What do I do?

No penalty. Since the bag is a moving outside influence and the ball came to rest on it, find the spot right under where the ball first touched the bag. Drop within one club-length of that spot, same area of the course, not nearer the hole.

I putted and my ball hit another player's ball on the green. Penalty?

In stroke play, yes — two penalty strokes if both balls were on the green before your stroke. In match play, no penalty. Either way, play your ball as it lies and the other player replaces their ball.

A dog grabbed my ball while it was still rolling. Now what?

The ball is treated as having come to rest on the dog. Take free relief: the reference point is where the dog picked it up. Drop within one club-length of that spot, same area, not nearer the hole.

My ball hit the flagstick attendant on the green. Do I replay?

No. The flagstick attendant is covered by Rule 13.2b(2), not Rule 11.1. Play the ball as it lies with no penalty.

I accidentally hit my own ball with my practice swing on the fairway. Is that Rule 11.1?

No — that's Rule 9.4 (ball at rest moved by player). You get a one-stroke penalty and must replace the ball. Rule 11.1 only covers a ball in motion after a stroke.