What happens if my ball rests against me or my bag and then moves?

No penalty — but only because Rule 9.4b Exception 5 carves out this specific scenario. If your ball comes to rest against you or your equipment after a stroke or a drop, and it moves when you move or lift your gear, just put it back where it was. The exception applies whether the ball settled against your body, your bag, your trolley, or a club you set down.

When this applies

This only kicks in after your ball has already come to rest against you — your body, your bag, your trolley, a club you set down — because of a stroke you made or a ball you dropped under the Rules. If the ball is just sitting there touching your shoe or leaning against your bag, and you stand up or pick up the bag and the ball rolls away, you're fine. No stroke added. It doesn't matter if the ball moved a little or a lot. What matters is that it was at rest against you or your equipment first, and your movement caused it to move.

What you do next

Replace the ball on its original spot. If you don't know the exact spot, estimate it as best you can — that's what Rule 14.2 says. Don't drop it, don't place it somewhere else. Put it back where it was resting against you or your gear. Then play from there. If you play it from the new spot without replacing it, that's playing from a wrong place and you get the general penalty (two strokes in stroke play, loss of hole in match play).

What doesn't count

This exception doesn't cover a ball that hits you or your bag in mid-air and then rolls away — that's Rule 11.1, and you play it as it lies with no penalty. It also doesn't cover you accidentally kicking your ball while walking up to it, or bumping it with your club while addressing it. Those are different situations under Rule 9.4b and usually cost you a stroke unless another exception applies.

Exceptions that change the answer

• Ball comes to rest against you or your equipment after a stroke (Rule 11.1) → No penalty if your movement causes it to move — replace it
• Ball comes to rest against you or your equipment after a drop (Rule 14.3c(1)) → No penalty if your movement causes it to move — replace it

Frequently asked questions

My ball hit my bag and stopped against it. When I picked up the bag, the ball rolled away. Penalty?

No penalty. The ball came to rest against your equipment after your stroke, and it moved when you moved the bag. Replace it on the spot where it was resting against the bag and play on.

I dropped in a relief area and the ball settled against my foot. I stepped back and it moved. What now?

No penalty. Rule 9.4b Exception 5 covers a ball that comes to rest against you after a drop. Replace it where it was against your foot.

Does it matter if I move on purpose or by accident?

No. The exception applies whether you move deliberately or accidentally. The only requirement is that the ball was at rest against you or your equipment first.

What if I don't replace it and just play from where it rolled to?

That's playing from a wrong place. You get the general penalty — two strokes in stroke play, loss of hole in match play. Always replace it first.

My ball hit me in the air and bounced off. Same rule?

No. That's Rule 11.1 — ball in motion accidentally hits you or your equipment. No penalty, play it as it lies. Exception 5 only applies when the ball has already come to rest against you.