Can I make a stroke with another player's club?

No, you cannot make a stroke with a club that is being used by anyone else playing on the course. The only exception is when partners share clubs and have no more than 14 clubs between them.

This rule (Rule 4.1b(2)) is distinct from the anchoring ban (Rule 10.1b) — one governs whose equipment you may swing, the other governs how you may swing your own. Equipment rules also cover what you wear: a glove with alignment marks or excessive tackiness breaches Rule 4.3a — see What happens if I wear a non-conforming glove?.

The general rule

Rule 4.1b(2) says you must not make a stroke with a club that is being used by anyone else who is playing on the course. It does not matter if the other player is in your group, a different group, or even a different competition — if they are on the course playing, their clubs are off-limits. The penalty is the general penalty: two strokes in stroke play, loss of hole in match play.

The partner exception

Partners in a side (foursomes or four-ball) may share clubs, but only if the total number of clubs they carry together is 14 or fewer. If you and your partner have 15 clubs between you, you are in breach even if you only use your own. The limit is checked at the start of the round; adding a club later to reach 15 also breaks the rule.

What "being used" means

A club is "being used" if the other player has it with them on the course for the round. It does not matter whether they have actually hit a shot with it yet. A club left in the locker room, in the car, or carried by a caddie who is not playing does not count — only clubs in the bag of someone playing on the course.

Related but distinct: Rule 4.1b(4) separately bans borrowing a club from anyone playing on the course — even if that club isn't currently "being used" by them. See Can I borrow a club from another player on the course?.

Exceptions that change the answer

• Partners share clubs and their combined total is 14 or fewer → Either partner may make a stroke with any of those clubs without penalty

Frequently asked questions

Can I borrow my playing partner's putter for one stroke?

No. If your playing partner is on the course playing, their putter is being used and you cannot make a stroke with it. Doing so costs the general penalty.

What if the other player isn't using the club right now?

It does not matter. As long as the club is in the bag of someone playing on the course, it is considered "being used" for the whole round.

Does this apply if the other player is in a different competition?

Yes. The rule applies to anyone playing on the course, even in a different group or competition.

What's the penalty for making a stroke with another player's club?

The general penalty: two strokes in stroke play, loss of hole in match play. In match play, the penalty is applied at the end of the hole where the breach is discovered.

Can I share clubs with my partner in a four-ball match?

Yes, provided you and your partner carry no more than 14 clubs total between you. If you have 15 combined, the side is in breach.