Can I lift my ball to check if it's cut or cracked?

Yes, you can lift your ball to check if it's cut or cracked, but only if you reasonably believe the damage happened during the hole you're playing. You must mark the spot first and you cannot clean the ball unless you're on the putting green.

The key distinction: "reasonable belief" vs. curiosity

Rule 4.2c doesn't let you lift just to satisfy curiosity. You need a genuine reason to think the ball was damaged during this hole — for example, you hit a cart path, struck a tree root, or the ball bounced off a rock. A vague feeling or routine inspection isn't enough. If you lift without that reasonable belief, it's a one-stroke penalty even if you follow the rest of the procedure correctly.

When you can lift your ball

You may lift your ball to inspect it only when you reasonably believe it became cut or cracked during the hole you're playing. Before picking it up, you have to mark its spot — a tee, coin, or ball-marker right behind or next to the ball. You must not clean the ball while it's lifted, except when you're on the putting green where Rule 13.1b allows cleaning anyway. If you lift without that reasonable belief, forget to mark, or clean when you shouldn't, you add one penalty stroke to your score.

When you can swap the ball

You can put another ball in play only if it's clearly visible that the original ball is cut or cracked and that the damage occurred during the current hole. A ball that's merely scratched, scraped, or has paint damage or discoloration does not qualify — you have to put the original ball back on its marked spot. If the ball is genuinely cut or cracked, you may replace it with another ball or the original one, either way on the original spot.

Penalties if you get it wrong

Lifting without reasonable belief, failing to mark, or cleaning when not allowed costs one penalty stroke. Making a stroke at a ball you substituted when the original wasn't clearly cut or cracked also adds one penalty stroke under Rule 6.3b. If you then play from a wrong place — for example, dropping instead of replacing on the exact spot — you incur the general penalty (two strokes in stroke play, loss of hole in match play) under Rule 14.7a.

Exceptions that change the answer

• The stroke with a non-conforming ball does not count in your score → There is no disqualification penalty under Rule 4.2a. This covers provisional balls that never become the ball in play, strokes that are cancelled or replayed, and a second ball played under Rule 20.1c(3).
• The ball is marked "X-Out", "Refurbished", or "Practice" by the manufacturer → These balls are treated according to the Equipment Rules. An X-Out is a ball the manufacturer considers imperfect (often only cosmetically). A refurbished ball is a used ball that has been cleaned and restamped. They are not automatically non-conforming; check the List of Conforming Golf Balls or the local rule in effect.

Frequently asked questions

Can I clean my ball when I lift it to check for cuts?

No, you must not clean the ball when lifting it under Rule 4.2c, unless you are on the putting green where Rule 13.1b already allows you to lift, clean, and replace.

What if my ball is only scratched or the paint is chipped?

Scratches, scrapes, paint damage, or discoloration do not count as cut or cracked. You cannot substitute another ball; you must replace the original ball on its marked spot.

Do I have to announce my intention to lift the ball to my playing partners?

The rule does not require you to announce it, but it's good practice to let your marker or fellow players know so they can observe the procedure and avoid disputes.

What happens if I lift the ball without marking its spot first?

You get one penalty stroke. The ball must be replaced on its original spot (which you must estimate if the mark is gone).

Can I substitute a ball if I'm not 100% sure it's cut?

No. The damage must be clearly seen as a cut or crack that happened during the hole. If there's any doubt, you must replace the original ball on its spot.