What happens if my opponent deliberately moves my ball overhanging the hole?

In match play, your ball counts as holed with the previous stroke and your opponent gets no penalty. In stroke play, the person who moved it takes a two-stroke penalty and the ball goes back on the lip.

Match play — it's holed, no penalty

If your opponent deliberately lifts or moves your ball while it's overhanging the hole and the ten-second waiting time hasn't finished, the ball is treated as holed with your last stroke. Your opponent doesn't get penalized under Rule 11.2b. You add nothing to your score for that hole and you move on.

Stroke play — two-shot penalty, replace the ball

In stroke play, the player who deliberately moved the ball gets the general penalty: two penalty strokes. The ball must be replaced on the lip of the hole. The waiting time no longer applies, so if it falls in later it's just holed with no extra penalty.

What counts as "deliberate"

Deliberate means they meant to touch or move it — picking it up, tapping it, sweeping it away. If they accidentally brush it while removing the flagstick or repairing a pitch mark, that's not deliberate and the ball just gets replaced with no penalty to anyone.

Exceptions that change the answer

• Opponent moves the ball after the waiting time has ended → The ball is already treated as at rest. Normal Rule 9.5 applies: opponent gets one penalty stroke in match play, two in stroke play, and the ball is replaced.
• Natural forces (wind, gravity) make the ball fall → If it falls during the waiting time, it's holed with the previous stroke. If it falls after the waiting time, it's holed with the previous stroke plus one penalty stroke.

Frequently asked questions

My opponent tapped my ball away while it was hanging on the lip — do I have to putt again?

No. In match play the ball counts as holed with your previous stroke. You don't putt again and your opponent gets no penalty.

Does this apply if my playing partner does it in stroke play?

Yes. In stroke play, any player who deliberately moves a ball overhanging the hole before the waiting time ends gets a two-stroke penalty and the ball is replaced on the lip.

What if the ball falls in after my opponent moves it?

The ball is already treated as holed in match play. In stroke play, the two-stroke penalty stands and the ball is considered holed with the previous stroke once replaced — no extra penalty for it falling later.

How long is the "waiting time" exactly?

You get a reasonable time to reach the hole plus ten seconds. Reasonable time depends on where you played from — could be several minutes if you hit from off the green.

What if I remove the flagstick and my ball moves?

If your flagstick removal caused it to move, replace the ball on the lip with no penalty. The waiting time stops. This isn't deliberate — it's a movable obstruction.