Can I hit a provisional ball more than once?

Yes, you can play a provisional ball as many times as you need, provided every stroke is made from a spot that is the same distance or farther from the hole than where you estimate the original ball to be. It only stops being provisional when it becomes the ball in play or you abandon it.

How many times can you hit a provisional ball?

There's no limit. If your first provisional ball might also be lost or out of bounds, you can hit another one, and another after that. Each one keeps its provisional status as long as you play it from a spot that isn't closer to the hole than where you think the original ball ended up. The rule treats each provisional ball the same way: the second provisional relates to the first one just like the first one relates to the original.

When does a provisional ball become the ball in play?

Two things turn a provisional ball into the ball in play, both with a stroke-and-distance penalty. First, if the original ball is lost anywhere on the course except in a penalty area, or is out of bounds — the original is then a wrong ball even if someone finds it after the three-minute search ends. Second, if you make a stroke at the provisional ball from a spot nearer the hole than where the original ball is estimated to be. At that point the provisional ball is the ball in play and the original is out of the picture.

What doesn't count as "playing" the provisional ball?

Dropping, placing, or substituting a ball nearer the hole than the estimated original spot doesn't count as playing the provisional ball. So if your provisional ball ends up in a bush and you take unplayable ball relief, dropping a ball closer to the hole doesn't make the provisional ball the ball in play. It's still provisional until you actually make a stroke at it from that closer spot.

Exceptions that change the answer

• You play a provisional ball from a spot nearer the hole than where the original ball is estimated to be → The provisional ball immediately becomes the ball in play under stroke and distance, and the original ball is a wrong ball that must not be played
• The original ball is found in a penalty area within the three-minute search time → You must abandon the provisional ball and continue with the original ball (or take penalty area relief)
• You play another ball from the same spot without announcing "provisional" → That ball becomes the ball in play under stroke and distance, not a provisional ball

Frequently asked questions

Can I hit a second provisional ball if my first one might also be lost?

Yes. If your first provisional ball might be lost outside a penalty area or out of bounds, you can play another provisional ball. The second one relates to the first one the same way the first one related to the original ball.

What happens if I find my original ball after I've hit the provisional ball a few times?

If you find the original ball within the three-minute search time and it's not in a penalty area, you must abandon the provisional ball and play the original. The provisional ball's strokes don't count. But if the three minutes are up, the original is lost and the provisional ball is the ball in play.

Does taking relief from a bush with my provisional ball make it the ball in play?

No. Dropping or placing a ball under a relief rule (like unplayable ball) doesn't count as "playing" the provisional ball. It only becomes the ball in play when you make a stroke at it from a spot nearer the hole than where the original ball is estimated to be.

What if I don't say "provisional" before hitting another ball from the tee?

If you don't announce that you're playing a provisional ball (using the word "provisional" or clearly indicating it), the ball you hit becomes the ball in play under stroke and distance. The original ball is then a wrong ball.

Can I play a provisional ball after I've already started searching for the original?

Yes, you can play a provisional ball any time before the three-minute search period ends, even if you've already started looking. You just need to get back to the previous spot and announce it properly.