What to do when your replaced ball won't stay put

If your replaced ball won't stay on its original spot — whether on the green, in the fairway, or anywhere else — you get two tries to replace it. After the second failure, place it on the nearest spot where it will stay at rest, no closer to the hole, in the same area of the course (Rule 14.2e). This is distinct from a dropped ball that rolls out of the relief area (Rule 14.3c), which follows a re-drop-then-place sequence instead.

The two-try rule

When you replace a ball — say after marking it on the green or lifting it in the fairway — and it won't sit still, don't panic. Rule 14.2e gives you a clear process: try to replace it once. If it rolls away, try a second time. If it still won't stay, you move on to the next step instead of endless attempts.

Where to place it after two failures

After two failed attempts, you must place the ball on the nearest spot where it will stay at rest. Three hard limits apply: the spot cannot be nearer the hole; it must be in the same area of the course as the original spot (general area, bunker, penalty area, or putting green); and you cannot move it to a different area just to find a flat lie. This keeps the relief fair and prevents gaming the slope.

No penalty, just procedure

There's no penalty for a ball that won't stay put — it's not your fault the ground is sloped or the grass is slick. The penalty only appears if you skip the two-try process or place the ball in the wrong area. Follow the steps, and you're playing by the rules.

Exceptions that change the answer

• The lie was worsened while play was stopped and the ball was lifted → Rule 14.2d (and Rule 5.7d) applies instead — you restore the original lie as near as possible, not the nearest spot where the ball stays.
• Natural forces move a ball at rest after it was dropped, placed, or replaced into another area of the course or out of bounds → The ball must be replaced on its original spot (estimated if unknown). Exception: on the putting green after replacement, Rule 13.1d(2) applies instead.
• The ball begins to move during your backswing or stroke and you make the stroke → Play the ball as it lies (Rule 9.1b). No replacement, no penalty for the movement itself.
• The original ball cannot be recovered quickly, is cut or cracked, play resumes after a stoppage, or another player played your ball as a wrong ball → You may substitute another ball when replacing (Rule 14.2a Exception).

Frequently asked questions

What if the ball rolls a tiny bit but stays basically on the spot?

If the ball comes to rest on the original spot — even if it wobbled — it's replaced. The rule only triggers when the ball does not stay on that spot, meaning it rolls off and comes to rest elsewhere.

Can I press the ball down into the grass to make it stay?

No. You must place the ball on the surface. Pressing it down improves the lie and breaches Rule 8.1a. If it won't stay on the surface, follow the two-try procedure.

What counts as 'same area of the course' when finding the nearest spot?

The five areas are: general area, bunker, penalty area, putting green, and teeing area. If your original spot was in the general area, the nearest spot must also be in the general area — not in a bunker or on the green.

What if the nearest spot where it stays is in a worse lie?

That's the rule. You must use the nearest spot where the ball stays at rest, even if the lie is worse, as long as it's not nearer the hole and stays in the same area. You don't get to shop for a better lie.

Does this apply on the putting green too?

Yes. If a replaced ball on the green won't stay (common on steep slopes), same two-try process. After two failures, place it at the nearest spot on the putting green where it stays, no closer to the hole.