What happens if I deliberately move the flagstick to affect my ball in motion?

You get the general penalty — two strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play. Rule 13.2a(3) forbids deliberately moving or removing the flagstick after your stroke to affect where your ball in motion might come to rest.

What the rule says

Once you've made a stroke with the flagstick left in the hole, neither you nor your caddie may deliberately move or remove it to influence where your ball in motion might end up. That includes tilting it left, right, or pulling it out to keep the ball from hitting it. If you do, the penalty is immediate: the general penalty applies regardless of whether the ball actually hits the flagstick. The rule is strict because the flagstick's position must stay as it was when you played. You decided to putt with it in; you can't then change the geometry to help your ball.

The exception that saves you

There's no penalty if you move or remove the flagstick for any other reason — for example, when you reasonably believe your ball in motion won't reach the hole before stopping. If your putt is clearly going to finish six feet short and you pull the stick to save time, that's fine. The key is your honest belief at that moment, not the outcome. This exception also covers a caddie acting on their own if they share that same reasonable belief. But if the motive is to affect the ball's final resting place, the exception doesn't apply.

What counts as deliberate

Deliberate means intentional — you meant to move it. Accidentally brushing the flagstick while retrieving a ball marker, or the wind moving it, isn't a breach. But if you reach out and tilt it, or tell your caddie to pull it because you see the ball tracking toward the stick, that's deliberate. The penalty attaches to the player, not the caddie. Even if your caddie does it without you asking, you still get the general penalty because the caddie's action is treated as yours under Rule 10.3c.

Exceptions that change the answer

• You reasonably believe the ball in motion will not hit the flagstick before coming to rest → No penalty for moving or removing the flagstick

Frequently asked questions

What if I move the flagstick thinking my ball won't hit it, but it does?

No penalty. The exception applies based on your reasonable belief at the moment you move it, not on what actually happens. If you genuinely thought the ball would stop short, you're covered.

What if my caddie moves the flagstick without me asking?

You still get the general penalty if they did it to affect where your ball might come to rest. A caddie's deliberate action is treated as yours. If they moved it for another reason — like believing the ball wouldn't reach the hole — there's no penalty.

Does this rule apply if the flagstick was being attended?

Yes. Rule 13.2a(3) applies whenever the flagstick is left in the hole, whether attended or not. The attendant (or you) must not deliberately move it to affect the ball in motion.

What's the penalty in match play versus stroke play?

General penalty means loss of hole in match play and two strokes in stroke play. The rule doesn't distinguish — it's the same breach, same penalty category.

Can I put the flagstick back if someone else moved it?

If another player moved it without authority to affect your ball, they get the general penalty under Rule 13.2a(4). You or anyone else may replace the flagstick while your ball is in motion, but that doesn't erase the other player's penalty.