What is the penalty for hitting a wrong ball?

In stroke play, hitting a wrong ball costs you two penalty strokes and you must correct the mistake by playing your own ball. In match play, you lose the hole immediately — the hole ends the moment you make a stroke at a ball that isn't yours.

What counts as a wrong ball

A wrong ball is any ball that isn't yours in play — another player's ball, a stray ball, or a ball you substituted when the Rules didn't allow it. You're expected to identify your ball before every stroke (Rule 7.2). If you make a stroke at a wrong ball, the penalty applies whether you realized it or not.

How to fix it in stroke play

You get the general penalty (two strokes). The stroke at the wrong ball doesn't count. You must then play your original ball from where it lies, or take relief if it's lost or out of bounds. If you don't correct the mistake before teeing off on the next hole — or before returning your scorecard on the final hole — you're disqualified.

Match play is different

In match play, the penalty is loss of hole. There's no option to correct it and keep playing the hole. If you and your opponent hit each other's balls during the hole, the first one to make a stroke at the wrong ball loses the hole.

Exceptions that change the answer

• The wrong ball is moving in water in a penalty area or temporary water → No penalty. The stroke doesn't count, and you must play your correct ball from its original spot or take relief under the Rules.
• Two players discover after holing out that they finished with each other's balls but can't establish when the exchange happened → No penalty to either player. Since each player is allowed to start a hole with any conforming ball, the hole stands as played.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I hit a wrong ball in stroke play?

You get two penalty strokes. The stroke at the wrong ball doesn't count. You must then play your own ball from where it lies, or take relief if it's lost or out of bounds. If you don't correct it before the next tee shot (or before returning your card on the last hole), you're disqualified.

What happens if I hit a wrong ball in match play?

You lose the hole immediately. There's no correction procedure — the hole ends as soon as you make a stroke at a wrong ball. If both players hit each other's balls, the first to do so loses the hole.

Is there any situation where hitting a wrong ball carries no penalty?

Yes. If the wrong ball is moving in water — either in a penalty area or temporary water — there's no penalty. The stroke doesn't count, and you play your correct ball from its original spot or take relief.

What if my playing partner and I accidentally swap balls and don't realize until after the hole?

If neither of you can establish when the balls were exchanged during play, there's no penalty. The hole stands as played because each player is allowed to start a hole with any conforming ball.

Do I have to finish the hole with the wrong ball once I've hit it?

No. In stroke play, you must abandon the wrong ball and correct the mistake by playing your own ball. In match play, the hole ends immediately when you hit the wrong ball — you lose the hole.