Ball Selection

Can I swop out balls during a hole?

Here's a breakdown:

Lost Ball: If you hit a shot and can't find your ball after a reasonable search (usually a few minutes), you are allowed to declare your ball lost and continue play with a penalty stroke. You'll then need to play your next shot with a new ball from where you last played, or from a designated drop area, depending on the rules of the golf course.

Unplayable Ball: If your ball is in a difficult lie or position, you may declare it unplayable. You'll then have several options, one of which is to take a penalty stroke and drop a new ball within two club lengths of where the original ball lay. Again, you'll play the remainder of the hole with the new ball.

However, there's an exception in match play formats:

In match play, you can change golf balls between holes, but not during a hole unless the ball is lost or damaged beyond use.

Remember, it's essential to know and follow the specific rules of the format you're playing and any additional local rules set by the golf course or competition organizers.