Provisional Ball
A provisional ball is a second ball a golfer plays from the spot of the previous stroke when the original ball might be lost outside a penalty area or out of bounds. It saves the time of walking back if the original cannot be found.
What is a provisional ball?
The provisional ball exists for one reason: to save time. Under Rule 18.3 of the Rules of Golf, jointly maintained by the USGA and the R&A, a player who fears their ball may be lost outside a penalty area or out of bounds can hit a backup shot from the same spot before walking forward to search. If the original turns up safely on the course, the player picks up the provisional and continues with the original at no penalty. When the original is lost or out of bounds, the provisional becomes the ball in play under stroke-and-distance penalty, which adds one stroke.
Without this rule, a player whose drive sailed toward trouble would walk forward to search for three minutes, then walk all the way back to the tee if it could not be found. On a busy course, that delay slows every group behind.
A provisional ball is not a free do-over and not a Mulligan. It carries the same penalty as any stroke-and-distance situation if it ends up in play.
When a provisional ball is allowed
Rule 18.3a permits a provisional ball in two situations: the original might be lost somewhere on the course outside a penalty area, or it might be out of bounds. A provisional is not allowed when the only possible location for the original is a penalty area, such as a pond or other water hazard marked with red or yellow stakes. In that case, the player must proceed under Rule 17.
There is one nuance. If the ball might be in a penalty area but might also be lost elsewhere on the course or out of bounds, a provisional is allowed. A drive that flew toward the rough alongside a lake could be in the water or in the long grass beside it, so a provisional is fine. A ball clearly seen splashing into the middle of the lake is not eligible.
A provisional must be played before the player walks forward to search for the original. Once the search has begun, the right to play one is gone.
How to announce a provisional ball
Without the announcement, a second ball is not a provisional. Rule 18.3b requires the player to say the word “provisional” or otherwise clearly indicate that the ball is being played under Rule 18.3 before making the stroke. Saying “I’ll hit another” or “let me reload” does not count. If the announcement is missed, the second ball becomes the ball in play under stroke-and-distance penalty, and the original is automatically lost, even if it is later found sitting safely in the fairway.
The announcement must be made to someone, typically a fellow competitor, marker, or opponent. If no one is nearby to hear it, the player may play the provisional and inform someone as soon as possible afterward.
How the strokes count
A provisional ball carries no penalty unless it becomes the ball in play. If the original is found in bounds and identified within the three-minute search time, the provisional is abandoned, and every stroke made with it is wiped from the scorecard.
If the provisional does become the ball in play, the player adds one penalty stroke, and the strokes with the provisional count. A lost tee shot followed by a provisional works out like this: the original tee shot is stroke 1, the stroke-and-distance penalty is stroke 2, and the provisional teed up is stroke 3. The next shot played with the provisional is stroke 4.
A player may continue to hit the provisional more than once without losing its status, as long as each stroke is played from a spot no nearer the hole than where the original is estimated to lie.
When the provisional becomes the ball in play
Rule 18.3c lists two situations where the provisional officially takes over from the original.
The first is when the original is lost outside a penalty area or is found out of bounds. A ball is considered lost if it is not found within three minutes of the search starting. At that point, the provisional becomes the ball in play, the penalty stroke is added, and the original is treated as a wrong ball that must not be played.
The second is when the player plays a stroke with the provisional from a spot nearer the hole than where the original is estimated to be. The provisional becomes the ball in play immediately. This stops a player from using the provisional as a scouting tool, advancing it toward the hole while keeping the original in reserve.
When the provisional must be abandoned
A provisional is abandoned, and every stroke played with it disregarded, in two cases. The first is when the original ball is found on the course outside a penalty area within the three-minute search time. The player must then continue with the original, played as it lies.
The second is when the original is found in a penalty area, or it becomes known or virtually certain that it ended up in one. The player must either play the original as it lies or take penalty relief under Rule 17.1d.
In either case, any further stroke with the provisional counts as playing a wrong ball, which carries the general penalty under Rule 6.3c.
Provisional ball vs. lost ball vs. stroke and distance
These three terms get tangled together because they all involve the same penalty system, but each describes a different thing.
| Term | What it is | Penalty | When it applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provisional ball | A backup ball played before searching, in case the original is lost or out of bounds | None if abandoned; one stroke if it becomes the ball in play | Played from the spot of the previous stroke, before searching |
| Lost ball | An original ball that cannot be found within three minutes, or has been replaced by another ball put into play | One stroke (stroke and distance) | Triggered by the three-minute clock or by playing another ball under Rule 18.1 |
| Stroke and distance | The penalty procedure: one stroke added, plus loss of any distance the original ball gained | One stroke | Applies for any lost ball or out-of-bounds ball |
Common misconceptions
A ball cannot be declared lost. Saying “that one’s gone, I’ll just hit another” does not make it official. A ball is only considered lost once the three-minute search has expired, the player has put another ball into play under stroke-and-distance, or the player has made a stroke with a provisional from nearer the hole than where the original is estimated to be.
Penalty areas are off-limits for a provisional. The correct procedure for a ball clearly in water or another marked penalty area is to take relief under Rule 17.
More than one provisional is allowed. If the first provisional itself looks lost or out of bounds, a second may be played from the same spot, with the same announcement requirement.
Related Golf Terms
- Preferred lies — A local rule allowing players to move the ball to a better lie within a certain distance.
- Press — In betting, starting a new bet within a Nassau when behind.
- Pre-shot routine — A consistent set of actions performed before each shot.
- Practice green — A green designated for putting practice before a round.
- Pro shop — A retail store at a golf course selling equipment, apparel, and accessories.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many strokes is a provisional ball after a lost tee shot?
A lost tee shot followed by a provisional means the provisional teed up is stroke 3. The original counts as stroke 1, the stroke-and-distance penalty adds stroke 2, and the next shot played with the provisional, wherever it lands, is stroke 4.
Can a player hit a provisional after looking for the original ball?
No. Rule 18.3a requires the provisional to be played before the player walks forward to search. Once the search has started, the only option is to return to the spot of the previous stroke under stroke-and-distance penalty.
Does a player have to search for the original ball?
No. A player who prefers to proceed with the provisional and accept the penalty can simply continue. If someone else in the group finds the original in bounds within the three-minute window, the player must abandon the provisional and play the original.
Can a provisional ball be played in match play?
Yes. The provisional ball rule applies in both stroke play and match play, with the same announcement requirement and the same penalty if it becomes the ball in play.
Sources
- R&A. “Rule 18: Stroke-and-Distance Relief, Ball Lost or Out of Bounds, Provisional Ball.” Accessed May 2026.
- USGA. “Out of Bounds/Lost Ball/Provisional.” Updated for 2023 Rules. Accessed May 2026.
- USGA. “Rule 18 Interpretations.” Rules of Golf 2019 Edition. Accessed May 2026.
- Becker, Jimmy. “The Provisional Ball: What? How? When?” FORE Magazine (SCGA), April 2022.
- Florida State Golf Association. “Rules of Golf: Provisional Ball.” Accessed May 2026.
- R&A. “Get Golf Rules Ready.” Accessed May 2026.
- Golf Monthly. “When Should You Hit A Provisional Ball In Golf?” January 2025.
