Wouldn't changing the type and brand of ball during the competition violate Rule 5-1, stipulating that you play the same brand and model throughout the round? Just askin'...

John, 

You are absolutely right. If you switch type and brand of ball or type and brand of equipment during a ROUND you are DQ'd. If you change it in between rounds of a tournament, you are not violating the rule.

He said "The first 6 holes I had bogey and double. I put my 20Xi in bag and grab a prov1x " so yes he should have been DQ'd

I thought you could switch balls as long as you announced it...

Hey Jeff

I'm not up on the 2012 rules, so I went and checked all of rule 5, there is nothing there about using only 1 brand and model of ball.

Up until 2012(and maybe including 2012), the USGA has not had any such rule requiring the use of 1 brand and model ball.

The USGA does(or at least did) require you to complete a hole with the ball you started the hole with......unless the ball is lost or damaged and can substitute a ball according to the rules.

3balls.com only has 712 irons right now, you have to keep watching. They have a rating system on clubs, 7 is new, 6 like new, 5 fine, 4 very good, 3 good.

I don't know about 3 good, 4 you may or may not see where the ball has hit the face and where the sole has hit the ground, 5 requires close examination to find any thing, 6 I have yet to find anything, 7 of course is new.

Jeff

Sorry, I should have said you must use the same ball during the play of a hole until you can substitute according to the rules.

I left out, substituting a ball that is OB, in a water hazard(I think it was 2010 rule change that allowed changing a waterball even if you find it). And of course under penalty of 1 stroke you can drop a ball at the point last played and it will become the ball in play......not a good idea, basically taking an OB penalty just because you want to change balls. And then there is if the ball breaks into pieces, you don't take a penalty and you don't even count the stroke that broke the ball......and I'm sure there is more.

The rule is basically so you can't use 1 ball off the tee, change to another for approach shots, and yet another for putting.

But there is no rule saying you can't use 1 ball for par 5's, one for par 3's, or any other reason you may want a different ball to use during the play of an entire hole.

Basically, if you start the hole with a ball, unless there is a reason under the rules to substitute a ball, you use that ball(that ball, not a ball of the same brand and model) until the hole is completed. If there is a reason under the rules that you can substitute a ball then you can substitute any brand and model you want.

Its actually covered in "Appendix 1 , Part C" and it's called the "One Ball Condition". This is a rule that can be enforced by the golf course or tournament comottee. If the tournament comittee put the rule into action for the tournament then yes, he was in the wrong. If they did not put the rule into action than he is fine. He would have to check with the tournament comittee or, the course to see if they enforce the "One Ball Condition" rule. ***************************** Appendix 1 , Part C PENALTY FOR BREACH OF CONDITION: Disqualification.” c. One Ball Condition If it is desired to prohibit changing brands and models of golf balls during a stipulated round, the following condition is recommended: “Limitation on Balls Used During Round: (Note to Rule 5-1) (i) “One Ball” Condition During a stipulated round, the balls a player plays must be of the same brand and model as detailed by a single entry on the current List of Conforming Golf Balls. Note: If a ball of a different brand and/or model is dropped or placed it may be lifted, without penalty, and the player must then proceed by dropping or placing a proper ball (Rule 20-6). PENALTY FOR BREACH OF CONDITION: Match play – At the conclusion of the hole at which the breach is discovered, the state of the match is adjusted by deducting one hole for each hole at which a breach occurred; maximum deduction per round – Two holes. Stroke play – Two strokes for each hole at which any breach occurred; maximum penalty per round – Four strokes (two strokes at each of the first two holes at which any breach occurred). Bogey and Par competitions – See Note 1 to Rule 32-1a. Stableford competitions – See Note 1 to Rule 32-1b. (ii) Procedure When Breach Discovered When a player discovers that he has played a ball in breach of this condition, he must abandon that ball before playing from the next teeing ground and complete the round with a proper ball; otherwise, the player is disqualified. If discovery is made during play of a hole and the player elects to substitute a proper ball before completing that hole, the player must place a proper ball on the spot where the ball played in breach of the condition lay.” 2. Caddie (Note to Rule 6-4) Rule 6-4 permits a player to use a caddie, provided he has only one caddie at any one time. However, there may be circumstances where a Committee may wish to prohibit caddies or restrict a player in his choice of caddie, e.g., professional golfer, sibling, parent, another player in the competition, etc. In such cases, the following wording is recommended: Use of Caddie Prohibited “A player is prohibited from using a caddie during the stipulated round.” Restriction on Who May Serve as Caddie “A player is prohibited from having ___________ serve as his caddie during the stipulated round. *PENALTY FOR BREACH OF CONDITION: Match play – At the conclusion of the hole at which the breach is discovered, the state of the match is adjusted by deducting one hole for each hole at which a breach occurred; maximum deduction per round – Two holes. Stroke play – Two strokes for each hole at which any breach occurred; maximum penalty per round – Four strokes (two strokes at each of the first two holes at which any breach occurred). Match play or stroke play – If a breach is discovered between the play of two holes, it is deemed to have been discovered during play of the next hole, and the penalty must be applied accordingly. Bogey and par competitions – See Note 1 to Rule 32-1a. Stableford competitions – See Note 1 to Rule 32-1b. *A player having a caddie in breach of this condition must immediately upon discovery that a breach has occurred ensure that he conforms with this condition for the remainder of the stipulated round. Otherwise, the player is disqualified.” ************************

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1. Specification of Clubs and the Ball

The following conditions are recommended only for competitions involving expert players: