If you think your shot might be lost or out of bounds, hit a provisional ball before you walk forward. Say “I am hitting a provisional,” play a second ball from the same spot, and you’ll never have to walk all the way back if the first ball can’t be found.

It’s one of the most useful rules a beginner can learn. It saves time, keeps your group moving and takes the stress out of a wayward shot, like a drive that curves hard toward the trees, the long grass or the beach.

What a Provisional Ball Is

A provisional ball is a second ball you play when your first ball might be lost or out of bounds. You hit it from the same spot as your original shot, before you go forward to search.

If you find your original ball in bounds, you simply pick up the provisional and keep playing the original. If you can’t find the original, or it’s out of bounds, the provisional becomes your ball in play. Either way, you never have to walk back.

Why It Matters

Without a provisional, a lost ball means a long walk back to where you hit from, while your playing partners and the group behind wait. That’s one of the biggest causes of slow rounds.

A provisional ball fixes that. It is a big part of ready golf: be prepared, keep moving and don’t make the whole course wait for one shot.

How to Hit a Provisional Ball

1. Say “I am hitting a provisional” first. Before you play, tell your group clearly that it’s a provisional ball, and use that word. If you just say “I’ll hit another one,” the rules treat the new ball as your ball in play under penalty, and your first ball is lost even if you find it later.

2. Hit it before you walk forward. The provisional has to be played before you (or your partner) go forward to search for the original. Hit it right away from the same spot. On the tee, it’s usually polite to wait until everyone else has teed off, then hit your provisional.

3. Original found in bounds? Play it. Walk to the area and look for your first ball. If you find it in bounds within the three-minute search time, pick up the provisional and play the original, with no penalty. If the original is lost or out of bounds, continue with the provisional.

How Scoring Works

When the provisional becomes your ball in play, you take a one-stroke penalty and play it from where it lies. For example, if your tee shot is lost and your provisional from the tee lands in the fairway, you are hitting your fourth shot from there: the first tee shot, one penalty stroke and the provisional.

That sounds like a lot, but it’s exactly the same score you would have had if you had walked back to the tee and hit again. The provisional just saves the walk.

When You Can’t Use a Provisional

A provisional ball is only for a ball that might be lost or out of bounds. If you know (or it’s virtually certain) that your ball went into a penalty area, such as water marked by red or yellow stakes, you don’t hit a provisional. Instead, use the penalty area relief options. Our guide on reading the stakes before you drop explains how.

Common Mistakes

• Not announcing it. Always say the word “provisional.” Without it, your first ball is out of play.
• Walking forward first. Once you go ahead to search, you can’t go back and hit a provisional.
• Playing the provisional too far. If you hit the provisional past the spot where the original is likely to be, it automatically becomes your ball in play, and the original is lost.
• Skipping it to save face. Hitting a provisional isn’t admitting defeat. It’s good manners and smart golf.
• Forgetting safety. Before hitting again, make sure the group ahead is out of range, just as you would with any shot. Read more in Wait Before You Swing.

FAQ

Do I have to hit a provisional ball? No, it’s optional. But if you think your ball might be lost or out of bounds, it’s almost always the smart and polite choice.

How long can I search for my original ball? Three minutes, starting when you or your caddie begin searching. After that, the ball is lost.

Can I hit more than one provisional? Yes. If your provisional also might be lost or out of bounds, you can hit another one. Just announce it as a provisional each time.

What if I find my original ball in a bad spot? If it’s in bounds, you must play it (or take unplayable ball relief with a penalty). You can’t choose the provisional just because it’s in a better spot.

Key Takeaways

• A provisional ball is a second ball you hit when your first might be lost or out of bounds.
• Always say “provisional” before you hit it, and hit it before you walk forward.
• If you find the original in bounds within three minutes, play it. If not, continue with the provisional.
• Don’t use a provisional for a ball you know went into a penalty area.

Have you ever had to walk all the way back to the tee? Hit a provisional next time and save yourself the trip.

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