Rule 4: Your Golf Equipment on the Course
What this is about
Rule 4 covers your equipment: which clubs and balls you may use, and how many you can carry.
What you need to do
- Use clubs and balls that conform to the rules, meaning they're approved.
- You may carry a maximum of fourteen clubs. More costs two penalty strokes for each hole where it happened, up to a maximum of four per round. In match play, the match score is adjusted.
- Does a club accidentally break during your round? You may keep using it, have it repaired, or replace it.
- Damage a club deliberately out of frustration, and you may not replace it.
- Never adjust a club's characteristics during your round, for example with an adjustable head. Make a stroke after doing so, and you're disqualified.
Common mistake
Thinking you can't keep playing with a dented club. As long as the damage wasn't deliberate, you can simply keep using it.
Example
During your swing you hit a stone and your iron gets a dent. You just keep playing with it, or you grab a replacement club and take the damaged one out of your bag.
Practise this rule with real exam questions in the free app.
4.1 Clubs
4.1a Clubs you may make a stroke with
You must play with clubs that meet the Rules of Equipment. If such a club becomes damaged during the round, you may keep using it or have it repaired, as long as its general character stays the same. You may only replace it if you didn't cause the damage yourself through abuse (Rule 4.1b(3)). Also never deliberately change a club's characteristics during your round, for example with an adjustable head. You may not make a stroke with such a club, or with a club that doesn't meet the Rules of Equipment. If you do, you're disqualified.
4.1b Maximum of 14 clubs; sharing, adding, or replacing clubs
You may carry and use a maximum of 14 clubs. If you start with fewer, you may add clubs up to 14, as long as you don't unreasonably delay play. A club damaged during the round may be replaced, unless you caused the damage yourself through abuse. Sharing clubs with other players isn't allowed; partners in a foursome or four-ball may share, up to 14 between them. Penalty: in match play, one hole deducted per hole with a breach (maximum 2 per round), in stroke play 2 penalty strokes per hole with a breach (maximum 4 per round).
4.1c Procedure for taking a club out of play
If you discover that you're carrying more than 14 clubs or a non-conforming club, take that club out of play right away by clearly announcing it to your opponent or marker. You may not use it for the rest of the round.
4.2 Balls
4.2a Balls you may use during a round
You must play a conforming ball. If the Committee requires the List of Conforming Golf Balls, your ball must be on it. You may accept and play a ball from another player.
4.2b Ball breaks into pieces while playing a hole
If your ball breaks into pieces as a result of a stroke, that stroke doesn't count. Play another ball, without penalty, from the spot where you made that stroke.
4.2c Ball cracks or splits while playing a hole
If you reasonably believe your ball has cracked or split, you may mark it, lift it and inspect it. You may not clean it while doing so. If it really is damaged, you may replace it with another ball on the original spot. Just being dirty, discolored, scratched or scraped isn't a reason to switch it.
4.3 Use of equipment
4.3a Permitted and prohibited use of equipment
Equipment that's a normal part of the game is allowed: tee, glove, grip powder, and a distance-measuring device, unless a local rule prohibits it. Equipment that gives you an unfair advantage is forbidden, such as devices that measure wind or elevation change, or that give advice on club selection or line of play. So your distance-measuring device may only measure distance.
4.3b Equipment used for medical reasons
You may use medical equipment such as a brace or hearing aid, as long as it doesn't give you an unfair advantage.
Practice questions about Rule 4
May you apply tape to the surface of your club's grip to make it grippier or provide extra friction?
Answer: No, never
No, you may not apply tape to the outer surface of your grip to make it grippier or tackier for extra traction; that makes the club non-conforming. Normal grip build-up, such as tape under the grip to build up thickness, is allowed, as long as the grip keeps a uniform profile and meets the equipment rules (Rule 4.1a).
What is a "conforming ball"?
Answer: A ball that appears on the official list of approved balls
A conforming ball meets the official requirements and appears on the list of approved golf balls.
What is the maximum number of clubs you may carry?
Answer: 14
You may carry a maximum of 14 clubs during a round. You may start with fewer and add clubs along the way, up to 14.
During a round, your 7-iron breaks in half after a normal stroke. What are you allowed to do?
Answer: You may have the iron repaired or replace it
If a club is damaged during normal use, you may keep using the club in its damaged state, have it repaired, or replace it (Rule 4.1a). Keep in mind: by replacing it, your total may never exceed 14 clubs.
Can you replace a damaged ball during a hole?
Answer: Yes, if the ball is visibly damaged
If your ball is visibly cut or cracked, you may replace it during the hole (Rule 4.2c). Scuffs or normal wear don't count as damage.