How Do You Mark Your Golf Ball?

Everyone knows that they should put a mark on their ball so they can identify it.

Well how do you mark your golf ball?

I put a black dot each side of the makers name.

Then I put a blue line about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch long.

I use this blue line to line up the ball for my drives and my putts.

Now the winter rules are in I also line up the blue line on the fairway.

So how do you mark your ball?

Russ

I have never marked a ball, was not aware that this was a rule.

It's not a rule John, but how can you tell if a ball you've found in the rough is yours or not?

Russ

Russell, many moons ago when I first started playing it was considered a gentlemans game and as every golf ball at the time, and I believe also today, came with a number on it, which one declared to ones fellow competitiors, along with the make, on the first tee and whenever one changed it during a round, especially notifying when a provisional is being played.

Also, if you were to check my ball pocket you will find that I start every round with four new balls numbered 1 - 4, This is a habit that I got into when I first started playing and it has stuck with me ever since.

No ones integrity was ever questioned, but it does seem that things are changing.

As I am the only player I know who plays with the Z-balata it would have to be an extreme coincidence to come across another one in the same spot as I was looking for mine with the same number, don't you agree.

If you consistently mark yours the same way then the same conditions could arise with you hitting a ball into the rough and coming across a ball that you may have put there two days ago.

This point can be argued all day, but, myself, I trust my fellow players to play the game as it was intended, after all, one is only cheating oneself by being devious.

I realise that I have been out of the game for a while but this is all new to me, but I have noticed at our roll ups that balls are being marked  and one guy in particular puts his initials CVE in pink so large thag we all know it is Curts ball, but as he is so wild there must be many times when he probably encounters a ball that is his own from previous rounds.

I now only have just over a dozen of the Z-balata left, so will be needing to find a different ball so whilst I was down at tesco getting a pair of slippers for myself ( I have been invited down to Bristol for the Christmas and they have a pure cream carpet, so shoes are taboo), i checked out the golf ball  situation and decided to buy 2 dozen of the new Top-Flite Gamer (What a name to give a golf ball).

What I liked about this ball was not only the price of £9.60 per doz, but it is also a three piece ball with a very thin ionomer cover so the short game qualities I like are built into this new ball. Perhaps it is a replacement for z-balata, who knows.

When I get back playing I will give a report.

Mr Perry initials his S.P.L.A.S.H

Very harsh Mr Ley.  As most of mine are from e-bay they already have marks on them so it is a different one every time for me.  Not a problem as long as I know what marking is on the ball before it is played.  If I do get one that has no marking, it gets the greek symbol 'φ' on it in orange just above the brand.

I'm surprised you don't mark yours John as it is actually a rule of golf as below: -

12-2. Identifying Ball

The responsibility for playing the proper ball rests with the player. Each player should put an identification mark on his ball.

*PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 12-2:

Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.

I think there is also the 'should' versus 'shall' argument.  'Should' is a recommendation, 'shall' is manadatory.  I can see some pedants who have lost a matchplay trying to argue it though. 

Chris, thanks for pointing out that it is in the rules, I wonder when this was introduced. This is the trouble when one leaves the game alone for a while.

I am now distressed as I hate markings on balls, so mine will be the tiniest dot you have ever seen in future. I will incorporate this in the Wishon theory about the heaviest side of the ball which I am going to introduce to my game shortly.

This is why  numbers were put on golf balls in the first place, so it is obvious that we are now pandering to the whims of the Pro tour once again. Pity we cannot have all their rules.

I dont mark my balls at all, we all just announce what we are using.

Note my latest post though John.  As also defined in the rules: -

• “should” (e.g. the marker should check the score) means the action is recommended but is not mandatory
• “must” (e.g. the player’s clubs must conform) means it is an instruction and there is a penalty if it is not carried out

So there is no penalty for not marking your ball as you 'should' do it (I would interpret this as an etiquette ruling so that you and your playing partners will have no difficulty identifying your ball should there be a need to search).  As you said previously, as long as you inform your playing partners of the brand and number of ball being played (and given that you do not play one of the more common balls) this should be adequate. 

Confusion reigns, and we all got wet.

Since when have any of us understood the intricacies of the rules John?  The pros are much better at bending them to their whim than we are. 

I saw Tiger Woods earlier this year managed to argue that a 5 foot boulder his ball was resting against was in fact a loose impediment and he should be allowed to remove it.  It took ten spectators to move it!  First if it was loose it wouldn't take ten people to move it and second he or his caddy should've been then only one's allowed to touch it.  What next, spectators taking balls out of bunkers and the player arguing it was an outside influence and that under the rules he is allowed to play it as it lies (now on the grass)? 

Chris, technically speaking if the boulder was only resting on the ground then it could be taken as a lose impediment, but only the Pros have referees and can argue the point there and then. I think he got the decision he wanted because he was Tiger Woods, everyone lse would have had to play the penalty.

You are probably right, Wayne.

I know what my partners would've told me if I'd asked!  Although I did bury one into the near vertical bank off the tee on Friday and was able to pull out the ruling from the Aussie Open that allowed me to unplug and place it.  Interesting that The Belfry's winter rule, which is made quite clear by the starter, is pick and place anywhere that is grassed.  Makes a big difference.   

Don't tell John that you have plenty left or he will be making you an offer you cannot refuse!

I know he likes these balls.

Russ

A star beneath the Loco logo is mine

Cerese dot above the number (used to be an orange one but it fell out of my bag somewhere around Conwy!)

For sale, 1 orange marker found in the deep rough at Conwy GC!!

Don't know how it got there, I never found the deep rough at Conwy.  With the bloody wind, I wasn't able to hit it far enough to reach it!

i dont mark my ball has it always gos straight lol,NOT