The do’s and don’ts of marking your ball on the green

Have you ever been stymied? Maybe in life. But probably not in golf, though it used to happen to players all the time. The stymie — where one player’s ball interferes with another player’s putting line on the green — was part of the game until 1952, when a change in the Rules of Golf did away with it.

Nowadays, when our ball sits in another player’s line, we mark it and pick it up. No questions asked.

Sounds simple enough. And, really, it is. But there are proper and improper ways to mark a ball. Here’s a guide for how to do it right (and wrong).

When should you mark?

If your ball is interfering with another player’s — or helping another player, like, say, your partner — you’re required to mark. If your ball isn’t interfering with another player’s line, nothing in the rules says you have to mark. But another player can always request that you do so. If you get such a request, don’t argue. Just do it. If your playing partner asks you to move your mark out of their line, here’s a helpful hint for doing things precisely: find a fixed object in the distance, such as a tree or a pole, and use it as a reference to move your mark to the left or right, setting down your putter head to ensure an exact measurement. One putter-head length is usually enough. But if not, go with two. When it comes time to return your mark to its original spot, use the same measurement in reverse.

Where should you place your mark?

On TV, you’ve probably noticed that most pros place their marks behind the ball before they pick the ball up. But that’s not required. You can also place the mark in front of your ball, or on either side. Whatever you do, just make sure that when you place the ball back down, you return the ball to its original position. Playing your ball carries a penalty: two shots in stroke play, and loss of hole in match play. There is no penalty if you accidentally move your ball or ball marker. Simply put the ball back in its original spot. If you can’t pinpoint precisely where that was, estimate as best you can. This is crucial, too: always put the mark down before you pick your ball up, and then pick the mark up before you make your stroke. Getting either of those steps wrong comes with a one-stroke penalty.

What should you use as a marker?

A coin. A poker chip. A bottle cap. A tee. All of those are fair game. Under the Rules of Golf, any number of artificial objects are allowed (though we advise against anything excessively large or heavy, like a manhole cover, or anything that might be apt to blow away, like a gum wrapper or pocket lint). Note that we said artificial. Natural objects, such as leaves and twigs, aren’t kosher. They’re considered improper marks. And using an improper mark carries a one-shot penalty in stroke play and loss of hole in match play.