Is my golf ball conforming?

What Rule 4.2 says

A ball conforms if it meets the R&A / USGA Equipment Rules: size, weight, symmetry and the initial velocity and overall distance limits. Making a stroke with a non-conforming ball, or with one deliberately altered (scuffed, heated, treated with a substance), is penalised by disqualification (Rule 4.2a).

The List of Conforming Golf Balls is the record of the balls manufacturers have submitted and that have passed testing. Many competitions adopt the condition that the ball must be on the current list (Model Local Rule G-3); when that condition is in effect, playing a ball not on the list is also disqualification.

If the ball breaks into pieces during a stroke, the stroke does not count and is replayed without penalty (Rule 4.2b). If the ball becomes visibly cut or cracked during the hole, it may be substituted; scratches, scrapes or paint damage do not qualify (Rule 4.2c).

How the list works

The R&A and the USGA update it on the first Wednesday of every month, with additions and deletions. A ball removed from the list is no longer valid under the list condition, even if it is still on sale.

Each entry identifies the ball by what is printed on its pole and seam, its colour, construction, dimple count and manufacturer. That is why you search by what the ball says, not by its marketing name.

bolas.golf takes the official list every month and shows one page per entry, with its declared data and a link to the official identification photo. What the list does not say (compression, price, cover) is not made up.

The rules, in detail

The Rule 4.2 situations explained on Lazar, the golf rules assistant from the same house:

• Rule 4.2aWhat happens if I deliberately scuff or heat my golf ball?
• Rule 4.2bWhat happens if my ball breaks into pieces after a stroke?
• Rule 4.2cCan I substitute another ball if my ball is clearly cut or cracked?
• Rule 4.2cCan I lift my ball to check whether it is cut or cracked?

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I play a ball that is not on the list?

If the ball does not meet the Equipment Rules, the penalty is disqualification (Rule 4.2a). If it meets the rules but is not on the list, there is a penalty only when the Committee has adopted the List of Conforming Golf Balls condition (Model Local Rule G-3), which is common in competitions.

Can I change my ball if it is cut or cracked?

Yes. If it becomes visibly cut or cracked while playing the hole, you may substitute another conforming ball after marking and lifting it (Rule 4.2c). Scratches, dirt or paint damage are not enough.

How often does the list change?

Every month: the R&A and the USGA publish the new edition effective on the first Wednesday, with the balls added and removed. bolas.golf takes it in the same month and publishes the additions and deletions.

Can a ball from a small or Japanese manufacturer be on the list?

Yes. The list covers every manufacturer that submits balls for testing, from any country; the current edition has more than eighty, many with no presence outside their home market.