Marking your ball on the putting green is a simple part of the game of golf, but if done incorrectly you might get penalized. Marking your ball lets you lift your ball from the green and replace it with a marker. Regardless of your handicap, marking your ball is a part of golf, so doing in correctly can avoid embarrassment and unnecessary strokes.
Ball Marker
A ball mark is nothing more than a small, round, flat object; a coin is a good ball marker. Often a golf glove, which will have a small metal object that snaps on and off the glove, is intended to be used as a ball marker.
When to Mark
A player marks his ball for a number of reasons. A player can mark his ball to clean debris off the ball to ensure the integrity of the ball is not compromised during the putt. A player also marks his ball to remove it from another player's line of putt. A line of putt is the desired line a player expects his ball to travel to hole the putt. The furthest player away from the hole shoots first, so if your ball is in another player's line of putt, you must mark and lift your ball.
How to Mark
A player marks his ball by placing a ball marker directly behind his ball -- within 1 inch -- and can then pick his ball up. After the ball has been cleaned or another player has shot, the ball must be put back in the same location, and the ball marker is then removed. Technically, a player can place his ball maker in front or on the side of his ball, but golf etiquette dictates that a player should place his marker directly behind the ball. If your ball is in another player's line of putt, place your ball marker on the green and remove your ball. Then, place the head of your putter at a 90-degree angle from your ball marker, and move your marker from the head to the heel of your club. After the other player has taken his putt, do these steps in reverse order to place your ball back in its original position.
Penalties
You can only mark your ball on the putting green. Marking your ball anywhere else on the course will result in a penalty. If you mark your ball on the green, and then fumble the ball as you are picking it up, there is no penalty. If another player accidentally moves your ball marker while clearing his line of putt, there is no penalty, but the marker has to be put back to the original spot. After marking and lifting your ball, you cannot swap it for a different ball.
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