Mastering the golf swing requires a delicate balance of technique and feel, especially when it comes to hand action through impact. Andrew Rice, a respected golf instructor, shares a simple yet effective drill to help players who struggle with scooping or flipping the club during their swing.
Depending on the type of obstruction, golf rules allow different actions. Here’s what to do with movable obstructions.
Understanding the correct setup distance from the ball when chipping is crucial for consistent short game performance. Andrew Rice, a respected golf instructor, shares valuable insights on this often overlooked aspect of chipping technique.
Preferred lies allow golfers to reposition the ball slightly during winter play under specific course conditions.
Andrew Rice, known for his consistent golf skills and insightful commentary, recently shared a glimpse into his practice routine focusing on 50-yard shots. His latest session shows noticeable improvement, highlighting the importance of short game precision for any serious golfer.
Cold and wet conditions can impact your game. HIO Fitting shares how to adapt your gear for better autumn performance.
Cold and wet conditions can impact your game. HIO Fitting shares tips to adapt your gear for better autumn performance.
Andrew Rice recently shared a compelling video highlighting the tee shots of Mitch K., showcasing both style and effectiveness on the golf course. The clip captures Mitch’s confident swing and the resulting solid ball flight, emphasizing the improvements he has made.
A great example from the USGA drives the point home: Imagine a ball putted from the green into a bunker. Rule 18.1 helps players escape seemingly hopeless situations—instead of struggling in the sand, they can take a one-stroke penalty and replay from the original spot. This flexible rule offers more solutions than many amateurs and even pros realize.
Every golfer knows the frustration of a seemingly safe putt that rolls tragically into a bunker. But the rules don’t force you into a risky bunker shot—Rule 18.1 provides a smarter alternative. With just a one-stroke penalty, you can replay from where you last played. The best part? This rule applies anywhere—fairway, green, or rough.
As the USGA example shows, when faced with a bad bunker lie, retreating to the green is often the wiser move. Instead of gambling on an unpredictable sand shot, this rule turns disasters into manageable situations. Sometimes, a penalty stroke is a small price to pay for a safer outcome. This intentional flexibility saves players from countless tricky scenarios and highlights the strategic depth of golf.
“At any time, a player may take stroke-and-distance relief by adding one penalty stroke and playing the original ball or another ball from where the previous stroke was made. The player always has this stroke-and-distance relief option: No matter where the player’s ball is on the course, and even when a Rule requires the player to take relief in a certain way or to play a ball from a certain place. Once the player puts another ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance: The original ball is no longer in play and must not be played. This is true even if the original ball is then found on the course before the end of the three-minute search time.”
Many golfers underestimate the player-friendly nature of the rules—the principle of “play the ball as it lies” isn’t set in stone. Rule 18.1 proves it perfectly: Whether it’s a lost ball, out-of-bounds, or a botched putt like in the USGA video, restarting with a penalty stroke always provides an escape route.
Phil Mickelson’s four bunker shots at the 2025 PGA Championship are proof—even pros sometimes overlook this tactical advantage. Had he used Rule 18.1, taking a penalty to replay from his previous spot, the outcome might have been far better. A clear example of how this rule can turn disaster into control.
It was an eventful final day at TPC Sawgrass: in addition to the four-hour thunderstorm interruption and the postponement of the crucial playoff to Monday, another curious situation on Sunday of the Players Championship 2025 caused a stir: Bud Cauley, who had started in the final flight with Lucas Glover and J.J. Spaun, accidentally stepped on his fellow player Lucas Glover’s ball. But what do the rules of golf say about this?
Cauley was distracted by the action on the nearby 17th hole, where Rory McIlroy was about to tee off. The iconic par-3 with the island green has already provided plenty of drama, so it is understandable that Cauley also wanted to watch McIlroy’s approach from close up. However, he did not pay attention to what was directly in front of him – and soon buried the ball with his foot.
The scene is unusual, but the rules of golf in this case are clear:
“If it is known or virtually certain that an outside influence (including another player in stroke play or another ball) lifted or moved a player’s ball at rest, there is no penalty, and the ball must be replaced on its original spot (which if not known must be estimated)” (Rule 9.6).
So the action had no consequences for either Lucas Glover or Bud Cauley – the ball was allowed to be put back in its original position without penalty.
An important distinction concerns the cause of the movement: if the ball is moved by natural forces such as wind or water, it may not be replaced; instead, it must be played from its new position as it lies. Slightly different rules apply on the green: if the ball has already been picked up and replaced and then moves again it must always be replaced, regardless of the cause.