When is a provisional ball allowed to be played?

A provisional ball is allowed to be played when a player's ball may be out of bounds. This is important in golf because it helps maintain the pace of play by allowing the player to continue without having to spend time searching for the original ball. If the player is uncertain whether their ball has gone out of bounds, they can declare a provisional ball before hitting it.

The purpose of this rule is to prevent unnecessary delays; if the original ball is found to be in play, the player must return to that spot and continue without penalty. If the original ball is confirmed to be out of bounds, the provisional ball becomes the ball in play.

In contrast, a provisional ball is not allowed for lost balls in a penalty area, as there are specific relief options available in such cases. Similarly, while a provisional ball may be played if a ball is suspected to be out of bounds, it is not applicable to any lost ball outside the penalty area, where there may be different procedures to follow. Lastly, it does not apply to a ball hit into the water unless the player believes the ball may have crossed the margin of a penalty area; they must then proceed with the appropriate rules for that scenario.