Marking
Marking is marking the ball's position on the green with a small flat object before you lift the ball.
Marking governs when you may lift your ball on the green. You place a ball marker directly behind the ball — a small coin, a plastic chip or a dedicated marker — and then lift the ball. When replacing it, the ball must go back exactly on the marked spot; the marker only comes away once the ball is at rest. Lifting without marking is a rules breach with a penalty stroke. Off the green you may only mark and lift the ball in specific situations, such as identification or a free drop.
In practice you mark in three typical situations. First: your ball lies on the putting line of a fellow player — he asks you to mark. Second: you want to clean the ball, which is allowed on the green. Third: it is raining, you mark and place the ball again, clean and dry. A typical sequence: marker behind the ball, lift the ball, let the other player putt, replace the ball, remove the marker, then putt yourself. If the marker is moved accidentally, you replace it without penalty.
A typical mistake is marking in front of or beside the ball instead of behind it — that subtly shifts the position towards the hole. Also popular: the chunky chip used as a marker that disturbs a fellow player's stance. On request you must move the marker to the side, measured in clubheads. After the putt the marker comes away immediately, otherwise you risk a penalty stroke if the ball strikes it.
FAQ
When may I lift my ball on the green?
Whenever you have first marked it with a ball marker — for example to clean it or because it lies on a fellow player's putting line. You place the marker directly behind the ball, lift the ball and later replace it exactly on the marked spot. Only once the ball is at rest does the marker come away.
What happens if I lift the ball without marking it?
Lifting without marking first is a rules breach and costs you a penalty stroke. The same applies off the green: for identification or before a free drop you must also mark the position first. The two seconds for the marker are always cheaper than the penalty stroke.
Where exactly do I place the marker — and what if it interferes?
The marker belongs directly behind the ball, not in front of or beside it — otherwise you subtly shift the position towards the hole. If your marker disturbs a fellow player's stance or line, you must move it aside on request, measured in clubhead lengths. After your putt, remove the marker immediately before a ball can strike it.