RULES
O ne of the biggest changes to the Rules of Golf , perhaps since the death of the stymie, awaits in the not- too-distant future. The USGA and R&A are implementing new procedures for testing golf balls used at the elite level starting in 2028 and the recreational level in 2030. As you might imagine, some golf-ball makers and members of the PGA of America aren’t happy. The expected effect of the change is to roll back distance, particularly for players with faster swing speeds. While it might be at least five years before the new balls become the ones you play, you might have some ques- tions about balls currently in your bag. For example, who among us hasn’t pulled out a beat-up ball for a meaning- less round in an effort to save the “good ones” for the golf that counts? Perhaps you might have even resorted to using a driving-range ball when you ran out of eggs or didn’t want to risk dunking a R240 multi-layer urethane sleeve into a pond. If you’re guilty of pulling out a red- striped practice ball from time to time, you might wonder if you’re running afoul of the rules in terms of potentially using a non-conforming golf ball. And what about those X-out balls you can get for R250 a dozen? Surely, they don’t offer the same per- formance characteristics of a premium ball. Does that mean they are non-con- forming and would lead to a penalty or penalties if used during a round? The good news is, you’re probably safe to use either a range ball or an X-out ball on the golf course. Rule 4.2a(1)/2 covers the status of these types of balls. It first defines them. X- outs are usually stamped that way after Swapping Out Can you use a range ball on the golf course? BY RON KASPRISKE
er, you might be in violation of a golf- course or club policy regarding their use -- especially range balls, so don’t get caught.) One more thing to consider is wheth- er the course, club or tournament committee has adopted a Local Rule with a “list of conforming golf balls.” If so, refurbished and X-out balls are typi- cally not permitted to be used, even if the model of the ball is on the conform- ing list. However, balls stamped “PRAC- TICE” or similar can be used, regardless of the Local Rule. Using a range ball might be OK with the rule book, but that doesn’t mean you should be pocketing private property – right?
a manufacturer has deemed them too imperfect to be sold otherwise. Range balls, meanwhile, are “normal” balls that are simply stamped or painted so they are easy to identify and recover for golfers using the practice tee or short- game area. A third category of balls you might wonder about are “refurbished balls.” This group typically includes stuff that is recovered at the bottom of ponds and/or other spots on the course where they accumulate in great numbers. In all three cases, you’re likely to get less-than-ideal performance, which is why they are cheaper to buy and gen- erally more disposable (Can you say, water ball?). That difference in perfor- mance might lead you to believe that they are no good for a normal round of golf, but again, Rule 4.2 says unless there is “strong evidence” to suggest one is non-conforming, then there’s nothing wrong with using it. (Howev-
PHOTOGRAPH BY BILL HORNSTEIN
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 21
JUNE 2026
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