Ball Assisting Play
Except when a ball is in motion, if a player considers that a ball might assist any other player, he may:
a. lift the ball if it is his ball; or
b. have any other ball lifted.
A ball lifted under this Rule must be replaced (see Rule 20-3). The ball must not be cleaned unless it lies on the putting green (see Rule 21).
In stroke play, a player required to lift his ball may play first rather than lift the ball.
In stroke play, if the Committee determines that competitors have agreed not to lift a ball that might assist any other player, they are disqualified.
Ball Interfering with Play
Except when a ball is in motion, if a player considers that the ball of another player might interfere with his play, he may have it lifted.
A ball lifted under this Rule must be replaced (see Rule 20-3). The ball must not be cleaned unless it lies on the putting green (see Rule 21).
In stroke play, a player required to lift his ball may play first rather than lift the ball.
Note: Except on the putting green, a player may not lift his ball solely because he considers that it might interfere with the play of another player. If a player lifts his ball without being asked to do so, he incurs a penalty of one stroke for a breach of Rule 18-2a, but there is no additional penalty under Rule 22.
Penalty for breach of rule: Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.
3 Trackbacks
[...] stopped 20. Lifting, dropping, and placing; playing from the wrong place 21. Cleaning the ball 22. Ball Assisting or Interfering with Play 23. Loose Impediments 24. Obstructions 25. Abnormal Ground Conditions, Embedded Ball, and Wrong [...]
[...] See also: Ball rolling to a position where there is interference by the condition from which relief was taken [...]
[...] See also: Lifting ball assisting or interfering with play while another ball in motion [...]