The R&A

Purpose of Rule: Rule 7 allows the player to take reasonable actions to fairly search for their ball in play after each stroke. But the player still must be careful, as a penalty will apply if the player acts excessively and causes improvement to the conditions affecting their next stroke. The player gets no penalty if the ball is accidentally moved in trying to find or identify it, but must then replace the ball on its original spot.7Ball Search: Finding and Identifying Ball7.1How to Fairly Search for Ball7.1aPlayer May Take Reasonable Actions to Find and Identify Ball A player is responsible for finding their ball in play after each stroke.The player may fairly search for the ball by taking reasonable actions to find and identify it, such as: Moving sand and water, and Moving or bending grass, bushes, tree branches and other growing or attached natural objects, and also breaking such objects, but only if such breaking is a result of other reasonable actions taken to find or identify...