This Rule applies only when it is known or virtually certain that a player's ball in motion was deliberately deflected or stopped by a person, which is when:

• A person deliberately touches the ball in motion, or
• The ball in motion hits any equipment or other object (except a ball-marker or another ball at rest before the ball was played or otherwise went into motion) or any person (such as the player's caddie) that a player deliberately positioned or left in a particular location so that the equipment, object or person might deflect or stop the ball in motion.

Exception - Ball Deliberately Deflected or Stopped in Match Play When No Reasonable Chance It Can Be Holed: An opponent's ball in motion that is deliberately deflected or stopped at a time when there is no reasonable chance it can be holed, and when done either as a concession or when the ball needed to be holed to tie the hole, is covered by Rule 3.2a(1) or 3.2b(1), not by this Rule.

For a player's right to have a ball or ball-marker lifted before a stroke is made if they reasonably believes the ball or ball-marker might help or interfere with play, See Rule 15.3.

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