If the player lifts or deliberately touches their ball at rest or causes it to move, the player gets one penalty stroke. But there are five exceptions:

Exception 1 - Player Allowed to Lift or Move Ball: There is no penalty when the player lifts the ball or causes it to move under a Rule that:

• Allows the ball to be lifted and then replaced on its original spot,
• Requires a moved ball to be replaced on its original spot, or
• Requires or allows the player to drop or place a ball again or to play a ball from a different place.

Exception 2 - Accidental Movement Before Ball Is Found: There is no penalty when the player accidentally causes the ball to move while trying to find or identify it (See Rule 7.4).

Exception 3 - Accidental Movement on Putting Green: There is no penalty when the player accidentally causes the ball to move on the putting green (See Rule 13.1d), no matter how that happens.

Exception 4 - Accidental Movement Anywhere Except on Putting Green While Applying Rule: There is no penalty when the player accidentally causes the ball to move anywhere except on the putting green while taking reasonable actions to:

• Mark the spot of the ball or lift or replace the ball, when allowed to do so (See Rules 14.1 and 14.2),
• Remove a movable obstruction (See Rule 15.2),
• Restore worsened conditions, when allowed to do so (See Rule 8.1d),
• Take relief under a Rule, including in determining whether relief is available under a Rule (such as swinging a club to see if there is interference from a condition), or where to take relief (such as determining the nearest point of complete relief), or
• Measure under a Rule (such as to decide the order of play under Rule 6.4).

Exception 5 - Ball Moves After Coming to Rest Against Player or Equipment: There is no penalty if, after the player's ball comes to rest against the player or their equipment as a result of a stroke (Rule 11.1) or dropping the ball (Rule 14.3c(1)), the player causes the ball to move when they move or when they remove their equipment.

Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Rule 9.4: General Penalty under 14.7a.

If a player is required to replace a moved ball under Rule 9.4 but fails to do so and plays from a wrong place, they get only the general penalty under Rule 14.7a (see Rule 1.3c(4) Exception).

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