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Can you take back a conceded putt?

Author

Noah Mitchell

Published Jan 06, 2026

If your next stroke has been conceded, you are permitted to putt out, unless this will help your partner (for example, by showing them the line for their putt).

Can you refuse a conceded putt in match play?

In match play only, you may decide to concede a stroke to your opponent. The ball is considered holed and your opponent may pick it up. You may also concede a hole, or the entire match. A concession cannot be declined or withdrawn.

Are you allowed to putt a conceded putt?

Normally in match play, players are permitted to putt out after a concession — but not in four-ball in a situation only when doing so you can help your partner. Once you conceded A's putt, he has completed play on the hole, in this case making a par.

What does it mean when a putt is conceded?

A "conceded putt" is a putt that your opponent in a golf match gives you; that is, your opponent allows you to count the putt as made without requiring you to actually stroke it into the hole. As soon as your opponent tells you he's conceding your putt, your putt is considered holed.

Why would you concede a putt?

They give the opponents short putts early and then grow quieter as the match wears on. The thinking is that the opponents will not have gotten accustomed to making short putts and may have trouble when forced to make them under pressure later in the round. There is not a commonly accepted length for conceding putts.

21 related questions found

What happens when you concede a hole?

Conceding a hole in golf helps speed up the game. Once a player realizes he has little or no chance of winning a hole in match or "skins" play, he has the opportunity to stop play and acknowledge as much.

What is the penalty for hitting another player's golf ball?

The penalty for playing a wrong ball is two strokes, and the correction must be made before the player tees off on the next hole. If it is not corrected and the player starts play of the next hole, he/she is disqualified.

Are there gimmes in pro golf?

In professional match play golf there is no gimme. A shot, hole, or match can be conceded, but you can never take it on your own volition.

When can you putt out of turn?

Rule 10. USGA Rule 10, Order of Play determines when players should hit their shots. However, the rule does allow for golfers to shoot out of turn. According to the rule, if the player farthest from the hole is not ready to play, he can ask another player to hit a shot or putt.

Can you concede a putt in stroke play?

Normally in match play, players are permitted to putt out after a concession — but not in four-ball in a situation only when doing so you can help your partner. Once you conceded A's putt, he has completed play on the hole, in this case making a par.

Is it a penalty to putt out of turn?

In all cases, there is no penalty if you play out of turn, except that if you and another player agree to play out of turn to give one of you an advantage, you both get the general penalty. (two penalty strokes).

Can you putt with a ball in the hole?

A golfer shouldn't pluck their ball out of the hole until the ball has come to a rest or is certain not to bounce out, otherwise that would be a one-stroke penalty. The player then has to replace the ball on the lip of the hole or against the flagstick and then putt the ball in the hole.

Is there an illegal putting stance?

The USGA and the R&A took notice and, effective January 1, 1968, introduced Rule 35-1L (now Rule16-1e) that stated “The player shall not make a stroke on the putting green from a stance astride, or with either foot touching, the line of the putt or an extension of that line behind the ball.”

Does gimme count as stroke?

In golf, a gimme is a shot that the other players agree can count automatically without being played. When a player has only a very short putt left to play, other players may grant a gimme (i.e., one stroke is counted), but the ball is not played.

How do you concede a putt?

A 'conceded putt' happens, in match play only (they are not allowed in stroke play), when one golfer tells her opponent to count their next stroke as holed. When the concession is made, the ball is considered holed and the golfer whose putt was conceded is finished playing that hole.

How far from the hole is a gimme?

What is the Length of a Gimme in Golf? A putt is considered to be a gimme if it is within 2.5ft. Some players will take the time to estimate gimmes, while others will eyeball the distance between the ball and cup and decide if it's good.

What if two balls are touching in the fairway?

If both balls are on the green

In match play, under Rule 19-5, there is actually no penalty for the collision. In stroke play, though, there is a two-stroke penalty to the player who hit the shot that led to the collision with the ball at rest. Under this scenario, the same thing still happens to next shots.

Can I have 2 putters in my bag?

Based on USGA's guidelines, you can carry more than one putter in your golf bag. The general rule is that a player cannot select more than 14 clubs, depending on any kind during the playing round. So can you have two putters in your golf bag? It's an easy yes.

What is the unplayable rule in golf?

If you find your ball in play, but in a circumstance where you are not able to make a swing or advance the ball, then you are always entitled to claim an unplayable lie. Under this rule, you incur a one-stroke penalty, but are permitted to take relief from your troubling situation.

Are you allowed to putt between your legs?

The USGA had banned croquet-style putting “between the legs” and also standing on extension of Line of the putt. But if you stand next to the line of your putt it's 100% legal that way.

Can you putt in golf like croquet?

Putting croquet style is illegal UNLESS you're off the putting surface. From the fringe, you are allowed to straddle the ball and put croquet style, like ol' Sam Snead did briefly before it was banned and trust me, croquet-style putting is scary-easy. Three. Two putters in the bag may be a good option.

Can you putt sideways?

If you've never tried it, perhaps it will unlock a whole new way to make more putts. (Yes, side-saddle putting is legal and within the Rules of Golf.)

Can you use your putter shaft to line up your putt?

The goal is to line up the bottom of the putter shaft with the ball as it rests on the green, while the top of the putter shaft is lined up over the hole. When you are lined up correctly, the shaft should be obscuring both the hole and the ball from your view.

Can you touch the green before putting?

Current Rule: Under Rule 16-1a, when a player's ball is on the putting green: ➢ The player is generally prohibited from touching his or her line of putt. ➢ But there are seven exceptions (such as when removing loose impediments or movable obstructions, when lifting or replacing a ball, when repairing ball marks, etc.).

Is there a penalty for not marking your ball on the green?

There is no obligation for a player to mark unless asked, and it's only been in modern times that players were required to mark even if their ball is dead in the line of another putting player.