Rules Guy: My Playing Partner Accidentally Hit My 'Lost' Ball. What Now?

You've been diligently searching for your ball, deeming it potentially lost, and then, to your surprise, your playing partner strikes it. What's the correct procedure according to the rules of golf?

The Verdict from Rules Guy

Rules Guy explains that when a playing partner mistakenly hits a ball that you reasonably believe to be lost, the situation is treated as if the ball was found. Your partner has played the ball as it lies, and you must now proceed with your own ball. The key here is that your partner played the ball before you declared it officially lost or took relief. Therefore, your partner's stroke counts, and you must continue play with your original ball or your second ball, whichever you are playing under penalty for a lost ball.

Simplified Explanation

Essentially, if your partner hits your ball before you've officially declared it lost or proceeded under a rule for a lost ball, they have played it. You can't then claim it's lost; you must play your ball (either the original or a provisional one, depending on when you hit it) from where it now lies after your partner's stroke.

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English Translation and Paraphrasing:

What do you do when your playing partner strikes the ball you've been searching for? Rules Guy provides the definitive answer.

If your playing partner hits a ball that you were in the process of looking for and reasonably believed to be lost, the rules dictate that the ball is considered found. Your partner has played the ball from its current position. Consequently, you must resume play with your own ball. The crucial factor is that your partner made a stroke at the ball before you had formally declared it lost or taken any action to play another ball under the lost ball rule. Therefore, the stroke made by your partner is valid, and you will need to continue playing either your original ball (if it was located) or your second ball, depending on the circumstances and penalties incurred.