Provisional and practice throws: the rules explained
Throw a provisional when the group isn’t sure how a rule applies or a disc may be lost or OB, and announce it first. Practice throws during a round cost a penalty throw.
Rules covered
809.02, 809.03. Summaries follow the PDGA Official Rules, 2026 edition.
809.02Provisional throws
A provisional is a backup throw, and the throws that follow it, played in case the first one doesn’t stand. Only one of the two counts. You may throw one when the group isn’t sure how a rule applies or disagrees, when you plan to appeal, or when your disc may be lost, OB or in a required relief area and a provisional saves walking back.
Terms
Read the full rule at pdga.com (rule 809.02)
809.02When you can’t throw one
A provisional isn’t allowed for a possible missed mando, when you are only thinking about abandoning a throw, or when the only question is whether a penalty throw applies.
Terms
Read the full rule at pdga.com (rule 809.02)
809.02Announcing a provisional
Before you throw it, tell the group it’s a provisional, why, and which throw counts in which case. A provisional that doesn’t meet these rules counts as a practice throw.
Terms
Read the full rule at pdga.com (rule 809.02)
809.03Practice throws
During a round, any throw that isn’t a real attempt to play is a practice throw: one penalty throw, and the practice throw itself doesn’t count. Tossing a disc less than 5 m (16 ft) to hand it to someone or set it aside is fine, and dropping a disc isn’t a throw.
Terms
Read the full rule at pdga.com (rule 809.03)
See also
Rule summaries are based on the PDGA Official Rules of Disc Golf. Shot Lab is not affiliated with the PDGA.
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