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The Game
(Woodball Rules)


Note: The following content is modified from the original "Rules of Woodball"
published by IWF (International Woodball Federation).


I. General Principles

  • Woodball game is conducted in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Organizer and the Woodball Rules.
  • Every player should complete the games through the first to the twelfth fairway (or as stipulated), and the final outcome is determined by the total stroke count in play.
  • In case the player does no complete the game on any one fairway or discontinues playing, his result will not be counted.

II. The system of competition

  • Type of competition : divided into
    1. Individual competition: The individual as a competition unit.
    2. Team competition: The team as a competitor unit.
  • Method of competition: Divided into.
    1. Stroke competition: The competitor who completed twelve fairways in the fewest strokes is the winner.
    2. Fairway competition: The competitor who has won a greater number of the twelve fairways in the fewest strokes is the winner.

    III. Procedures of Competition

  • The Start of Play
    1. As the referee announces the start of play, the player should start to play in accordance with the order of playing set by arrangement or by lot.
    2. In case the player in the game is five minutes late or refuses to play after the referee announced the start of play, his qualification for the game shall be cancelled.
    3. As the player enters into the starting area, all the other players should retreat to the rear of the starting area for safety sake.
    4. In first shot, the ball should be positioned within the starting area and is hit toward the direction of the gate.
  • Process of Play
    1. In play, the ball in play was hit throught the metal rod of the gate and was behind the wooden cup but away from each other. It is taken as completion of one fairway competition.
    2. During play, the ball which falls on the ground outside the boundary is out of bound.
    3. When out of bounds, the ball should be taken back and placed at the position where the point the ball rolled out of the boundary is taken as the center with a radius of two mallet heads.
    4. If the ball in play falls or rolls into obstacles such as holes, trees, grove, pools, etc, and is not fit for hitting, it can be picked out and placed at the position where is the point of obstacle for entering into the boundary, and this point is taken as the center. The ball is treated as out of bounds, or the ball can be placed at any new position that is set up backwards without limit on the fairway, but one stroke is added to the player.
    5. During play, Whenever a player begins to swing his mallet, all the other players should retreat to both sides of the fairway or to the rear of the hitter at a safety distance of more than 3 meters.
    6. Wherever in front or in the rear of the gate, a ball on the fairway can be hit directly to run through the gate.
    7. During play, in the event of any of natural contingencies, whether the game is to continue or not will be announced by the organizer.
    8. After the game on one fairway is completed, the game on next fairway then can begin. Games on all the fairways are to be conducted in the same manner.
    9. On the next fairway the order of first shot is based on the sequent numbers set by arrangement, and each play in turn in due course.
    10. During play, when the player requests to replace his equipment, replacement is permitted after completion of one fairway competition (excluding the case that the equipment is damages). Before use, the equipment should be inspected by the referee.
    11. When hitting, the player hits the ball and simultaneously broke his equipment, In this case, it is counted on stroke, and the player cannot claim to hit again.
    12. The ball in play was bumped by a ball from a different fairway, and it stopped at a new position, which is taken as its position. In the event of the ball being bumped out of the boundary, it is treated as out of bounds, but it does not call for a penalty of one stroke.
    13. The player should not touch with any part of his body or his equipment the ball in play, no matter it is his or other's.
    14. Whenever the player attacks the gate or makes a shot, he should hold the grip shaft of his mallet but should not hold close to the mallet head.
    15. Whenever hitting, the player should not hit or attack the gate with his mallet put between his two legs.
    16. In case there is a line marked at a distance of 5 meters away from the gate on a fairway, the player attacks directly the gate and succeeds in hitting the ball passing through the gate. Subtract one stroke from his stroke counts on the fairway.
    17. In case on the medium and the long distance fairway is marked a line indicating 30 meters, the player who hits his first shot and his ball does not go beyond the line is to add one stoke; meanwhile, if his ball goes out of the boundary within 30 meters, it is dealt with as out of bounds. If the ball goes beyond the line and then goes out of the boundary, it is dealt with as out of bounds.

    Outcome of Play

    1. Stroke Competition:
      1. The outcome of a twelve-fairway competition every player has completed is decided on the stroke count. The fewest strokes is the winner. In the event of the same number of total stroke count, the competitor who has won a great number of the fairways in the fewest strokes is the winner. Accordingly, outcome is conducted in the same manner or extra game in a given fairway assigned by the organizer goes on until the result comes out.
      2. Decision of the outcome of a team is made on the sum of the total stroke counts of the best four players in the team. The team with a smaller sum is the winner. In the event of the same sum, the team of which individual stroke count is the fewst is the winner. Accordingly, team outcome is conducted in the same manner.
    1. Fairway Competition:

      1. For every game, the competitor who has won a greater number of fairways is the winner. In the event of the same number of fairways won, extra games in a given fairway assigned by the organizer goes on until the result comes out.

    Chapter 1 Woodball Course
    Chapter 2 Woodball Equipment
    Chapter 3 Woodball Team
    Chapter 4 Functions and Responsibilities of Referee
    Chapter 5 Conduct of the Game
    Chapter 6 Infractions of Rules in First Shot and Penalties
    Chapter 7 Infractions of Rules in Hitting and Penalties
    Chapter 8 Infractions of Rules in Play and Penalties
    Chapter 9 Infractions of Rules in Gate Area and Penalties
     Appendices

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