You may decide your ball is unplayable anywhere on the course except in a penalty area. The usual choices are stroke and distance, back-on-the-line relief or lateral relief, each for one penalty stroke. A ball in a bunker has additional limits and an extra outside-bunker option.
You decide whether to use unplayable-ball relief
A ball against roots, under a bush or in another awkward position may make a stroke unattractive. You do not need a playing partner to agree that the shot is impossible before choosing unplayable-ball relief. Equally, difficulty alone does not supply a free drop.
Rule 19 sets out the choices. Assess the allowed destinations before lifting the ball. If two club-lengths still leave you in the same bush, the short move may not solve the problem.
There is an important location exception: a ball in a penalty area uses the applicable Rule 17 relief, rather than the unplayable-ball procedure. Our red and yellow penalty-area guide covers those choices separately.
Compare the three normal options
| Option | Starting information | What to compare before choosing |
|---|---|---|
| Stroke and distance | The previous stroke location | You return to that location under its procedure, adding one penalty stroke. |
| Back on the line | The original ball spot and the hole | The ball is dropped behind the original spot on the line running from the hole through that spot. |
| Lateral relief | The original ball spot | The relief area is within two club-lengths, no nearer the hole, subject to the Rule's area limits. |
You need to know the original ball's spot to use the back-on-the-line or lateral options. Stroke and distance remains available when the ball has not been found. Avoid using “unplayable” as a way to assume a convenient spot for a missing ball.
Imagine a ball beside a large tree trunk in the general area. Before deciding, look at the lateral area and the line extending away from the hole. One may offer usable ground while the other stays obstructed. Neither is guaranteed to provide a clear route to the green.
Back on the line is defined by the ball and the hole
The line is not the direction in which your previous shot travelled. It runs from the hole through the original ball position and continues behind it. With no limit on how far back to go, the point on that line where the dropped ball first touches the ground establishes a one-club-length relief area. It must not be nearer the hole than the original ball's spot and must stay in the same area of the course first touched by the drop, subject to Rule 19.2b.
The general dropping procedure in Rule 14.3 requires the player to drop correctly from knee height and the ball to finish in the required relief area. Back-on-the-line relief specifically requires the drop to first touch the line. Do not place the ball on a preferred tuft or throw it sideways towards clear ground.
Ask an official to demonstrate if the geometry is unclear. A calm explanation before dropping is usually easier to follow than reconstructing an improvised procedure after a stroke.
A bunker changes where the ball may finish
The current R&A Rule 19.3 distinguishes the bunker choices. For one penalty stroke, stroke and distance is available; lateral and back-on-the-line relief must stay in the bunker. An additional back-on-the-line option outside the bunker costs a total of two penalty strokes.
That last option is not any sideways drop outside the sand. Keep the required line. The modified Rules for certain players with disabilities include specific provisions, so those players should use the applicable Rule 25 guidance.
Use the scoring glossary if terms such as stroke and penalty are new. The number on the card must include the strokes already made as well as the correct relief penalty.
Work through one clear decision
Suppose your third stroke finishes in a bush outside any penalty area. You know the ball's location and choose a permitted lateral drop for one penalty stroke. With no other penalties, your next stroke is your fifth: three already made, one added, then the next stroke. If the permitted drop leaves another bad lie, do not assume a second free move.
Before acting, identify the ball's area, locate the relevant reference point, compare the permitted options and count the penalty. Our scorecard guide helps with the recording; the provisional-ball guide addresses the separate uncertainty before a ball is found. A Rules option can be a practical choice without pretending the original stroke never happened.