Nina Caldwell
Golf has many rules and concepts that can be difficult to understand, and one of these is how dropping works. When taking free or penalty relief, a ball must be dropped from knee height and must first strike the ground within the relief area. The size of the relief area is determined by the type of relief being taken, with one club length for abnormal course conditions and two club lengths for an unplayable ball or a ball in a penalty area. If the ball does not stay in the relief area, it must be dropped again. If this happens a second time, the ball is placed where it landed on the second drop.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is a drop in golf? | A drop in golf is a relief technique. |
| When to take a drop | When your ball is unplayable, in a penalty area, or in abnormal course conditions. |
| Reference point | The point from which the size of the relief area is measured. |
| Relief area | One or two club lengths from the reference point. |
| Club length | The length of the longest club in your bag, excluding the putter. |
| Drop height | Knee height. |
| Drop motion | Straight down. |
| Re-drop | If the ball rolls outside the relief area, it must be re-dropped. If it rolls outside again, place it where it landed the second time. |
| Cleaning the ball | You can clean the ball when it is on the putting green or when taking free relief or a penalty drop. |
| Penalty | If the ball is dropped by someone other than the player or their partner, or if it is dropped from a height other than knee height, or if it rolls outside the relief area twice, you will receive a one-stroke penalty. |
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What You'll Learn
Drops must be from knee height
Golf rules can be tricky, and dropping rules are often misunderstood. One of the key rules to remember is that drops must be from knee height. This rule was introduced in 2019, replacing the previous rule of dropping from shoulder height. The player's knee height should be in a standing position, so no crouching to gain an advantage!
The reason for this rule is to retain some randomness in where the ball will end up, which is similar to the unpredictability of a ball landing after a stroke. It also means the ball embeds less in sand than a ball dropped from shoulder height. When dropping, the ball must be released straight down from knee height, without any spinning or rolling motion, otherwise, a one-stroke penalty will be incurred if not corrected.
The ball must then strike the ground within the relief area, which is determined by the type of relief you are taking. For example, if your ball is unplayable, the reference point is where the ball lies, and the relief area is two club lengths from this point. If the ball lands inside the relief area and rolls out, or vice versa, it must be dropped again. If the ball is dropped correctly but fails to stay in the relief area, you can place the ball where it landed after the second drop.
It is important to note that the relief area must be measured from a reference point, and these differ depending on the type of relief. For example, if your ball is in a penalty area, the reference point is where the ball crossed the edge of that area.
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The ball must be dropped by the player or their partner
When a golfer's ball ends up in a position where they are unable to play their next shot as normal—for example, if it comes to rest in a bush or another type of hazard—they are often allowed to "drop" the ball when taking relief. This means they can pick a new spot to play the ball from, closer to the fairway or green, and drop it there. The Rules of Golf specify exactly how this works.
The golfer must first identify the area from which the ball may be dropped. This is usually either a specific distance from the original spot or from where the ball last crossed into a hazard. The golfer then has to hold the ball at knee height and simply let go, allowing it to fall straight down toward the ground. This is why it's called "dropping" the ball. The ball must be dropped by the player themselves or their partner in a fourball or foursome format.
The player must not throw or place the ball, and they must not have any intention to influence the ball's movement after it has been dropped. If the ball is dropped and it rolls outside the designated drop area, the player must re-drop from the same spot. If it rolls outside the drop area again, the player must then place the ball on the spot where it first struck the ground after being dropped.
A player is not always required to drop the ball from knee height. In certain situations, such as taking relief from a water hazard, the ball may be dropped at any height. This is sometimes referred to as a "vertical drop" and means the ball can be dropped from shoulder height or even dropped from above the head. Again, the player must not throw or place the ball, and it must be released and allowed to fall freely to the ground.
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The ball must land in the relief area
When taking a drop in golf, there are several rules that must be followed to avoid penalty strokes. One of the most important rules is that the ball must land and come to rest within the relief area. The relief area is measured from a reference point, and its size depends on the type of relief being taken.
If the ball is being dropped due to abnormal course conditions, such as temporary water or ground under repair, the relief area is one club length from the reference point. On the other hand, if the ball is being dropped due to an unplayable ball or a ball in a red penalty area, the relief area is two club lengths from the reference point. It's important to note that the club length is determined by the longest club in your bag, excluding the putter.
When dropping the ball, it must be released straight down from knee height and allowed to fall naturally. If the ball lands inside the relief area and rolls out, or if it lands outside and rolls in, it must be dropped again. If the ball does not stay within the relief area after the second drop, it should be placed where it landed during the second drop.
It's crucial to understand the reference point, which differs depending on the type of relief. For an unplayable ball, the reference point is where the ball lies. If the ball is in a penalty area, such as a body of water, the reference point is where the ball crossed the edge of that area. When taking back-on-the-line relief, the reference point is where the ball first hits the ground after being dropped.
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The relief area is measured from a reference point
When taking a drop in golf, it is important to understand the concept of the relief area and how it is measured from a reference point. The relief area is a designated spot where a player must drop their ball when taking relief, whether with penalty or without. The size of the relief area is determined by the type of relief being taken and is measured from a specific reference point.
The reference point for measuring the relief area varies depending on the situation. If a player is taking back-on-the-line relief, the reference point is where the ball first hits the ground when dropped. In the case of an unplayable ball, the reference point is where the ball originally lies. For a ball in a penalty area, such as a body of water or an unplayable area, the reference point is where the ball crossed the edge of that penalty area.
When a ball comes to rest in abnormal course conditions, such as temporary water, ground under repair, cart paths, or sprinkler heads, the reference point is the nearest point to where the ball lies. It is important to note that the reference point is crucial in determining the size and location of the relief area.
The size of the relief area is typically measured as one or two club lengths from the reference point. The club length is determined by the longest club in the player's bag, excluding the putter. If the ball fails to stay within the relief area after being dropped, the player must drop it again. If the ball still does not remain within the relief area, it should be placed where it landed on the second drop.
Understanding the concept of the relief area and its measurement from a reference point is essential for golfers to navigate various situations during a game, ensuring compliance with the rules and maintaining the flow of the game.
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You can't clean your ball in most cases
Golf has several rules regarding when and how a player can drop a ball, and when they can clean it. The rules can be misunderstood, and are often misapplied, especially in casual games.
When taking free or penalty relief, the ball must be dropped from knee height (previously shoulder height) and must first strike a part of the course within the one- or two-club-length relief area. The longest club in your bag cannot be your putter. If the ball lands inside the relief area and rolls out, or vice versa, then you need to drop the ball again. If this happens a second time, place the ball where it landed when you re-dropped it. Before lifting your ball, you must mark the spot.
You can clean your ball when it is on the putting green or when you’re taking free relief or a penalty drop. However, you cannot clean your ball when checking to see if it has settled into an indentation. If you take relief from an embedded ball, you are then allowed to clean it. If you fail to comply with the rules, you will be penalised one stroke.
You cannot usually mark your ball in the General Area (i.e. on the rest of the golf course excluding the greens) so you cannot clean the ball. In situations where you can pick up your ball, you are also allowed to clean it. If you clean your ball when not permitted to do so, or more than is necessary when cleaning your ball to identify it, you will be penalised one stroke under Rule 14.1c.
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Frequently asked questions
A drop in golf is a commonly misunderstood concept. It refers to the act of dropping a ball within a specific "relief area" after a penalty or lost ball.
The ball must be dropped straight down from knee height by the player or their partner. It must first strike the ground within the relief area and remain within the area.
If the ball rolls outside the relief area, it must be dropped again. If it rolls out for a second time, place the ball where it landed on the second drop.
The relief area is the specific area within which a ball must be dropped. Its size is determined by the type of relief being taken, with one club length for abnormal course conditions and two club lengths for an unplayable ball or a ball in a penalty area.
You can clean your ball before dropping it in certain situations. You can clean your ball when it is on the putting green, when taking free relief, or when taking a penalty drop. However, you cannot clean your ball when checking if it has settled into an indentation.
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