New Procedure for Dropping a Ball

14.3 - Dropping Ball in Relief Area

The Rule applies whenever a player must drop a ball in taking relief under a Rule. 

What You Need to Know

1. A player may substitute a ball or use the original ball
   
   
2. Ball MUST be dropped in the right way:
   
   • The ball MUST be dropped by the player only, except a partner may drop the ball also
   • Ball must be dropped straight down from knee height without touching the player or equipment before it hits the ground
   • A player cannot throw, spin, roll, or use any motion to affect where the ball will come to rest
     
     
3. Knee Height 
   • This means the height of the player's knee when in a standing position
     
     
4. The dropped ball MUST land and come to rest in the relief area

When to Re-Drop

The player must re-drop the ball in several situations.

1. If the ball was dropped in a wrong way 
   • There is no penalty as long as the player corrects the mistake before making a stroke at the ball dropped in a wrong way
   • The penalty for playing a ball dropped in a wrong way is one stroke
     
     
2. If the ball rolls outside of the relied area
   • If the ball again rolls outside of the relief area, you must place the ball on the spot where the ball struck the ground on the second drop
   • The player plays a ball that rolls outside of the relied area, the player incurs the general penalty for playing from a wrong place under rule