Ball in a Tree: What to Do with an Unplayable Ball
The unplayable ball: basic principle
If your ball has ended up in a tree, caught in branches, or in any position from which you cannot reasonably make a stroke, you are entitled to declare it unplayable under Rule 19.2.
The player always decides whether to declare a ball unplayable — you don't need anyone's approval. The only exception is if the ball is in a penalty area: Rule 19 does not apply there.
The cost is 1 penalty stroke in all cases. In return, you have three relief options.
The three options under Rule 19.2
Option 1 — Stroke and distance
Return to the exact spot where you played the previous stroke and play from there (+1 stroke).
This is the most costly option tactically because you might go back several strokes' worth of progress, but it guarantees you play from a reasonable position. For a tee shot that ended up in a tree near the green, it is the worst option.
Option 2 — Back-on-the-line relief
Draw an imaginary line from the hole through the point where the ball lies (in the tree, at its estimated position on the ground directly below). You may drop anywhere on that line, as far back as you like — but with no lateral room, you must stay on the line (+1 stroke).
This option is useful when the tree is between you and the hole: go back far enough to have a clear line.
Option 3 — Lateral relief within two club lengths
Take as the reference point the spot on the ground directly below where the ball rests in the tree. Drop within two club lengths of that point, no closer to the hole (+1 stroke).
This is the most commonly used option when the ball is in a tree beside the fairway: you stay in the same area and play toward the green.
Quick comparison
| Option | Reference | Drop zone |
|---|---|---|
| Stroke and distance | Where previous stroke was played | Exact previous spot |
| Back-on-the-line | Point on ground below ball in tree | Line going back, no limit |
| Lateral relief | Point on ground below ball in tree | 2-club-length circle |
The reference point when the ball is in the tree
A common question: how do you measure two club lengths if the ball is 4 metres up?
The reference is the spot on the ground directly below where the ball rests. If the ball is on a branch 4 metres up, the reference point is on the ground directly beneath it. The two club lengths are measured from there.
Can I try to play the ball from the tree?
Yes. If the ball is accessible and you can make a reasonable stroke (even one-handed, or with the club turned around), you are entitled to play it as it lies with no penalty. Rule 19 only comes into play if you decide to declare it unplayable.
A ball caught in a tree where no reasonable swing is possible is almost always unplayable in practice — but you are the one who decides.
Common ball-in-tree scenarios
Scenario 1: Shot into the rough, ball caught in branches 1 metre off the ground. You can try to play it or declare it unplayable. If you declare it unplayable, option 3 (two lateral club lengths) will often drop you back in the fairway.
Scenario 2: Drive that ends up in a pine tree 6 metres up. Effectively unplayable. Assess whether option 2 (back-on-the-line) or option 3 (two club lengths) gives you the better approach angle.
Scenario 3: The ball is in a tree but you can't find exactly where. If you cannot identify and find the ball, it is not unplayable — it is a lost ball (Rule 18.2). The distinction matters: a lost ball always means stroke and distance from the previous spot.