What happens if someone deliberately stops my dropped ball?

No penalty — you just drop again. If anyone deliberately stops or deflects your ball after you've dropped it correctly in the relief area, Rule 14.3d says you re-drop without penalty, no matter who did it.

What the rule says

Rule 14.3d covers exactly this: a ball dropped in the right way that gets deliberately deflected or stopped by any person before it comes to rest. The fix is simple — drop another ball in the same relief area. No penalty strokes, no loss of distance, just do it over. This applies whether the person who stopped it was you, your caddie, your opponent, a spectator, or a random kid chasing a frog.

Accidental vs deliberate matters

The key word is "deliberately." If your ball hits someone's foot by accident, or bounces off a cart nobody meant to put there, that's not 14.3d — different rules apply. But if someone reaches out, kicks it, puts a club in its path, or otherwise makes a conscious move to stop it, that's deliberate. Intent is what triggers the free re-drop.

Same relief area, same procedure

You go back to the original relief area and drop again under Rule 14.3b — knee height, straight down, in the area. It doesn't count as one of your two allowed drops before placing under 14.3c(2). You get a clean slate. If the deliberate stop happened during back-on-the-line relief, you drop on the line again. The relief area doesn't change.

Exceptions that change the answer

• The ball was not dropped in the right way (wrong height, thrown, outside relief area) → Rule 14.3d doesn't apply — fix the bad drop first under 14.3b(4), then if someone deliberately stops that corrected drop, 14.3d kicks in.
• The ball was already at rest when someone moved it → That's Rule 9.6 (ball moved by outside influence), not 14.3d. Replace it on the original spot, no penalty.

Frequently asked questions

My caddie deliberately stopped my ball after I dropped it. Penalty?

No penalty. Rule 14.3d applies to any person, including your caddie. Re-drop in the relief area.

A spectator caught my dropped ball. What now?

If they did it on purpose, re-drop with no penalty under Rule 14.3d. If it was accidental, the ball stays where it stopped — play it as it lies.

I dropped correctly but the ball hit my bag before stopping. Re-drop?

Only if you or your caddie deliberately put the bag there to stop it. Accidental contact with your own equipment after a proper drop means the ball is in play where it comes to rest.

Does this use up one of my two drops before I have to place?

No. A re-drop under 14.3d doesn't count toward the two-drop limit in Rule 14.3c(2). You still get two fresh drops if needed.

What if someone deliberately stops my ball during back-on-the-line relief?

Same rule — re-drop on the line with no penalty. The relief area created by the drop spot stays the same.