How to drop when replaying a shot from a penalty area

You must drop a ball in a relief area based on where your previous stroke was made in the penalty area. The reference point is the exact spot of that stroke, and the relief area is one club-length no closer to the hole. You can use the original ball or another ball.

Finding the reference point

The reference point is the spot where you made the previous stroke from inside the penalty area. If you don't know the exact spot, you must estimate it as best you can. This is the anchor for everything that follows — your relief area is measured from here, not from where the ball ended up or where it crossed the penalty area edge.

The relief area and how to drop

Your relief area is a one club-length radius from the reference point, but no closer to the hole. The ball must be dropped straight down from knee height, land in the relief area, and stay in the relief area. If it rolls out, you drop again; if it rolls out a second time, you place it where it first struck the ground on the second drop. You may use the original ball or any other ball.

Playing from the wrong place

If you drop outside the relief area, drop from the wrong height, or play from a spot that isn't the proper relief area, you get the general penalty — two strokes in stroke play, loss of hole in match play. The stroke counts and you play the ball as it lies unless the mistake is serious enough to require correction under Rule 14.7.

Exceptions that change the answer

• Players agree to play out of turn to save time → The player who played out of turn gives up the right to cancel that stroke. This applies in both match play and stroke play when the agreement is made to save time.

Frequently asked questions

Can I tee the ball when dropping under Rule 14.6b from a penalty area?

No. Teeing is only allowed when the previous stroke was made from the teeing area under Rule 14.6a. From a penalty area, you must drop the ball.

What if I can't find the exact spot where I hit from in the penalty area?

You must estimate the spot as accurately as possible. Your honest best estimate becomes the reference point for the relief area.

Does the relief area have to be in the penalty area?

No. The relief area is measured from the reference point (where you hit from in the penalty area), but it can extend outside the penalty area as long as it's no closer to the hole.

Can I clean the ball before dropping it?

Yes. Since you're putting a ball in play under Rule 14.6b, you may clean the original ball or substitute another ball before dropping.

What happens if my dropped ball hits my foot and stays in the relief area?

That counts as a valid drop. The ball just needs to land in and remain in the relief area — it doesn't matter what it hits on the way down.