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Rule 17.1d, 19.2b

Back-on-the-line relief

Also searched as: back on the line, dropping behind the water, keeping the point between you and the hole, crossing point line

You drop with one penalty stroke on an imaginary line that runs from the hole through a fixed point and extends as far back as you like.

This relief is available for yellow and red penalty areas, for an unplayable ball and for relief from a bunker backwards.

If different areas of the course lie within one club-length of the spot where the ball lands, such as fairway and bunker, the ball must come to rest in the area it first touched when dropped.

Step by step

  1. 1Find the line. From the hole through the crossing point of the penalty area or, for an unplayable ball, through the spot of the ball.
  2. 2Choose a spot. Anywhere on the line behind the crossing point, as far back as you want.
  3. 3Drop on the line. The ball must first touch the ground on the line. It may then roll up to one club-length in any direction, including towards the hole. It just must not come to rest nearer the hole than the crossing point or, for an unplayable ball, the spot of the ball.