Skip to content

Rule 14.3

Dropping a ball

Also searched as: drop, knee height drop, how to drop, shoulder height drop

You let the ball fall straight down from knee height. It must land in the relief area and come to rest in it.

Until 2018 you dropped from shoulder height with your arm stretched out. That method is now wrong: if you drop from the wrong height, you must correct it before your stroke. Playing a ball dropped the wrong way costs one penalty stroke.

Step by step

  1. 1Drop it yourself. Only you may drop the ball, not your caddie.
  2. 2Let it fall from knee height. Measured when standing. Do not throw or spin it, and it must not touch you or your equipment before it hits the ground. Otherwise drop again without penalty.
  3. 3Land it in the relief area. If it lands outside, drop again, as often as needed.
  4. 4If it rolls out, two tries. If the ball comes to rest outside the relief area after two correct drops, place it on the spot where it first touched the ground on the second drop.