Basic golf rules: My ball is unplayable – what can I do?

Golf is hard. Even Rory McIlroy hits bad shots sometimes! Sometimes when you’ve hit your ball you might find it in a really tough spot. It could be stuck in a bush, behind a tree, or in thick rough.

If you think, ‘There’s no way I can hit that!’, you can decide it is unplayable.

Who decides if my ball is unplayable?

You do! Only you can say if your ball is unplayable. You can do this anywhere on the course except a penalty area (for example, a pond).

What can I do if my ball is unplayable?

If your ball is on the green, or in the fairway or rough, you can take what’s called unplayable ball relief. This gives you three choices:

1. Go back and try again

You can return to where you struck your last shot and hit another. This is called stroke-and-distance relief.

2. Go back on a line

Imagine a straight line from the hole to your ball. You can go backwards from that line and drop your ball. This is called back-on-the-line relief. Once the ball hits the ground, it can bounce one club length in any direction. 

3. Move it sideways

You can drop your ball within two club-lengths of where it is now – but not closer to the hole. This is called lateral relief.

But: To go back on a line, or to take lateral relief, you need to find your ball. This is because you need to use its spot to take that relief. 

Do I get a penalty?

Yes. If you take unplayable ball relief you must add one shot to your score.

What if my ball is in a bunker?

If your ball is in the sand, you have the same options. You can go back and hit it again. You can also drop it in the bunker – going backwards or sideways. The ball must stay in the bunker. And you add one penalty shot to your score. 

But you can also drop it outside the bunker – going back on a line. This will cost two penalty shots.