Rules · Tip
How to Drop a Ball Correctly
Part of our rules programs. Build a program with it
Under Rule 14.3, you drop from knee height. Let the ball fall straight down. Don't throw it, spin it or roll it. It has to land in your relief area and stop there. If it rolls out, drop again. If it rolls out a second time, place it where it first touched the ground on that second drop. Dropping from shoulder height is the old way. Now it's a mistake, and playing it without fixing it can cost you.
Step by step
- Figure out your relief area first.
- Stand up and hold the ball at knee height.
- Let it fall straight down.
- Rolls out? Drop again.
- Rolls out twice? Place it where the second drop landed.
Why it works
A drop from knee height lets gravity alone decide where the ball lands. A straight fall, with no throw, spin or roll, keeps your hand from steering the ball to a better lie. A fixed height also keeps the ball from bouncing far, so it is more likely to stay inside the relief area. The two-drop then place sequence gives a clear way to finish if the ball keeps rolling out.
Common mistakes
- Dropping from shoulder height out of habit.Stand tall, hold the ball at knee height and check your hand position before you let go.
- Tossing, flicking or rolling the ball instead of letting it fall.Open your fingers and let the ball fall straight down from a still hand.
- Placing the ball after one drop that rolled out.Drop a second time, and place the ball only if the second drop also rolls out, using the spot where the second drop first touched the ground.
How you'll know it's working
- The ball lands in your relief area and stops there on the first drop.
- Your hand is at knee height and still when you release the ball.
- The ball falls straight down with no visible spin or sideways movement.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Mark the edges of your relief area with tees first, then practise dropping from knee height on flat grass.
Harder: Practise on a slope or in rough, where the ball is more likely to roll out, and work through the second drop and the placement without hesitating.
Common questions
How high do you drop a golf ball now?
You drop from knee height. Shoulder height was the old method and is no longer correct.
What happens if the ball rolls out of the relief area after a drop?
Drop again. If it rolls out a second time, place the ball on the spot where it first touched the ground on that second drop.
