The unplayable lie rule in golf

There’s little worse on a golf course than taking your shot and realising immediately that it’s about to land in the rough, against a tree or in a bunker. Fortunately, the unplayable lie rule is in place for all of these situations.

In this guide, we’ll look at the rules for an unplayable lie and run through your relief options. We’ll also look at where you can and can’t claim an unplayable lie.

What is an unplayable lie in golf?

An unplayable lie is where you can’t play your ball where it lies. It’s up to you to decide whether it’s unplayable.  

Being aware of your options when you find the ball in a position you deem unplayable is a crucial part of strategy and game management. What you don’t want to do is waste valuable time and strokes trying to get out of a position which is, well, unplayable.

The good news is that there are three relief options that allow you to take a second bite of the cherry in most positions on a golf course. The bad news is that each of these incurs a penalty stroke. However, adding one stroke is always better than adding a bucket load trying to escape an untenable position.

What are the rules for an unplayable lie?

First things first, you can claim relief options for an unplayable ball almost everywhere on the course. They are outlined by the R&A’s Rule 19. It gives you these three options:

• Stroke-and-distance relief
• Lateral relief
• Back-on-the-line relief

Each will give you a penalty stroke.

Who judges if a ball is unplayable?

You’re the only person who can judge your ball to be unplayable. In fact, it’s the very first thing outlined in Rule 19: “A player is the only person who may decide to treat their ball as unplayable.”

It’s therefore up to you to decide whether adding a stroke would be a better choice than attempting to play from somewhere so challenging that you’d end up adding multiple strokes. You must also be able to find your ball to declare it unplayable. If you can’t find it, you must use stroke-and-distance relief.

The three relief options in the unplayable lie rule

You have three relief options to choose from in the unplayable lie rule:

Stroke-and-distance relief

As rule 19.2a defines: “The player may play the original ball or another ball from where the previous stroke was made.”

It’s as simple as that. If you decide it’s the best thing to do, simply take your shot again from its previous location and receive a stroke.

This might be the best option if the original shot was a complete fluke and the position is one you’re confident of performing 99 times out of 100. Alternatively, you might have hit your ball really deep in the rough, and you fancy your chances of not making the same mistake twice.

But in some situations, you might not want to go all the way back to whence you came. If that’s the case, you have two other options.

Lateral relief

If your ball is unplayable but in a general area of the course where you wouldn’t mind remaining, lateral relief is a great option.

With lateral relief, you’re allowed to drop your ball within two lengths of what the R&A call the “reference point”. This is either the position where your ball landed or, in the event that it is suspended in midair (like in a tree), directly underneath.

You must not drop your ball any closer to the hole than this reference point, and you mustn’t stray into another area of the course, even if it is within two club lengths. For example, you would not be able to play your ball in the teeing area if it were dropped in the general area of the course, even if the teeing area was less than two club lengths away.

If you’re close to the green, or your unplayable lie is close enough to a playable one that you don’t need to move a significant distance away, lateral relief might be the optimal choice. 

Back-on-the-line relief

Your final option is back-on-the-line relief. Here you can drop your ball on the line between the hole and your ball. Just so long as you’re not getting any closer to the hole itself.

You can retreat back any distance from your unplayable ball, provided you’re in line with the hole. Then drop your ball, and play within a club length of it.

As with lateral relief, you’re not allowed to play the ball from a position closer to the hole than your original ball (hence the name “back-on-the-line”). And, just like lateral relief, you must play the ball from the same area on the course.

What about bunkers?

When it comes to bunkers, the unplayable lie rule offers up one final caveat.

Rule 19.3 explains that you can still play any of the above three relief options if your ball lands in a bunker. But it’s only stroke-and-distance that will immediately get you out of the bunker, as you simply go back to your original position.

As for back-on-the-line relief and lateral relief: “The ball must be dropped in and come to rest in the bunker.” In other words, for that one additional stroke, you must play your ball from within the bunker.

You can escape the bunker altogether using back-on-the-line relief, but you’ll incur two penalty strokes. It’s only really an option if you’re in an unassailable lead.

Are there any exceptions?

There is one big exception to the unplayable lie rule. Penalty areas. If your ball lands in one of these, you’ll follow Rule 17 instead. Your relief options can include stroke-and-distance relief, back-on-the-line relief and lateral relief, but it depends on whether you land in the yellow or red stakes.

Learn more about yellow stakes in golf and your relief options.

Take your pick and choose your relief option

So, you have three relief options for an unplayable ball, and it’s up to you to decide the best time to use them. Knowing them all off the top of your head helps you make the right decision each time, and prevents a wayward shot from totally derailing your game.

Keen for more golf tips? Discover how to play bunker shots and how to hit a driver straight and long.

FAQs

When can you declare your ball unplayable?

You can declare your ball unplayable if you think you can’t play it. You can do it anywhere on the course, other than a penalty area. And you must be able to find your ball. If it’s lost, you must use stroke-and-distance relief.

Who decides if a ball is unplayable?

It is up to the individual player to decide if a ball is unplayable. They are the only person who can make the decision. 

Can you declare a ball unplayable anywhere on the course?

You can’t declare a ball unplayable in a penalty area. You must use relief under Rule 17 if your ball lands in a penalty area, either yellow or red stakes. You can declare a ball unplayable anywhere else on the course.

Can you declare a ball unplayable in a bunker?

Yes, you can declare a ball unplayable in a bunker. You have the following options:

• Stroke-and-distance relief: Play the ball from your previous position (one penalty stroke).
• Back-on-the-line: Drop the ball on a straight line going back from the hole through where the ball lies. You must do it inside the bunker (one penalty stroke). You can choose back-on-the-line outside the bunker for two penalty strokes.
• Lateral relief: Drop the ball within two club lengths of the spot where the ball lies, no closer to the hole, staying inside the bunker (one penalty stroke).  

Can you declare a ball unplayable in a penalty area?

No, you can’t declare a ball unplayable in a penalty area. You must follow the guidance set out in Rule 17 if your ball lands in a penalty area.

Specialist golf insurance by Golf Care

Now you’ve learnt how the unplayable lie rule works, you may want to consider protecting yourself and your golf equipment with specialist golf insurance. Get a quote online today.