An unplayable ball is one you choose to take relief from, for a one-stroke penalty, because it sits somewhere you cannot or do not want to play it from, such as against the roots of a tree or deep in a bush. Unplayable ball relief is covered by Rule 19 of the Rules of Golf and can be used anywhere on the course except in a penalty area. Only the player can decide to treat a ball as unplayable; a playing partner or caddie cannot make that call for you.
Where you can and cannot declare a ball unplayable
A ball does not have to be physically unplayable for you to take this relief. Under Rule 19.1 you may treat your ball as unplayable even if it is sitting in the middle of the fairway, simply because you decide to. Depending on where the ball is, however, the relief may not be available or the options may be different.
| Where the ball is | Unplayable relief | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General area (fairway, rough, trees and so on) | Allowed | Choose one of three options (Rule 19.2) |
| Putting green | Allowed | Included in Rule 19.2 |
| Bunker | Allowed | Options are restricted, and an extra two-stroke option is available (Rule 19.3) |
| Penalty area (ponds, creeks, areas marked with red or yellow stakes) | Not allowed | Relief only under Rule 17 (Rule 17.3) |
If your ball cannot be played from inside a pond or creek, use penalty area relief instead. A ball that is out of bounds is off the course altogether, so the answer there is stroke-and-distance relief, not unplayable relief (see our article on out of bounds and provisional balls).
The three relief options (all one penalty stroke)
In the general area and on the putting green, you choose one of the following three options. Whichever you choose, the penalty is one stroke.
| Option | Where you play from | When it works best |
|---|---|---|
| Stroke-and-distance relief (Rule 19.2a) | Go back to where you played your previous stroke | When there is nowhere playable ahead. If it was your tee shot, you can tee the ball up again in the teeing area |
| Back-on-the-line relief (Rule 19.2b) | Drop on a line going back from the hole through the spot of the ball. There is no limit to how far back you go | When going straight back gives you a clear shot, for example from directly behind a tree |
| Lateral relief (Rule 19.2c) | Drop within two club-lengths of the ball, not nearer the hole | When moving a short way sideways gives you a shot |
Since the 2023 edition of the Rules, back-on-the-line relief works like this: you drop a ball on the line, and the relief area is one club-length in any direction from where that ball first touches the ground (not nearer the hole). The details of dropping are covered in our guide on how to drop a golf ball.
A club-length is the length of the longest club in your bag other than your putter. For most players that is the driver.
Counting strokes: an example
Say your tee shot (stroke one) on a par 4 goes into the trees and finishes against the roots of a tree where you cannot swing. Unplayable relief adds one penalty stroke, so the shot you play after taking relief is your third. If you choose stroke-and-distance relief and go back to the tee, the shot you replay is also your third.
Declaring an unplayable ball and what to check first
The Rules do not require you to announce to anyone that you are treating your ball as unplayable. Even so, it is good etiquette to tell your playing partners or marker before you take relief. “I’ll take an unplayable” or “I’m declaring it unplayable” is all you need to say.
- Make sure it is your ball. Back-on-the-line and lateral relief both depend on knowing where the original ball is. If the ball is stuck up a tree and you cannot identify it as yours, it is a lost ball and only stroke-and-distance relief is available.
- Lateral relief for a ball in a tree is measured two club-lengths from the spot on the ground directly below the ball.
- Before dropping, check that you will actually be able to play from there. Even two club-lengths to the side, branches may still be in the way. If the dropped ball ends up somewhere unplayable again, you can declare it unplayable again, but with another penalty stroke.
- You may use the original ball or a different ball when taking relief.
Declaring a ball unplayable in a bunker
In a bunker the options change slightly (Rule 19.3). The 2019 Rules revision added a two-stroke option that lets you take the ball out of the bunker, in addition to the one-stroke options.
| Option | Penalty | Where you drop |
|---|---|---|
| Stroke-and-distance relief | 1 stroke | Where you played your previous stroke |
| Back-on-the-line relief | 1 stroke | In the bunker |
| Lateral relief | 1 stroke | In the bunker |
| Back-on-the-line relief outside the bunker (Rule 19.3b) | 2 strokes | Outside the bunker |
Before 2019, the only way to get out of the bunker was to go back to where you last played. Now, if your ball is plugged in the face of a deep bunker (a “fried egg”), you can pay two strokes and drop behind the bunker. Note that free relief for an embedded ball (Rule 16.3) applies only in the general area, so it cannot be used for a plugged ball in a bunker. For the basics see our article on what a bunker is, and for technique see how to play a bunker shot.
Common misunderstandings
- You have to declare an unplayable on a cart path or in ground under repair: immovable obstructions such as cart paths, ground under repair and temporary water are abnormal course conditions, and you get free relief from them (Rule 16.1). There is no need to take a penalty.
- Lateral relief lets you drop anywhere as long as it is not nearer the hole: you are limited to two club-lengths from the spot of the original ball.
- It is the same as a forward tee for lost balls: forward tees used by some courses for balls that are out of bounds or lost are a local arrangement, separate from unplayable relief and not part of the standard Rules.
- Your caddie can decide for you: a caddie can advise on whether the ball is playable, but only the player decides whether to treat it as unplayable.
When you may need unplayable relief in Southeast Asia
Many courses in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia have thick woodland, jungle or tall grass along the edges of the holes. When your ball goes into one of these areas, the first thing to check is the colour of the stakes.
- The area is marked with red stakes or similar: the Committee has defined it as a penalty area. Since 2019, areas without water, such as jungle, can be marked as penalty areas. In that case use Rule 17 relief, not unplayable relief. If it is known or virtually certain that your ball is in the penalty area, you can take relief even if the ball is not found.
- The area is not marked at all: it is part of the general area. Search for the ball (you have three minutes), and if you find it but cannot play it, declare it unplayable. If you cannot find it, it is a lost ball.
Local caddies are very good at finding balls, but once yours is found, you are the one who decides whether to play it or take unplayable relief. Saying “Unplayable, two club-lengths, please” will get your caddie helping you mark out the lateral relief area. If there is a dangerous animal situation, such as a snake or a bees’ nest, you can take free relief under Rule 16.2 instead of unplayable relief. Do not force your way into the undergrowth.