Unplayable lies — your 3 options — one penalty stroke, three ways out
You can declare your ball unplayable anywhere except a penalty area, and for one penalty stroke you choose from three relief options under Rule 19: stroke and distance, back-on-the-line, or lateral relief.
What is an unplayable lie — and what are your options?
You can declare your ball unplayable anywhere except a penalty area, and you get three relief options — all for one penalty stroke under Rule 19.
The power of this rule: you decide your ball is unplayable. Your group doesn't vote. Your ball doesn't have to be stuck or buried — if you simply don't like the lie, you can take relief.
Your three options (all cost one stroke)
| Option | Where you play from | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Stroke and distance | Replay from the previous spot | When going back gives the best line and you can spare a stroke |
| 2. Back on the line | Drop behind the ball, on the line from the hole through the ball | When the trouble is ahead and you can drop onto a better lie |
| 3. Lateral relief | Within two club-lengths of the ball, no nearer the hole | When the ball is near the edge of trouble (trees, fence, etc.) |
For options 2 and 3, the drop area is based on the reference point and the ball must stay within the relief area. If it rolls out, re-drop.
The one exception: penalty areas
Don't declare unplayable in a penalty area
The unplayable lie rule does not apply inside a penalty area (Rule 17). If your ball is in a penalty area, you use the penalty-area relief options instead: stroke and distance, or two-club-length lateral, or back-on-the-line — usually for one penalty stroke, but the reference point is the point where the ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area.
Real-world example
Your drive finishes against a tree root with the ball sitting in a bush. You can't swing. Instead of hacking it out and risking two bad shots, you declare it unplayable, choose back-on-the-line to drop onto the fairway, take your one penalty stroke, and save yourself from a worse score.
Related relief rules
Unplayable lies pair with cart path relief (obstructions) and lost ball rules. For a printable version of every relief option, grab the free Drop Rules Cheat Sheet or the full Save Strokes reference.
Get Save Strokes → Free cheat sheet