a) By whom and how
A ball that is to be dropped according to the rules must be dropped by the player himself. The player must stand upright, hold the ball at shoulder height with an outstretched arm and drop it. If the ball is dropped by another person or in any other way and this error is not corrected as stipulated in Rule 20-6, the player incurs a penalty stroke.
If the ball, when dropped, touches any person or any player's equipment before or after it strikes any part of the court and before it comes to rest, the ball must be dropped again without penalty. There is no limit to the number of times a ball may be re-dropped in the circumstances described. (Influencing the position or movement of a ball - see Rule 1-2.)
b) Where to drop
If a ball is to be dropped as close as possible to a specified spot, it must not be dropped closer to the hole than the specified spot, but the spot must be estimated if it is not precisely known to the player.
A ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course where it is to be dropped according to the applicable rule. If it is not so dropped, Rules 20-6 and 20-7 apply.
c) When to drop again
A dropped ball must be re-dropped without penalty if it
(I) rolls into an obstacle and comes to rest in the obstacle;
(II) rolls out of an obstacle and comes to rest outside it;
(III) rolls onto a green and comes to rest on the green;
(IV) rolls into the out and comes to rest in the out;
(V) rolls into a lie and comes to rest where it is obstructed by the circumstance from which relief has been claimed under Law 24-2b (immovable obstruction), Law 25-1 (unusual ground), Law 25-3 (wrong green) or under a course rule (Law 33-8a), or rolls back into the hole from which it was picked up under Law 25-2 (embedded ball);
(VI) rolls and comes to rest more than two club-lengths from the place where it first struck any part of the course; or
(VII) rolls and comes to rest closer to the hole than
(a) its original or estimated position (see Rule 20-2b), unless otherwise permitted by the Rules; or
(b) the nearest point of relief or the greatest relief obtainable (Rules 24-2, 25-1 or 25-3); or
c) the point at which the original ball last crossed the boundary of the water hazard or lateral water hazard (Rule 26-1).
If the re-dropped ball rolls into a position as listed above, it must be placed as close as possible to the point where it first hit any part of the course when it was re-dropped.
Note 1: If a dropped or re-dropped ball comes to rest and then moves, the ball must be played as it lies, unless the provisions of another rule apply.
Note 2: If a ball that is to be dropped or put down again under this rule cannot be recovered immediately, another ball may be used. (Use of drop zones - see Appendix I, Part B, Section 8)
Status: 2018
