Do you know how to take a drop?

SnowDrifts

Prompted by Harrington's questionable drop at the weekend, I thought I'd start a thread on the topic. Easily the most misunderstood/misused section of rules in golf IMO which is funny because of how often we need to take drops.

Most common issues I see....

> Your ball can roll up to 2 club lengths from where it first strikes a part of the course. That means that, in theory, a ball can roll up to 4 club lengths from an original unplayable lie provided it first strikes the course within the permitted 2 club lengths from the unplayable lie.
For some reason, most players think the ball can only roll up to 1 club length and tend to pick the ball up when it is actually in play.

> The ball drops and rolls forward and it is automatically picked up and re-dropped/placed. Your ball can roll forward provided it doesn't roll closer to the hole than it's original position, point where it last crossed the margin of the hazard etc. (See scenarios listed in the rule below)

> Dropping a ball on an incline and stopping it with your foot well before it has rolled it's permitted 2 club lengths.

> Nearest nicest point of relief. Probably deserving of it's own thread.


Relevant sections of Rule 20-2

c. When to Re-Drop

A dropped ball must be re-dropped, without penalty, if it:

(vi) rolls and comes to rest more than two club-lengths from where it first struck a part of the course; or

(vii) rolls and comes to rest nearer the hole than:

(a) its original position or estimated position (see Rule 20-2b) unless otherwise permitted by the Rules; or

(b) the nearest point of relief or maximum available relief (Rule 24-2, 25-1 or 25-3); or

(c) the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or lateral water hazard (Rule 26-1).

So how often do you witness the misuse of 20-2? What reaction do you get if you correct someone on an illegal drop?

Seve OB

I honestly thought that when taking a drop, the ball should land and stay within the original 2 club lengths marked out.

SnowDrifts

stevieob wrote: »

I honestly thought that when taking a drop, the ball should land and stay within the original 2 club lengths marked out.

And you wouldn't be alone in thinking it I'm sure. So now you know!

John Divney

I remember a chap telling me last year after I got a Shyte lie from a lateral drop, "you should always drop from your waist so it doesn't get buried like that"

Cheers pal.

Seve OB

John Divney wrote: »

I remember a chap telling me last year after I got a Shyte lie from a lateral drop, "you should always drop from your waist so it doesn't get buried like that"

Cheers pal.

lol

it actually bugs me to see fellas dropping like that or just throwing the ball down...

TrapperChamonix

SnowDrifts wrote: »

And you wouldn't be alone in thinking it I'm sure. So now you know!

Snowdrift, it is worth pointing out that you are not referring to a free drop where the rule is within 1 club length of nearest point of relief. I suspect that is the cause of confusing the number of club lenghts

SnowDrifts

TrapperChamonix wrote: »

Snowdrift, it is worth pointing out that you are not referring to a free drop where the rule is within 1 club length of nearest point of relief. I suspect that is the cause of confusing the number of club lenghts

I am referring to ALL drops and this includes a free drop. In your case, you must drop the ball within 1 club length of the nearest point of relief. The ball can then roll 2 club lengths from this point which could result in it being up to 3 club lengths from the nearest point of relief.

Check out the relevant decision
http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Decision-20/#d20-2c-1

TrapperChamonix

SnowDrifts wrote: »

I am referring to ALL drops and this includes a free drop. In your case, you must drop the ball within 1 club length of the nearest point of relief. The ball can then roll 2 club lengths from this point which could result in it being up to 3 club lengths from the nearest point of relief.

Check out the relevant decision
http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Decision-20/#d20-2c-1

Sorry, I didn't phrase that very well. I meant to highlight that the free drop is different to the "in theory, a ball can roll up to 4 club lengths from an original unplayable lie". IE an unplayable lie is different to a free drop.

I'm agreeing with you, even though it might look like I'm not:D

Norfolk Enchants_

stevieob wrote: »

lol

it actually bugs me to see fellas dropping like that or just throwing the ball down...

It should more than just bug you, they are clearly breaching the rules.

Quoted from the RANDA

20-2 - Dropping and Re-Dropping

a. By Whom and How

A ball to be dropped under the Rules must be dropped by the player himself. He must stand erect, hold the ball at shoulder height and arm’s length and drop it. If a ball is dropped by any other person or in any other manner and the error is not corrected as provided in Rule 20-6, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke.
If the ball, when dropped, touches any person or the equipment of any player before or after it strikes a part of the course and before it comes to rest, the ball must be re-dropped, without penalty. There is no limit to the number of times a ball must be re-dropped in these circumstances.

(Taking action to influence position or movement of ball – see Rule 1-2)

The important part is marked in bold above.

Rikand

I always call in a referee before attempting to take any drop.

SnowDrifts

Rikand wrote: »

I always call in a referee before attempting to take any drop.

Think every Sunday group around the country could do with a referee! Might just slow things down a bit though

Johnny_Fontane

I dropped a ball recently two club lengths away from the point of entry (red stakes). dropped the ball and it rolled to within about 6 inches of the hazard, meaning I would be up to my knees in the hazard to play it.

It was still outside the line of the hazard, just no stance at all and standing in hazard?

Did I have to play it as it lies?

SnowDrifts

Yeah so long as it didn't roll closer to the hole than the original point of entry to the hazard. Once the ball is outside the hazard, it is in play regardless of whether your stance is in the hazard.

GreeBo

SnowDrifts wrote: »

Yeah so long as it didn't roll closer to the hole than the original point of entry to the hazard. Once the ball is outside the hazard, it is in play regardless of whether your stance is in the hazard.

Which I think is a bugger...if you were taking an unplayable you would re-drop as you hadnt taken relief. Seems like a gap in the rules to me, you are already taking a penalty drop...

SnowDrifts

GreeBo wrote: »

Which I think is a bugger...if you were taking an unplayable you would re-drop as you hadnt taken relief. Seems like a gap in the rules to me, you are already taking a penalty drop...

You mean abnormal ground conditions/immovable obstruction? Yeah I agree with that and as well, it's just another thing to add confusion and lead to lads making mistakes.

newport2

SnowDrifts wrote: »

Dropping a ball on an incline and stopping it with your foot well before it has rolled it's permitted 2 club lengths.

I experienced someone dropping on an incline within 2 clublengths last month. It was steep, so the ball was obviously going to go back into the hazard again each time. For each of the two drops he let it do that. So 3 balls in the water - his original and his 2 drops -, 2 balls lost (his original and his first drop) and about 5 or more minutes wasted. Was there any way around this? (other than obviously taking another option altogether.
I thought he should have replayed from where he had first hit into the hazard anyway, he would have had a longer, but much easier shot.)

Whyner

Yeah get your partner to stop your ball once it crosses the hazard line and before it enters the water, if you're quick enough.......or even use a club

You see this on the PGA tour with caddies scooping up the ball

SnowDrifts

newport2 wrote: »

I experienced someone dropping on an incline within 2 clublengths last month. It was steep, so the ball was obviously going to go back into the hazard again each time. For each of the two drops he let it do that. So 3 balls in the water - his original and his 2 drops -, 2 balls lost (his original and his first drop) and about 5 or more minutes wasted. Was there any way around this? (other than obviously taking another option altogether.
I thought he should have replayed from where he had first hit into the hazard anyway, he would have had a longer, but much easier shot.)

Ha - sounds like he was having a bad day! Once it rolls back into the hazard, it's no longer in play so you can stop it when it crosses the margin of the hazard.

Normally guys on tour have their caddies ready to stop it once it crosses the line. I guess if your playing partners aren't willing to help then it's tough titty!

newport2

SnowDrifts wrote: »

Ha - sounds like he was having a bad day! Once it rolls back into the hazard, it's no longer in play so you can stop it when it crosses the margin of the hazard.

Normally guys on tour have their caddies ready to stop it once it crosses the line. I guess if your playing partners aren't willing to help then it's tough titty!

Unfortunately the edge of the hazard was quite literally at the waters edge.....by the time it was in the hazard, it was already in the water. It was after a lot of rain, so maybe it was higher than normal.

SnowDrifts

newport2 wrote: »

Unfortunately the edge of the hazard was quite literally at the waters edge.....by the time it was in the hazard, it was already in the water. It was after a lot of rain, so maybe it was higher than normal.

Ah right... well then, what he did was correct. Think I'd be with you though and replay the shot from the original position!

ib_sanf

Great post op.

Like you said, it's one of the most misunderstood rules by amatur golfers.
The way I most often see people breaking it, is re-dropping if The ball rolls beyond their dropping area - but not more than 2 club lengths - and not nearer the hole.

SnowDrifts

ib_sanf wrote: »

Great post op.

Like you said, it's one of the most misunderstood rules by amatur golfers.
The way I most often see people breaking it, is re-dropping if The ball rolls beyond their dropping area - but not more than 2 club lengths - and not nearer the hole.

Yeah I see this practically every week - so much so that I'm ready to tell them to stop before they pick up a ball in play.

I would really love to know what is the cause of so many players not understanding such a simple and frequently used rules scenario.

ib_sanf

I think what people most often mis-understand - or maybe choose to misunderstand - is that the ball can roll out of the dropping area - up to 2 club lengths.
So they're glad to see it roll past - what they think is the dropping area - they do it twice and think they are entitled to place it - sitting up nicely!

Call the penalty on them for picking up the ball when it was in play, site the rules - and they'd learn sharpish.

SnowDrifts wrote: »

Yeah I see this practically every week - so much so that I'm ready to tell them to stop before they pick up a ball in play.

I would really love to know what is the cause of so many players not understanding such a simple and frequently used rules scenario.