A Guide to Recovery Options After a Bad Shot
In golf, not every shot goes as planned. The key is knowing your recovery options so you can stay calm and make smart choices on the course. Below, we'll walk you through a few common recovery situations and explain how to handle them.
Play It As It Lies
This is the simplest option: accept the ball’s position and play your next shot from there without moving or adjusting its position. Focus on getting the ball back into a better position rather than trying to make up too much ground and ending up in another bad spot.
Tip! Be realistic about your options. Can you get the ball back into a good spot with this shot, or should you consider taking relief? Sometimes taking relief is the smarter move to avoid a blow-up hole.
Provisional Ball
If you think your ball might be lost outside of a penalty area or out of bounds, you can hit a provisional ball to save time. If you end up finding your first ball, you play it as normal. If not, continue with the provisional ball, adding a 1-stroke penalty.
What does that mean?
Think of this as a backup shot but with a penalty stroke. If you find the first ball, ignore the provisional. If not, play the provisional and add a stroke.
Tip! Always announce to your playing partners that you're hitting a provisional ball.
Unplayable Ball
If your ball lands in a spot that’s too difficult to hit from (such as under a tree or deep in the bushes), you can declare it unplayable and take a 1-stroke penalty.
You have three relief options:
Drop the ball within two club lengths, no closer to the hole.
Take stroke-and-distance relief (see below).
Use back-on-the-line relief (see below).
What does that mean?
If your ball is in a tough spot, you can move it to a better location within two club lengths or use other relief options—just add a stroke.
Tip! Don't be afraid to take the penalty and move your ball to a better spot. It could save you more strokes in the long run.
Stroke and Distance Relief
If your ball is lost or unplayable, you can go back to the spot where you hit your last shot, take a 1-stroke penalty, and hit again.
What does that mean?
This is essentially a "do-over," but with a penalty. You go back to where you played the previous shot and add a stroke to your score.
Back-on-the-Line Relief
If your ball crosses into a penalty area, you may drop it behind the area, keeping a straight line between the hole and the point where the ball crossed into the penalty area.
What does that mean?
You can move back as far as you'd like from where the ball entered the penalty area, keeping the ball, the penalty area, and the hole in a straight line. Drop the ball along that line and take a penalty stroke.
Lateral Relief (Red-Staked Penalty Areas)
If your ball enters a penalty area marked with red stakes, you can take relief within two club lengths of where the ball entered, no closer to the hole, with a 1-stroke penalty.
What does that mean?
Drop your ball within two club lengths of where crossed into the hazard. Add a penalty stroke.
Free Relief!
In some cases, you’re entitled to free relief, meaning you can drop your ball without taking a penalty. This happens when your ball lands near man-made objects (like cart paths) or in abnormal conditions (like puddles). Simply drop the ball within one club length of the nearest point of relief, no closer to the hole.
What does that mean?
If your ball is up against something that isn’t a natural part of the course (like a sprinkler head or cart path), you can move it without penalty. You just drop it in the nearest spot where it’s no longer affected, as long as it’s not closer to the hole.
Golf is a game of patience and strategy. Knowing your recovery options can help you keep your cool and make the best decision after a tough shot. Whether you play it as it lies or take relief, focus on minimizing damage and getting back on track. Now that you know these strategies, you can approach each recovery with confidence!
