You must drop the ball from knee height. For those of us used to letting it go from the shoulder, or even from over the shoulder if you go back far enough, getting used to the new ways was quite a change in the revisions to the Rules of Golf in 2019.
But making sure it’s knee height is only part of the picture when it comes to dropping a ball and you’ve got to make sure you do it right.
It’s all covered by Rule 14.3 – and so here’s everything you could possibly want to do about how to drop a golf ball…
How to drop a golf ball: What you need to know
Only you can drop the ball
Don’t let another player do it, or a caddie if you’ve got one. If you’re dropping a ball, Rule 14.3b says only the player can do it, though in foursomes (Rule 22.2) or fourball (Rule 23.5a) either partner can act for the other.
Make sure you drop the ball straight down
Don’t spin it, throw it, roll it or do anything else that might have an impact on where the ball comes to rest. When it’s being dropped, it can’t touch either you or your equipment before it hits the ground.
What is knee height?
Sounds obvious, right? But Rule 14.3b makes an important distinction. It means the “height of the player’s knee when in a standing position”. What difference does that make? You don’t need to be standing when the ball is dropped. You could be laid flat on your back, if you wish, to drop the ball – as long as it is done from knee height.
