Drop Shot
A drop shot in golf is the casual term for “taking a drop,” the rules procedure of putting a ball back into play after it has landed in a penalty area, gone out of bounds, been lost, or come to rest in an unplayable position. Most drops carry a one-stroke penalty, though some situations allow free relief.
What is a drop shot?
In modern golf, “drop shot” is a colloquial way of describing what the official Rules of Golf simply call “a drop.” It is not a swing or a club technique, the way a flop shot or a punch shot is. It is a procedure under Rule 14.3 of the Rules of Golf, used to return a ball to play after the original ball cannot be played from where it lies (USGA, 2019).
A few older dictionaries, including Wiktionary, list a separate technical meaning: a sharp chopping motion used to dig the ball out of thick grass near the green. That usage is largely historical. Modern golf publications and instructors describe such shots as chips from heavy rough or bunker-style escapes, not as drop shots. When a recreational golfer says “I had to take a drop shot,” they almost always mean the rules procedure.
The drop exists for a practical reason. Without it, a ball lost in a lake or wedged against a tree would end the hole. The drop gives the player a way to keep the round moving, usually at the cost of one stroke.
When a drop shot is taken
The Rules of Golf set out specific situations in which a player must, or may, take a drop. Some carry a penalty stroke, others do not.
| Situation | Stakes/Markers | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Penalty area (water, etc.) | Red or yellow | 1 stroke |
| Out of bounds | White | 1 stroke (stroke and distance) |
| Lost ball (not found in 3 minutes) | None | 1 stroke (stroke and distance) |
| Unplayable lie (player’s choice) | None | 1 stroke |
| Abnormal course conditions | Often white paint | None (free relief) |
| Immovable obstructions | Cart paths, sprinklers | None (free relief) |
The distinction between penalty and free relief comes down to fault. If the player puts the ball into trouble, the drop costs a stroke. If the ball ended up in an artificial or temporary problem area, such as casual water or a cart path, the drop is free. Under Rule 16 of the Rules of Golf, free relief applies when abnormal course conditions or immovable obstructions interfere with a normal stance or swing (USGA).
How a drop shot is performed
The procedure breaks into two stages: setting up the relief area, then dropping the ball. Setting up means finding a reference point, then measuring out a zone from that point using the longest non-putter club in the bag, which for most players is the driver.
The reference point depends on the type of relief. For an unplayable lie, it is where the ball lies. For a penalty area, it is the spot where the ball last crossed the edge. For free relief from a cart path or temporary water, it is the nearest point of complete relief, no nearer the hole.
The size of the relief area also varies. Free relief gives one club-length. Penalty-area lateral relief and unplayable-lie drops give two club-lengths.
The drop itself changed in 2019. The ball must now be released from knee height when the player is in a standing position. Before 2019, the rule called for shoulder height with an extended arm. The USGA’s Thomas Pagel said the change was made to focus on the relief area and reduce the number of re-drop scenarios, which had previously totaled nine different cases (Golf Monthly, 2019).
The ball must land in the relief area and stay there. If it rolls out, the player drops once more. If it rolls out a second time, the ball is placed where it first hit the ground on the second drop (USGA, Rule 14.3).
Drop shot vs drop: are they the same thing?
Yes, in everyday golf conversation. The Rules of Golf use only the word “drop.” Many golfers, broadcasters, and golf websites use “drop shot” interchangeably with “drop,” especially when referring to the act of putting the ball back in play.
There is a small wrinkle. Some commentators use “drop shot” to mean the actual stroke played from the dropped position, not the drop itself. The 1744 origin date for the first drop rule, noted by National Club Golfer, helps explain why the language has drifted: the term predates modern rules-writing conventions.
In racket sports like tennis and squash, “drop shot” refers to a softly hit ball that lands just over the net (Merriam-Webster). That meaning does not apply in golf.
Related Golf Terms
- Driving accuracy — The percentage of tee shots that land in the fairway.
- Driving range — A practice area where golfers hit balls to warm up or practice.
- Driver — The longest club in the bag, used primarily for tee shots on long holes.
- Driving distance — The average distance of tee shots measured in yards.
- Drive — The first shot on a hole, usually hit with a driver from the tee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a drop shot a penalty stroke?
Most drops carry a one-stroke penalty, including drops from penalty areas, out of bounds, lost balls, and unplayable lies. Drops from abnormal course conditions and immovable obstructions are free.
How high does a player drop the ball in golf?
Knee height, when in a standing position. This rule has applied since the 2019 Rules of Golf update; before that, the requirement was shoulder height with an extended arm.
What is the difference between a drop and a drop shot in golf?
Functionally, none. The Rules of Golf use the term “drop.” “Drop shot” is the casual phrasing many golfers use for the same procedure.
Can a caddie drop the ball for the player?
No, caddies cannot. Rule 14.3 requires the player taking relief to drop the ball, although a partner may do it in foursomes formats.
What happens if the ball rolls out of the relief area after a drop?
The player drops again. If the ball rolls out a second time, it is placed on the spot where it first struck the ground during the second drop.
Sources
- United States Golf Association. “Rule 14.3: Dropping Ball in Relief Area.” Accessed May 4, 2026.
- United States Golf Association. “Rule 16: Relief from Abnormal Course Conditions.” Accessed May 4, 2026.
- United States Golf Association. “Major Change: New Procedure for Dropping a Ball.” Published 2019. Accessed May 4, 2026.
- United States Golf Association. “Rules Hub: Dropping.” Accessed May 4, 2026.
- Golf Monthly. “PGA Tour Stars Question Knee-High Drop Rule.” Published January 2019. Accessed May 4, 2026.
- Golf.com. “The simple ball-drop rule not every golfer knows.” Published December 2025. Accessed May 4, 2026.
- National Club Golfer. “NCG’s Golf Glossary: What is a drop?” Accessed May 4, 2026.
