Golf has many rules, and they even cover what you need to do when you get a ball stuck in a difficult position. It could have landed right below a cactus or inside a forest, with no visible way out. That’s where the unplayable rule in golf comes into play.
I’ve always enjoyed spectating golf and casually dabbling with the odds on betting apps. I eventually picked up the sport myself, thinking I would have the basics, but unsurprisingly, I was terrible at the beginning. I was like those cartoon characters that would dig a hole with their club until I understood how I could strategically use the unplayable ball rule.
What does the unplayable ball rule mean in golf?
The unplayable ball rule in golf allows players to avoid an impossible situation by taking a one-stroke penalty. Only the players themselves can make this call and declare a ball unplayable.
Once you use the unplayable rule in golf, you can:
- Return to where you took your last shot and play again from there.
- Replace the ball within two club lengths of where it’s located.
- Place the ball in a straight line back from where it’s. You can go back as far as you want while keeping the ball’s original spot between you and the hole.
You always get the same one-stroke penalty regardless of the option you choose for an unplayable ball. Overall, the unplayable ball rule is quite flexible since if you were to lose your ball, you’d only have one option, and that is taking a stroke-and-distance penalty.
Do pro golfers use the unplayable ball rule?
Yes, pro golfers also use the unplayable ball rule to get out of sticky situations. For example, a 2018 unplayable call by Tiger Woods even caused debates in golf communities as fans looked to explain such decisions to broaden their understanding of the game.
Pros may be more hesitant to use the unplayable rule since their skill set may allow them to get out of tougher situations with ease. However, it also means that when pros do decide to use it, then they must be in an unrecoverable position.
When should you use the unplayable ball rule in golf?
If you feel that you can’t get the ball out from where it has landed, you can use the unplayable rule. It speeds up the game, and the penalty may end up meaning nothing, considering how many strokes it would take you to get out of the hole.
After all, if the pros we see on golf betting apps do it and you’re following the golf course etiquette, then there’s nothing stopping you from taking a second chance at a stroke. The only downside of the unplayable rule is the penalty, which can make a difference in close games, but you can always get them next time.