Situations > Unplayable Ball

• Only the player and the player's partner can declare a ball unplayable. 19.1, 22.2, and 23.5a
• A ball in a penalty area cannot be unplayable. The player must take penalty area relief. 19.1
• There are three 1 penalty stroke relief options for any unplayable ball - stroke and distance, back-on-the-line, and 2 club-lengths lateral. 19.2a, 19.2b, and 19.2c
• Only for an unplayable ball in a bunker:
  • 2 club-lengths lateral relief (1 penalty stroke) must be taken in the bunker. 19.3a
  • Back-on-the-line relief (1 penalty stroke) must be taken in the bunker. 19.3a
  • Back-on-the-line relief (2 penalty strokes) must be taken outside the bunker. 19.3b