The player must drop a ball in the right way, which means meeting all the requirements in (1), (2) and (3):

(1) Player Must Drop Ball. The ball must be dropped only by the player. Neither the player's caddie nor anyone else may do so.

See Rules 25.2h, 25.3c and 25.4a (for players with certain disabilities, modification of Rule 14.3b(1) allows the player to give general authorization to any other person to drop the player's ball).

(2) Ball Must Be Dropped Straight Down from Knee Height Without Touching Player or Equipment. The player must let go of the ball from a location at knee height so that the ball:

• Falls straight down, without the player throwing, spinning or rolling it or using any other motion that might affect where the ball will come to rest, and
• Does not touch any part of the player's body or equipment before it hits the ground.

"Knee height" means the height of the player's knee when in a standing position.

See Rule 25.6b (for guidance on applying Rule 14.3b(2) to players with certain disabilities).

(3) Ball Must Be Dropped in Relief Area (or on Line). The ball must be dropped in the relief area. The player may stand either inside or outside the relief area when dropping the ball. But when taking back-on-the-line relief (see Rules 16.1c(2), 17.1d(2), 19.2b and 19.3b), the ball must be dropped on the line in a location allowed by the Rules and the spot on which the ball is dropped creates a relief area.

(4) What to do if Ball Dropped in Wrong Way.If a ball is dropped in a wrong way in breach of one or more of the requirements in (1), (2), or (3):

• The player must drop a ball again in the right way, and there is no limit to the number of times the player must do so.
• A ball dropped in the wrong way does not count as one of the two drops required before a ball must be placed under Rule 14.3c(2).

If the player does not drop again and instead makes a stroke at the ball from where it came to rest after being dropped in a wrong way:

• If the ball was played from the relief area, the player gets one penalty stroke (but has not played from a wrong place under Rule 14.7a).
• But if the ball was played from outside the relief area, or after it was placed when required to be dropped (no matter where it was played from), the player gets the general penalty.

Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place or Playing Ball that was Placed Instead of Dropped in Breach of Rule 14.3: General Penalty under Rule 14.7a.

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