This Rule applies only when a ball is dropped in the right way under Rule 14.3b.

(1) Player Has Completed Taking Relief When Ball Dropped in Right Way Comes to Rest in Relief Area. The ball must come to rest in the relief area.

It does not matter whether the ball, after hitting the ground, touches any person, equipment or other outside influence before coming to rest:

• If the ball comes to rest in the relief area, the player has completed taking relief and must play the ball as it lies.
• If the ball comes to rest outside the relief area, the player must use the procedures in Rule 14.3c(2).

In either case, there is no penalty to any player if a ball dropped in the right way accidentally hits any person, equipment or other outside influence before coming to rest.

Exception - When Ball Dropped in Right Way is Deliberately Deflected or Stopped by Any Person: For what to do when the dropped ball is deliberately deflected or stopped by any person before it comes to rest, See Rule 14.3d.

(2) What to Do if Ball Dropped in Right Way Comes to Rest Outside Relief Area. If the ball comes to rest outside the relief area, the player must drop a ball in the right way a second time.

If that ball also comes to rest outside the relief area, the player must then complete taking relief by placing a ball using the procedures for replacing a ball in Rules 14.2b(2) and 14.2e:

• The player must place a ball on the spot where the ball dropped the second time first touched the ground.
• If the placed ball does not stay at rest on that spot, the player must place a ball on that spot a second time.
• If the ball placed a second time also does not stay on that spot, the player must place a ball on the nearest spot where the ball will stay at rest, subject to the limits in Rule 14.2e. This might result in the ball being placed outside the relief area.

---

Click to view full USGA Explanation