The Rules
DROPPING AT THE SHOULDER
After many years of the over-the-shoulder method, the 1984 Rules code introduced
a change to dropping from shoulder height. This method simplified the
procedure and allowed a player to see what was happening during the dropping
process, making it easier to follow where the ball ended up and when it needed
to be re-dropped. The height provided a desired randomness and more often
than not gave the player a lie similar to what they would have had if the ball had
ended up in that location after a stroke.
THE EVOLUTION TO KNEE HEIGHT
When the Rules of Golf were going through the modernization process that resulted in
the 2019 changes, one of the goals was to simplify procedures wherever possible. The
dropping procedure was certainly an area identified for improvement, and specifically
eliminating the many confusing re-drop requirements provided a major opportunity
for simplification.
When the concept of a “relief area” took shape, the thought was that the most
intuitive way to remember when you need to re-drop is simply when your ball
rolls outside of the relief area. However, with the shoulder height drop, this was
likely to happen often because the ball was falling from a good distance above the
ground. To ensure that the ball had the best chance to remain in the relief area on
the first drop, which would limit the number of re-drops needed and hopefully help
with pace of play, it was at first decided to allow players to drop from any height.
When feedback began to pour in, one of the most popular topics was the new
dropping procedure. There was concern from golfers around the world that if they
were dropping from an inch above the ground, it might look as if they were not in fact
dropping. Golfers (and golf administrators) wanted it to be clear that the ball was in
fact falling through the air. After the feedback period was over, the USGA and The R&A
evaluated this feedback and settled on the knee height dropping procedure instead.
The knee height drop ensures that the ball falls through the air while still creating some randomness
in the lie. At the same time, it helps prevent re-drops because the ball is falling such a short
distance and it will be more likely to land in and come to rest in the relief area on the first drop.
HOW TO DROP AT KNEE HEIGHT
When dropping under the Rules, the player must drop in the “right way.” This means
that the ball must be dropped by the player and that he or she must let go of the
ball from knee height so that it 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. Additionally, the ball must not touch any part of the player’s
body or equipment before it hits the ground.
If the ball is dropped in the right way described above, and also first hits
the ground in the relief area and stays in that relief area, the ball is in play.
If the ball is not dropped in the right way, does not land in the relief area, or
rolls out of the relief area, the ball must be re-dropped.
One of the most common misconceptions about the knee height drop is
that the player is required to stand when dropping the ball. Even though knee
height means the height of your knee when standing, you can sit, kneel, squat,
or be in just about any other position to drop the ball, as long as it is dropped
from the height of where your knee would be when standing.
Lendl is a USGA Rules staff member.
vsga.org S EPTEMBER/O CTOBER 2020 | V IRGINIA G OLFER 15