To take relief, you drop a ball yourself from knee height, straight down, so it lands in the relief area you measured with a club. If it rolls out of the area, you drop again, and after a second miss you place it.
How do I measure the relief area?
Start from the reference point the rule gives you, such as the nearest point of complete relief or the spot of your ball. Measure the distance (one or two club-lengths, depending on the situation) using a club from your bag. The area can't be nearer the hole than the reference point, and it has to be in the right part of the course for that rule. In relief for a penalty area or an unplayable ball, the rule tells you whether the area is on a line or around a point.
How do I drop?
- You drop the ball. Your caddie or a playing partner can't do it for you.
- Let go from knee height, with the ball falling straight down. Don't throw, spin or roll it.
- It must not touch your body or equipment before it hits the ground.
- You can stand inside or outside the relief area while you drop.
You can use the original ball or a different one.
What if the ball rolls out of the area?
If you dropped it the right way and it comes to rest outside the relief area, drop again. If it rolls out a second time, place a ball on the spot where the second drop first touched the ground. If it won't stay there, place it a second time, and if it still won't stay, place it on the nearest spot where it will stay.
If it comes to rest in the area, you are done taking relief and must play it from there, even if the lie is bad.
What if I dropped the wrong way?
Drop again, as many times as needed. Hitting a ball that was dropped the wrong way costs one penalty stroke if you hit it from the relief area, and two if you hit it from outside the relief area.
What if the ball hits me or my equipment?
If a correctly dropped ball accidentally hits you or your gear before it comes to rest, there is no penalty. If someone deliberately stops it, you drop again.
The governing rule is Rule 14.3.
Local rules
Your league's committee may have local rules that change this. Ask the organizer which ones your league uses.