Rules Corner: "Dropping & Re-Dropping The Ball"

I'm going to cover Rule 20-2a, Dropping and Re-Dropping by Whom and How.

When a ball is to be dropped under a Rule (taking relief from an immovable obstruction, taking relief from a water hazard, or from an unplayable lie, for example), who can drop the ball?  It turns out...only the player herself!  The ball must be dropped from shoulder height, with elbow straight, while standing up straight.

Dropping Again...Did you know that sometimes a ball may be dropped repeatedly, 3, 4, 11 times or more? (Eleven may be hyperbole but I'm making a point!). There are 3 situations when this is true.  I'm going to use the term "dropped again" rather than "re-dropped to distinguish these 3 situations from the "drop, re-drop, place" requirements that will be covered next time.

1. If a ball is dropped in any other manner and played, it is a one stroke penalty.  Same thing if someone else drops a ball for you and you play it.  If it is dropped in any other manner (or by another person) and NOT played, it may be dropped again properly, no penalty under the "eraser" rule, 20-6.  You could drop a ball incorrectly, e.g. from above shoulder height, then from below shoulder height, then with you elbow bent, and still be able to pick it up and drop it correctly the 4th time under the eraser rule.

2.  If a player drops a ball and it hits her club, either before or after striking the ground within the allowable drop area (within 2 club lengths of where the ball first struck a part of the course) .....drop again!  This simply doesn't count as a drop and the ball must be dropped until it strikes the ground in the allowable area  without touching the club.    The player's club is EQUIPMENT as defined in the Rules.  (The definition of equipment is well worth memorizing, by the way.)  So this "drop again" requirement is the same if the  ball strikes/touches any of the players equipment, (golf bag, glove, etc.) or any person (the player's foot, knee, her partners foot, etc.).  What if the player marked her drop area with tees or other small objects such as coins and the ball strikes a tee when dropped?  Don't be fooled...a tee is NOT equipment!!.  This is a real drop under the Rules and the ball is in play: no "drop again" required for the fact of hitting the tee or small object.

3.  What if a player drops her ball and it doesn't strike the ground in the allowable area?  Again, no problem...drop as many times as necessary until the ball lands in the allowable area.  (Definition of Equipment:  anything used, worn, held or carried by the player or the player's caddie, except:
   a. any ball that the player has played at the hole being played and
   b. any small object, such as a coin or a tee, when used to mark the position of the ball or the extent of an area in which a ball is to be dropped.                Laurie