Is the 2019 drop rule easy to "hack"?

[TheCityGame]

So, in the 2019 Golf Drop Rule, there's is a defined "drop area", 2 club lengths, no closer to hole. You drop a ball from knee height. If the ball rolls out of the drop area, you re-drop. If it happens again, you place it.

 

Currently, you drop and if the ball rolls more than 2 club lengths from the point the ball hit the ground, it's a re-drop. If it happens again, you place it. So, we've all been there on a bad drop area, maybe on a hill, or something. You know that ball is rolling two club away, so, you drop, retrieve, find a good spot, and drop again, retrieve, then place the ball on the good spot.

 

So, in 2019, what's to stop anyone from dropping RIGHT ON THE EDGE of the relief area. If there's even a slight slope to the area, the ball should roll out of the area, redrop, then the player can place the ball.

 

Does anyone think this is going to be too easy to "choose your own lie", even dropping from knee height?

 

For reference, new drop rules. . .

 

http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules-hub/rules-modernization/major-changes/new-procedure-for-dropping-a-ball.html

 

"Re-drop" rules. . .

 

http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules-hub/rules-modernization/major-changes/where-a-dropped-ball-must-come-to-rest.html

[SNIPERBBB]

Does seem to be easier, not that you can't do that now, just requires a bit more knowledge and planning.

[Augster]

I do see there is going to be plenty of placing the ball going on. Much more than previously.

 

On the flip side, the lower you drop from, the less it will roll. But nothing in the rules precludes you from dropping from shoulder height as we do now.

 

The original writing, I believe, had us required to drop as many times as it took to stay within the drop area. That way you couldn’t game the system. Then after the review period, they softened their stance, because as you allude to, some drops are NEVER staying inside the drop area unless they are placed, and it puts the player on an infinite loop. So they softened it.

 

While I agree I’ll be placing the ball much more often, I’ll also be much closer to the hazard than I currently am. If I drop at 2CL’s, it can run another 2CL’s basically giving me 4CL’s from the edge of the hazard. When I’ve hooked one into a lateral penalty area, trees and brush, as a right handed golfer, sometimes 2CL’s isn’t enough to give me a full swing clear of the brush.

 

I understand that drops like that only occur once in a very long while on the courses I play. Being able to drop twice and place if the ball runs anywhere outside the drop zone is a huge advantage over the current rules and I look forward to that advantage. Because I drop a lot.

[HitEmTrue]

But nothing in the rules precludes you from dropping from shoulder height as we do now.

 

The rules do preclude that.

 

(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.

[Colin L]

Equally, if you're old enough to remember when we did it, the rule precludes dropping over your shoulder. :)

[Sawgrass]

So, in the 2019 Golf Drop Rule, there's is a defined "drop area", 2 club lengths, no closer to hole. You drop a ball from knee height. If the ball rolls out of the drop area, you re-drop. If it happens again, you place it.

 

Currently, you drop and if the ball rolls more than 2 club lengths from the point the ball hit the ground, it's a re-drop. If it happens again, you place it. So, we've all been there on a bad drop area, maybe on a hill, or something. You know that ball is rolling two club away, so, you drop, retrieve, find a good spot, and drop again, retrieve, then place the ball on the good spot.

 

So, in 2019, what's to stop anyone from dropping RIGHT ON THE EDGE of the relief area. If there's even a slight slope to the area, the ball should roll out of the area, redrop, then the player can place the ball.

 

Does anyone think this is going to be too easy to "choose your own lie", even dropping from knee height?

 

For reference, new drop rules. . .

 

http://www.usga.org/...ing-a-ball.html

 

"Re-drop" rules. . .

 

http://www.usga.org/...me-to-rest.html

Just to be clear, sometimes the drop area is within 2CL, sometimes it's within 1CL. Depends on why you're dropping.

[SkiSchoolPro]

I think prose oftentimes try to get their ball to end up closer to the whole after 2 drops so that they can place.

 

The original rules of golf allowed you to Tee It Up When taking (some) penalties. I think for penalty "drops" we should be able to place the ball all the time without having to go through drops and re drops.

[Augster]

But nothing in the rules precludes you from dropping from shoulder height as we do now.

 

The rules do preclude that.

 

(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.

 

Thanks for the correction. I thought I had read it was “at least” knee height somewhere. So it’s always knee height and there is a MUST in there.

 

Much tougher to game from such a short height. I’ll still try though.

 

I also wish they had gone to placing in the relief area when spending a penalty stroke. Would be much, much quicker. Eyeball 2CL, place and go. Keep the drops for free relief.

 

Maybe that will be something we can push for in the next revision. Along with free relief for divots. :)

[cardoustie]

They should make everything 2 club lengths ... so much simpler ... and also ensure you get relief from the hazard ... it's a joke that you take a penalty drop and then have 5 foot high grass or tree branches in your backswing

[Sawgrass]

They should make everything 2 club lengths ... so much simpler ... and also ensure you get relief from the hazard ... it's a joke that you take a penalty drop and then have 5 foot high grass or tree branches in your backswing

I believe your hazard complaint is a course marking rather than a rules problem.

[golfortennis]

So, in the 2019 Golf Drop Rule, there's is a defined "drop area", 2 club lengths, no closer to hole. You drop a ball from knee height. If the ball rolls out of the drop area, you re-drop. If it happens again, you place it.

 

Currently, you drop and if the ball rolls more than 2 club lengths from the point the ball hit the ground, it's a re-drop. If it happens again, you place it. So, we've all been there on a bad drop area, maybe on a hill, or something. You know that ball is rolling two club away, so, you drop, retrieve, find a good spot, and drop again, retrieve, then place the ball on the good spot.

 

So, in 2019, what's to stop anyone from dropping RIGHT ON THE EDGE of the relief area. If there's even a slight slope to the area, the ball should roll out of the area, redrop, then the player can place the ball.

 

Does anyone think this is going to be too easy to "choose your own lie", even dropping from knee height?

 

For reference, new drop rules. . .

 

http://www.usga.org/...ing-a-ball.html

 

"Re-drop" rules. . .

 

http://www.usga.org/...me-to-rest.html

Just to be clear, sometimes the drop area is within 2CL, sometimes it's within 1CL. Depends on why you're dropping.

 

Rule of thumb is "one if it's free, two if you pay for it" right? Can't think of many exceptions...

[bigred90gt]

So now, we're going to have to bend over and guess where knee height is while dropping a ball? lol, why would they make this change? It is a bit silly. How many people are going to get called out for not having the ball "at knee height"? I think this is going to create more problems than it will fix.

 

Can anyone explain what needed fixing in the first place?

[SNIPERBBB]

If you have good knees and hips, just squat down.

 

Or do a kaepernik

[bigred90gt]

If you have good knees and hips, just squat down.

 

Or do a kaepernik

according to the definition posted above, it must be in a standing position. The way rules are written and interpreted, that would preclude anyone from squatting, unless there is clarification in the form of a published decision. At least that is how I interpret it.

[SNIPERBBB]

The way I'm reading is the drop height only has to be at the standing position, not that you have to be standing at the time of the drop.

[TheCityGame]

So now, we're going to have to bend over and guess where knee height is while dropping a ball? lol, why would they make this change? It is a bit silly. How many people are going to get called out for not having the ball "at knee height"? I think this is going to create more problems than it will fix.

 

Can anyone explain what needed fixing in the first place?

No, you don't need to guess. You know where your knee is. If anyone says to you, "you dropped it 1 inch below your knee" find a new playing partner. They literally show 4 year olds managing it in their instructional video. I think adults can manage.

 

The problem they were trying to fix was too many occurrences of the ball rolling more than 2 club lengths away, or plugging in the sand. These things can be found through the links I shared, which literally have a section called, "reasons for change" in them.

[SNIPERBBB]

And some older folks or people that have had major surgery of the arms cant ever raise their arms to shoulder height to start with.

 

[SNIPERBBB]

So now, we're going to have to bend over and guess where knee height is while dropping a ball? lol, why would they make this change? It is a bit silly. How many people are going to get called out for not having the ball "at knee height"? I think this is going to create more problems than it will fix.

 

Can anyone explain what needed fixing in the first place?

No, you don't need to guess. You know where your knee is. If anyone says to you, "you dropped it 1 inch below your knee" find a new playing partner. They literally show 4 year olds managing it in their instructional video. I think adults can manage.

 

The problem they were trying to fix was too many occurrences of the ball rolling more than 2 club lengths away, or plugging in the sand. These things can be found through the links I shared, which literally have a section called, "reasons for change" in them.

 

In the video from the USGA several of those drops were from below the knees, maybe I should get my softball license again.

[Imp]

So now, we're going to have to bend over and guess where knee height is while dropping a ball? lol, why would they make this change? It is a bit silly. How many people are going to get called out for not having the ball "at knee height"? I think this is going to create more problems than it will fix.

 

Can anyone explain what needed fixing in the first place?

No, you don't need to guess. You know where your knee is. If anyone says to you, "you dropped it 1 inch below your knee" find a new playing partner. They literally show 4 year olds managing it in their instructional video. I think adults can manage.

 

The problem they were trying to fix was too many occurrences of the ball rolling more than 2 club lengths away, or plugging in the sand. These things can be found through the links I shared, which literally have a section called, "reasons for change" in them.

 

"But... you're taller than I!"

 

--kC

[bigred90gt]

So now, we're going to have to bend over and guess where knee height is while dropping a ball? lol, why would they make this change? It is a bit silly. How many people are going to get called out for not having the ball "at knee height"? I think this is going to create more problems than it will fix.

 

Can anyone explain what needed fixing in the first place?

No, you don't need to guess. You know where your knee is. If anyone says to you, "you dropped it 1 inch below your knee" find a new playing partner. They literally show 4 year olds managing it in their instructional video. I think adults can manage.

 

The problem they were trying to fix was too many occurrences of the ball rolling more than 2 club lengths away, or plugging in the sand. These things can be found through the links I shared, which literally have a section called, "reasons for change" in them.

 

I’m not talking about for me. I don’t play competitive golf anymore, and no one I play with will give a hoot how I drop the ball, not will I care how my friends drop a ball.

 

I’m just saying, someone somewhere along the line will get called out for an improper drop, and we’ll be having the conversation of how stupid this change was.

[TheCityGame]

So now, we're going to have to bend over and guess where knee height is while dropping a ball? lol, why would they make this change? It is a bit silly. How many people are going to get called out for not having the ball "at knee height"? I think this is going to create more problems than it will fix.

 

Can anyone explain what needed fixing in the first place?

No, you don't need to guess. You know where your knee is. If anyone says to you, "you dropped it 1 inch below your knee" find a new playing partner. They literally show 4 year olds managing it in their instructional video. I think adults can manage.

 

The problem they were trying to fix was too many occurrences of the ball rolling more than 2 club lengths away, or plugging in the sand. These things can be found through the links I shared, which literally have a section called, "reasons for change" in them.

 

I'm not talking about for me. I don't play competitive golf anymore, and no one I play with will give a hoot how I drop the ball, not will I care how my friends drop a ball.

 

I'm just saying, someone somewhere along the line will get called out for an improper drop, and we'll be having the conversation of how stupid this change was.

Just like we have all those call outs for improper drops from shoulder height.

 

Just bookmark this thread and get back to me when the call out for improper drop from knee height happens.

 

of all the issues the 2019 changes might cause, I never thought "improper knee height estimation" would be one of them.

[Colin L]

......... and we'll be having the conversation of how stupid this change was.

 

You can include me out of the "we" ;) You're constructing something out of nothing.

[BlackDiamondPar5]

Before each round a painted line will be applied to your pant leg or skin (if wearing shorts) to designate knee height. :)

 

In all seriousness I think the concern about gaming the drop is with little merit.

[HitEmTrue]

In all seriousness I think the concern about gaming the drop is with little merit.

 

It will be used, and rightfully so, by anyone who understands the rules.

 

[Sawgrass]

Below is a segment from new Rule 1.3b2. I believe it addresses any concerns one might have regarding a player's accurately (enough) dropping from the proper height.

 

 

• 
  So long as the player does what can be reasonably expected under the circumstances to make an accurate determination, the player’s reasonable judgment will be accepted even if, after the stroke is made, the determination is shown to be wrong by video evidence or other information.
  

 

I believe it would fall in context with the second of the three bullet points in that Rule:

 

 

 

(2) Accepting Player’s “Reasonable Judgment” in Determining a Location When Applying the Rules.

• 
  Many Rules require a player to determine a spot, point, line, area or other location under the Rules, such as:
   Estimating where a ball last crossed the edge of a penalty area,
   Estimating or measuring when dropping or placing a ball in taking relief, or
   Replacing a ball on its original spot (whether the spot is known or estimated).
  

 

Deliberately dropping from the wrong height is another matter, as it always has been.

[Londoner]

Equally, if you're old enough to remember when we did it, the rule precludes dropping over your shoulder. :)

Blimey, I'd forgotten about that!