Do you get relief for a plugged ball in golf?
A · Advanced · Free relief and dropping the ball · 4 of 9An embedded ball is one lying in its own pitch-mark, made by the last stroke, with part of it below ground level. Anywhere in the general area the player may lift it and drop within one club-length of the spot right behind it, not nearer the hole, without penalty.
How it works
- The ball must be in a pitch-mark it made itself, on the last stroke, and part of it must be below the level of the ground. It need not be touching soil.
- Relief is in the general area only, which includes the rough.
- No relief in a bunker or a penalty area.
- No relief when the ball is embedded in sand in a part of the general area that is not cut to fairway height or less.
- On the putting green the player marks, lifts and cleans the ball, repairs the pitch-mark and puts the ball back.
- Not embedded: a ball trodden into the ground, a ball driven straight into the ground without leaving it, and a ball that plugged when dropped.
- A player who is not sure may mark and lift the ball to check, without cleaning it.
Tricky cases
Does a ball plugged in the rough get relief?
Yes. The Rule covers the whole general area, unless the Committee has limited it by Local Rule to closely mown areas.
Does a ball plugged in a bunker get relief?
No. The player plays it as it lies or treats it as unplayable.
The ball is sitting down in thick grass but not below the ground. Is it embedded?
No. Part of the ball must be below ground level.
Why the rule exists
A ball buried in soft turf by its own landing is a matter of ground conditions on the day, not of the shot. The Rule returns the player to roughly the lie the shot earned.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Rules of Golf | As above | G 16.3 |
| A Committee using Model Local Rule F-2 | Relief only in areas cut to fairway height or less | G 16.3b (note) |
From the rule book
The R&A and USGA Rules of Golf, Rules 16.3 and 16.4, and the Definition of embedded. Effective January 2023. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: Rules of Golf (PDF).