What does stroke and distance mean in golf?
I · Intermediate · Lost balls, out of bounds and penalty relief · 10 of 16Stroke and distance means adding one penalty stroke and playing again from where the previous stroke was made. It is compulsory for a ball that is lost or out of bounds. A player may also choose it at any time, wherever the ball lies.
How it works
Where the next ball is played from depends on where the last stroke was made:
| Last stroke made from | How the ball is put in play |
|---|---|
| The teeing area | Anywhere in the teeing area. It may be teed |
| The general area, a bunker or a penalty area | Dropped within one club-length of the spot, not nearer the hole, in the same area of the course |
| The putting green | Placed on the spot |
- The original ball or another ball may be used.
- The count: the stroke that went wrong, one penalty stroke, then the new stroke. After a tee shot out of bounds, the next shot from the tee is the player's third.
- Once the new ball is in play, the original is out of play and must not be played, even if it turns up.
Tricky cases
A tee shot goes out of bounds. What number is the next shot from the tee?
Three: one for the first shot, one penalty stroke and the shot now being played.
Can a player choose stroke and distance when the ball is perfectly playable?
Yes. The option is there "at any time", no matter where the ball is.
Must the same ball be used?
No. Another ball may be put in play.
Why the rule exists
The name describes the two costs. The player pays a stroke, and also gives up whatever distance the bad shot gained.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Rules of Golf | As above | G 18.1; G 14.6 |
From the rule book
The R&A and USGA Rules of Golf, Rules 14.6, 18.1 and 18.2, and the Definition of stroke and distance. Effective January 2023. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: Rules of Golf (PDF).