An unplayable ball in golf is a ball that is in a position where the player cannot make a swing or advance the ball. The player is the only person who can decide that their ball is unplayable, and this can be done anywhere on the golf course except when the ball lies in a penalty area. When a player decides that their ball is unplayable, they have three options, each of which incurs a one-stroke penalty:

• Stroke and distance: The player can go back to the spot where they last played the ball.

• Drop within two club-lengths: The player can drop the ball within two club-lengths of where the ball came to rest, without moving closer to the hole.

• Back on the line: The player can take the flagstick and the point where their ball came to rest, and move back away from the hole in a straight line as far as they want.

In a bunker, the player has the same three relief options, but they must stay inside the bunker if using either the two club-lengths or back on the line option. There is, however, a fourth option that only applies when the player decides their ball is unplayable in a bunker. This option allows them to get out of the bunker by going back on the line as far as theyd like and comes with two penalty strokes.