Page type: Glossary / definition
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Meaning
Stroke and Distance is the penalty procedure in which a player adds one penalty stroke and plays again from where the previous stroke was made. It restores the progression towards the hole when required, including after a ball is lost outside a Penalty Area or goes Out of Bounds.
How it matters in match play
In Match Play, Stroke and Distance normally costs one penalty stroke and the player must replay from the previous spot, so the hole score and the opponent's result both change. If Alex's tee shot is Out of Bounds, Alex replays from the tee, while Ben's position is unaffected except that Alex has lost ground. A Provisional Ball can save time.
Table
| Quick reference | Detail |
|---|---|
| Term | Stroke and Distance |
| Category | rules |
| Applicable rule | Rule 18.1; Rule 18.2b; Rule 18.3 |
| Related concepts | Lost Ball, Out of Bounds, Provisional Ball, Penalty Stroke, Substitute Ball |
Worked example
Alex's tee shot is Out of Bounds, so Alex adds one penalty stroke and plays a third stroke from the tee; if the next shot reaches the green and the putt is holed, Alex scores 5 for the hole.
Rule reference: Rule 18.1; Rule 18.2b; Rule 18.3
Sources: www.randa.org , www.randa.org
Common questions
What does Stroke and Distance mean in golf?
It means adding one penalty stroke and playing again from the spot where the previous stroke was made. The player loses the benefit of the distance gained by that stroke.
Is Stroke and Distance one or two penalty strokes?
Under Rule 18, the procedure itself adds one penalty stroke. The player then plays from the previous spot; any later penalties depend on what happens next.
Can I use a Provisional Ball to avoid returning to the previous spot?
You may play a Provisional Ball before making the next stroke when the original ball might be lost outside a Penalty Area or might be Out of Bounds. You must announce that it is provisional before playing it.
Does Stroke and Distance apply in Match Play?
Yes. Rule 18 applies in Match Play as well as Stroke Play. The player takes the one-stroke penalty and replays from the previous spot, which can make the hole harder to win or halve.
Can a local rule change Stroke and Distance for a lost ball?
A Committee may adopt the applicable local-rule option for a ball lost or Out of Bounds in areas where it is allowed, but that is a Terms of the Competition decision. Check the event's Local Rule rather than assuming it applies.
Is Stroke and Distance the same as taking a drop near the lost ball?
No. The standard Rule 18 procedure requires playing from where the previous stroke was made. A different relief area is available only when another Rule or an authorised Local Rule provides it.