Lie
The lie describes how your ball rests on the ground and how well you can play it from there.
The lie is the starting point of every shot. On the closely mown fairway the ball sits up free and can be struck cleanly. In the rough it sinks between the blades, and contact, ball flight and length suffer noticeably. Slopes, divot holes and the sand in the bunker also belong to the lie, as does the question of whether grass behind the ball slows the clubhead. The most important basic rule of golf is therefore: play the ball as it lies.
Before every shot you read the lie consciously. Is the ball sitting up on the grass or deep down? Is it standing on the slope above or below your feet? An example: your ball lies in the semi-rough, slightly sunk in, 150 metres from the green. The long iron will not do, because grass between clubface and ball disturbs the contact and the ball flies off flat without spin. You choose a wedge, strike more steeply downwards and plan for more roll. The honest assessment of the lie is half the club selection.
A typical mistake is the unconscious improvement of the lie: the kick behind the ball, pressing down the blades during the practice swing, moving branches. All of that is a breach of the rules and costs penalty strokes, even if nobody is watching. Only when the rulebook expressly grants you relief, for example for ground under repair or a path, may you move the ball. If it is truly unplayable, for example deep in the thorn bush, only the declaration against a penalty stroke remains. Whoever accepts the lie instead of tricking it plays honestly and usually more smartly too.
FAQ
How do I adjust my shot to a difficult lie?
If the ball sits deep in the grass, choose a club with more loft and strike more steeply downwards so that you catch the ball cleanly at all. Plan for more roll and less flight, because grass between clubface and ball eats the spin. An honest assessment of the lie before the shot is half the club selection.
Am I allowed to press down grass behind the ball before the shot?
No, that counts as forbidden improving of the lie and costs you penalty strokes, even if nobody is watching. Also forbidden are the kick behind the ball or bending away branches that disturb the swing. Relief exists only where the rules expressly allow it, for example for ground under repair.
When may I lift the ball because of an unplayable lie?
Whenever you declare the ball unplayable — you may do that anywhere on the course except in a penalty area, and by your own decision without the agreement of your playing partners. Against one penalty stroke you have three options: back to the spot of the previous shot, a drop on the extended line, or sideways within two club lengths. If the ball lies deep in the bush, that is often the smartest way.