You find your ball has come to rest directly on a paved cart path, and your playing partner confirms you get a free shot, but what exactly is that called? Golf has its own unique language for these situations, and this article will clear it all up. We’ll cover both the unofficial slang you’ll hear in a friendly round and the specific rules-based terms you need to know for official play, so you can handle any situation with confidence.
In golf, there isn’t one single term for a “free shot” because the term is used in two very different contexts. Understanding the distinction is the first step to sounding like a seasoned player.
Think of it like this: a mulligan forgives a bad swing, while relief fixes a bad break due to course conditions. Let’s look at both in more detail so you know exactly when and how to use them.
The mulligan is one of golf’s great traditions, born from a spirit of fun and forgiveness. It’s the ultimate "let's pretend that didn't happen" moment, and it’s wonderful for keeping a casual round enjoyable, especially for new players.
A mulligan is a second attempt at a shot, taken immediately after a poor one, without counting the first shot or adding a penalty stroke. The most common mulligan is on the first tee. Everyone is a little tight, not warmed up, and it's easy to hit a terrible shot. Your group might agree beforehand, "One mulligan off the first tee." This means if you hate your first drive, you can simply tee it up again and play your second ball as if it were your first.
Since mulligans aren't part of the official rules, their "rules" are dictated by the group you're playing with. Here are some common guidelines:
The mulligan is a simple gesture of goodwill. It gives beginners a break and keeps the pace of play from grinding to a halt after a disastrous tee shot. Embrace it in the right context, but know when to leave it behind for the official rules.
Now we get into the main course: situations where the official Rules of Golf grant you a genuine, penalty-free chance to improve your spot. This is called taking "free relief." Knowing these rules empowers you to play fairly and confidently, ensuring you don't play from an unfair position that the course maintenance or design creates.
Free relief is granted when something artificial or an abnormal course condition interferes with your ball, your stance, or your area of intended swing. The main categories are found under Rule 16.1.
An immovable obstruction is any artificial object on the course that cannot be moved without unreasonable effort or damaging the obstruction or the course. Think of these as man-made intrusions.
Common examples include:
Taking relief is a precise process, but it's simple once you understand the steps. Let’s use the classic example: your ball is on a cart path.
Ground Under Repair is any part of the course that the committee has marked for repair. It’s typically marked with white lines, stakes, or signs. Think of it as a "construction zone" where they don't want you to play from.
If your ball is in, or your stance/swing is interfered with by, an area marked as GUR, you are entitled to free relief. The procedure is exactly the same as for an immovable obstruction: find the nearest point of complete relief, measure one club-length no closer to the hole, and drop from knee height.
Also known as "casual water" in the old rules, temporary water is any temporary accumulation of water on the surface of the ground (like a puddle from rain or over-watering) that is not in a penalty area. You should see water on the surface either before or after you take your stance.
Again, if your ball is in temporary water or it interferes with your stance, you get free relief. And you guessed it - the procedure is identical to immovable obstructions and GUR. Find your NPCR, measure one club-length, and drop!
Listen for that sickening "thud" - you’ve just plugged your ball. An embedded ball is a ball that has driven into the ground in its own pitch park as a result of your previous stroke.
Under Rule 16.3, you are entitled to free relief if your ball is embedded in the "general area," which is basically everywhere on the course except bunkers, penalty areas, and the putting green of the hole you are playing.
How to take relief for an embedded ball:
This is a fair rule. You shouldn't be penalized with a fried-egg lie for hitting a high, soft approach shot that lands perfectly.
To fully grasp the concept of a free shot, it’s helpful to quickly understand situations where moving your ball costs you a penalty. This provides clear contrast.
Knowing the difference is vital. Always look for cart paths, sprinkler heads, or GUR before deciding you have to take a penalty. You've earned that free relief - make sure you use it!
So, what is a free shot in golf called? In a friendly game, it’s most likely a mulligan, a consequence-free do-over. In the official book, it's called taking relief - a procedural, penalty-free drop away from an immovable obstruction or an abnormal course condition. Knowing both the slang and the rules will make you a more confident and knowledgeable golfer.
Understanding these rules is one thing, but applying them on the course, in the heat of the moment, can be tough. We built Caddie AI to act as that calm, expert voice in your pocket. If you're stuck on a sprinkler head and can't figure out your nearest point of complete relief, or you're looking at a plugged lie in the rough and need a quick refresher on the rule, I can give you clear, simple answers in seconds. You can even snap a photo of a tricky situation to get expert analysis, making sure you make the right call confidently and keep your round moving.
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