The lie and marking: the rules explained
Your lie is where your disc stopped. Throw from right behind it, or mark it with a mini touching the front of the disc and throw from behind the mini.
Rules covered
802.05, 802.06, 805.01, 805.02. Summaries follow the PDGA Official Rules, 2026 edition.
802.05Your lie
The lie is the spot you throw from. On the first throw of a hole it is the teeing area. After that it is an area 20 cm wide and 30 cm deep (about 8 by 12 in), right behind your marker disc and centered on the line of play.
Terms
Read the full rule at pdga.com (rule 802.05)
802.05The line of play
The line of play runs from the center of the basket through the center of your marker and on behind it. Relief rules move your lie back along this line, away from the basket.
Terms
Read the full rule at pdga.com (rule 802.05)
802.06Marking your lie
Your lie is set by where your thrown disc came to rest. You can throw from right behind the disc, or place a mini marker disc on the ground touching the front of it, on the basket side along the line of play, and pick yours up. When a rule moves your lie, or your disc isn’t on in-bounds ground, you mark the new spot with a mini.
Terms
Read the full rule at pdga.com (rule 802.06)
802.06Marking mistakes
Throwing from a lie marked any other way is a marking violation: a warning the first time in a round, then one penalty throw each time.
Terms
Read the full rule at pdga.com (rule 802.06)
805.01Where a disc comes to rest
A disc’s position is where it first stops. In water or leaves it counts as stopped even if the water, leaves or wind keep nudging it. A disc stuck up in a tree or bush is marked on the ground directly below it. If a disc breaks, the largest piece counts.
Terms
Read the full rule at pdga.com (rule 805.01)
805.02The two-meter rule
Only when the tournament director puts it in effect: a disc that comes to rest 2 m (7 ft) or more above the ground costs one penalty throw, and you play from the spot directly below it. A disc resting on the basket is never penalized this way. If nobody announced it, the rule isn’t in effect.
Terms
Read the full rule at pdga.com (rule 805.02)
See also
Rule summaries are based on the PDGA Official Rules of Disc Golf. Shot Lab is not affiliated with the PDGA.
Get the app
Shot Lab keeps score for your whole card, shows every hole painted and works with no signal. Free on iPhone and Apple Watch.