Unplayable lie

[Kiwi]

When is a ball unplayable? Recently I pulled a shot and ended up past the green right up against a tree. The bottom of the ball was on the grass/rough, and the side of the ball was flush against the tree. I took an unplayable and dropped with a one stroke penalty. I felt I had no shot as I may have struct the tree even if I tried to hit it away from the hole. Does potential damage to the tree (relatively minor) or the club or myself provide sufficient grounds to declare a ball unplayable?

[Started2k3]

As I understand it ANY ball position can be considered unplayable, because it is at the discression of the player.

i.e. miss a putt by 6" - get pissed and in anger smack the ball 50 yds on to the fairway - declare it unplayable and replace it back to 6" from the hole.

[AAA]

A player may declare any ball unplayable unless it is in a water hazard.
The player is the sole judge.

[Kiwi battler]

Smacking a ball away in anger is not a stroke , it is a 1 shot penaly and ball MUST be replaced

Missing a 6 inch putt and having the ball roll off the green into a nasty lie tho is another matter again , you declare it unplayable and replace the ball beside the hole with the 1 shot penalty