Golf games explained is exactly what it sounds like. Want to change things up and try something new? Well, someone has to do the thankless job of playing different formats of golf and telling you if it’s worth it. You can thank me later.

Want to spice up your regular match play? There’s a very simple and not too complicated way to do that. It’s time to learn about “Hammer,” the side game where the stakes can get very high very quickly. If “Hammer” is on the agenda, we recommend a pit stop at the ATM on the way to the golf course.

Number of players required: 2 or 4.

Best for: 1v1 or 2v2 games. Players who like to apply the pressure early and often. People who like to get on each other’s nerves.

How to play: Hammer is as simple as it gets. It’s a simple match game to begin with, but you and your opponent or opponents must first decide how much each hole is worth, since each hole is a separate match. Let’s say it’s $1 for now. Take it easy.

Once play begins, either player can “hammer” the other at any time, doubling the stake. The idea is to hammer your opponent when they’re in trouble and you feel you have a better chance of winning the hole. So if Player A tees off first and hits a ball down the middle, and Player B then pulls one into the left rough behind a tree, it would be in Player A’s best interest to hammer Player B, making hole #1 now worth $2. The “hammer” now switches to Player B if he wants. Player A cannot hammer Player B twice in a row. Say Player B hits a hero shot from the left rough onto the green, he can hammer Player A back, making the hole now worth $4. Player B can also choose not to use it until the next hole, or the hole after that. It’s Player B’s business until further notice. Once play reaches the next hole, that hole is now worth $1 again.

Variations: Above is the most basic explanation of the “hammer” game, but here we’ll explain the myriad variations you’ll need to decide on before you tee off. First on the agenda: If a hole is halved, does the stake carry over to the next hole, like it would in a skins game? This must be agreed upon in advance, and in most cases it does. So if Player A hammers Player B on the first hole ($1 bet is now $2) and Player B eventually hammers back ($2 bet is now $4) and both halve with pars, the $4 carries over to hole #2, making that hole worth $5. Should a hammer be used on that hole, that hole would be worth $10. If that hole is won, the stake for the third hole resets to $1.

Normally the “hammers” happen automatically, but if you approach the game with some fear, you can make “accepting the hammer” optional.

Perhaps the most fun and strategic element you can add is the “Air Hammer.” This means that to use the hammer, you must call out “hammer” when your opponent’s ball is in the air. Instead of having the luxury of seeing exactly where your opponent’s ball will come to rest and hammering based on that, you must do so after they’ve taken their shot and before it hits the ground. In this scenario, you can call out “hammer” when your opponent’s ball is heading for a bunker, water hazard, or out of bounds, only to watch it land past the bunker or water or get hit back into the fairway by a tree. This makes players use the hammer much more wisely. This also applies to putts, an additional quirk that is on full display in a season 1 episode of Netflix’s “Full Swing” featuring a hammering match between Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth. In their match, any birdie doubled the stakes.

If you know of any golf games or variations of golf games that we haven’t covered and would like to be explained, feel free to reach out to me via Twitter/X. @Cpowers14.

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