Fourball, Scramble & Best-Ball

Fourball

            Like foursome, fourball is also played with two player teams.  During the round, all four players will hit their individual ball for each entire hole.  At the end of the hole, the lowest score between the two partners is used as the team score.  Therefore, this is a version of stroke play because of the focus on the number of strokes.  Unlike foursome, fourball puts less of a focus on challenging each member of the team.  If a team is comprised of one great player and one less-skilled player, the great player could have the lower score for each hole.  These scores would be used throughout the entire round and the less-skilled player would not have an effect on the game. Fourball is used in several professional tournaments including the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup.

Scramble

            The scramble format is mostly used with four person teams, however, two person teams are popular as well.  During a scramble, every player from the four or two person team tees off from each hole.  The team then selects the best shot and each player hits from within one club length from that spot.  This continues until the ball is in the hole. As you can imagine, round scores during scrambles can be quite low.  With teams being able to choose the location they hit from after every shot, teams post a greater number of birdies and eagles.  Constructing a team for a scramble takes more expertise than other games.  Most teams try to ensure that they have a player that specializes in each part of the game.  For instance, a player that can drive the ball very far and a player that is an accurate putter are both quite valuable.  Scramble formats are very popular in charity events.      

Best-Ball

            Best-ball is a combination of scramble and fourball.  Teams are composed of four players, but instead of choosing a best shot to hit from, each player hits their own ball for the entire hole.  After the hole is over, the team chooses the lowest score and takes that for the designated hole.  Best-ball is also popular in many charitable events and amateur tournaments.  Teams are sometimes constructed with two or three players as well, depending on the skill and people participating.  Although match scores are very good for best-ball tournaments, scramble scores are still lower. 

Match Play & Foursome

Match Play

            As opposed to stroke play, match play is focused on the player or team that wins the hole.  The winner of each individual hole is awarded a point.  Only one point is given out for each hole and if the players tie, no point is given.  The game is played as it is for a normal stroke play tournament, each player tallies up his or her strokes for each hole and then the point is awarded.  For example, if the first player wins the first two holes, he is considered “2-up”.  If the second player wins the third hole, player one is now “1-up”.  When the two players are tied with the same holes won, the match is considered “all square”.  Once a player is leading another by more points than there are holes remaining, the match ends.  In golf terms, a player leading by 5 points with 4 holes to play is said to have won “5 and 4”.  If the two players are tied after the normal 18 holes, they continue to play until one player wins a hole.    

Foursome

            Foursome is a form of match play where, as the name suggests, four players are split into two teams.  Each player on the two person team takes turn hitting the ball, alternating after every shot.  The players continue to switch off hitting the ball until the ball is in the hole.  The team that takes the least amount of strokes to get the ball in the hole is awarded a point.  Beyond just switching off for every shot, the two players switch off teeing off for each hole as well.  This ensures that each player must play well on every aspect of the game in order to win. 

 

Stroke Play & Skins

Stroke Play

            Stroke play is the most popular version of golf.  The stroke play system is simple, it entails counting the strokes for each player on each hole and adding it together.  The player with the least amount of strokes is the winner of the round. 

            The majority of professional tournaments are played using the stroke play format.  This makes it easy for fans of all ages and skill to follow.  However, several tournaments take on other game formats.  This variety and change of pace makes the game of golf much more exciting.

            In matches that involve handicapping, each player would subtract their handicap from their total strokes.  Once again, the player with the least strokes is the winner. Calculating a player’s handicap is performed using several methods.  But in the end, the handicap is the golfer’s average number of strokes over par.  Utilizing a handicap evens up the playing field for all individuals.  Better players have a small handicap while less skilled players have a higher handicap.  At the end of the match, every golfer has an equal chance of winning. 

Skins

            Skins is a form of golf that is centered around an amount of money assigned to each hole.  In professional competitions, a designated amount of money is assigned to each hole.  In amateur and less competitive matches, the players decide on a fair amount of money for each hole.  Sometimes the amount varies for each hole depending on the difficulty and length.  No matter if it’s professional or amateur, the player with the least amount of strokes on each hole wins the money for that hole.  If all players tie on one hole, the money carries over to the next hole until someone wins.  If the players tie on the final hole, all players or only the tying players will play another hole until there is a winner.

 

Great ClickBank Products

    Today I spent some time familiarizing myself with a great website called ClickBank.  This site allows people who create digital data to interact with online marketers in order to sell their products to consumers.  It is a great way to spread information and products across the web in a manner that appeals to each consumer.
     I found two great products that I thought I should share on my blog.  The first is an eBook called 6 Weeks to Golf Fitness.  The book is meant to help the golfer improve in all parts of the game that involve conditioning and fitness.  These include consistency and shot distance.  The book provides step-by-step instructions and exercise routines for all golfers.  The exercise routines have been developed for easy use at home or in other preferred environments.  The purpose is to allow the golfer to get into proper shape without sacrificing time and other commitments in their life.  The product can be found at:  Click Here!
     The second product is also an eBook and is called How to Play Business Golf.  This book focuses on the connection between golf and the world of business.  The author stresses how golf can improve your business and how business can improve your golf.  He provides examples such as increasing sales and communicating with clients in the most effective way.  Being in the business field myself, I saw the importance of this book.  I believe that developing both business skills and golf skills and being able to intertwine them is a great asset.  Many companies prefer to do business in a low-stress environment such as a golf course.  Being familiar with this area and the game can be a great advantage.  The eBook can be found at:   Click Here!

The Swing - Part 3

Various Swings (or Strokes)

The Drive – This is the first shot taken from every hole. Golfers are allowed to tee the ball up in order to create more power. Usually the driver or a long iron is used for this shot. The drive is sometimes referred to as a full swing.

The Approach – As opposed to the drive being the full swing, the approach is the 3/4 swing. This shot is used by golfers to get the ball closer to the hole or onto the green. Golfers will use fairways woods or irons for this medium to long distance shot. 

The Chip – This shot is used when the ball is close to the green. Golfers use short (or high lofted) irons to get the ball around hazards and close to the pin. These clubs allow the golfers to roll the ball close to the hole or create spin in order to position differently. 

The Putt – After reaching the green, golfers use a putter to perform this shot. The primary goal of this shot is to put the ball in the hole. The putter creates speed and precision so this can be accomplished. 

Common Swing Errors

Swing Speed – Some golfers to try swing the club too slowly or way too hard. This creates problems for their game. Swinging to slowly will lower the distance the ball travels and swinging too hard will greatly improve the chances of the ball hooking or slicing. The key is to find the perfect speed. 

Proper Stance – Not maintaining the proper stance over the ball will ruin the balls chances before the swing even starts. Make sure to keep your knees bent properly and not to raise your head until the follow through after the swing. Not following these guidelines will cause most golfers to “top” the ball or not hit it square.

Putting – A great deal of golfers have difficulty hitting their puts at the proper speed and direction. The most common reasons for this are the back swing and follow through. Make sure you do not pull your club back too far. This will create too much power or cause the face of the putter to move. When following through, think of a pendulum rotation with your arms and shoulders. This helps to ensure that the face of the putter stays straight throughout the swing. 

The Swing - Part 2

     The Address – The address (or stance) over the ball will greatly affect how you strike the ball and the line it travels. Developing a consistent method can improve your game tremendously.
      Start out with your feet shoulder width apart. This is important for balance, which is a big part of the swing. You should then slightly flare your feet and point your toes out. Make sure that your hips are “squared” and pointed towards your target. The next step sometimes causes confusion and leads to error for golfers. Bend your body at the waist, as opposed to the back. This will form a straight line with your hips, back, and shoulders. Properly aligning these three sections of your body allows you to rotate your hips and shoulders fluidly during the swing. Lastly, bend your knees into a comfortable position and drop your arms to your side. This puts you in the proper stance in order to hit the ball.

      The Swing – The swing is the central part of the game of golf. Minor problems can cause huge mishaps for golfers and can ruin a round of golf. Constantly working at and perfecting the swing will improve your game dramatically. 
      To begin, make sure that the ball is placed in the middle of your stance. Start the swing by rotating your hips to the right (or to the left for lefties). Bring your club back above your shoulders until it is parallel to the ground. This signals that you have reached the top of your backswing. The majority of your weight should now be on your back leg. Now focus on rotating your hips back to the left and through the hitting zone. Your weight will transfer from your back leg to your front. Also, once your hips begin to rotate forward, your hands will follow and the club will make contact with the ball. The hip movement and weight distribution create power for your swing. Furthermore, try to snap your hands through the ball to create even more power. Finish the swing by following through the hitting zone and bringing your club to shoulder height. Make sure you do not stop your swing after making contact with the ball.

The Swing - Part 1

     The swing is the central part of the game of golf. The swing itself may seem simple, but it encompasses many different things. These include the grip of the club, the address (or stance) over the golf ball, and the actual swing. There are many things to perfect in order to hit a ball correctly. Because of this, most people turn to professionals to seek help and advice. I understand the complexity of the swing and the struggles people undergo in order to find the perfect swing. In this article I want to go over the basics of the swing and solutions to common problems people encounter.

      The Grip – The grip is essential to the game. Your hands are the only part of your body touching the club. If you hold the club properly, you are more likely to strike the ball when the clubhead is square to the ball. This greatly improves your chances of hitting the ball straight.
      Start with your left hand. The club should run from the base of your little finger to the middle of the index finger. Wrap your fingers around the club so that the thumb and index finger meet. While holding the club in front of you with your left hand, two to three knuckles should be visible. Now apply your right hand parallel to the left. Your left thumb will now be covered when you close your right hand around the club. It should fit beneath the base of the right thumb. Finding the right grip pressure can be difficult, but it will eventually allow for a fluid swing.