In this Article
The hammer golf game doubles the bet on a hole every time a player throws the hammer. Learn the rules, accept-or-decline options, house rules, the TGL version, stakes, and 5 tips to win more.
The hammer golf game takes ordinary match play and adds one dangerous word. Say “hammer” at the right moment and the bet on that hole doubles. Your opponent can say it right back, and the stakes double again. A $5 hole can become a $40 hole before anyone reaches the green.
I teach in Chicago, and Hammer is the game my students come back talking about. Part of that is TGL, the indoor league that made the hammer famous on TV. Most of it is simpler: Hammer is a game about nerve, and it rewards smart decisions as much as good swings. This guide covers the rules, a worked example, the most common house rules, how TGL does it, and five tips to win more.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
What Is the Hammer Golf Game?
The hammer golf game is a match-play betting game for two players, or for two teams of two playing best ball. Every hole is its own bet, worth an amount you agree on before you tee off. Win the hole and you win that bet. Halve it and nobody gets paid, unless you play carryovers.
The twist is the hammer itself. At any point during a hole, the side holding the hammer can “throw” it. That doubles the value of the current hole. Possession then passes to the other side, who can throw it back and double it again.
That back-and-forth is what makes the hammer golf game different from a straight Nassau. A Nassau press starts a new side bet. A hammer raises the stakes on the hole you are already playing, often while a ball is sitting in a bunker.
Hammer Golf Game Rules
The core rules fit on the back of a scorecard. Settle these five points on the first tee and you will avoid nearly every argument.
1. Agree on the base bet
Pick a value for each hole, such as $1, $2, or $5. Every hole starts at that base value. Once a hole is settled, the next hole resets to the base, no matter how many hammers flew on the last one.
2. Decide who starts with the hammer
Flip a tee or let the player with the higher handicap start with it. Some groups give the hammer to whoever lost the previous hole, which hands the trailing side a weapon to fight back with.
3. Throw it any time during the hole
The side holding the hammer can throw it on the tee, after a drive, in the middle of the fairway, or on the green. Just say “hammer” clearly so there is no dispute later. Throwing it doubles the current value of the hole.
4. Possession alternates
You cannot hammer twice in a row. Once you throw it, the hammer belongs to your opponent. If they throw it back, it doubles again and returns to you. This keeps going until the hole is over.
5. Use handicaps by stroke index
Hammer works best as a net game. Give strokes off the low handicap, applied on the hardest holes by stroke index, exactly as you would in any match. Net scores decide who wins each hole.
| Hammers thrown on a hole | Value at a $2 base | Value at a $5 base |
|---|---|---|
| None | $2 | $5 |
| 1 | $4 | $10 |
| 2 | $8 | $20 |
| 3 | $16 | $40 |
| 4 | $32 | $80 |
Look at how fast that last column climbs. That doubling is the whole reason Hammer needs a few sensible limits, which we will get to below.
Accepting or Declining a Hammer
This is the rule groups argue about most, so settle it before the round. There are two common versions.
- Automatic hammers. A thrown hammer always counts. The bet doubles and play continues. This is the classic version that Golf Digest describes as the default.
- Accept or concede. When a hammer is thrown, the other side can accept and play on for double, or decline and concede the hole at its value before the hammer. This version caps your losses on a disaster hole and adds a layer of bluffing.
For most weekend groups, I recommend accept or concede. It keeps one bad bounce from deciding the whole day. It also adds a nice decision for the player in trouble: pay a little now, or gamble on a scramble par.
A Worked Example of the Hammer Golf Game
Here is one par 4 between Dave and Luis, playing a $5 base with automatic hammers. Dave starts the hole holding the hammer.
| Moment | What happens | Hole value | Hammer now with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tee shots | Dave splits the fairway. Luis hooks his drive into the trees. | $5 | Dave |
| Luis in trouble | Dave throws the hammer before Luis plays his recovery. | $10 | Luis |
| Approach shots | Luis punches out and stuffs his third to 4 feet. Dave misses the green into a bunker. | $10 | Luis |
| Luis strikes back | Luis throws the hammer while Dave stands in the sand. | $20 | Dave |
| Finish | Dave blasts out to 10 feet and makes the par putt. Luis misses his 4-footer for par. | $20 to Dave | Hole over |
Dave threw first and still had the hammer back in his pocket when he walked off the green. Luis held all the momentum and lost $20 on one missed short putt. That swing is the personality of Hammer in a single hole.
Notice one more thing. Dave could have thrown the hammer again after his bunker shot finished close, raising the hole to $40. He chose not to, because a 10-footer is far from a sure thing. Knowing when not to throw is half the game.
Popular House Rules and Variations
Once your group knows the basic hammer golf game, these house rules change the feel. Add one or two, not all of them at once.
- Carryovers. A halved hole carries its value to the next hole, much like a skins game. This builds pressure fast, so pair it with a cap.
- Air hammer. You can only throw the hammer while your opponent’s ball is in the air. You have to commit before you know where the shot lands. It is the most fun variation I have played.
- Air hammer on putts. The same idea on the green. Calling hammer while a putt is rolling takes real nerve.
- Hammer cap. Limit each hole to two or three hammers, or cap the value at four or eight times the base. This keeps a friendly game friendly.
- Birdies double. Any birdie automatically doubles the hole’s value on top of any hammers. Golf Digest notes this rule showed up in a Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth match on Netflix’s Full Swing.
- Wolf Hammer. Combine Hammer with Wolf for a four-player game where teams change every hole and the hammer adds even more chaos.
The Hammer in TGL
Many golfers first heard about the hammer watching TGL, the simulator league founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. TGL plays a points version rather than a money version. A hole is normally worth one point, and a team can throw the hammer to raise it.
The big difference is the decline rule. In TGL, a team that refuses a hammer thrown during a hole concedes that hole. The league also limits how many hammers each team gets per match, and it has already tweaked the rules once to encourage more throws. The Golf News Net keeps a clear rundown of the current TGL version.
A limited supply of hammers is a smart idea to borrow for your own group. Give each side three hammers for nine holes and every throw suddenly carries real weight.
How Much to Play For
Because the value doubles, the hammer golf game gets expensive much faster than skins or a Nassau. A $5 base sounds harmless until three hammers turn one hole into $40. My rule of thumb is to pick a base that is one-tenth of what you are comfortable losing on the day.
| Base per hole | Typical day swing | Bad day swing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1 | $5 to $15 | $30+ | First-timers and mixed groups |
| $2 | $10 to $30 | $60+ | Regular weekend games |
| $5 | $25 to $75 | $150+ | Experienced players who know the game |
If anyone in your group is new to Hammer, start at a dollar and add a cap of three hammers per hole. You can always raise the stakes next time.
5 Tips to Win More at Hammer
Good ball-striking helps, but the hammer golf game is won by decisions. These five habits are the ones I see separate winners from donors.
1. Throw when they are in trouble, not when you are hot
The best hammer is thrown when your opponent faces a hard shot: a ball in the trees, a long bunker shot, or a lie in deep rough. Your own good shot is not enough. Their bad position is what tilts the odds.
2. Remember the hammer comes back
Every throw hands your opponent the next one. Before you hammer, ask what happens if they recover. If one good shot from them puts you on the defensive at double the stakes, wait.
3. Know your real make percentage
Most amateurs badly overrate their putting. PGA Tour players make roughly half their 8-footers, and a typical club golfer makes far fewer. Do not hammer an opponent who has a 6-footer just because you have a 10-footer. Our guide to the Vegas golf game has more on managing risk when every shot counts.
4. Use the hammer on your stroke holes
In a net game, the holes where you get a shot are your best chances to win. If you hold the hammer on one of those holes, throw it early, even on the tee. You start the hole with a built-in edge.
5. Stay calm when the hammer lands on you
Getting hammered while you stand over a tough shot is designed to rattle you. Step back, take a breath, and pick the safest shot that still gives you a chance at par. A smart bogey that halves a doubled hole is often worth more than a hero shot.
One practical note: hammers mean more talking and more thinking, which slows play. Make your decisions while others are hitting, not when it is your turn.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the hammer work in golf?
The side holding the hammer can throw it at any time during a hole, which doubles that hole’s bet. Possession then passes to the other side, who can throw it back and double the bet again.
Can you decline a hammer in golf?
It depends on your house rules. In the classic game, hammers are automatic. In the accept-or-concede version, and in TGL, declining means you give up the hole at its value before the hammer.
Can you throw the hammer twice in a row?
No. Once you throw it, the hammer belongs to your opponent. You only get it back if they throw it to you.
Can you play Hammer with four players?
Yes. Split into two teams of two and play best ball, with each team sharing one hammer. With three players, a game like Bingo Bango Bongo works better.
What is an air hammer in golf?
An air hammer is a variation where you can only throw the hammer while your opponent’s ball is in the air or rolling. You must decide before you see where the shot finishes.
What happens to the hammer on a tied hole?
With no carryovers, a halved hole pays nothing and the next hole resets to the base bet. With carryovers, the tied hole’s value is added to the next one.
The Bottom Line
The hammer golf game turns match play into a game of nerve. Agree on a base bet, who starts with the hammer, whether hammers can be declined, and a sensible cap. Then throw it when your opponent is in trouble, not just when you feel good.
Play it a few times and you will notice something. You start thinking about every shot in terms of risk and reward, which is exactly how good players think. That lesson is worth more than any side bet.
