Page type: Glossary / definition
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Meaning
Hammer is a casual golf betting game played alongside match play. Players agree an opening stake for each hole, then a player can call “hammer” to double the current stake. The other side normally accepts or concedes under the group’s agreed house rules.
How it matters in match play
Hammer uses the result of each match-play hole to settle a separate wager; it does not change how the hole is won. A common version lets the right to hammer alternate after each call, while a halved hole may carry its stake to the next hole. Those mechanics, including whether a hammer may be declined, are house rules rather than Rules of Golf requirements.
Table
| Quick reference | Detail |
|---|---|
| Term | Hammer |
| Category | betting |
| Applicable rule | No dedicated official rule established |
| Related concepts | Match Play, Press, Side Bet, Stake, Pot |
Worked example
Alex and Ben agree on $2 per hole. Alex calls Hammer, making the stake $4; Ben calls it back, making $8, and Alex wins the hole, so Ben pays Alex $8 under their agreed settlement rule.
Sources: www.golfdigest.com , www.tampabaydowns.com , www.randa.org
Common questions
Is Hammer an official Rules of Golf format?
No. Hammer is a casual side bet. The Rules of Golf can govern the underlying match play when applicable, but they do not set Hammer’s stake, call, acceptance or carryover conventions.
How does a Hammer increase the bet?
A Hammer call normally doubles the current stake. For example, a $2 opening stake becomes $4 after one call and $8 after a valid return call, subject to the house rules agreed before play.
What should players agree before starting Hammer?
Agree the opening stake, who may call and when, whether a call is automatic or can be declined, whether calls alternate, what happens on a halved hole, and how handicaps and final settlement are handled.
Can Hammer be played with four golfers?
Yes, a common presentation supports either a one-versus-one or two-versus-two match. Four-player groups should agree which sides compete and how a call applies to the side before teeing off.
Does a halved hole carry the Hammer stake over?
It can, but this is not universal. Some versions carry the current stake to the next hole, while others reset it. Put the carryover rule in the pre-round agreement so a halved hole is settled consistently.
Is Hammer the same as a Press?
They are related ideas, because both can increase a wager during play. The name Hammer usually describes this particular call-and-double game; a Press is a broader term whose timing and amount depend on the agreed format.