Being the "A" player in a scramble

[ZGriswold83]

any advice?

I'm playing in a scramble with my buddies this weekend, and I'm the best golfer among them, we're all playin just for fun, but anything I can do to help bring out the best in these guys?? Hit first maybe to take the pressure off them??

[bvmagic]

I like to mix up the order on putting. I feel like I don't have a good feel for the greens if I'm always last to putt. Keep mixing the rotation so everybody gets an even share of putts.

[Johnny]

I drive 3 or 4th and usually hit approach shots 3 or 4th too. I usually try to put 3rd though.

[ctw262]

I played in a scramble last Thursday. I was the better player in the group and let the other guys tee off first. That way, if they put one in the fairway then I could just really get after one. If it doesn't work out, then you atleast have one in the fairway.

[ZGriswold83]

i had a thought similar to that too ctw

[generalbolg]

unless one of the guys does great under pressure, you should always go last. you can handle the pressure better than they can, and youll have a huge advantage knowing exactly what you need to do on each shot. you can know when to get after a drive, when to go after a tucked pin, and youll be given three lines on each putt. if somebody gets hot with the flatstick, switch it up to give them a better look. but other than around the greens, you should be going last.

[Medicaptain]

I would say dont ever go first....this allows them the comfort in knowing you can "pick them up" if they hit a shanker so less pressure for them....AND you....if you go first and duff it...then all the pressure falls on the weaker players.....putting third is an xlnt idea and switch up the rotation a bit...if you birdie...KEEP that rotation....kinda brings out the luck factor and the feeling of a "team" approach

[Asleep]

It's a scramble......put the other players in a position to succeed.

[ZGriswold83]

I really like that line of thinking captain..

[wolfpackblack]

When my usual team and I play scramble, my other three in the group are much more casual than I am,so they tend to take on a a selected role as a specialist: one person really works on their putting the week before, another usually works on their short game, and another on their approach. Over time, its kind of become their "thing", and they take pride in being the "go to guy" for a certain shot.

 

It works out well because not only do we have someone who's been putting in the time practicing the shots that usually are blown to some degree at any skill level, but it keeps the guys engaged and feeling like they are part of the team, which is half the battle in scramble. Since most of my friends are a 17-25, they otherwise would be really frustrated trying to get through the round, and it gives them the ability to play at a level higher than their casual rounds by really being proficient at a specific part of their game. Since I play about an 7 or 8, it usually means that in most situations we have at least two decent ball locations, and we rarely two putt on the green. The best part is, if someone else hits a great shot, we have my shot, the "specialist" shot, and the other good shot as well. It just provides for less of a chance to come up short in my experience.

 

It works well, keeps everyone in sync, and we've not come in less than 3rd in the 9 tournaments we've played in, with four wins in our classification.

[forgedforever]

I generally like to go last in these events. It never bothers me to hit last, even if my partners' earlier shots were not their best efforts. When you go last on chips and putts, especially, you get the advantage of watching the break and getting a feel for the speed of the shot.

[HoosierGolfer]

I'm playing in a scramble with my buddies this weekend, and I'm the best golfer among them, we're all playin just for fun, but anything I can do to help bring out the best in these guys?? Hit first maybe to take the pressure off them??

I think it is best to check all ego's at the gate if your playing in a scamble with your buddies. Scrambles are all about having fun. Plenty of other times to worry about being the best.

[bateman91]

Go last on every shot,

 

Talk some course management into them,

 

Be supportive,

 

don't let their head drop,

 

Just have a laugh!!.. ,

 

Jack x.

[BogeysBGone]

I'm playing in a scramble with my buddies this weekend, and I'm the best golfer among them, we're all playin just for fun, but anything I can do to help bring out the best in these guys?? Hit first maybe to take the pressure off them??

 

 

Be first with strategy (whose ball to play, and how to play the shot/putt).

 

Be last when hitting/putting.

 

Accept the blame; distribute the glory.

 

They will appreciate it and you.

[bobbyp]

Agree with all the above. Only thing I would add is when selecting the next shot do not put the others in a position to make a shot that only you have a chance at success. For example, don't play from a bunker (in my usual scrambles, that's ANY bunker LOL), over a pond or curving around a tree. Of course, you have to judge the ability of the others before making these decisions but you want to give everyone a decent chance of pulling off a shot.

[MrJones]

If you're the best on the team and are trying to make it fun for the other guys, go first on everything but putts. Play your game. by going ahead and hitting the fairway/green, you take all the pressure off the other guys. You've already got a good ball in play so if they hit a good one, great, if not, no big deal. It'll make it a lot more fun for them if they have free reign to just swing without having to feel like they need to perform. Let them putt first also- you get a few reads and even better, if they drop one, they really feel like they're contributing.

[Ty_Webb]

If you're the best on the team and are trying to make it fun for the other guys, go first on everything but putts. Play your game. by going ahead and hitting the fairway/green, you take all the pressure off the other guys. You've already got a good ball in play so if they hit a good one, great, if not, no big deal. It'll make it a lot more fun for them if they have free reign to just swing without having to feel like they need to perform. Let them putt first also- you get a few reads and even better, if they drop one, they really feel like they're contributing.

 

Got to disagree with you there. If you go first and pound one 280 in the middle and they can't hit it past 200, there's no point in them playing and they'll know it. Far better to let them go first. If they hit a good one, then you can tell them that their shot leaves you free to open your shoulders. That way, even if you end up using your ball, they at least feel like they helped. If you go first and hit it badly (which happens to everyone), suddenly all the pressure is on them. If they go first, there is next to no pressure because they know they have you in reserve if they need it.

[fpc]

I always like to set an order and keep it on every shot. D C B A. No standing over shots making decisions on who goes when and why. You'll be surprised how much more relaxed everyone becomes. Then just have a hoot.

[highergr0und]

Just talk strategy on every shot. Have them try to get out in the middle and lay up on par 5s. That will just take the pressure off of you. If one of their shots is close to being the best (say you're ball is just a bit better), use theirs to give a little boost of confidence.

[CarloGolfer]

My adive is don't expect to win and don't take it seriously.

[stage1350]

Straightest and least erratic player goes first. Get a saftey, put one in the fairway.

Then, everyone else can try to improve position. The "A" player goes last unless you have a bomber in the group.

 

Every other shot plays out the same way. Best iron player goes last on approach shots. Second best can go first to take off pressure. Same with wedges.

 

Putting is determined by who is best at reading the greens. Whoever establishes the best line can go first to show everyone else the break.

[wolfpackblack]

Just talk strategy on every shot. Have them try to get out in the middle and lay up on par 5s. That will just take the pressure off of you. If one of their shots is close to being the best (say you're ball is just a bit better), use theirs to give a little boost of confidence.

 

The best part is, if you have three decent lies already to choose from and you're last in the rotation, you can go for the hero, bat-out-of-hell shot every time haha.

[BogeysBGone]

If you're the best on the team and are trying to make it fun for the other guys, go first on everything but putts. Play your game. by going ahead and hitting the fairway/green, you take all the pressure off the other guys. You've already got a good ball in play so if they hit a good one, great, if not, no big deal. It'll make it a lot more fun for them if they have free reign to just swing without having to feel like they need to perform. Let them putt first also- you get a few reads and even better, if they drop one, they really feel like they're contributing.

 

Got to disagree with you there. If you go first and pound one 280 in the middle and they can't hit it past 200, there's no point in them playing and they'll know it. Far better to let them go first. If they hit a good one, then you can tell them that their shot leaves you free to open your shoulders. That way, even if you end up using your ball, they at least feel like they helped. If you go first and hit it badly (which happens to everyone), suddenly all the pressure is on them. If they go first, there is next to no pressure because they know they have you in reserve if they need it.

 

Agree entirely. Good post.

[randomhero1090]

I have been the best player (barely) playing with a bunch of single digit guys. I have also been the best player playing with some really horrible players. And, I have been the WORST player in the group (even as a 8 handicap a couple years ago). No matter what, I agree with letting the straightest guy go 1st. If the straightest guy is also the best guy AND also the longest, so be it. That's usually not the case, but it can happen.

 

My most recent scramble, I was the best by a long shot, but the other guys could hit some monsters. So I hit 1st, got it in play, and then they went to bomb it. Worked well. We shot -10 considering the 3 other guys were all +20 handicaps.

 

As for approach shots, use the same thought process. Have someone get it on the green.

 

As for putting, the WORST putter goes 1st. Get the read, line, speed. Work from worst to 1st.

[carrera]

A player hits last every time, and hopefully doesn't need to putt very much.

 

For the first putt, very important to have someone who can put the right pace on the ball, so the rest of the group can read the line. Nothing worse than the first guy hitting it too hard so no one gets any info from it.

[DanZ]

In the last scramble I played in(which we still aren't sure how we won) one of the things I started doing was writing down who's shot we took on every single hole for the first 4 shots. This was mostly for my own benefit but my friend sharing my cart was keeping an eye on these details to. It can help to have something like this to keep up the moral of the weaker players to show them the times you've taken their shot. My friend is a 40 handicap at best so for him when he got kinda depressed as the round wore on I could show him 10-15 times we took his shot and all of the sudden he was feeling alot better and I think it made him more likely to try.

 

One thing I like to do is give the player who's shot we chose the first crack at that location. Hopefully this isn't always your shot. When it's one of the weaker players shots I think it gives them a little more pride and drive to follow up one good shot with another.

[Skaffa77]

Like others said...if I'm the most consistent or best player in the group, I go last on every shot. If one of them hits a decent shot, then I can really go after it. If not, I can usually get one in the fairway/green or at least in play...

[dorfblee]

Are there any funky rules for the scramble? Your team must use at least 2 of each teammates' tee shots, etc . . .

 

The last scramble I played in, the best player went last. We kept the same order for every shot. It was nice, since I went first and was able to cash in 6 of our 8 birdies.

 

It's a scramble so taking a putt or two on the green after your team holes out is fine as long as no one is waiting for you. So being last, you hopefully won't have to putt on every hole, but you can still get a feel for it.

[Ty_Webb]

If you're the best on the team and are trying to make it fun for the other guys, go first on everything but putts. Play your game. by going ahead and hitting the fairway/green, you take all the pressure off the other guys. You've already got a good ball in play so if they hit a good one, great, if not, no big deal. It'll make it a lot more fun for them if they have free reign to just swing without having to feel like they need to perform. Let them putt first also- you get a few reads and even better, if they drop one, they really feel like they're contributing.

 

Got to disagree with you there. If you go first and pound one 280 in the middle and they can't hit it past 200, there's no point in them playing and they'll know it. Far better to let them go first. If they hit a good one, then you can tell them that their shot leaves you free to open your shoulders. That way, even if you end up using your ball, they at least feel like they helped. If you go first and hit it badly (which happens to everyone), suddenly all the pressure is on them. If they go first, there is next to no pressure because they know they have you in reserve if they need it.

 

One thing I would add to this is I'm assuming that you're longer than the others. If you're a relatively short hitter, but hit it straight, while you're playing partners are long, but wild. It would be a good idea to go first. Leave them to have at it. Plus it means that you're not the one left with nothing to do if they boom one.

 

If you have four good players playing, you want to go in order of shortest hitter to longest

[martinez]

unless one of the guys does great under pressure, you should always go last. you can handle the pressure better than they can, and youll have a huge advantage knowing exactly what you need to do on each shot. you can know when to get after a drive, when to go after a tucked pin, and youll be given three lines on each putt. if somebody gets hot with the flatstick, switch it up to give them a better look. but other than around the greens, you should be going last.

 

 

It's a scramble......put the other players in a position to succeed.

 

 

Agree with all the above. Only thing I would add is when selecting the next shot do not put the others in a position to make a shot that only you have a chance at success. For example, don't play from a bunker (in my usual scrambles, that's ANY bunker LOL), over a pond or curving around a tree. Of course, you have to judge the ability of the others before making these decisions but you want to give everyone a decent chance of pulling off a shot.

 

 

Just talk strategy on every shot. Have them try to get out in the middle and lay up on par 5s. That will just take the pressure off of you. If one of their shots is close to being the best (say you're ball is just a bit better), use theirs to give a little boost of confidence.

 

All these things I try to do^^

 

The only other thing I would say is project confidence in yourself and in them, keep it light hearted, be the best player in the group but not the most serious.

 

Your preparation is what you can control.......don't prep them. On that note..

You should putt last and expect to be putting every hole, you want the job of holing all the putts. It's like matchplay where you should expect your opponent to make it, expect them to miss.

 

Understand how hard it is to make a bogey and adjust your play to that standard. Don't get overly negative if they have all missed the green...you should still be flagging it.