What Is Alt Shot in Golf?

Alternate shot is one an incredibly fun - and sometimes maddeningly difficult - golf format that tests your partnership as much as your swing. Known more formally as Foursomes, it’s a team game that requires a unique blend of skill, strategy, and communication to get right. This guide will walk you through exactly what alt shot is, the essential rules you need to know, and the strategies that will help you and your partner not only survive but thrive.

What Exactly is Alt Shot? The Nuts and Bolts

In its simplest form, alternate shot is a two-person team format where you and your partner play one ball, taking turns hitting shots until it's holed. It sounds straightforward, but the details are what make it so interesting and strategic.

Here’s the basic flow of the game:

• One Ball Per Team: Unlike a scramble or best ball, where both players hit their own shots, you are sharing the fate of a single golf ball.
• Teammates Alternate Shots: If you hit the tee shot, your partner hits the second shot, you hit the third, and so on. This continues until the ball is in the hole.
• Designated Tee Shots: The biggest strategic decision happens before you even step on the first tee. You must decide which player will tee off on the odd-numbered holes (1, 3, 5, etc.) and who will take the even-numbered holes (2, 4, 6, etc.). This arrangement stays fixed for the entire round.

An awful tee shot from your partner is now your problem to solve. A brilliant approach shot from you puts the birdie putt right in their hands. It's a true team effort where every single shot directly impacts the next.

Key Rules for Alternate Shot

While the concept is simple, a few specific rules can trip up even experienced players. Knowing them beforehand will save you from giving away unnecessary strokes or, in match play, losing a hole.

Playing Out of Order

This is the most common mistake in alt shot. It’s easy to get lost in the moment and forget whose turn it is, especially after a penalty or a drop. The penalty for playing out of turn depends on the format:

• Match Play: If you play out of order, you unfortunately lose the hole. There are no take-backs.
• Stroke Play: The penalty is two strokes. You must then correct the mistake by playing from the spot where the incorrect shot was played, by the correct player. The incorrect shot itself does not count toward your score, but the two-stroke penalty is added. If you tee off on the next hole without correcting the error, your team is disqualified.

Coach's Tip: Constantly communicate with your partner. A simple, “My shot, right?” before you address the ball can prevent a disastrous penalty.

How Penalty Strokes Work

Taking a penalty does not change the order of play. Think of it this way: the act of hitting a shot determines the order, not the penalties or drops that happen between shots.

Example:

1. Player A hits the tee shot into a water hazard.
2. The team decides to take a one-stroke penalty and drop.
3. Since Player A hit the last shot, it is now Player B’s turn to hit the third shot (one shot for the original tee shot + one penalty stroke + the upcoming shot).

The same logic applies if a ball is hit out of bounds. The player who did not hit the O.B. shot will be the one playing the next ball after the penalty is applied.

Provisional Balls

If you think your shot might be lost or out of bounds, you can play a provisional ball. The player who hit the original, wayward shot is the one who must also hit the provisional. Why? Because the provisional ball is a continuation of their turn until the original ball is officially declared lost. If the first ball is found, you play it. If not, the provisional becomes the ball in play, and your partner hits the next shot from where it lies.

Making Team Decisions

Unlike individual stroke play where giving advice is illegal, in Foursomes, you are encouraged to act as a team. You and your partner can, and should, discuss everything: club selection, shot shape, reading putts, and overall strategy. You are a single playing unit, so use that to your advantage.

Forging a Winning Partnership: Pairing Strategy

Choosing your alt shot partner - and deciding how to use your combined skills - is more important in this format than any other. The best teams do more than just show up, they create a game plan before the round begins.

1. Analyze Player Strengths and Weaknesses

The most successful alt shot pairings often complement each other. Consider these classic combinations:

• The Bomber and the Iron Specialist: One player consistently hits long, straight drives. The other excels at approach shots. It's a powerful duo because the strong driver can set up their partner for plenty of scoring opportunities from the fairway.
• The Steady Eddie and the Strong Putter: One player is a master of keeping the ball in play, rarely getting into serious trouble. Their partner is lights-out with the flatstick. This combination excels at damage control and capitalizing on scoring chances.
• Scrambler and Ball-Striker: One partner is a magician around the greens, able to get up-and-down from anywhere. This allows the better ball-striker to play more aggressively, knowing their partner can clean up any misses.

2. Decide Who Tees Off on Odd vs. Even Holes

This is arguably the most important strategic decision you'll make. Don’t just flip a coin. Look at the scorecard together and plan it out. Are the par-5s on even or odd holes? Which holes demand a specific shot shape off the tee? Which par-3s are the toughest?

Here’s a step-by-step process:

1. Identify the Key Holes: Note the par-3s and longer par-4s or par-5s where a good tee shot is vital.
2. Assign the Driver: Put your best and most reliable driver on the holes that are most demanding off the tee. For instance, if the toughest driving holes (long, narrow par 4s) fall on odd numbers, have your best driver take the odd tees.
3. Consider the Par-3s: Your partner will be hitting the tee shots on all the even holes. If your partner is a phenomenal iron player, it makes sense for them to hit tee shots on the holes with long or difficult par-3s.

Remember, the player who tees off on the odd holes will be hitting the approach shots into the even-numbered greens, and vice versa. It’s a puzzle you have to solve together.

3. Manage Personalities

The mental side of alt shot is huge. A bad shot feels twice as bad because you feel like you've let your partner down. A good partnership balances temperament. A calm, steady presence can be a great foil for a more aggressive or emotional player. The most important thing is an agreement ahead of time: no apologies, no blame. You win as a team and you lose as a team.

On-Course Alt Shot Strategy

Once you’re on the course, smart decision-making is paramount. Playing hero ball is usually a recipe for disaster in Foursomes.

The Golden Rule: Leave Your Partner in a Good Spot

Every shot you hit has one primary goal: to set your partner up for success. This should guide all of your decisions. It’s not about hitting the perfect shot, it’s about hitting the right shot.

If you're in the trees, don't try to thread a 4-iron through a tiny gap to the green. The odds are against you, and you risk leaving your partner in an even worse spot. Instead, take your medicine. Punch out to the fairway and leave them a clean, open look at the green for the next shot. Giving your partner a full swing from the fairway is always better than asking them to work a miracle from the deep woods.

Play for the "Fat" of the Green

This isn't the time to go flag-hunting unless the conditions are perfect. Aiming for the middle of the green is almost always the correct strategic play. It takes the pressure off both players. You avoid the "short-side" miss, which immediately puts your partner in a tough spot for the chip. A putt from 30 feet is much easier to navigate as a team than a tricky flop shot over a bunker.

Talk Through Every Shot

Verbalize your thought process. "I'm thinking 8-iron, aiming just left of the pin with a little fade." This gives your partner a chance to weigh in. Maybe they see a different wind or lie. This collaborative approach leads to better club selection and shot commitment.

On the green, walk the line from both sides. When your partner is putting, don’t just stand back and watch. Give them your read. Shared ownership of the plan builds confidence and removes the feeling of being alone on an island.

Final Thoughts

Alternate shot golf is a true test of a partnership. It challenges your course management, your resilience, and your ability to work together toward a common goal. By understanding the rules, planning your pairing strategy, and committing to smart on-course decisions, you can transform a potentially stressful format into one of the most rewarding experiences in golf.

Getting a smart, objective second opinion can be invaluable, especially in a team format like alternate shot. When you and your partner are standing over a tough lie trying to decide on the best play, a tool like Caddie AI can offer instant, strategy-driven advice. You can use it to map out a smart game plan for a tricky hole or even snap a picture of a difficult lie to get a recommendation on how to play it. It’s like having an unbiased, expert voice in your pocket to help your team make the smartest decision with confidence.