A Step Aside scramble, sometimes called a Stand Aside, adds a simple but fascinating strategic twist to the traditional scramble format. This article will break down exactly how the format works, the strategic thinking required to play it well, and why it might just become your group's new favorite way to play a charity or team event.
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What Is a Scramble in Golf? A Quick Refresher
Before we add the "Step Aside" twist, let's quickly review the standard scramble. In a four-person scramble, every player hits a tee shot. The team Captain chooses the best shot out of the four. The three players whose shots weren't selected pick up their balls and move them to the location of the best shot. From there, all four players hit their second shots. This process repeats - best shot is chosen, everyone moves to that spot - until the ball is in the hole. It's a fun, low-pressure format that speeds up play and allows golfers of all skill levels to contribute.
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The “Step Aside” Scramble: The Simple Rule That Changes Everything
The Step Aside scramble starts just like a regular scramble: all four players hit a tee shot, and the team chooses the best one. Here’s the difference: the player whose shot is selected must “step aside” and does not get to play the next shot.
So, if there are four players on the team (Player A, B, C, and D) and Player A hits the best drive, the other three players (B, C, and D) will hit the second shot from that location. Player A sits that one out. After those three players hit, the team chooses the best of those three shots. Let's say Player C's approach shot is the best. Player C then "steps aside" for the third shot. Only players A, B, and D would hit the next shot (which would likely be a chip or putt).
This cycle continues until the ball is holed. The player whose shot you use always sits out the following one. This relatively small change fundamentally alters a team's strategy and decision-making on every stroke.
Why Play a Step Aside Scramble? The Main Benefits
You might wonder why you'd add this seemingly restrictive rule. The truth is, it solves some of the common downsides of a regular scramble and fosters a richer team experience.
It Promotes Deeper Team Strategy: In a regular scramble, the strategy is simple: let your best player hit every type of shot. A Step Aside format forces you to think two steps ahead. You can no longer rely on one person to carry the team. Who hits the next shot is more important than who hit the current best shot.
It Ensures Everyone Contributes: This format prevents one or two players from dominating. It makes it impossible for the same player's shot to be used twice in a row, guaranteeing variety. This is fantastic for morale, especially in teams with a wide skill gap. The higher-handicap player who hits one perfect chip all day might provide the shot that sets up the winning putt, making them feel like a hero.
It Levels the Playing Field: A standard scramble heavily favors teams that have one "scratch" or low-handicap golfer. A Step Aside format significantly mitigates that advantage. That one incredible player can still help, but their influence is automatically limited. The team with four solid, well-rounded players often has a strategic advantage over the team with one superstar and three beginners.
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This is where the fun begins. Playing a Step Aside scramble well isn't just about hitting good shots - it's about playing chess while your opponents are playing checkers. Here are some actionable coaching tips to guide your team.
1. Your First Decision: Picking the Tee Shot
The most important choice on every hole happens right after the tee shots. You don't automatically take the longest drive. Before you pick up any balls, your team needs to have a quick huddle.
Ask a simple question: "From this position, who do we want hitting the approach shot?"
Let's imagine a scenario on a Par 4:
Player A (The Power Hitter): Smokes a drive 290 yards down the middle. You have a 110-yard approach shot left. This player is not great with wedges.
Player B (The Wedge Wizard): Hits a solid drive 250 yards, also in the fairway. You have a 150-yard approach shot left. This player's iron and wedge game is their superpower.
In a regular scramble, you'd take Player A's drive without a second thought. But in a Step Aside, if you take Player A's drive, your wedge wizard (Player B) must sit out the approach shot! Suddenly, Player B's "shorter" drive looks much more appealing. Taking their drive means your three other players - including Player B, the wedge guru - get to hit the 150-yard approach. Giving your best approach player an opportunity to hit the approach is often worth sacrificing 40 yards off the tee.
Actionable Tip: Always think one shot ahead. The "best" drive is the one that sets up the best-equipped players for the next shot.
2. How to Manage Your "Star" Players
Every team has players with different strengths. You might have a great driver, an iron specialist, a chipping expert, and a putting machine. The goal is to use them when it matters most.
Leverage your best driver on long holes. On a long Par 5, you absolutely need distance. Let your big hitter take a rip. If they put the team in a great position, it's worth having them sit out the second shot, because your other players can likely manage the long fairway shot that follows.
Protect your best iron player for approach shots. As discussed above, the prime goal of a tee shot on a Par 4 is to set up your iron specialist. Don't use their drive, no matter how good it is, so they can hit the crucial shot onto the green.
Save your best chipper for shots around the green. If the team hits three approach shots and none of them are close, you'd love for your fourth player - the chipping magician - to have a chance. Think about this when selecting the second shot. If you find yourself in a bunker, who do you want hitting that sand shot? Make sure they are eligible.
3. The Tricky "Step Aside" Putting Strategy
The "step aside" rule becomes painfully strategic on the putting green. This is where teams can really gain or lose an advantage. Let's say all players are on the green, 20 feet from the hole after a good approach shot (hit by Player B, so they are stepping aside for this putt).
Your team's putting order might be A, C, and D.
Imagine Player A goes first and hits an amazing putt that stops one inch from the cup. You're ecstatic! But wait... if you declare Player A's ball as the one the team will use, Player A must step aside. They cannot tap in their own brilliant putt. That final tap-in now falls to Player C or D. While it's just an inch, the pressure on them is real. What if they twitch and miss it?
This creates an interesting dynamic. The best putter on your team is great at sinking the long ones, but if they only get it close, they can't finish the job. This forces a different approach:
Actionable Putting Tips:
Let your weaker putters go first. Have them show the line and speed. Their goal is simply to get the ball close. If one of them hits a putt to two feet, celebrate! You now know the line.
Have your best putter go last. They now have the benefit of seeing the other putts and can putt with the confidence of knowing what the line and speed are. Their job is to sink it.
Take the made putt, obviously. If anyone makes the putt from distance, that's the shot you choose, and the hole is over. But if no one makes it, the best choice might not be the ball one inch away. If another player's ball is two feet away, selecting that one might allow your best putter, whose ball was six feet away, to anoint the final two-footer. It's all about who you trust under pressure for the next shot.
4. Communication Is Your Secret Weapon
The running theme here is teamwork and planning. A silent team is a great team. Each decision should be a brief, open conversation.
After tee shots: "Okay, Sarah's drive is the longest, but that leaves Mark free for the approach, and he's feeling good with his irons. Let's take Dave's drive to give Sarah the shot."
On the green: "Everyone agrees Jen is our best putter, so let's have her go last. Chris, you go first and just focus on speed."
Clear, quick communication prevents mistakes and makes sure everyone is on the same page, turning a good team into a great one.
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The Step Aside scramble is a brilliant golf format that elevates the standard scramble from a simple long-drive contest into a game of real strategy and full team participation. By being forced to think one or even two shots ahead, every player becomes more engaged, making for a more balanced, competitive, and memorable day on the course.
Mastering this kind of course management and strategic thinking is what separates good teams from great ones. Sometimes, it’s not just about the shot in front of you, but the one that comes next. We designed Caddie AI to help with exactly that. When your team is debating whether to take the 280-yard drive in the rough or the 250-yard drive in the fairway, you could get an instant analysis of the pros and cons of each play. Having that expert-level strategy in your pocket helps you make smarter, more confident decisions so your team can focus on execution.
Spencer has been playing golf since he was a kid and has spent a lifetime chasing improvement. With over a decade of experience building successful tech products, he combined his love for golf and startups to create Caddie AI - the world's best AI golf app. Giving everyone an expert level coach in your pocket, available 24/7. Caddie's mission is simple: make world-class golf advice accessible to everyone, anytime.
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