As mentioned in the picture above, golf is a game of strategy. The player must make strategic decisions about which club to use and how much power to apply at impact. These factors play a crucial role - if a player hits the ball too hard, they may overshoot the green; not hitting it hard enough may result in a short pitch that lands in front of the green. If one desires, they may investigate the physics of golf ball trajectories and club head velocity for a deeper understanding of these factors. Golf is a game of long putting, short putting, driving, approach shots, sand shots, and putting. The following will outline some basic strategies used in golf that are common but not universal among professional tours.
- Teeing off or starting off with a drive is thought to be advantageous because it avoids potentially losing the 'hole' position to the opponent.
- To gain par or better, a ball must finish on or below the putting surface of the green. The proper club selection will depend on various factors including shot distance and lie.
- A chip shot is used when the ball is not on level ground (such as in bunkers), but it can be used in general play when the ball is undamaged and there is no obstacle between it and the hole.
- A putt requires the ball to travel over relatively level ground (i.e., on a green) towards a hole with no intervening obstacles, while attempting to minimize left or right error (directional error).
- A bunker shot is used on the putting surface of a green, where the ball has landed in the sand.
As guessed by their name, bunker shots are always taken from sand bunkers (or pot bunkers), areas on many holes containing sand blown onto the grass or deposited there by erosion. The player must strike the ball off of the sand with a special club.
- A pitch shot is used when the ball is on level ground but not on the putting green, being too far away to chip.
- A lob shot is used when the ground between the player and their target will not permit a long enough approach shot or too steep an ascent to fly over an obstacle between it and the hole.
- A high iron shot is used when the ball is not on level ground (i.e., in bunkers) but can be used in general play when there is no obstacle between it and the hole.
- A chip or pitch may be combined or 'mashed into one stroke, which would then count as a single stroke (like using both hands in writing).
- If a ball is damaged or needs to pass between two closely spaced obstructions, it may be played as if from the nearest point of relief.
- If a player cannot see their target clearly, they may lift and reposition the ball or mark its position and lift it to get a clearer view.
- A player may declare their intention to drop from knee height if they are in a hazard. If this is done, an opponent must stand aside while the ball is dropped and cannot move until after the next stroke has been taken.
- A player will hit a provisional ball if their original ball is in doubt and lost, unplayable, or out of bounds.
- If a ball lies through the green but appears to have been moved, it must be replaced without penalty.
- In casual play, if a player accidentally plays another person's ball, they are not penalized as long as they were not being assisted by anyone else. If they were being assisted by someone else, they would receive a two-stroke penalty.
- If a ball is hit out of bounds during play, the player must return to the tee and hit the shot unless it cannot be reached in three strokes or less; in that case, they are allowed to take another ball for each stroke required.
- If a player hits their ball over the side of a cliff, embankment, or into a water hazard where it cannot be seen clearly, they may drop another ball within two club-lengths of where they made the stroke and no closer to the hole than where it lay. It must also be on the same level as the original lie.
- No penalty is incurred for touching the ground or water that is part of a course to
- A ball may be lifted out of any hazard provided that part or all of the player's body does not enter the hazard.
- If a player hits another person's ball, they are allowed to go back and play their own ball from where it lay. However, if it is still in play,the player must play the ball as it lies or return to where it lay and take a one-stroke penalty.
Playing golf-themed slots in online casinos
The defining feature of the golf-themed slots is the idea of having a regular round on a traditional 18-hole golf course. Most other games in this genre usually involve either putting or hitting long-distance shots, and some also include hazards that need to be avoided.
Golf slots can be broadly divided into three categories: free spins, a fixed number of spins with a multiplier, and a fixed number of wild cards. All these different types of golf slots have their own unique features that can make them more or less appealing to players based on the type of round they are playing.
Free Spins Golf Slots
The basic premise in all free spin rounds is that you start off with a fixed number of free spins. However, this is where the similarities end because not all free spin rounds are played in the same way.
The first type generally involves a multiplier on every win after a successful spin. This is usually accompanied by an introductory video explaining how to play and what you can expect from these types of slots going forward. One example of this type of slot is the "Rollercoaster Tycoon" slot by Bally Technologies which has a total of 15 free spins with 3x multipliers. This, along with its scatter symbol pays, makes it well-suited for beginners because it's unlikely you will spin more than 3 times in these types of rounds unless you get very lucky.
The second type of free spin round is when a player gets a number of free spins in addition to a certain number of wild cards. This type allows for more flexibility in terms of what a player can do in the limited amount of time they have on their hands and also gives them the option to bet low or high depending on their bankroll. A good example of the second type is "Stinkin' Rich" by Microgaming, which has 10 free spins with 2x multipliers and an added symbol that can turn up anywhere during the free spins to create more winning combinations.
Fixed Number Of Spins With Multiplier
TheThis type of round is similar to the first one mentioned above because players get a fixed number of free spins and a multiplier on their wins. However, this time around there is no introductory video or any additional rules that have to be learned about how the slot works going forward. Instead, all you have to do is start playing and hope for the best.
The "Secrets Of The Forest" slot by NetEnt is a good example of this type because it has 5 free spins with a 2x multiplier and is played automatically, without any complicated rules or gimmicks that might confuse new players.
Fixed Number Of Wild Card Spins
With the third type of golf slots, players get a fixed number of wildcards in addition to their free spins. Usually, this means that all winning combinations will include at least one wild card on top of whatever you get from the standard symbols. This has the effect of not only making it easier for players to make more frequent smaller wins (since they'll hit more often), but will also increase their chances of hitting bigger ones since the multiplier acts as a wild card.
Playtech's "Hole In Won" slot at Canadian online casino ShyNimph is a good example of this type, as it has 8 free spins with 1 wild card and a 3x multiplier, while another popular variant from NetEnt, "Cashapillar," has 20 free spins with 3 wild cards and a 2x multiplier.
These different types of rounds all have their own unique characteristics that, in the end, will determine whether or not a player enjoys playing this type of slot. The important thing to keep in mind is that even though certain slots might be more complex than others, they can always be learned overtime as you become more familiar with the different features. For those looking for a simple round, there are always free spins with multipliers whereas those who want to play it safe can stick to rounds where they only have to bet one coin.