Ahead of a golf tournament getting underway, the players involved are split into groups of three. In most cases, the groupings will remain the same for the opening two rounds, until a select number of players depart, because they fail to make the cut.
What is 3 ball betting in golf? This wager allows you to bet on who will score the best out of their group in a specific round. Online betting sites offer odds for all three players in the group. Keep reading to learn more about this type of wager.
Does 3 Ball Betting Work Online?
Ahead of a golf event, you may come across a large number of 3 ball bets. In order to ensure that you fully understand this market, we will take a look at an example from the Masters at Augusta.
Let’s suggest that Scottie Scheffler, Viktor Hovland and Tony Finau are grouped together. Given his ranking, Sheffler will be given the shortest odds, with there being little to choose between Hovland and Finau. The following is a breakdown of how the golf 3 ball betting odds could look:
- Scheffler – +250
- Hovland – +150
- Finau +175
So, suppose you back Scheffler with a $100 bet and the American shoots the lowest opening round of the three players. You will walk away with total returns of $250, which includes your stake. You will then have the opportunity to place a similar bet on the second round, with odds potentially fluctuating, based on opening round scores.
Golf 3 Ball Betting Rules You Need to Know
Golf 3 ball betting rules vary between sportsbooks. However, there are some conditions that are consistent across the board. 3 balls are dictated by PGA Tour groupings. However, you may sometimes find alternative 3 balls, featuring high-profile golfers. You may also be able to take advantage of alternative 3-ball betting markets.
Examples include closest to the pin and hole winner. You should also be aware of what happens in the event of two or all players ending the round on the same score. We will discuss this in greater detail later on.
Consider the Odds
It is important to consider the odds on offer before betting. Meanwhile, you must also consider whether a 3-ball bet is the best option. Use your knowledge of the players in question, as well as in-depth research, to determine whether placing such a bet is likely to win. It is most likely that the favorite of the three players in question will come with low odds.
As such, you will need to invest a large amount in order to earn any significant returns. Given the quality of professional golfers today, picking a winner is not always simple, even when one of the top-ranked players is involved. However, if you are prepared to do your homework, you may well find a lower-ranked golfer who’s playing style suits the course and conditions.
Tips on How to Analyze Opportunities for 3 Ball Betting
Before placing any 3 ball bet, it is important to give yourself the best possible chance of winning with these tips.
Do Your Research
A huge amount of information is available on professional golfers and tournaments today. As such, there is no excuse to not do your homework on golf stats and records ahead of placing a 3 ball bet. Things to look at include world rankings, recent tournament finishes, major wins and injuries. Such factors can impact how confident a player is, as well as how likely they are to shoot a low score.
Access Course Conditions
Tournaments in professional golf are played on different types of courses. These include links, parkland, heathland, sandbelt and championship.
Based on their playing style, it could be that a golfer is better suited to a particular type of course. For example, those who are accurate off the tee will often do well on links courses. So, look at whether a potential pick is a big hitter, has an outstanding short game or is particularly accurate with their mid-wedges.
Consider Tee Time & Weather
What time will the 3 ball be starting their round? This can have a significant impact on how easy they find shooting a low score. Some players will enjoy getting out early, while others would rather be one of the last golfers left on the course.
It is also worthwhile looking at the weather forecast. Birdie opportunities are easier to come by in calm conditions. If the wind and rain moves in, you may find that players find the going more difficult.
Keep Up to Date with Recent News
It is also key to stay up to date with golf news. In doing so, you will be able to learn about injuries, coach and caddy changes, personal goings on and more. Whether it be online or through physical publications, it is easy to keep track of what is going on in the world of golf.
Manage Your Bankroll
Remember that you should only ever bet what you can afford to lose. As such, it is wise to set yourself a budget. Many bookies will even enable you to set a deposit limit, which will help to control your spending. Golf 3 ball betting sites should be about entertainment first and foremost, with making money coming second.
Study the Players
Is a potential 3 ball bet pick happy with how they are swinging the club in the build-up to an event? You will often learn a great deal by listening to interviews from players. While they will do their best to come across positive, it can be easy to spot an out of form golfer from their body language.
Popular Golf 3 Ball Betting Strategies
While signing up on 3-ball betting sites is quick and simple, placing winning wagers is significantly more difficult. While even the best strategies for 3-ball betting do not guarantee success, it is important to have some sort of system in place. The following are our top tips for golf 3 ball betting.
Back the Favorite
It is mostly the favorite that comes out on top in a 3 ball. While the odds will often be similar, there will, more often than not, be a favorite. As such, a potential 3 ball betting strategy is simply to back the favorite. While the returns will not be as great, the regularity of wins is appealing.
Make Use of the Contrarian Approach
While being a little risky, the contrarian approach remains a popular betting strategy. This is because this means going against the norm. In golfing terms, you would bet against an unfancied or undervalued player.
This is another system that makes finding value easier. However, this will not suit beginners and those with smaller budgets. This is because you are almost certain to lose money. You are banking on the returns from an outsider’s success making up for such losses.
Dead Heat Rules to Keep in Mind
What 3 ball betting in golf? In order to answer this question, it is important that we discuss what happens in the event of players shooting the same result. This is because the rules tend to differ from 2-ball bets. With 2-ball markets, the two players shooting the same score will result in a void bet.
However, with 3-ball markets, the rules vary between online sportsbooks. In most cases, the bookmaker will take 50% of the original stake, before applying the same odds for the remainder of the wager. From a $50 bet, $25 will be lost, with $25 remaining active.
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James Fuller
James Fuller
