Articles

Golf is an incredibly popular sport and the four majors regularly attract global audiences. Those who follow the sport all-year round enjoy the action on the fairway with tournaments taking place around the world on both the PGA and European Tour.

It is also an extremely popular betting proposition for many punters and the possibility of securing huge returns for small stakes is all part of its appeal for bettors. You don’t have to be a golf fanatic to improve your wagering on the tournament as there are a number of techniques which can be deployed to increase your chances of making a profit on the sport. We take a look at how to bet intelligently on golf and our advice and tips will hopefully help you make wiser decisions before placing a wager:
Things to Consider

Current Form
Current form is a vitally important aspect of betting on golf. You always need to assess a player’s confidence ahead of any tournament. Competitors are always likely to go through barren spells and they will make mistakes. It is important to only wager on players who have been progressing well in recent weeks and chalking up top ten finishes at warm-up tournaments.
Players can also be affected by personal circumstances and if you hear of any player having trouble in their personal life, avoid betting on them! Rory McIlroy’s form was indifferent during his final few months of dating tennis player Caroline Wozniacki and he returned to focus on his game once the engagement had been called off. Likewise, if any player is having to deal with a family illness, this may not leave them at their peak for upcoming tournaments.
With the growth of social media, it is easier than ever before to find information about player’s well-being and any players who may also be suffering from a slight injury are best avoided.

Horses for Courses
Similar to many other sports, players will always flourish at particular courses. Anyone who has played the sport will understand the logistics behind this concept. Sometimes, your style just suits a particular course. Always look for a player’s previous results at any given course and if they are making their debut at this particular venue, try and find their record at similarly laid-out courses.
It amazing how often a player suddenly improves when competing at their favoured course. This is a major element of betting on professional golf and should never be overlooked.
Regions can also play their part. Some players favour a home crowd and will always thrive if they’ve got plenty of support behind them. On the contrary, a partisan home crowd can also have absolutely no affect whatsoever on a player. It’s always worth checking how each player fares in their home country or town.

Grass/Surface
Golf courses can greatly vary in layout but different types of grass is also another aspect of the varied nature of being a professional golfer on the tour. Bent Grass, Bermuda Grass and Poa Annua Grass are just three of the different types of surface available and every single player will have their preference. It’s always worth doing some extra research and ensuring that your selected player has decent form on each of these turfs. Courses in South Africa and the US are usually the most varied.

Weather/Conditions
It’s always difficult to predict the weather forecast and even the forecasters get it wrong from time-to-time but if you can gauge an idea of the conditions ahead of any given tournament, it is always a significant help when it comes to wagering.

Some players don’t mind the sweltering conditions whilst others are less effective in a tropical climate. If it’s unseasonably hot, players who thrive in these conditions are generally better bets. Wind also plays a significant part and a number of players will often struggle with anything above a light breeze.

Targeted Tournaments
Many players will slug it out on a weekly basis, playing every single event thrown up by the tour in order to secure a comfortable living but there are a number of competitors who can pick and choose their events throughout the season.

Those who are comfortable with their annual income can take time off to do some travelling, relax and spend time with their family and these are often the most formidable players at the major tournaments. Whilst they must ensure they are in the right frame of mind, avoiding stress, worry and excessive commuting should help a player relax into their game and they are often likely to progress deep into the tournament.

Golf Betting Markets

Tournament Winner
This is the most straightforward market available and by far the most popular. Simply predict which player will triumph at the tournament. You can also bet on this market in-play once the competition has got underway. Big odds are available in this market and it is possible to take four or five players [depending on the price] and still make a profit if one of them comes home in front.

Each Way
Online bookmakers will establish their each-way terms clearly ahead of the tournament so it’s always advised to check these before placing a bet. Wagering each-way gives you a safety blanket and allows your chosen player to finish 2nd, 3rd,4th and often 5th and you’ll still make a small profit if your player comes close without completing the job. For each-way betting, the bigger price, the greater the returns.

Top 10/Top 20
There are a huge number of different markets available on each tournament and backing a player to finish in the top ten or twenty is commonplace in golf betting. It’s a great way of picking an outsider to have a decent tournament and make an impact. Players who often trouble these position whilst rarely winning are known as ‘cheque collectors’ and are extremely handy to back in these markets. Many players will plod along and increasingly make the cut but fail to threaten the top five and they often fly under the radar of the bookmakers.
As long as your player finishes within these positions, you will be paid out.

First Round Leader
A market that has become incredibly popular over the last couple of years and is a great way of making money before the tournament has reached the business end. Some players have a habit of starting quickly before fading during the crucial stages and these are ideal for this market. Those who get underway early in the day can often be good bets in this market as the green is in pristine condition and the lunchtime sun is often shining.
If your player is leading the way following the conclusion of the first round, you will be paid out. It is possible to take a couple of selections in this market and still make a profit.

Match Bets
Many online bookmakers have the tendency to pair together two players who they believe will be closely matched. These are called ‘Match Bets’ and require the punter to select which of the duo will finish higher in the final standings. This is a great way of removing the remainder of the field from the equation and purely focus on just two players. It cuts down on research time and good prices are still available on this market.

Tips and Strategies
There are a number of techniques which can be implement to improve your betting on golf:
• Be selective with your tournaments. You don’t have to bet on EVERY single tournament
• Always do your research! Look at a players past performance at this course/region and their record on this type of grass
• Consider different markets. You don’t have to wait until Sunday for your pay-out. There are hundreds of different markets available which make it easier than ever before to find an alternative to a tournament winner bet.
• Wager according to your confidence. Don’t invest heavily in streaky and inconsistent players
• Always check the weather conditions pre-tournament
• Don’t rush into placing a wager. If a tournament is about to get underway, it may be best to wait until the first round is complete before betting in-play rather than making a rash decision due to lack of time.

The money and wealth associated with online gambling has provided punters with a plethora of instant betting opportunities, across an array of sporting and current events.

One of the most pioneering developments in the online betting world is Live Betting – giving punters the chance to bet on the action as it happens – giving birth to a whole new generation of online gamblers.

How does Live Betting work:-
Live, in-play betting has become one of the biggest markets across the world and that is simply due to the constant excitement and unpredictability sport provides. Live Betting provides a platform for punters to be based anywhere in the world and bet on a sporting event – as it happens and look to profit from a particular match/game in-play. Most bookmakers also offer a live streaming service of any match or game the punter can bet on – which is another appeal for punters as not only can they bet on the action as it happens, they can watch it too!

Here is our guide on how to wager on Live Betting intelligently:-

• Bet with the Head and not the Heart
Sporting events evoke emotions for everyone – especially if a team or player one follows/supports is involved in the contest. The instantaneous nature of Live Betting gives punters the chance to feel part of the action and bet on a multitude of outcomes which is a huge draw for all levels of punter. It is essential that punters keep a cool head within the world of Live Betting however as emotions can often take over if things aren’t going well for the team or player involved. Punters must always maintain perspective and if things aren’t going well in the dying embers of a match – shouldn’t chase the win too much and should move on to the next sporting contest to place a bet on.

• Embrace the Flexibility
The combustible nature of live sport can provide nightmare scenarios for bookmakers who are constantly trying to entice bets from punters whilst always looking to maintain a degree of profitability for themselves. As a result, whilst pre-match odds are often very rigid, live betting odds often drift regularly – giving punters the chance to bet on a team or player in most scenarios available. Being flexible with the betting approach and accepting that odds may drift and come in as the fixture pans out is an important consideration when Live Betting.

• Try to Watch the Fixture in Question
Live Betting presents the opportunity for punters to actually watch the action as it unfolds and bet on it instantly. Punters who possess a degree of sporting knowledge should always look to become immersed in the action as they can spot patterns in play or tactical approaches that will inform their decision to bet on one outcome or another – a huge benefit in the complex world of Live Betting.

• Don’t be Greedy with the Cash Out Feature
Many online betting companies have made progress with their sportsbook to be able to offer punters the opportunity to cash out on their winnings at any stage within the match or game. As a result, the punter is given the conundrum whether to cash out on any potential winnings they may have already earned or wait until the result is finalised to hopefully maximise their winnings. The cash out fixture offers punters the chance to be relevant and a degree of sensibility is always needed when Live Betting (i.e. if Manchester United are losing with 30 minutes to play against Watford, they will bring on more forward players and adopt an attacking approach – cashing out on Watford at this time would be the logical play).

Generally speaking, sports betting is dominated by the result of any particular fixture or match with allegiances towards one particular team or player often having a big impact on the way in which punters place their bets.

The Totals (or Over/Under) market however offers punters the opportunity to detach themselves from the result and bet solely on how many points or goals will be scored in any particular match – democratising the whole betting process.

How Totals Betting works:-
The basic principle of Totals betting is very simple – the bookmaker will present a line at which a punter can bet over or under a total number of points or goals to be scored in any specific sporting fixture. Whilst simplistic in its purest from, there are a wealth of factors that heavily impact how the Totals market is governed and being able to bet on an accumulative score line rather than a specific match result, is an appealing proposition for many punters.

Here is our guide on how to place Totals (Over/Under Bets) intelligently:-

• Sporting Knowledge and Pre-Match Research
With the Totals market being operated on a score basis rather than a specific result, it’s crucial that punters are aware of the context any specific fixture is being played in – in order to get a successful betting result. Research on team/player form, past meetings, head to head record as well as tactical intentions from managers and coaches are all key considerations in the Totals market. Ultimately the result in any fixture has a limited bearing on any bet in the Totals market – meaning it is essential that punters are aware of the circumstances surrounding the specified match. For example, if a high-scoring, Championship contender is playing at home, against a mid-table team that score goals but concede too many to achieve a higher league position – a high scoring game looks guaranteed. If the same team, go away from home against a relegation bound outfit, fighting for their lives – goals may not be the order of the day – it could be a more attritional battle meaning the Under market could be the best bet in this scenario.

• Embrace the Live Betting Market (Carefully!)
One of the huge appeals of Totals betting is that it keeps the punter in play for the duration of the game – as it is not a result based market. A punter could need 2 points to hit their target with seconds of a fixture to go and for as long as the match is still in play – the punter could be in business. Betting in-play or live, is a huge draw in the Over/Under betting market as players can stay engaged throughout a particular fixture, giving them even more winning opportunities. Punters must bet with caution however as the live betting market offers many chances to win but also many chances to lose – so if things aren’t going well in a match, chasing winnings to balance the books can be a very dangerous tactic.

• Focus on the Detail and Stay Level Headed
Detail is key in the Totals betting market as it is what allows players to win big. For example, in a football match betting over or under 2.5 goals to be scored (by either side) is one of the most common markets. Intelligent punters can add or subtract one goal (over or under 1.5 or 3.5 scored) to heavily impact their odds and maximise their winnings. Punters with no particular allegiance to one of the teams/players in the Totals market tend to fare better as betting with a cool head is always the best policy when punting on the amount of points/goals to be scored in a specific match-up.

When building accumulator or parlay bets, punters are always betting in the painful knowledge that should one selection break down, the whole bet becomes null and void.

Bookmakers do offer an olive branch however in the form of Teasers where punters can move the points spread to their advantage within a certain betting scenario – at a cost of course of the betting odds reducing.

How Teasers work:-
Compiling a successful accumulator or a parlay bet is the most lucrative yet difficult things to do for punters in the world of sports betting. Teasers are an opportunity to punters to manipulate the point spread across their bets within a parlay to their benefit – ultimately decreasing the odds should all the selections come in but if the predictions are correct, presenting the punter with an increased chance of winning their accumulative bet.

Here is our guide on how to place Teaser Bets intelligently:-

• Don’t get too hung up on Teasing all of the Point Spreads
Bookmakers offer teaser bets to entice punters who are a little unsure over specific selections in a parlay bet and offers them a handicap situation to encourage them to bet. Parlays can be built within the win/loss market and if a punter is confident of a particular selection – regardless of winning score line – a teaser bet shouldn’t be considered. Teasers should be used if punters feel that the result could go either way and include them within their parlay as somewhat of a safety net. Teasing all of the point spreads in a parlay can impact the winning capacity massively which makes teasing too many bets a pointless exercise.

• Ensure Teasers Don’t Impact the Odds too Significantly
Teasers are a fantastic option within an accumulative bet when a particular fixture maybe difficult to call – the teaser levels the playing field across the point spread to the punters advantage. The downside is that it comes at a cost and the cost is normally weighted heavily to favour the bookmaker rather than the punter so all teasers should be placed safe in the knowledge that the bet is still worth winning – factoring in the impact the lessened teaser influenced odds give the punter.

• Place Positive Teasers Carefully
The beauty of teaser betting is that ambitious punters can manipulate the point spread to artificially enhance their winning odds – should the results go their way. Punters can move the winning margin in a positive manner (i.e. backing Liverpool to win with a -3.5 handicap rather than the advertised 2.5) is a move a punter can tease through the bookmaker which will positively impact the winning potential. Using teasers to increase the winning capacity of any given bet is a huge benefit of wagering through teasers and is hugely appealing, its essential however that punters are aware of the perils that can bring and positive teasers must be placed with caution.

• Use the Safety Net of Teasers Wisely
Teasers derive their name from the though process behind betting – teasing a little more across a point spread from the bookmaker to the punter to encourage a bet. As a result that can be used in a positive manner (moving the spread to create a bigger win) or a negative manner (moving the spread to create a smaller win). Punters should always bet within their limits on within these constraints and if they want to use the safety net of a negative teaser, do so safe in the knowledge that winning potential will be reduced.

Straight Bets are one the most common and simplistic forms of sports bet available to punters and as a result, is one of the most effective ways to win big within sports betting.

Whilst, betting on a single outcome of an event seems like an obvious and self-explanatory exercise, if done intelligently, it can be a very lucrative strategy.

Straight Bets are most commonly comprised within the following markets:-

• Point Spread
The point spread is generally used to level the playing field between two teams/opponents in a particular sporting event. The favoured team is normally handicapped by subtracting goals or points (indicated by a minus sign) whilst the underdog is given additional points (indicated by a plus sign) and these odds are governed by each bookmaker. For example betting on a team to win by more than 9 points will be indicated by -9 meaning they essentially start with a 9 point handicap.

• Money Lines
Money lines present an opportunity for all levels of bettor to wager within their budget and on very simple win/lose basis. Money lines are centred round how much a punter needs to stake to maximise their profits and do not have a spread market to cover. Punters will risk more to win less when betting on the favourite and risk less to win more when betting on the underdog. A positive money line indicates how much a better can win by betting $100 whilst a negative money line shows how much a better needs to stake in order to win $100 – making the whole process relatively simple.

• Over/Under Betting
Total score or over/under betting presents the punter with the opportunity to bet on the amount of points/goals scored in a particular game without having to necessarily bet on the outcome of a sporting event. For example punters can bet on over or under 2.5 goals to be scored in a soccer game – regardless of which team scores them or goes on to win the match.

Here is our guide on how to place Straight Bets intelligently:-

• Embrace The Restrictions
Straight Bets are designed to make the betting experience simpler for the customer. For example betting on New England Patriots to win at -110 is betting on the exact outcome of a game and whilst the odds don’t lend themselves necessarily to winning big money, straight bets avoid confusion in the market and can help recreational punters massively.

• Understand The System
The simple purpose of Straight Betting is to offer punters a chance to bet on one of two outcomes from a particular sporting event and the markets are tailored accordingly.

• Sporting Knowledge
Straight betting is essentially a two-horse race and backing the favourite most of the time will bring about a certain degree of reward for punters. Bookmakers develop their odds based on form and past performances and seldom get their odds dramatically wrong. The beauty of straight betting is it offers bettors the chance to work with a hunch on any particular game and not have to complicate matters – it is a straight win or lose bet.

Having all bases covered as part of a combination bet is an appealing position for all levels of punter to be in when betting on multiple sporting outcomes. Round Robin wagering, offers punters the opportunity to cover all winning eventualities as part of a combination bet – at a substantial cost of course.

How Round Robins work:-
Within the complicated world of betting on multiples, round robins offer the punter the caveat of being able to bet on all lines within a multiple bet – in an attempt to still receive a reward if only one of their selections comes in and to maximise profits should all of their chosen bets come to fruition. A round robin is a three selection wager – consisting of ten individual bets: 3 doubles, 1 treble and 3 up and down single stakes on each outcome – essentially offering punters the chance to get some return should only one of their three selections come good.

Here is our guide on how to place Round Robin Bets intelligently:-

• Remember that a Round Robin consists of Ten Bets
The appeals of a Round Robin bet are obvious: bet on all the possible outcomes and provided one of them comes in; reap the rewards. Betting on ten different scenarios comes at a cost of course (i.e. backing three teams in a Round Robin at $10 only stakes £1 on each outcome) meaning it’s highly unlikely that a single win will provide the punter any profit on their $10 stake. Always consider that ten potential outcomes are being covered as part of a Round Robin and of course – getting all of the selections correct will bring about the biggest profit.

• Include Round Robin selections tactically
Round Robin betting ultimately rewards the bold punters – those who are prepared to back longer shots as part of an accumulative bet – safe in the knowledge that if only one or two of their selections come in, they will still see some sort of return on their investment. Backing two heavy favourites and one outsider as part of a Round Robin is a nonsensical move as it creates a situation that if the two heavy favourites win and the outsider loses – the return is minimal – despite winning two bets. Tactically, backing three bets of a similar odds pattern is the logical approach with Round Robins (so three long shots or three heavy favourites) as punters shouldn’t be too heavily impacted should only one of their picks let them down.

• Calculate Round Robin Bets with Caution
With ten bets included as part of a Round Robin bet, the capacity to win can become complicated for punters – especially if only one or two of the picks come in. There are a wealth of Round Robin Return calculators available online and punters should always run their odds through the calculator to cover all eventualities before they place the stake – to ultimately work out how much each bet could return and which selections will bring about the biggest reward. Betting on ten accumulative outcomes can be a lucrative approach – especially if the odds are long enough but a degree of caution must always be present when staking on something ten times.

Having a degree of security when placing any bet is always an appealing position for a punter to be in which makes Reverse wagering a very useful approach when looking to cover all bases in any given scenario.

Getting ‘two bites of the cherry’ through Reverse betting does impact the ability to win big somewhat but being able to pick up a return on a bet – even if all selections are not correct is an attractive proposition for all levels of punter.

How Reverse Wagering works:-
A reverse bet allows punters to cover themselves in an accumulator bet (with a maximum of 4 teams/players) so that if one or more of their selections fails to win: a reverse bet allows the punter to still pick up some winnings should they predict at least one outcome correctly. Covering all bases within the reverse betting structure of course comes at a cost, meaning punters generally have to lay an increased stake in order to make a reverse bet work effectively.

Here is our guide on how to place Reverses intelligently:-

• Search for worthwhile odds
The basic principle behind Reverse betting is to reward who get the majority of their selections correct but not necessarily all of them. By laying a contingency stake through a Reverse bet, the punter is almost aware of the safety net a reverse net provides if only one of their selections proves to be correct. Therefore, betting on heavy favourites as part of a Reverse bet isn’t logical as is guaranteed to cough up a loss if one or more of the selected teams lets the punter down. Betting on longer shots can decrease one’s chance of winning but should one or more of the selections come in, the punter should reap the rewards for taking a gamble and still has the safety net if only one or two of their selections come to fruition.

• Always Maintain Perspective
The maximum of selections a punter can make on a Reverse bet is 4: meaning it’s important to be aware of the limitations a Reverse bet has. Betting on 5+ team accumulators can bring about huge reward for little risk, in comparison 4 team Reverse bets require a much bigger outlay from the punter to win big as the safety net of betting on every outcome is costly for the punter initially.

• Don’t Chase The Big Win
Reverse bets reward the punters that can afford to lay a big stake and those who take a gamble on longer shots rather than those who play with smaller stakes and back heavy favourites. For example: Reverses can be useful if a punter has 3 heavy favourites but also fancies an outsider – being able to back all 4 will give the punter a small reward if the 3 favourites win and a much bigger win if the outsider comes in too.

• Cross Sport Betting and Market Variety
Reverses are an attractive betting approach for punters who like to mix up their sporting betting markets and can allow punter to place bets on a variety of sporting outcomes and combine them all together. So for punters who like to bet on a variety of sports and want to do so with a safety net should one team/player let them down: Reverse wagering is the way to go.