The Hammer isn’t something you’re likely to find in a regular golf bag. But inside SoFi Center it’s used by teams to up the ante or change momentum, bringing an element of calculated risk and strategic reward to every TGL match.

Drop the Hammer at the right time, and you can swing a hole—and maybe even the entire match—your way. Play it poorly, and it can flip-flop the scoreboard to your opponent in a hurry.

In that balance of peril and possibility lies the true game-changing ability of the Hammer: it brings the drama, keeps players on their toes, and gives teams an electrifying tactical weapon beyond the sticks in their bag.

RELATED: TGL Rules Explained

What is the TGL Hammer?

The TGL Hammer is actually an orange flag (Max Homa is holding it in the photo at the top of this article). Each team keeps it near their bench and they can play it three times per match. When played (typically by a player throwing it to the floor), it lets a team raise the stakes on a single hole, increasing the points value of the hole by 1.

The opponent on the receiving end of the Hammer is able to either accept the Hammer (increasing the hole value by 1), or decline the Hammer (which ends the hole and concedes the available points to the opposition).

Each team gets three Hammers per match, but can use no more than one Hammer per team on any one hole. That means the maximum value of a single hole is 3 points (if each team plays and accepts a Hammer).

A team can call a Hammer before a player addresses the ball on any shot during a hole. If a team calls a Hammer before any tee shot, the opposing team must accept the Hammer (i.e. they cannot decline).

The Hammer isn’t typically part of traditional golf that you might see on an outdoor course; it's a TGL‑only tactical option inside SoFi Center.

How Does the Hammer Work?

Throwing the Hammer is all about strategy, timing, and nerve. Here’s how the key elements work:

Timing & usage

• Per match: 3 Hammer throws per team total.
• Per hole: Up to 2 accepted Hammers (1 acceptance by each team).
  

Who invokes it?

• Any player on the team can choose to throw the Hammer.

Who acknowledges it?

• The referee must acknowledge the Hammer and the opposing team must let the referee know if they accept or decline. They must accept the Hammer if played before the tee shot.

When accepted

• If accepted, the hole’s value increases by 1 point.

When declined

• The hole is conceded automatically to the team that threw the Hammer and they receive the point(s).

Hammer Strategy in Action

The Hammer is a play that blends risk‑reward with drama—great when it pays off, devastating when it doesn’t. Combine the Hammer with other TGL elements like the Shot Clock, on‑course Referee, and Timeouts, and you get a fresh approach to team golf.

There are many reasons why you might throw a Hammer. Perhaps you're behind in the match and need momentum. Maybe you have an advantage on a hole and want to make your opponents pay.

Let's take a look at some Hammer examples from Season 1 and the strategy behind them:

The Bay Wins First Ever Double Hammer Hole

In a Season 1 match vs. Jupiter Links, The Bay Golf Club accepted a Hammer on the 9th hole to close out Triples.

The Bay was leading the match 2-1, so Jupiter threw the Hammer to try to get back into the match. Shane Lowry discussed with his teammates, Wyndham Clark and Min Woo Lee, and they ultimately decided to accept, increasing the hole value from 1 point to 2.

Lee stepped up next to take his approach shot and he hit a beauty that found the ridge in the middle of the green and the ball rolled to within 6 feet for a make-able eagle attempt on Boomerang.

With Jupiter off the green, The Bay were now in prime position. Clark threw the Hammer to make it a double Hammer hole worth 3 points.

At that point, Jupiter could have declined and conceded the hole and the two points. But they backed themselves and accepted, leaving it up to Kevin Kisner to hole out from just off the green. He made a great effort with his chip, but missed, leaving it wide open for Lowry to sink the putt and give The Bay the first-ever win on a double Hammer hole for a three-point swing and a 5-1 lead.

It's the perfect example of how the strategy behind the Hammer can flip during the course of a single hole.

LAGC Tries to Fight Back with Late Hammer

Los Angeles Golf Club proved in Season 1 that their Hammer strategy was strong. They ended the season tied for second place on Hammers Won and in solo-second place on Points Off Hammers, but even the best laid plans can crumble under pressure.

LAGC was down 6-3 going to the 14th hole in the Semifinals vs. NYGC, so it was desperation time. They threw the Hammer just before Rickie Fowler's tee shot, forcing NYGC to accept. The par 3, On The Rocks, was now worth 2 points and LAGC had to win it to keep the match alive.

Tommy Fleetwood answered the call and hit his tee shot inside of Fowler's to give LAGC a nice chance at birdie. Maybe the strategy was about to pay off. Fleetwood smartly took a timeout to talk through the big putt with his teammates, Collin Morikawa and Sahith Theegala.

But the Englishman hit the right edge of the cup and the ball lipped out as the hole was tied and NYGC advanced to the Finals. It was the right idea by LAGC, but unfortunately for them they came up short.

Season 1 Hammer Highlight

Let’s relive one of the most memorable Hammer moments from Season 1—during the Finals, when Atlanta Drive clinched the SoFi Cup and the status of undisputed Hammer kings.

Atlanta Drive in the Finals

Facing a 3-2 deficit on the 14th hole of the second Finals match, Atlanta played a Hammer at the perfect time and Billy Horschel executed flawlessly, winning the two-point hole and flipping the match on its head. Patrick Cantlay would go on to close it out for Atlanta on Hole 15 as they became the first ever SoFi Cup champions.

After the match Scott Van Pelt asked Cantlay about the late Hammer, to which Cantlay replied: "No surprise, Billy Horschel made another putt worth two points, and that's kind of been [the story] all season."

Cantlay was key to Atlanta's Hammer strategy in Season 1, often discussing the pros and cons of throwing, accepting and declining during the match.

He added: "You can only really use the Hammer when you get up in holes. We didn't get up in very many holes until the end [of , and we obviously needed to throw them before we got to the end of the match; you can't leave Hammers in your pocket preferably. We threw the Hammer I think at the right time and got a couple concessions and got us back in the match, and obviously when Billy makes every putt he hits for two points, that's pretty helpful."

Hammer Down

The TGL Hammer isn’t just a prop—it’s a strategic gamble that can change the momentum of a match in real time.