Can someone explain to me the "press bet?"

[MelloYello]

Is there a clean and clear explanation out there--maybe an "official" version, haha? I've read/heard it explained several ways.

It's a sort of "double-or-nothing" venture. But I've also heard someone describe it as separate side-bet above and beyond?

There seem to be SO MANY little nagging questions:

-- Say you're down multiple holes in match play, can you erase it all by pressing on the final hole (of that side)?

-- What happens when someone "presses" early in the match? Does last 1 hole or all the way until the end of that 9?

 

I'm so confused.

 

My understanding is that the person/team that presses is essentially "tapping out" and admitting defeat where they are so as to begin a new bet that lasts until the end of the 9 which (if they win) will negate their tap-out but (if they lose) incur an equally punishing debt as to the one incurred when they "tapped out." But then, how do I wrap my head around there being multiple press bets happening a side?

[jdl]

It's a new bet, but usually for the same amount so has the effect of a "double or nothing".

It lasts as long as the bet it's made on, i.e. if you press on the front nine of a Nassau, then the press is for that front nine only, doesn't carry over to the rest of the match.

Some groups play with an "auto press", i.e. if one side is down 2 holes at any time then a press bet is activated automatically.

[jvincent]

@MelloYello here's a good way to think of it. Each press starts a new match that runs in parallel with any existing matches.
So, you start your match on the first hole. If on the third hole you press then you are now playing two matches. One that started on the first and one that started on the third. If your opponent then presses on the 6th hole you now have a third match that started on the sixth and so on.
When you press you aren't necessarily declaring defeat in the existing matches, you are just starting new ones to hopefully reduce your losses. You could in theory come back and win the original ones.

[RobotDoctor]

I used to play with a group of guys back in the early 90s in Delaware where we would play a Nassau (front, back and total) for a dollar. That would effectively be a 3 dollar bet. Catch was that there was an automatic press when you were 2 down. Every hole you're 2 down was a new press. We also had in effect what we called an air press. The losing team could call a press when the leading team had 2 balls in trouble as long as the second ball was still in the air. Basically if the first player of the leading team hits a ball OB and the second player hits a ball heading for OB or trouble, while it is in flight one of the losing team members could call press. There were times when we had 6 or 7 bets going on just on one side. Problem was that any press counted for total so once a press was done it lasted throughout the round. It would be common for a team winning $30-$40 per player on a $3 match.

[LeoLeo99]

Played a better ball 18 hole match play last week. The other team was on fire and I stunk up the joint. We were 4 down at the turn. We pressed. That made it 2 separate bets. The original bet for 18 holes and another bet for just the back 9. We lost the 18 hole bet 2 down and pushed the press.

Rules for pressing can vary as to when it's allowed. I've always seen that you have to be at least 2 down to press. The press is the whole fun of a Nassau.

[GSDriver]

We always played it as press when you're down, meaning double current points, wager, etc. Only could press when down (unless waived at start) and the opponent can press back (twist), which then the other can press one more time (roll). Can go for the hole, the 9, the round depending on what game being played. We always played 6 point Scotch with umbrellas.

[Augster]

As has been said above, a press is a gentleman’s way to get his money back. It just starts a new bet. The previous bet can still be won.

One can only press when they are down, and the bet has not been decided. 1-down is good enough. After the first hole of the press bet, if you get down on that bet, you can press that bet also. Etc. etc. as long as you are losing.

A gentleman always accepts a press bet. A player always has the option to say no to a press, but only a scoundrel of a player actually would. Two of my friends don’t “accept” presses. I try not to bet with them when I can, and I always give them guff about being too yellow to accept a press.

It’s uncouth to not accept a press. You really need that $2 that badly? A gentleman always accepts a press. It’s the opponent’s money you are gambling with anyway. As Leo said, the press is the entire fun of the Nassau.

[2bGood]

Some of the advice here is correct ....some of the time.

Outside of the press being a be, there is nothing standard and there are countless version of how groups play presses.

Even the idea that you have to be down in the match to press is not always the case. I play with some guys that after many many many arguments on when/how/what you could press finally agreed to the following rule: Anyone could press anytime, but the press and the terms had to be accepted. Pretty fast guys figured out you could press the bet even if you were winning. In practice that really was not that different then the way it was before as winning guys used to ask "Do you want to press???" , now they ask "Will you accept a press???"

So I understand your confusion and suggest you clarify any bets with the people you are betting with.

 

 

[chippa13]

My brother will do more pressing than the local dry cleaner.

[klebs01]

How did you get two holes back on the back 9 but not win the press? Seems like you should have lost the 18 and won the press and been even money.

[LeoLeo99]

You're right. I'll have to have a talk with those guys next week.

[Carl Spackler3]

Great post, very solid info

[nsxguy]

They won 10 & 11 ?

[klebs01]

The press started after 9 as I read it so they would still win the press 2up.

[nsxguy]

If the press started on the 10th tee that would be a 9 hole bet. They could easily win 2 holes on the back and lose the overall 9 hole bet, no ?

[klebs01]

How? If they cawed back two on the back 9 on to lose the 18 2 down. There is no I can think of that they didn’t win the 9 hole press. There could have been another press he didn’t mention that they lost for no blood on the presses but as presented, I can figure out a scenario where they lose the press.

[nsxguy]

 

Ahhhhhhh, I see now. I missed the part about being 4 down on the original and only losing IT 2 down.

So yes, they MUST have won the back 9 bet 2 UP.

Mea culpa. Sorry about that.

[rogolf]

see post #5.

[LeoLeo99]

I think my side was 4 down on the 8th tee and won 8 and 9. So we started 10 down 2. Pushed the press on the back and lost the overall 2 down. That makes more sense.

[rzitup]

Kirby, Washington. Zip Code 97531

Those who play Nassaus with auto 2 down presses desire to live in Kirby.

[HackerD]

I agree with this but start with low enough stakes so nobody’s uncomfortable with the presses. Include dots (birdies, greenies, sandies) for extra fun.

[Noles]

I only play a match with presses if they are automatic. You can't pick and choose when you press. The one exception to that is if the team that is down can decline a press but then there are no more presses for the match.

[Augster]

42 minutes ago, jules_d1 said:

Honestly, the whole press bet thing took me a while to wrap my head around, too. The first time I played a Nassau match, someone threw out a press on the 14th hole when we were down and it just felt chaotic. In our group, it basically means you’re starting a second side bet for the remainder of that nine or the match, but the original bet still runs its course. 

I think you’ve got it. 
 

Then when you get down on the press bet, you press that bet also. And on it goes until the round is over.