Example: Players A and B are partners. They decide among themselves who tees off first on the the first hole. Let's say they decide on Player A to hit the opening tee ball. So on the first hole, A hits the tee shot. They walk to the ball, and Player B hits the second shot. The third stroke is played by Player A. Then Player B hits the fourth. They alternate hitting shots until the ball is in the hole.
They also alternate hitting tee shots, so since in our example Player A hit the drive on the first hole, on the second hole Player B tees off.
Alternate Shot can be played as stroke play or match play. When alternate shot is played as match play, it is also called foursomes. The format is used in the Ryder Cup and other international team tournaments (Presidents Cup, Solheim Cup and others) under the foursomes name.
Odds and Evens and Scotch Foursomes are two very slight variants of Alternate Shot.
Video: Watch a demonstration of alternate shot play
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