Regardless of the bet, does gambling improve your overall focus and game?

I think so. I play putting games for pennies a hole and in the long run it has made me a better putter.

Not for me. I guess I'm not playing for enough $ to really focus. I find I play my best golf when I'm in a GAP tournament.

Agree, I putt lights out from 10 feet and in when playing for money, I actually put more focus on the break and speed since it might actually mean something. Prime example of this is earlier this summer playing with a few friends we play the front 9 for no money I post a 44 on # 10 one guy says hey lets play a buck a hole we all agree, I go out and post 37 with 12 putts, didnt miss anything inside 10 feet the whole back nine.

For me, yes. Even a gentleman's bet makes me bear down that much harder.

I think so.

Playing for even a nominal sum sharpens my focus and improves my game over any golf that's played without any sort of wager.

the answer for me is.......yes and no.....yes if its a manageable bet......and no if it gets out of hand.....

I does for me. I could be playing like total crap. Let someone make a bet and I will all of a sudden play good to try and win the bet. Another thing that improves my focus and game is when someone trash talks me, says I can't do something and pisses me off. Now that I am older I have a problem maintaining focus. Betting and or pissing me off seems peak my focus.

I find I play better, regardless of the sport, when something is on the line. With golf, I would say my focus is improved and I keep a positive attitude for longer after a bad shot. I am always thinking about how to make the best score possible on each hole; how it doesnt matter that I am 100 yards back in the trees while my opponent has a wedge in, I just have to punch out, pitch and putt to halve the hole etc. This kind of thinking helps me focus the most.

And I agree with the trash talk, although not at much in golf, but other sports.

I think it depends on the game. For example I am a decent hitter with the driver, and I find that in a skins game my course management goes out the window. On the other hand if we are playing total snakes, I am focused. I think that having four groups in on snakes will make you a good putter or a real good lag putter.

Doesn't seem to help Charles Barkley.

Big difference for me - but the bet has to be of some significance.

Yes, I think it helps you focus more, especially if its against a good friend or family especially siblings.

I always putt and strike better when i play match play against my brother, and just helps you focus its alot better then just playing.
And during holidays when its 2 v. 2 With my cousins its like are on ryder cup its intense and makes golf more fun and competitive.

I agree, it makes it more fun.

Can't/Won't play without one...

I don't mind "making it interesing," but I also try and limit the win/loss to a reasonable amount. It keeps me from giving up on a hole and pushes me to be more aggressive in my course management. Unless my opponent is in deep trouble, I'll rarely lay up.

I've also seen idiots playing for paychecks. They definitely aren't having fun. I enjoy the game too much to do something that stupid.

Yeah, the bigggest idiots I've played with are consistently the guys who need to have a bunch of money bet on the outcome.

A bet doesn't affect me one way or the other. I don't need it. Tournaments do heighten my senses.

I always have something on the line -- my time and my ego. Which is often unfortunate for me given my modest skills.

While I never bet for big money, I find I really don't care if I beat my friends. I'd much rather shoot a great round (by my standards) and lose than a so-so round and win a few bucks. And in truth, I'd rather see my friends shoot a great round than lose to me.

I care a lot about how I play, but not very much about how I compare to others. I suppose that's not really good, because if I cared more about the competition with others there would be two possibilities for satisfaction: shooting well and/or winning. As it stands I've got only one.

I care about kicking my opponents arses whether there is money on the line or not. But I guess I do play even better when the stakes are upped.

YES, but I don't like to measure my manhood by how large the bet is. A simple $5 game of WOLF is my favorite. I can take losing $100 or so on a bad day, but when it gets to where there's more than that on the line, I usually say 'No Thanks'.

It's not the size of the bet that matters to me--I want to beat someone for $1 as bad as I want to beat them for $20.

Our usual game is a $2 Nassau match play, automatic press after 2 down. Very enjoyable, $4 for the match.

I think it does, atleast there is something on the line. I think it is good preparation for tournaments and just overall improvement.

Sometimes if I am not playing for something, then it is easy to lose focus.

Generally, I play better and have a better time win or lose

IMO if you can't play with something on the line then you can't play. Whether its money or a tournament.

IMO yes it does, but as others have said if you are playing for too much it can ruin a great experience. Everyone has there comfort zone, for Michael Jordan it may be a few thousand, for me it might be twenty bucks. I have seen a lot of hard feelings over betting, people getting talked into more than they are comfortable losing, bogus handicaps etc. Keep it fair, keep it reasonable, don't pressure people into playing too much out of thier comfort zone.

I played Pebble this year with some people I will always wager with, after a few holes we just kind of looked at each other and said, "who cares about the wager today" let's just enjoy. Now the next round we played there were so many wagers it was hard to keep track.