Playing in scrambles - help or hurt your game?

[TripleH68]

Playing in scrambles has always been one extreme or the other for me. Either great fun or painfully boring.

But outings have always helped my game. Playing in them once in awhile really frees up my swing. I guess it is the whole not having to worry about the results of the shot so much. I also feel more comfortable experimenting a little on the course.

OTOH, some guys I know have had their games destroyed by playing scrambles. I guess this is from overswinging and screwing up their tempo.

What about 2+2 golfers? Or is there some other format you rather play in outings?