Golf guide
Stroke play counts every shot. Stableford awards points per hole. Match play is won hole by hole. Scramble, four-ball, foursomes and greensomes are team formats. The table below compares all eight side by side.
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| Format | Players | Balls | Scoring | Winner | Handicap | In Tast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stroke play | 1 or more, each on their own | One ball each | Count every stroke; net = strokes minus handicap strokes | Lowest total | Handicap is subtracted from the total (net) | Yes |
| Stableford | 1 or more, each on their own | One ball each | Points per hole from net score against par | Most points | Handicap strokes are given on the hardest holes first (stroke index) | Yes |
| Match play | 2 players or 2 sides | One ball each | Win, halve or lose each hole | Most holes won, e.g. 3&2 | Difference between handicaps; strokes on the hardest holes | No |
| Scramble | Teams of 2–4 | One ball per team | Everyone hits, the team picks the best shot and all play from there; one team score per hole | Lowest team total | Usually a reduced team handicap; rules vary | No |
| Four-ball (better ball) | Pair against pair (2 v 2) | One ball each (4 in play) | The better score of the two partners counts on each hole | Best pair score (match play or stroke play) | Each player’s own handicap, often reduced | No |
| Foursomes (alternate shot) | Pairs | One ball per pair | Partners alternate shots and alternate who tees off | Lowest pair score, or most holes in match play | A share of the combined handicaps | No |
| Greensomes | Pairs | One ball per pair after the tee shots | Both tee off, the pair picks one drive, then they alternate shots | Lowest pair score | A share of the combined handicaps; rules vary | No |
| Skins | 2–4 or more, each on their own | One ball each | The lowest score on its own wins the hole’s skin; ties carry the skin over | Most skins | Net or gross, agreed beforehand | No |
Stroke play is the standard format of golf. You count every stroke on every hole, add them up over the round, and the lowest total wins. Gross score is your raw stroke count; net score is gross minus your handicap strokes. Every shot counts, so one bad hole stays on the card.
Best for: Serious rounds, club competitions and tracking your own progress.
Stableford scores points on each hole instead of counting a total. Against par on that hole (after handicap strokes), a bogey gives 1 point, par 2, birdie 3, eagle 4, and double bogey or worse 0. The player with the most points wins. If you cannot score points on a hole you can pick up your ball, which keeps play moving.
Best for: Everyday club rounds, mixed handicaps and a good pace of play.
In match play you play an opponent hole by hole. The lower score wins the hole, equal scores halve it, and the match is won by whoever is ahead by more holes than remain: 3&2 means three holes up with two to play. Total strokes do not matter, only holes won.
Best for: Head-to-head matches, knockout tournaments and Ryder Cup-style team events.
In a scramble everyone in the team tees off, the team chooses the best shot, and everyone plays the next shot from that spot. This repeats until the ball is holed, and the team records one score per hole. A Texas scramble is a common variant that requires a minimum number of tee shots from each player.
Best for: Charity days, company events, beginners and groups of mixed ability.
In four-ball (also called better ball) two pairs play each other. All four players play their own ball, and on each hole the better score of the two partners counts for the pair. It can be played as match play or stroke play.
Best for: Friendly pairs, club team events and mixed handicaps where both partners contribute.
In foursomes (alternate shot) two partners share one ball. They take turns hitting, and they also alternate the tee shot: one on odd holes, the other on even holes. It can be played as match play or stroke play.
Best for: Fast, tactical partner golf, familiar from team matches such as the Ryder Cup.
Greensomes is a foursomes variation: both partners tee off, the pair chooses one drive, and the partner whose drive was not chosen plays the second shot. From there you alternate shots until the ball is holed.
Best for: Pairs who want foursomes with a gentler start.
In skins each hole is worth a prize (a “skin”). The player with the lowest score on their own wins it. If two or more players tie, the skin carries over and the next hole is worth more.
Best for: Friendly games for a stake and extra tension in a round.
| Net score on the hole | Points |
|---|---|
| Double bogey or worse | 0 |
| Bogey | 1 |
| Par | 2 |
| Birdie | 3 |
| Eagle | 4 |
| Albatross | 5 |
Net means after handicap strokes on that hole.
Both are played by individuals and both can use handicap. The difference is what you add up: strokes in stroke play, points in Stableford.
| Stroke play | Stableford | |
|---|---|---|
| You count | Strokes | Points |
| Winner | Lowest total | Most points |
| A very bad hole | Costs many strokes | Costs at most the points that hole could give |
| Picking up | You normally hole out | Allowed when you cannot score points |
| Suits | Serious rounds and competitions | Relaxed rounds and mixed abilities |
Tast is a golf scorecard app for iPhone. It calculates Stableford and stroke play hole by hole, with handicap. It works offline and needs no account.
Tast