Match Play vs. Stroke Play: What Every Golfer Needs to Know
Match play and stroke play are 2 different forms of scoring in golf. Most professional tournaments use stroke play as their scoring method. In match play, golfers play head-to-head against each other on each hole. Stroke play requires golfers to play against the field. Let’s look at the mechanics of each scoring system and delve into the different strategies required to play in match and stroke play.
What is Stroke Play in Golf?
Stroke play is simply recording the number of strokes you take for each hole and then adding your score up at the end. For instance, a stroke play score card will have your score written down for each hole. When you add the numbers for 18 holes, you have your final score. Professional stroke play tournaments are typically 3 or 4 18-hole rounds. So, if you have the lowest total score after 54 or 72 holes, you’d be the winner of the tournament. If 2 or more players tie at the end of the tournament, there’s a playoff. Playoff formats differ, depending on the tournament. Some might be sudden death, which means the first player with the lowest score on a hole wins. Other formats include playing a set number of holes with the winner being the golfer with the lowest score upon completion. Stroke play favors skilled golfers who are comfortable at focusing hard on each shot. It’s hard to win a stroke play event if you have holes where you blow up and your score is high.
What is Match Play in Golf?
In match play, golfers play head-to-head against each other, and the goal is to win more holes than your opponent. Match play is often used in team competitions. Your opponent is always golfing with you in match play and each hole is worth 1 point. In stroke play, the leaders typically tee off together in the final 2 rounds but it’s possible that someone from a different group could come back and win. That means you might know how well the competing players are doing. In match play, you always know your opponent’s score. There are 3 outcomes for each hole in match play:
Win the Hole: Your score on the hole is lower than your opponent’s, which means you win the hole. If you win the first hole, the score is 1-up in your favor.
Lose the Hole: Your score on the hole is higher than your opponent's, which means you lose the hole. If you lose the first hole, you’re 1-down.
Halve the Hole: If each of you have the same number of strokes on the hole, it’s called a halve. If you halve the hole, the point is split.
Final scoring in match play always starts with the winning total. For instance, a score of 2 and 1 means that you were ahead 2 holes with only 1 left to play, making it impossible for your opponent to win. Match play competition can end in ties. When you halve a match with your opponent, that means you each won the same number of holes. If you’re playing in a team competition, the winner of each match gets 1 point. For a tied match, the players split the point. Match play is usually quicker than stroke play because you can concede holes. It’s also a better format for players who tend to have an occasional high score. Since each hole is its own separate competition, you can recover from a bad hole.
Strategies for Playing Stroke Play
Since every stroke counts in stroke play and you’re playing against multiple players, it’s a good idea to be conservative in your approach to each hole. You generally play against the golf course, not your opponent in stroke play. You want to minimize risks and avoid taking a big number on a hole. There are strategic times to be aggressive. Early in the tournament, you might want to try to aim at pins and score as low as possible. Your overall strategy depends on how you’re doing against the field. Some players who are leading a stroke play tournament don’t like to know how the challengers are doing. They prefer to focus on their own game. Other players who are leading like to know exactly how well the contenders are doing. They can adjust their approach based on those scores.
Strategies for Playing Match Play
In match play, the golfers always respond to their opponents. If the first player to hit their ball sends it into the woods off the tee, their opponent will likely play safe and make sure they use a club that they hit well because they have an advantage. Their opponent is likely giving up at least 1 stroke when they hit it in the woods. If your opponent hits a great shot, you have to try to respond with a great shot. In match play, you play against your opponent, not the golf course.
Common Rules Differences
In match play, you aren’t required to play every shot. Your opponent can concede the hole if they are in a position where it’s mathematically impossible to win. Often, they’ll concede a putt. That means their opponent can pick up the ball and not finish the putt. The player that loses the hole always concedes. In stroke play, you must finish every shot. If you don’t finish a hole, you’re disqualified in stroke play. Penalties are different, too. In stroke play, a penalty usually adds strokes to your score. In match play, a penalty typically results in the player losing the hole. For instance, if a golfer lines up outside the tee box and hits their shot, it’s a 2-stroke penalty in stroke play and a replay of the tee shot inside the tee box. In match play, that infraction results in the loss of a hole.
Stroke play is the primary scoring method for most types of golf, whether it’s professional or a casual round with your friends. Often, if you play in a league, the format will be match play because it’s quicker and it’s the best way to play head-to-head against an opponent. Team competitions, where you play with a partner against 2 other golfers, are almost always match play events. Learning how to play both formats is beneficial for golfers because it creates opportunities for them to learn different on-course strategies.
