What Is Stroke Play?
Stroke play is the most common format in golf. The concept is straightforward: every stroke you take during the round is counted, and the golfer with the lowest total number of strokes across all 18 holes wins. If a tournament spans multiple rounds, the total strokes across all rounds determine the winner.
In stroke play, you are effectively competing against the entire field simultaneously. It does not matter who you are paired with on any given day because your total score is compared against every other player in the competition. This is the format used in the vast majority of professional tournaments, including all four major championships in their standard format (The Masters, U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and PGA Championship).
Every hole matters equally in stroke play. A triple bogey on hole 3 carries the same weight as a triple bogey on hole 18. You must hole out on every hole (putt the ball into the cup), and there is no option to concede a shot or pick up your ball. If you fail to hole out on any hole without a valid reason, you are disqualified from the competition.
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Download Free on iOSWhat Is Match Play?
Match play is a hole-by-hole competition between two players (or two teams). Instead of counting total strokes, each hole is a separate contest. The player who completes a hole in fewer strokes wins that hole. If both players take the same number of strokes, the hole is "halved" (tied). The match is won by the player who wins more holes than there are holes remaining to play.
Match play has a rich history and is considered by many to be the original form of competitive golf. It is the format used in the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, Solheim Cup, and the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play on the PGA Tour. The Walker Cup and Curtis Cup (amateur team competitions) also use match play exclusively.
The scoring in match play is expressed in terms of holes won. If Player A has won 3 more holes than Player B, Player A is "3 up." If Player B then wins a hole, the match becomes "2 up" for Player A. A match can end before all 18 holes are played if one player builds an insurmountable lead. For example, if a player is 4 up with only 3 holes to play, the match is over because the trailing player cannot possibly tie.
Match Play vs Stroke Play: Key Differences at a Glance
| Feature | Stroke Play | Match Play |
|---|---|---|
| Objective | Lowest total strokes | Win more holes than opponent |
| Opponent | Entire field | One player/team |
| Scoring unit | Total strokes | Holes won/lost |
| Concessions | Not allowed | Allowed (gimme putts) |
| Must hole out | Yes, always | No, opponent can concede |
| Bad hole impact | Adds to total (devastating) | Lose only 1 hole (limited damage) |
| End of match | After all holes played | Can end early if lead is insurmountable |
| Ties | Playoff holes | Match halved or extra holes |
Conceded Putts in Match Play
One of the most distinctive features of match play is the concession, commonly known as a "gimme." At any point during a hole, a player can concede their opponent's next stroke, the hole, or even the entire match. A conceded stroke means the opponent is deemed to have holed out in one additional stroke from their current position. There is no minimum distance for a concession; you can concede a 30-foot putt if you wish.
Concessions are irrevocable. Once you concede, you cannot take it back, even if you immediately regret it. This rule has led to some of the most famous moments in golf history, including Jack Nicklaus conceding Tony Jacklin's final putt at the 1969 Ryder Cup to halve the match, a gesture that became known as "The Concession."
Strategic use of concessions is a key part of match play. Conceding short putts early in the match can lull an opponent into a false sense of security, then refusing to concede a similar putt on a critical hole later can apply immense pressure. Conversely, making an opponent hole everything from the start puts constant pressure on their putting stroke.
Halved Holes and What "All Square" Means
When both players complete a hole in the same number of strokes, the hole is halved. Neither player gains an advantage, and the match status remains unchanged. If the match is level (neither player is ahead), it is described as "all square."
A halved hole can be strategically significant. If you are 1 up and halve the next three holes, you remain 1 up. The player who is behind must win a hole outright to change the match status. This is why players with the lead often shift to a more conservative strategy, trying to halve holes rather than take risks to win them.
What Does "Dormie" Mean in Match Play?
Dormie is a match play term that describes the situation where one player is ahead by exactly the number of holes remaining. For example, if Player A is 3 up with 3 holes to play, Player A is "dormie 3." In this situation, Player A cannot lose the match in regulation because even if they lose the remaining 3 holes, the match would end all square (tied). However, they can still fail to win if the opponent rallies.
The term originates from the French word dormir, meaning "to sleep," suggesting the leading player can sleep easy knowing they cannot lose. When a match is dormie, the pressure shifts almost entirely to the trailing player, who must win every remaining hole to force extra holes. This psychological dynamic makes dormie situations among the most tense in all of golf.
How Match Play Results Are Written
Match play results use a specific notation that can be confusing for newcomers. The result is expressed as the margin of victory and the number of holes remaining when the match ended:
| Notation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 3 & 2 | Won by 3 holes with 2 holes remaining (match ended on hole 16) |
| 1 up | Won by 1 hole after all 18 holes were played |
| 5 & 4 | Won by 5 holes with 4 remaining (match ended on hole 14) |
| 19th hole | Match was tied after 18, decided on extra holes |
How Strategy Differs Between Match Play and Stroke Play
Risk and Reward
In stroke play, you play against the course and every stroke matters. A conservative approach protects against big numbers. In match play, you play against your opponent, and the maximum you can lose on any hole is one hole regardless of how badly you play it. This means you can afford to take bigger risks, especially when you are behind. Going for a par 5 in two shots or attacking a tucked pin makes more sense in match play because the downside is limited.
Playing Your Opponent
In stroke play, you should largely ignore what your playing partners are doing. In match play, your opponent's position directly influences your decisions. If your opponent is on the green in regulation and you are in a bunker, you might play aggressively to try to get up and down. If your opponent has already made double bogey, you can play conservatively and just ensure you make bogey or better to win the hole.
Recovery from Bad Holes
A quadruple bogey in stroke play adds four extra strokes to your total and can effectively end your chance of winning. In match play, a quadruple bogey costs you exactly one hole, same as a bogey against your opponent's par. You can immediately reset and compete fully on the next tee. This psychological resilience is why match play specialists can appear to perform inconsistently in stroke play events.
Order of Play Matters
In match play, the player who is farther from the hole plays first. Watching your opponent hit first provides valuable information about club selection, wind conditions, and green speed. If your opponent misses the green right, you know to favor the left side. This informational advantage does not exist in stroke play under "ready golf" protocols.
Where Each Format Is Used in Professional Golf
Major Stroke Play Events
The Masters, U.S. Open, The Open Championship, PGA Championship, The Players Championship, and nearly all regular PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and LPGA events use stroke play. The FedEx Cup playoffs, Korn Ferry Tour events, and all four women's major championships also use stroke play as their standard format.
Major Match Play Events
The Ryder Cup (USA vs Europe), Presidents Cup (USA vs International), Solheim Cup (women's USA vs Europe), WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, Walker Cup (men's amateur), and Curtis Cup (women's amateur) all use match play. The U.S. Amateur and British Amateur also feature match play brackets after stroke play qualifying rounds.
How Handicaps Work in Each Format
In stroke play with handicaps, each player's course handicap is subtracted from their gross score to determine their net score. The player with the lowest net score wins. Handicap strokes are distributed across the 18 holes according to the stroke index.
In match play with handicaps, the higher-handicap player receives the difference in handicaps as extra strokes. For example, if Player A has a course handicap of 10 and Player B has a course handicap of 22, Player B receives 12 strokes, allocated to the 12 hardest holes on the course. On those holes, Player B's gross score is reduced by one stroke for the purpose of comparing scores. The lower handicap player always plays off scratch (no strokes received).
Track Both Formats in Golf Scorecard App
Golf Scorecard App supports both match play and stroke play scoring. For stroke play, the app tracks your total strokes, calculates your score relative to par, and provides hole-by-hole statistics. For match play, you can record scores for both players and the app automatically tracks the match status, showing who is up or down after each hole.
Whether you are playing a casual weekend match against a friend or competing in a stroke play club championship, the app handles all the scoring so you can focus on your game. Handicap strokes are applied automatically when enabled, making net scoring effortless in both formats.
Score Any Format with Ease
Golf Scorecard App supports stroke play, match play, Stableford, and more. Track every round, see detailed stats, and improve your game regardless of the format you play.
