What’s the difference between match play and stroke play?
One of the aspects of golf that can confuse beginners is the scoring system. The two most common scoring methods in golf are stroke play and match play. In this blog, we’ll explain the key differences between these two scoring systems to help you better understand how they work and when each is typically used.
Stroke Play: The Solo Quest for Par
Stroke play, sometimes referred to as medal play, is the most common scoring system in golf. It is the format used in most professional tournaments. In stroke play, your goal is to complete the round in as few strokes as possible. Each golfer is playing against the golf course, trying to achieve the lowest score over a predetermined number of holes, which is usually 18.
Here's how stroke play works:
Counting Strokes: For each hole, you record the number of strokes it takes to get the ball into the hole. If you take three shots on the first hole, your score for that hole is three.
Cumulative Scoring: At the end of the round, you add up your scores from each hole to get your total score for the round.
Winner: The golfer with the lowest total score at the end of the round is the winner. The winner is the one who completes the course in the fewest strokes.
Ties: In stroke play, ties are often decided by sudden-death playoffs, but there can also be shared victories.
Match Play: The Head-to-Head Battle
Match play is a different approach to golf scoring - it's more about beating your opponent rather than your total score for the round. In match play, you compete against a single opponent, and your goal is to win more individual holes than your opponent during the round. The player who wins the most holes wins the match.
Here's how match play works:
Hole-by-Hole Scoring: Instead of counting strokes, you compare your score on each hole to your opponent's. The golfer with the lower score on a particular hole wins that hole. For example, if you score a 5 on the hole and your opponent scores a 7, then you win the hole and you’re one up. It doesn’t matter how many strokes you beat them by on the hole, there’s only one point per hole.
Winning the Match: To win the match, you must win more holes than your opponent. Once you've won enough holes to secure victory (for example, if you're ahead by more holes than there are remaining), the match ends.
Ties: In match play, ties on individual holes can result in "halved" holes, meaning no one wins that particular hole. Halved holes don't affect the outcome of the match.
When to Use Each Scoring System:
Now that you get the fundamental differences between stroke play and match play, let's discuss when each scoring system is typically used:
Stroke Play: Stroke play is the go-to format for most recreational rounds and club tournaments. It's all about personal performance and shooting your best score. You can track your progress and see how you improve over time.
Match Play: Match play is often used in team events, such as the Ryder Cup, or in friendly competitions. It adds an element of strategy and psychological pressure, as you're trying to outperform your opponent on a hole-by-hole basis.
In summary, stroke play is about minimizing your total strokes over the entire round, while match play is about winning individual holes against your opponent. As a beginner, you can experiment with both formats to see which one you enjoy the most and which one helps you improve your golf game. Happy golfing!
Another great way to improve your game is to join us for a learning clinic - we offer both summer and winter indoor options. Click here to find one near you!
