How many strokes do I get in match play?
In handicap match play the lower handicap plays off scratch and everyone else receives the difference. Here is how to work out your strokes and which holes they fall on.
The difference method
Handicap match play uses relative strokes, not full ones. The lowest course handicap in the match plays off scratch, and every other player receives the difference between their course handicap and that lowest one.
If your course handicap is 18 and your opponent’s is 10, they play off scratch and you receive 8 strokes. Nobody receives 18.
Which holes your strokes fall on
Strokes are allocated by stroke index — the 1-to-18 difficulty ranking printed on every scorecard. Receiving 8 strokes means one stroke on each hole indexed 1 through 8.
If you receive more than 18, you take a second stroke starting again from stroke index 1.
A stroke only matters on the hole where it falls. Taking a stroke on stroke index 3 turns your gross 5 into a net 4 on that hole and nowhere else.
| Player A | Player B | |
|---|---|---|
| Course handicap | 10 | 18 |
| Strokes received | 0 (plays off scratch) | 8 |
| Where the strokes fall | — | Stroke index 1 through 8 |
| Net score, gross 5 on SI 3 | 5 | 4 |
Full or reduced allowance
Recommended allowance for singles match play is 100% of the difference. Some competitions reduce this, and four-ball match play commonly uses 90%, so check the terms of your event before you tee off.
Doing this on BirdieConnect
BirdieConnect applies USGA net allowances to match play automatically. It works out who plays off scratch, allocates strokes by stroke index, and shows the net result on every hole so nobody has to do the arithmetic on the tee.
Common questions
- Does the low handicapper get any strokes in match play?
- No. The lowest course handicap in the match plays off scratch, and everyone else receives the difference between their handicap and that lowest figure.
- What if I get more than 18 strokes?
- You take a second stroke on the hardest holes, starting again from stroke index 1. A 24-stroke difference means one stroke on every hole plus a second on stroke index 1 through 6.
- How do I know which holes I get strokes on?
- Use the stroke index row on the scorecard, which ranks the holes 1 to 18 by difficulty. Your strokes fall on the lowest-numbered indexes first.