Handicap in Match Play: How It Works
In individual match play you use 100% of your Course Handicap — not the 95% used in strokeplay — and the difference between the two players' Playing Handicaps is given as strokes on the lowest Stroke Index holes. The lower handicapper plays off zero, the higher handicapper receives the full difference hole by hole.
Match play handicap: different rules than strokeplay
Match play applies handicap differently from every other format. Unlike strokeplay or Stableford — which both use 95% of your Course Handicap — individual match play uses the full 100%, and strokes are assigned hole by hole according to the Stroke Index rather than deducted from a total score at the end of the round. This makes knowing which specific holes carry your strokes just as important as knowing how many you have.
What percentage of Course Handicap is used
According to the official WHS allowances table (USGA/R&A approved), the Course Handicap percentages for match play formats are:
| Format | % of Course Handicap |
|---|---|
| Individual Match Play | 100% |
| Four Ball (Better Ball) | 85% |
| Foursomes (Alternate Shot) | 50% of combined handicap |
Note: In individual strokeplay and individual Stableford, the percentage is 95%, not 100%. It's a common mistake to assume strokeplay and match play use the same allowance.
How to calculate your Playing Handicap in individual match play
- Calculate your Course Handicap:
round(HI × Slope / 113 + (Course Rating − Par)) - Apply 100%: in individual match play, your Playing Handicap = Course Handicap (rounded to the nearest integer).
- In the head-to-head, the lower-handicap player plays from 0. The other player receives the difference between the two Playing Handicaps as extra strokes.
Example: Player A with Playing Handicap 12, Player B with Playing Handicap 20. Player A gives strokes. Player B receives 8 strokes (20 − 12) distributed across 8 holes.
Which holes carry the extra strokes
Strokes are not distributed evenly. Each hole has a Stroke Index (S.I.), numbered from 1 to 18. Hole with S.I. 1 is the hardest to concede; S.I. 18 is the easiest.
If you receive 8 strokes, you receive them on the 8 holes with the lowest Stroke Index (1 through 8). On those holes, your net par is one stroke better than your opponent's gross par.
The Stroke Index is printed on the course scorecard and often on the tee markers.
Strategy: how to use your strokes well in match play
Unlike strokeplay, in match play what matters is winning holes, not accumulating the fewest total strokes. This changes strategy dramatically:
- On holes where you receive a stroke, you can take more risk — you already have a one-stroke advantage over your opponent.
- On holes where you don't receive a stroke, losing the hole isn't catastrophic as long as you win more than you lose overall.
- If your opponent has already lost the hole (e.g., they're lying many), play conservatively and secure the halve.
Four Ball (Better Ball): 85% of Course Handicap
In Four Ball, each player calculates their own Playing Handicap at 85% of their Course Handicap. The difference is then applied against the lowest handicapper in the group — that player receives 0 strokes, and the others receive the difference on holes by Stroke Index. For the full breakdown — including how the allowance differs between strokeplay (85%) and match play (90%) four-ball, worked examples, and hole-by-hole shot allocation — see handicap allowance in four-ball better ball.
Foursomes (Alternate Shot): 50% of combined handicap
In Foursomes, the two players on each side combine their Course Handicaps and apply 50%. The result is the team's Playing Handicap. The difference between the two teams' Playing Handicaps is then distributed by Stroke Index in the same way.
Example: Side A has HI 10 and 14 → combined CH ~24 → 50% = 12. Side B has HI 20 and 28 → combined CH ~48 → 50% = 24. Side B receives 12 strokes (24 − 12) distributed by Stroke Index.
What if handicaps are equal or you play off plus?
When both players have the same Playing Handicap, the match is played at scratch — no strokes are given or received on any hole. If you hold a plus handicap (better than zero), you give strokes to your opponent instead of receiving them. For example, a +2 Playing Handicap against a 10 Playing Handicap means the +2 player gives 12 strokes (10 − (−2) = 12) on the 12 lowest Stroke Index holes. The principle is identical: the difference between the two Playing Handicaps determines the strokes, and they are always applied on the holes with the lowest Stroke Index numbers.
Keep reading: Playing Handicap vs Handicap Index · match play · Golf Gross vs Net Score
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of my Course Handicap do I use in match play?
Individual match play uses 100% of your Course Handicap as your Playing Handicap. Four Ball uses 85% and Foursomes uses 50% of the combined Course Handicaps.
How do I work out how many strokes I give or get in a match?
Calculate each player's Playing Handicap (Course Handicap at 100% for singles). The lower handicapper plays from zero; the higher handicapper receives the exact difference as extra strokes distributed by Stroke Index.
Which holes do my extra strokes apply to?
Strokes are allocated on the holes with the lowest Stroke Index numbers — if you receive 8 strokes, you get them on S.I. 1 through 8. The Stroke Index is printed on the scorecard and tee markers.
How does handicap work in Four Ball better ball match play?
Each player calculates a Playing Handicap at 85% of their Course Handicap. The lowest handicapper in the group plays from zero and the others receive the difference on holes by Stroke Index.
How is handicap calculated for Foursomes alternate shot match play?
Add the two partners' Course Handicaps together, take 50% of that combined total for the side's Playing Handicap, then apply the difference between the two sides by Stroke Index.
Do I get strokes on the same holes if the match ends early?
Yes. Strokes are always assigned to the lowest Stroke Index holes regardless of how many holes are played. If the match ends on the 14th hole, you only receive strokes on the S.I. holes that were actually played.
How do I mark the scorecard to show where I get strokes?
Put a small dot or tick next to the hole number on the scorecard for each stroke you receive. On holes where you get a stroke, your net score is one better than your gross — so a gross 5 becomes a net 4 for the hole result.
What happens if my Course Handicap changes between rounds of a match-play event?
Your Playing Handicap for the match is fixed at the start of the event based on the Course Handicap at that time. Mid-event handicap revisions do not change the strokes you give or receive in matches already underway.
Can I choose not to take a stroke on a hole?
No. In match play, handicap strokes are mandatory on the allocated holes — you cannot decline a stroke to 'save it' for later. The stroke is applied automatically to your net score on that hole.