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What Are Strokes In Golf?
Stroke play is a type of golf game where players go up against everyone else in a competition. They keep track of their total scores for one or more rounds, with the big tournaments lasting four rounds. In individual stroke play, players must finish every hole. They add up their scores for each hole in all rounds to get their final score. Let's say a course has a par of 71 over four rounds (284), so If a player shoots 279 over those four rounds, they end up five-under-par, or -5. The player with the lowest total score wins the tournament. Stroke play is the most common format in golf as big tournaments, including all four majors, The Open Championship, The Masters, The US Open, and The PGA Championship use stroke play.
Also Check: What Is A Bogey In Golf?
What Does Stroke Play Mean In Golf According To The Rule Book?
The Official Rules of Golf, in Rule 3-1 define stroke game as:
‘’A stroke-play competition consists of competitors completing each hole of a stipulated round or rounds and, for each round, returning a scorecard on which there is a gross score for each hole. Each competitor is playing against every other competitor in the competition’’.
The USGA and R&A, the bodies that govern golf, gave this definition of "stroke" in the rule book that was valid through the end of 2018:
A 'stroke' is the forward movement of the club made with the intention of striking and moving the ball, but if a player checks his downswing voluntarily before the clubhead reaches the ball he has not made a stroke.
The USGA and R&A also change the Rules of Golf on a regular basis, with this recent revision of 2019. According to the Rule 1.2, 2019 Rules of Golf (USGA and R&A):
‘’A stroke is made when a player is manually striking the ball with a club. For Rule 3.1 and relief stroke, it is also a stroke when a shot is made on purpose even if the ball struck is not taken or when a shot that is made on purpose with a practice swing during the practice period, results in a contact with the ball’’.
The rule book uses "playing a ball" to mean the same thing as a stroke. The player's score on a hole or a round is expressed as the number of "strokes" or "strokes taken" (i.e., the total number of strokes plus strokes taken as penalty strokes).
Check Out: Rules of Foursomes You Need to Know.
Keeping Score in Stroke Play
In stroke play, golfers tally each shot they take on a hole until the ball goes into the cup. They write these numbers on their scorecard. After the round, they add up the shots used on each hole to get their total strokes, which makes up the gross score. When a golfer has a handicap index, they change it into a course handicap. This gives them handicap strokes to use while playing the round. In case, a golfer has a course handicap of 12, he is entitled to minimise the gross score by 12 strokes at the end of the game. For example, an 88 gross is 12 handicap strokes less, yielding a 76 net score.
Stroke play is a straightforward golf game; whatever way you try to think of it. Count the strokes, sum them up, and then compare your score to the scores of all the other golfers in the contest.
Making the Cut
Pro tournaments include 'cut', in a four-round (72-hole) event, they make the cut after two rounds or 36 holes. Since many big tournaments start on Thursdays, they make the cut on Friday – the players who make the cut get to play on the weekend.
The total number of players advancing or making the cut can differ. This changes between different competitions. In a big PGA Tour event, the top 65 players, plus any tied scores, move on after the first two rounds. All players scoring above the 'cut line' don't make it. Then, they leave the tournament for good. Sometimes, but not often, there's another cut after 54 holes. This extra cut might be needed if too many players make it through the first one. In a pro tournament, the cut helps decide who gets prize money, while also cutting each group to two players to keep the event moving.
Golf Match Play Vs Stroke Play
Match play is a different game compared to stroke play. In stroke play, golfers add up their strokes for all 18 holes. The golfer who takes the fewest shots by the end of the round wins. Match play uses a different scoring system. Each hole becomes its own contest. The player who needs fewer strokes on a single hole wins that hole; the player who wins more holes takes the match.
The total number of strokes for 18 holes doesn't count in match play. Stroke play puts a player against the course; match play puts one player against another, or one team against another. You have one opponent to beat - the one you're facing in your current match.
Strokeplay, a medal competition, has a simple scoring system. Players count their total shots, and the one with the fewest shots wins. In a gross competition, the total shot count determines the winner. For a nett competition, the player's handicap allowance adjusts their total shots. This gives the nett score, and the player with the lowest nett score comes out on top. Strokeplay competitions are more common than match play ones because they take less time to finish. Match play involves several rounds where players get eliminated.
The difference between the two forms of penalties are:
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In match play, hitting out of turn can put at the opponent's mercy. They can choose to make golfers redo the shot in the right order counting that attempt - even if their first try was better. But in stroke play, there's no penalty for playing when it's not your turn, though it's seen as impolite.
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Starting a game by teeing off from the wrong spot, outside the teeing ground, has different consequences. In match play, your rivals can force you to take the shot again from the correct place. But in stroke play, you'll get a two-stroke penalty for this mistake. If the ball hits someone or something during a match, take another shot from the original spot. But in a stroke play tournament, a player has to hit the ball from where it comes to a stop.
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When on the putting green, hitting another ball with a putt won't result in any penalties during match play. However, in stroke play, this action will lead to a two-stroke penalty for the player.
How Is Stroke Play Used In Clubs And Handicap Competitions?
Strokeplay is used for the majority of golf tournaments and on the professional PGA Tours where all players are treated as equal with a handicap of zero. In their case, the cumulative four-round score is used to determine the winner, with the lowest total taking the winner’s trophy. In the case of a tie, there is typically a playoff over a pre-determined number of holes, or until one of the competitors does better than his opponent/s on any given hole.
Within golf clubs, strokeplay used for ‘medal’ competitions is usually held once a month. But in such competitions, unlike professional tours, handicaps are used and it is nett scores that are mostly counted. If a 10 handicapper scores a gross of 81 on a par 72 course, his nett score will be 71 (81 minus 10). If his opponent, one handicapper, scores a gross 73, the nett score is 72 (from 73 minus one) and he is defeated by a 10 handicapper. Handicap allowances are important changes that offer fairness in the various versions of games, in the form of stroke play and match play.
What Are the Benefits Of Strokes In Golf?
Stroke play stands as the most common scoring method in golf because almost every golfer has kept track of their total scores during a round. This system forms the foundation for handicap calculations, thus allowing players with different skill levels to compete against each other - a benefit almost unique to golf. One drawback is that a single bad hole can ruin your entire game round. In different kinds of individual competitions, organizers set a 'maximum score' of 95% to include players of different strategies and skills. Let's say a golfer is playing with an 18 handicap, it would give one stroke per hole. And if any player takes 10 strokes on a par four (six over par), he or she will have to play the remaining 17 holes with 12 strokes left in the handicap.