There is far more to golf than counting your strokes. A game format is a way of keeping score, and it changes the whole feel of a round: some even out differences in ability (Scramble, Stableford), others put something at stake on every hole (Skins, Match Play), and others are simply fun games among friends (the Wolf, the Rabbit, La Chouette). Click a format for the full rules, and let the free Game of Swing app keep score for you.
📚 41 formats are already explained in English. All 41 can be played in the app and are covered in the PDF guide.
What shall we play?
Depending on how many you are, how much time you have and your handicaps: the right format in two minutes.
🍻 With friends
The classics, the sneakiest, the craziest, the most original.
Read the guide
⚖️ Different abilities
A 12 against a 36, a beginner: formats where anyone can win.
Read the guide
👥 For 2
Match Play, Skins, the Hammer: make every hole a duel.
Read the guide
👥 For 3
La Chouette and the other formats made for three.
Read the guide
👥 For 4
In teams, in alliances, in rotating teams.
Read the guide
⏱️ Over 9 holes
Two hours, not four: formats that keep their bite.
Read the guide
🤝 Scramble, Shamble or Florida?
The differences in one table.
Read the guide
🔁 Greensome, Foursomes or Chapman?
The one-ball formats compared.
Read the guide
🏌️ Livening up a club
Formats that bring players back to competitions.
Read the guide
The essentials — full rules
The 5 formats you can play for free in the app — the best place to start.
Free
🤝 Texas Scramble
Everyone plays their ball, the best one is chosen, everyone plays again. The king of sociable formats.
Full rules
Free
⭐ Stableford
Points based on the gap to par: birdie 3 pts, par 2 pts… The official competition format.
Full rules
Free
🖊️ Stroke Play
Golf in its purest form: total strokes, lowest wins. Your choice: gross or net (handicap deducted).
Full rules
Free
🎱 Four-Ball (4BBB)
Everyone plays their ball, the best score of each team counts. The Ryder Cup format.
Full rules
Free
🏆 Skins
Every hole carries a stake. A tie? It passes to the next hole — and the pressure builds.
Full rules
Individual formats
Your ball, your score — from the official duel to the side game.
🦉 La Chouette
6 points to share out on every hole. THE game for 3 players.
Full rules
🐰 The Rabbit
The best score on the hole “holds the rabbit” and scores 1 point per opponent beaten.
Full rules
🐺 The Wolf
The Wolf picks a partner after the tee shots… or takes on everyone alone. A fourball classic.
Full rules
⚔️ Match Play
The official duel: hole won, hole lost.
Full rules
📊 Against Par
Gross score minus par: whoever is furthest under par wins.
Full rules
🏌️ Holes Won
Every hole is a mini-competition.
Full rules
🐍 The Snake
Most putts on the hole gets the Snake. Woe betide whoever keeps it.
Full rules
🔢 Nines
9 points shared out on every hole between 3 players.
Full rules
🎯 Bingo Bango Bongo
3 points per hole: first on the green, closest to the pin, first in the hole.
Full rules
🃏 Acey Ducey
The best on the hole scores, the worst pays.
Full rules
🧵 Stringball
A bank of centimetres to move your ball. Brilliant with beginners.
Full rules
😬 Worst Ball
2 balls, you always keep the worse one. Extreme training.
Full rules
🎯 Quota
Beat your own points target.
Full rules
🚩 Flag
A stroke budget; when it runs out, you plant your flag.
Full rules
🏅 Dots / Feats
Birdie, chip-in, sandy… every feat earns points.
Full rules
⛳ Bingo Pitch & Putt
Bingo Bango Bongo for par 3s.
Full rules
🛡️ The Defender
One player defends the hole against all the others.
Full rules
🏦 The Banker
Who will dare to take on the Banker on the hole?
Full rules
⚡ 6-6-6
3 different formats in 1 round of 18 holes.
Full rules
🔨 The Hammer
Double the hole's stake by swinging the hammer. Head to head or 2 vs 2.
Full rules
Team & special formats
2 against 2, 1 against 2, rotating teams …
🌴 Florida Scramble
A scramble where the player whose ball is chosen skips the next shot.
Full rules
🤝 Handicap Scramble
The fair scramble: the team handicap is calculated automatically.
Full rules
🏌️♂️ Shamble
Shared best tee shot, then everyone plays their own ball.
Full rules
🔄 Foursomes
One ball per team, hit in turn. Official.
Full rules
🌿 Greensome
Two tee shots, pick one, then alternate shot.
Full rules
😈 Gruesomes
The wicked greensome: your opponents choose your tee shot.
Full rules
💃 Cha Cha Cha
The scoring changes in a cycle of 3 holes.
Full rules
⚖️ High-Low Ball
The team's best AND worst ball both count.
Full rules
🎯 Bingo Bango Bongo Team
Bingo Bango Bongo as a 2 vs 2.
Full rules
➕ The Total (Aggregate)
The sum of the team's scores counts.
Full rules
1️⃣vs2️⃣ Threesome
One player against a team of two. Official.
Full rules
🔀 Threesome Scramble
1 vs 2, scramble style.
Full rules
🔀 Chapman
Two balls, swap, then alternate shot.
Full rules
🔀 Patsome
Better Ball, Greensome, then Foursome: 3 formats in 18 holes.
Full rules
6️⃣ Sixes
Teams rotate every 6 holes.
Full rules
🃏 Mexicaine Las Vegas
Rotating teams and stakes that climb.
Full rules
41 formats, no scorecard
The Game of Swing app keeps score in all of these formats for you: quick entry during the round, a live leaderboard, results and badges at the end. 5 free games to get you started.
Try it for free → Free, no account required — on your phone and computer