Worst Ball Golf Game: Rules of the Training Format
Worst Ball is the most unforgiving training format in golf: on every hole, you play two balls side by side — two tee shots, two second shots, two putts — and it is always the worse of the two that goes on the card. A par with one ball and a triple bogey with the other? The triple counts. So there is no hiding behind a lucky shot or a fortunate bounce: to score well, you have to pull off every shot twice in a row, without exception. The final score adds up these worse scores hole by hole, in stroke play, and the fewest strokes wins. The format works very well on your own, alongside regular practice, or with up to 4 players comparing how solid their games are. It is not an official competition format: it is a tool — and a remarkably effective one — for finding out where your game really stands.
How to play Worst Ball, hole by hole
- Play 2 balls at the same time on every hole. Tee shot, approach shots, putts: each ball is played into the hole, independently of the other.
- At the end of the hole, only the worse of the 2 scores is kept. However good the other ball was: if one finishes with a par and the other with a triple bogey, the triple bogey goes on the card.
- Repeat over all 18 holes. No hole is played just for fun: every mistake, even with only one of the two balls, weighs on the final score.
- Add up the worse score on each hole. The final score is the sum of these scores, in stroke play — the official format.
- The lowest total wins the round. Compare your score with the other players, or track your own progress if you are playing alone.
Hole 1: Léa holes her first ball in 4, but the second in 6 → 6 kept. Hole 2: she makes 5 and 4 → 5 kept. Over 18 holes, every mistake weighs twice as much as in a normal round: Léa finishes on 89 strokes, Karim on 93 strokes. Léa wins, thanks to flawless consistency with both her balls.
| Hole | Ball 1 | Ball 2 | Score kept |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| 2 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| … | … | … | … |
| 18-hole total | 89 (Léa) |
Why serious players love Worst Ball
There is no hiding behind a lucky shot: to score, you have to pull off every shot two times out of two. It is the most honest test of how solid a game is, and that is why it is so popular with players preparing for a competition — it puts its finger exactly where the game still wobbles.
Strategy tip
Only play the shots you pull off two times out of two: forget the flag and aim for the middle of the green with one more club, even if it leaves a longer putt. And on the green, give both balls your full attention right to the end: it is the three-putt with the second ball that ruins a hole, never the birdie with the first.
Frequently asked questions
How do you score Worst Ball?
Each player plays 2 balls at the same time over the whole hole, from the tee shot to the final putt. At the end of the hole, only the worse of the two scores goes on the card. The final score is the sum of these worse scores, in stroke play: the fewest strokes wins. A variant awards 1 point per hole won, outright or tied — handy when one player runs away with it.
Why is Worst Ball so demanding?
Because no good ball can make up for a bad one: to score, every shot has to come off twice. A lucky shot with one of the two balls is no use if the other one fails, which makes it the most honest test of how solid a game really is.
Can you play Worst Ball on your own?
Yes — like Stableford, Stroke Play or Against Par, Worst Ball works very well solo to work on your consistency. It can also be played with up to 4 players, each handling their 2 balls independently.
Is Worst Ball an official competition format?
No, it is not an official competition format. It is first and foremost a training tool, especially popular with players preparing for a competition who want to put their game under maximum pressure.
Every format on a single page: step-by-step rules, a worked example, the points scale and a strategy tip — to read the night before a round or to print. The free sample covers 10 formats, including the 5 you can play for free in the app; Worst Ball is in the complete guide.
Download the free sample →PDF · 14 pages · direct download, no email needed · the complete guide covers all 41 formats
The format that forgives no mistakes
Enter the scores of your 2 balls: the Game of Swing app automatically keeps the worse one on every hole and updates the total live. Worst Ball is waiting in the catalogue of 41 formats — with 5 free games to get you started.
Try the app for free → 5 free games, no account required — on your phone and computerGot a game in mind? A house variant to share? The app grows with every update — send us your idea, the best ones join the catalogue.