If you’ve ever walked past a group of golfers and heard someone say, I’m 2 up on you, or watched a Ryder Cup captain sweat over a dormie match, you’ve stumbled upon the language of match play. This dynamic head-to-head format is a fantastic change of pace from standard golf scoring and requires a totally different mindset. This guide will explain exactly what one up means, break down all the associated terms, and give you the strategic insights you need to excel in this exciting format.
Before we can understand what "one up" is, we need to understand the game it belongs to: match play. Most of the golf you see and play is likely stroke play. In stroke play, your goal is to record the lowest possible score over 18 holes. Every single stroke counts toward your final total, and a disaster on one hole - a dreaded 9 or 10 - can sink your entire round. You’re competing against the course and everyone else in the field.
Match play flips this on its head. Instead of counting total strokes, you compete against a single opponent on a hole-by-hole basis. Think of it as a series of 18 individual contests. Your goal is simply to score lower than your opponent on each hole. If you shoot a 4 on a hole and your opponent shoots a 5, you win that hole. The total score doesn’t matter - whether you won with a birdie or a bogey is irrelevant. All that matters is that you won the hole.
This is the fundamental beauty of match play. If you have a terrible hole and make a 10, while your opponent makes a 4, you don’t lose by six strokes. You simply lose that one hole. You can then walk to the next tee with a clean slate, ready for a fresh start. This forgiving nature makes match play a favorite for golfers of all skill levels.
Because you're not writing down a running total of scores, match play has its own unique vocabulary to keep track of who is winning. Once you learn these simple terms, the format becomes incredibly easy to follow.
This is the most common phrase you'll hear. Being "one up" (1 up) simply means you have won one more hole than your opponent has won. The score reflects the current lead, not a total number of holes won.
You’ll often see this written on scorecards or TV graphics as "2 UP" on player one's side and "2 DN" on player two's side.
This is simply the other side of the coin. If your opponent is "1 up" on you, then you are "one down" (1 down) in the match. It's the same score, just viewed from your perspective.
When the match is tied, it is said to be "all square." This means both you and your opponent have won the exact same number of holes. This is the starting point of every match and the score you return to any time the player who is "down" wins a hole to even things up. It's often abbreviated as "A/S".
When you and your opponent tie on a hole (you both score a 4, for instance), the hole is "halved." Nothing changes in the overall score of the match. If you were "1 up" going into the hole and you halve it, you are still "1 up" walking to the next tee.
This is a an exciting and high-pressure situation in a match. A player is "dormie" when their lead is equal to the number of holes remaining. For example, if you are "3 up" with only three holes left to play (the 16th, 17th, and 18th), you are "dormie 3."
This means your opponent is in a must-win situation on every single hole just to tie the match. If you halve just one of the remaining holes, you win the match. It creates intense drama, as the leading player needs to just avoid losing, while the trailing player has to play flawlessly.
One of the true distinctions of match play is the ability to concede. You can concede your opponent’s short putt, telling them to pick it up without having to actually make it. This is usually done for putts inside a couple of feet to maintain a good pace of play. However, you can also concede an entire hole at any point if, for example, you hit two shots out of bounds and have no realistic chance of winning.
A match play contest doesn't always go the full 18 holes. The match is over as soon as one player has built an insurmountable lead. The final score is notated in a specific way that tells you how much the winner won by and on which hole the match concluded.
Let's look at some common final scores:
If the match is "all square" after 18 holes, the players typically head to the first hole for sudden-death extra holes. The first player to win a hole wins the entire match.
Match play is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. Since you’re playing a person and not just the course, your strategy needs to be flexible. Here’s how to think like a match play champion.
This is the golden rule. In stroke play, you stick to your game plan regardless of others. In match play, your opponent's actions directly influence your decisions.
The state of the match dictates your risk tolerance.
Giving your opponent a short putt is polite, but it can also be a weapon.
Don’t automatically concede a hole just because you hit a poor shot. Golf is an unpredictable game. Make your opponent complete the hole and earn the win. If you’re in the bunker and they are on the green, focus on hitting a great sand shot. You never know when they might three-putt under pressure, allowing you to steal an unexpected half.
Winning the first hole and going "1 up" immediately sends a message. It puts you in control and forces your opponent to play catch-up from the start. Focus intently on that first hole - stick to the fairway, find the green, and try to secure a par. It might be all it takes to grab an early advantage and dictate the tempo of the entire match.
Understanding "one up" and the other terms is your gateway to enjoying match play, one of golf's most thrilling formats. It’s a game of momentum, psychology, and direct competition, where a single bad hole won’t ruin your day and every new tee offers a fresh opportunity to get ahead.
Navigating the constant strategic shifts of match play is what makes it so exciting, but also demanding. Making the right call - when to play aggressively versus conservatively - is tough in the heat of battle. That’s why we built Caddie AI to act as your on-demand strategist. You can get a a smart recommendation on club selection and hole strategy in seconds, giving you the kind of expert insight that helps you make confident decisions and keep the pressure squarely on your opponent.
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