What Is High Low in Golf?

Heard the term High-Low bandied about on the golf course and felt like you were out of the loop? You're not alone. It's one of many golf tournament formats that sounds a bit confusing at first but is actually one of the most popular and enjoyable ways to play team golf. This article will break down exactly what a High-Low format is, how it’s played, a few common variations, and most importantly, simple strategies to help you and your partner have a blast and maybe even take home some hardware.

What Exactly Is a High-Low Golf Format?

First, let's clear up the biggest point of confusion. The term "High-Low" more frequently refers to how teams are formed rather than a specific set of scoring rules. At its core, it’s a method for pairing a golfer with a high handicap (a 'High') with a golfer with a low handicap (a 'Low') to create balanced, competitive two-person teams. This system is designed to prevent two scratch golfers from teaming up and running away with the tournament, making the event more fun and equitable for everyone involved.

How the Pairings Work

Tournament organizers using a High-Low system will typically:

1. Gather the full list of participants and their handicap indexes.
2. Rank every player from lowest handicap (the best players) to highest handicap.
3. Split this list directly down the middle. The top half becomes the "A" players or "Lows," and the bottom half becomes the "B" players or "Highs."
4. Pair one player from the "Low" group with one player from the "High" group. This could be done randomly or by a drawing, for example, pairing the #1 ranked "Low" player with the #1 ranked "High" player, and so on.

The result is a field of teams with a similar combined handicap, which creates a level playing field. From there, the tournament organizer will announce the scoring format that these High-Low teams will use for the day. While there are variations, the most common is a Two-Person Best Ball.

The Basic Rules of a High-Low Game (Often Played as a Two-Person Best Ball)

When someone invites you to play in a "High-Low," it’s highly likely you’ll be playing a format called Two-Person Best Ball, sometimes known as a Better Ball or Four-Ball. It’s popular because it’s easy to understand, and it allows both players to contribute without putting too much pressure on either partner.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to how it works:

• Step 1: Play Your Own Ball. Forget scrambles where you pick the best shot. In Best Ball, you and your partner each play your own golf ball from the tee until it’s in the hole, just as you would during a regular round. You’re playing your own game the whole way.
• Step 2: Note Your Gross Scores. At the end of the hole, you’ll both have a gross score (your actual number of strokes). Let’s say you made a 4 and your partner made a 6.
• Step 3: Apply Handicap Strokes. This is where things get interesting. Before you tee off, you should have identified which holes you each get a handicap stroke on. This is marked by the "Handicap" or "HCP" line on the scorecard (a '1' is the hardest hole, '18' is the easiest). If it's the 3rd hardest hole (HCP 3), and you are a 10 handicap, you get one stroke. If your partner is a 22 handicap, they get two strokes (one for being under 18, and another for being over 18, so they get a stroke on the 4 hardest holes too, 18+4=22). Your 4 becomes a net 3. Your partner’s 6 becomes a net 4.
• Step 4: Take the Best Score. The team’s score for that hole is simply the lower of the two net scores. In our example, your net 3 beats your partner's net 4. So, you write down "3" on the team scorecard for that hole.
• Step 5: The Grand Total. You repeat this process for all 18 holes. At the end, you add up the 18 team scores to get your final tournament total.

A Real-World Example

Imagine you’re Paul (a 9 handicap) and your partner is Sarah (a 24 handicap). You're playing the 5th handicap hole.

• Paul gets one handicap stroke on holes rated 1 through 9 hardest.
• Sarah gets one stroke on all 18 holes, plus a second stroke on holes rated 1 through 6 hardest (24 - 18 = 6).
• On this hole, Paul gets one stroke, and Sarah gets two.
• Paul hits a great approach and makes a par 5. His net score is a 4 (5 - 1).
• Sarah struggles a bit but makes a solid 6. Her net score is also a 4 (6 - 2).
• Because the scores are tied, you use one of them. The team score is 4. Even though Paul played technically better, Sarah’s clutch stroke gave her the exact same net score, demonstrating her value to the team. This is what makes the format great!

Common Variations and Other Team Formats

While Best Ball is the most common use for High-Low pairings, tournament directors sometimes spice things up with different formats. It's always good practice to ask about the specific rules before you tee off!

High-Low with Aggregate Score

This is a much more demanding format where you add both players' net scores together on each hole for a team score. Using our example above, if Paul made a net 4 and Sarah made a net 4, the team's Aggregate Score for the hole would be an 8. This version requires both teammates to be "on" because a single blow-up hole by one player can sink the team's chances. It heavily favors consistency over flashes of brilliance.

Pinehurst or Chapman System

This is a creative alternate-shot format that truly emphasizes teamwork.

1. Both players tee off.
2. Player A walks over and hits Player B's drive. Player B hits Player A's drive.
3. After both second shots are played, the team looks at the two results and decides which ball is in the better position.
4. They pick up the other ball and play alternate shots from the chosen spot until the ball is holed.

The strategy is about giving your partner the best possible next shot.

High-Low Scramble

Though less common for a pure "High-Low" game, sometimes four-person scramble teams are set up using a High-Low pairing concept (an 'A' player, 'B' player, 'C' player, and 'D' player based on handicap). In a scramble, everyone tees off, the team selects the best tee shot, and everyone plays their next shot from that spot. You repeat this until the ball is holed. This format is very low-pressure and fantastic for social or charity events.

Simple Strategy to Win Your Next High-Low Game

Alright, you understand the rules. Now, how do you work together to post a low number? Playing in a High-Low format isn't just about individual performance, it's about smart, collaborative golf.

Talk It Over on the First Tee

Don’t just shake hands and start swinging. Have a quick chat about your games. Who hits it longer? Who has a reliable short game? Are you a steady fairway-finder, or more of a risk-taker? Knowing these things helps you decide on a hole-by-hole strategy. If your partner says, "My wedges are feeling great today," your only job off the tee might be to find the fairway so they can attack the pin.

Play Smart: The "One Safe, One Aggressive" Strategy

This is the classic, time-tested strategy for Best Ball. If Player A hits their drive into the middle of the fairway, Player B now has a "green light" to be more aggressive, perhaps trying to cut a corner or simply swinging for more distance. The same goes for approach shots. If your partner is safely on the green, you can be bolder and aim for the flag. Conversely, if Player A hits it into the trees, Player B's priority is to play conservatively - find the fairway, then get it on the green. Just securing a net par can often win the hole when your partner is in trouble.

If You're the High-Handicap Player: Embrace Your Strokes

Your role is so important. Do not feel pressure to match your low-handicap partner shot-for-shot. Focus on the holes where you get strokes according to the scorecard. On these holes, your goal is to make a "net par." If you get a stroke, making a bogey feels like making a par from a team perspective. A steady round with a handful of net pars from you is incredibly valuable. Your contribution on the day will likely be several net birdies that your low-handicap partner a on their own couldn’t have made.

If You're the Low-Handicap Player: Be the Anchor

Your job is to be the rock. Provide the team with consistency and be in-play on as many holes as possible. This frees your partner to swing more freely without the weight of the entire team on their shoulders. Steady pars provide a fantastic safety net. Also, be a good partner! Offer encouragement, read a putt if asked, and celebrate their good shots. A quick "Great bogey from there, that wins us a net par!" can make all the difference for your partner’s confidence.

Stay Positive and Have Fun

Remember that you're a team. You’ll have holes where you both play great and holes where you both struggle. The beauty of the High-Low format is that you lean on each other. Enjoy the good shots, laugh off the bad ones, and stay positive. The best teams are often the ones who are having the most fun.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, a "High-Low" game is simply about pairing up golfers of different skill levels to foster more balanced competition. It's usually played as a Two-Person Best Ball, a fantastic format that lets both partners contribute without overwhelming pressure, making it one of the most popular ways to enjoy a day on the course with a friend.

Understanding the format is the first step, but having confidence in your course management and shot selection is what truly helps your team. This is precisely why we developed Caddie AI. When your partner is safe and you're contemplating an aggressive line, you can ask for a smart strategy to weigh the risk and reward. If you're stuck in a tricky lie and don't want to let your teammate down, you can snap a photo to get instant, reliable advice on the best shot to play. Our goal is to give you that expert second opinion right when you need it, so you can make smarter decisions and play with more confidence as a team.