How to Play Alternate Shot Golf (Foursomes): The Format That Separates Real Partners from Riding Buddies

Alternate shot — also called foursomes — is a two-person team format where partners share a single ball, taking turns hitting shots until the hole is complete.

One player hits all tee shots on odd-numbered holes, the other hits all tee shots on even-numbered holes, and you alternate every shot in between.

This is the format you’ve watched during the Ryder Cup and thought to yourself, “How do they not kill each other?” — and it’s one of the most strategically rich formats in golf.

What Is Alternate Shot (Foursomes)?

Alternate Shot (officially called “Foursomes” in the Rules of Golf) strips the game down to its most collaborative and most brutal form. Two players. One ball. No hiding.

You’re often not cleaning up your own mess. Your partner is. Which means that thin 7-iron you just hit into the bunker? That’s your partner’s problem now.

Alternate Shot builds camaraderie, tests composure, and has a way of revealing exactly how much patience you have for another human being — all in one round.

It’s most commonly played as Match Play: two teams of two competing hole by hole, but it works in Stroke Play as well.

Game Setup

Now that you know what you’re in for, let’s make sure you set it up correctly before you even tee it up on the first hole.

Number of Players

Alternate Shot requires exactly two players per side. Matches are played between two sides, making for a total of 4 players on the course.

Interestingly, there is a three-player version of Alternate Shot as well — called Threesomes — more on this later.

Tee Order

Before the round begins, partners decide which player will tee off on the 1st hole. This decision locks in the tee shot rotation for the entire round. The player who hits first on hole 1 also hits first on all odd-numbered holes. Their partner hits first on all even-numbered holes.

Tip: This is not a trivial decision. Look at the scorecard before you commit. Where are the long par 5s? Where are the tight driving holes? Which holes require a precise iron off the tee? Do your best to match your strongest driver and best iron player to the holes where those skills matter most.

Choose Your Format

Alternate shot is traditionally played as Match Play, where each hole is won, lost, or halved — the score on the hole doesn’t get logged, just the outcome. (Pace matters more than usual here since you’re sharing a ball — a quick etiquette refresher goes a long way.)

The side that completes the hole in fewer total strokes wins the hole. The match is decided by who leads after all holes are complete — not cumulative score.

It can also be played as Stroke Play, where total strokes over 18 holes determine the winner.

Handicaps

Alternate shot uses a combined team handicap, not individual handicaps. Here’s how it works… (If you’re overwhelmed after reading this, don’t worry: we made this easy for you by creating a format-specific golf handicap calculator.)

The team handicap in alternate shot is calculated as 50% of the combined Course Handicaps. Add both players’ Course Handicaps together, take 50%, and round to the nearest whole number — that’s your team handicap.

For Match Play, both sides calculate their team handicap the same way. The lower-handicap side plays off 0 (scratch), and the higher-handicap side receives strokes equal to the full difference between the two team handicaps.

In Stroke Play, each team subtracts their full team handicap from their gross score to determine their net score.

Note: Scores in Alternate Shot do not count toward individual USGA handicaps, since you’re not playing your own ball throughout the round.

How to Play: Rules & Scoring

Per Rule 22 of the Rules of Golf, the following rules govern Alternate Shot (Foursomes) play.

Teeing Off

• The player whose turn it is to tee off must hit from the teeing area for that hole.
• Partners alternate tee shots throughout the round based on the rotation established on hole 1.

Playing Each Hole

• After the tee shot, partners alternate hitting the same ball until the ball is holed.
• If Player A tees off, Player B hits the second shot, Player A hits the third shot, and so on.
• The ball is played as it lies. No playing the ball up.

Order of Play and Penalty Strokes

• Penalty strokes do not change who hits next. If your team incurs a penalty, the player whose turn it was still hits the next shot. The order doesn’t shift. If one partner hits it out of bounds, the other partner hits the next shot.
• In Match Play: if partners play out of order (i.e., the wrong player hits), the side loses the hole.
• In Stroke Play: playing out of order results in cancellation of that shot plus a 2-stroke penalty, and the correct player must replay. In an official tournament, failure to correct this before teeing off on the next hole results in immediate disqualification.

Winning in Match Play

• The side that completes the hole in fewer strokes wins the hole and goes 1-up.
• If both sides complete the hole in the same number of strokes, the hole is halved.
• The match is won by the side that is up by more holes than remain to be played — for example, winning 3&2 means you’re 3 holes up with only 2 remaining.

Winning in Stroke Play

• Add up the total strokes (team strokes, not individual) over 18 holes. Lowest combined score wins.

Sharing Clubs

This rule is kind of weird, but it’s actually an official rule for the game. Partners may share a set of clubs as long as the combined total does not exceed 14 clubs. It’s not necessary to share clubs though. Each partner can also play with their own 14 club set.

Example Hole (par 4)

Shot	Player	Result
Tee shot	Player A	230 yards, fairway
Second shot	Player B	155 yards, on the green, 20 feet left
Putt	Player A	Lag putt to 2 feet
Putt	Player B	Holes out
Score		4

Clean. Simple. Unless Player B had left that lag putt 8 feet short — in which case, Player A is now standing over a knee-knocker that their partner created. Welcome to Alternate Shot.

Game Variations

Alternate Shot has spawned several offshoots worth knowing, especially if you want to ease newer players into the format.

Greensomes (Scotch Foursomes): Both players tee off on every hole. The team selects the better drive, and then plays alternate shot from there. This is a noticeably more forgiving version because you always get two cracks at the tee shot — the hole’s most high-pressure shot — before committing to one ball.

Bloodsomes (Gruesomes): Same structure as Greensomes, except the opposing team chooses which tee shot your team has to play. It’s as diabolical as it sounds. Your opponent watched both tee shots and is going to make you play the one you least want. Don’t schedule this for a friendly round with people you want to stay friends with.

Chapman (Pinehurst): Both players hit tee shots, then each player hits their partner’s ball for the second shot. After two shots each, the team selects the better ball and plays alternate shot from there. It’s a great hybrid that gives everyone more swings per hole while still rewarding teamwork.

Threesome: A single player takes on a two-person Alternate Shot side. The solo player plays their own ball; the pair plays one ball, alternating shots. Only played using Match Play. It’s a cool format for an odd-numbered group and gives the single player a real challenge.

Tips & Strategies for Foursomes

This is where Alternate Shot separates the thoughtful teams from the ones who are four-putting on hole 3 and barely speaking by hole 7.

Winning Strategies

Assign tee shots strategically, not randomly. Before the round starts, look at every hole and figure out which player should tee off where. If your partner bombs it 300 and you’re a reliable 220-yard hitter, you want your partner teeing off on the long par 5s — not the par 3s where distance doesn’t help you. This one decision can be worth 2–3 strokes over the round.

Know your partner’s strengths and play to them. If your partner is a scrambling wizard from 100 yards and in, you can afford to be a little more aggressive off the tee on their approach holes. Set up the hole for their best shot, not yours.

Play the same ball in practice and casual rounds. If you typically play a Pro V1 and your partner plays a Kirkland, pick one before the tournament and practice with it. Feel, spin, and distance control differ enough between ball models to affect your game.

Communicate before tee shots, not after. Quick, calm conversations — “I’m going to lay up here, put you in the fairway short of the bunker” — keep both players in sync and prevent the psychological spiral of a miscommunication turning into three bad holes.

In Match Play, know when to take the par and move on. Alternate Shot is not the format for hero golf. When you’ve got a shaky lie and a tough pin, putting your partner in a difficult spot to make birdie is almost always the wrong call. Take the safe play, make the par, and let your opponents make the mistake.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Misunderstanding what a penalty stroke does to the order of play. This is the most common rules confusion in Alternate Shot. Penalty strokes don’t change whose turn it is — they’re added to the score but the alternating sequence continues as if the penalty didn’t happen. Get this wrong in Match Play and you lose the hole.

Trying to play Alternate Shot for the first time in a tournament. It sounds ridiculous but it happens constantly. The format feels completely different from regular golf. You’re only hitting half the shots, you have to stay engaged for your partner’s shots, and the rhythm is unlike anything you’re used to. Play a casual round first.

Letting a bad hole snowball emotionally. In individual Stroke Play, a bad hole affects your score. In Alternate Shot, a bad hole can damage your relationship for the next four holes, if you let it. Partners who blame each other mentally — even if they never say anything — start making tense decisions and playing defensive golf. Stay neutral and stay present.

Choosing the wrong player for the wrong holes. Not assigning tee shot duties strategically is the single biggest strategic error recreational players make in this format. Spend five minutes on the scorecard before the round. It’s worth it.

Forgetting that you can talk to each other between shots. Partners are allowed to discuss strategy, club selection, and reads throughout the round. A lot of casual players don’t fully take advantage of this, essentially playing two solo rounds instead of one coordinated team effort.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between Alternate Shot and a Scramble?

In a Scramble, both players hit every shot and the team picks the best one each time. It’s a low-scoring, beginner-friendly format. In Alternate Shot, there’s only one ball in play and you don’t get to choose the best shot. Whatever your partner hit, that’s what you’re dealing with. Alternate Shot is significantly harder and more mentally demanding.

Can Alternate Shot be played with 3 players?

Yes, through a variation called a Threesome. One player plays their own ball against a two-person Alternate Shot team. Only available in Match Play format. The single player competes hole by hole against the combined score of the pair.

Do penalty strokes change who hits next?

No. Per Rule 22 of the Rules of Golf, penalty strokes do not affect the order of play. The rotation continues as if the penalty shot never happened — only the stroke count increases.

How do handicaps work in alternate shot?

In standard Alternate Shot , the team handicap is calculated as 50% of the combined Course Handicaps of both players. Add the two Course Handicaps together, take 50%, and round to the nearest whole number.

In Match Play, the lower-handicap side plays off 0, and the higher-handicap side receives strokes equal to the full difference between the two team handicaps.

Why do European teams dominate alternate shot at the Ryder Cup?

Since 1993, Europe has built a substantial lead in Ryder Cup Foursomes matches — winning 7 of 8 in 2023 alone. European golfers grow up playing Alternate Shot far more regularly at the club level, which gives them a comfort and rhythm with the format that most American golfers simply don’t have. Familiarity with Alternate Shot is a real competitive advantage.

Final Thoughts

Alternate Shot is one of the purest tests in golf. There’s nowhere to hide, no bail-out of playing your own ball out of trouble, and no ignoring what your partner just did.

That shared accountability — that moment when you step up to your partner’s chunky lie in a fairway bunker on 17 with the match on the line — is the kind of golf that you actually remember years later.

Try it this weekend. Even casually, even without a formal match.

One round of alternate shot will tell you more about how you and your partner actually play golf than a hundred scrambles ever could. And if you want a slightly more forgiving entry point, start with Greensomes.

Other Golf Games You’ll Love

Golf Games Hub is home to every golf game imaginable. Explore our various collections of golf games:

• Traditional Golf Games
• Fun & Social Golf Games
• Points-Based Golf Games
• Betting Golf Games
• Drinking Golf Games

Below are a few of our hand-picked favorites for your consideration.

Four-Ball — The head-to-head team format where every player plays their own ball and the better score on each hole counts for the team. It’s the easier, higher-scoring counterpart to alternate shot — and exactly why Ryder Cup captains treat the two formats completely differently when they’re building pairings.

Nassau breaks the round into three separate bets—front nine, back nine, and overall—keeping matches alive from start to finish. With presses and momentum swings, it’s one of the most competitive and widely played formats in golf.

Stableford flips traditional scoring by rewarding points instead of counting total strokes. Birdies and pars earn you points, while bad holes don’t completely ruin your round, making it fast-paced and ideal for mixed skill levels.

Vegas is a high-stakes team format where scores are paired into two-digit numbers instead of added together. A team shooting 4 and 5 makes 45, which is compared against the other team’s number. With swings amplified—and optional twists like the “birdie flip”—Vegas can get wild in a hurry.

We add new games every week, so come back again soon. Your new favorite way to play awaits.

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