How to play skins: rules, carryovers and examples
In skins, each hole is worth a skin and the lowest score wins it only if nobody ties it. When a hole is tied, the skin usually carries to the next hole, so one outright winner can collect several at once.
- Players: 2 to 5 players
- Also called: skins game, carryover skins
- Teams: Every player for themselves
- Scores needed: Every player's score on each hole
Each golfer's score on every hole. Nothing else.
Win holes outright, with no one tying your score.
How to play Skins
- Agree the value of one skin and whether you play gross or net. Net with strokes off the low is the usual choice.
- On each hole the lowest score wins the skin, but only if it is not tied. Two or more players tied for low means nobody wins it.
- If carry is on, the unwon skin rolls to the next hole and the next outright winner takes all the skins riding.
- Decide what happens to skins still riding after the last hole: void, split, awarded to the last winner, or settled by countback.
- Each winner collects the skin value from every other player for every skin they won.
A worked example with numbers
Four players, 2 per skin, net scores. Holes 1 and 2 are tied for low, so the skins carry. On hole 3 Ann makes a net 3 and nobody else does better than 4.
Three skins are riding (holes 1, 2 and 3), so Ann wins 3 skins. Each of the three other players pays her 2 per skin, so she collects 3 x 2 x 3 = 18. Hole 4 starts fresh at one skin.
Options and defaults
These are the rules groups change. The first column is the setting, the second is what Hole19Tally starts with, and the last says what it changes.
| Option | Default | Choices | What it changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value per skin (or ante in a fixed pot) | 1 | 1, 2, 5, 10 | What one skin is worth, or the ante when the pot is fixed. |
| Tied hole | carry | carry, dies | Whether a tied hole carries its skin to the next hole or dies. |
| Value model | per skin | per skin, fixed pot | Fixed pot: everyone antes once and the pot is divided by skins won. |
| Skins unclaimed after the last hole | void | void, split, last winner, countback | What happens to skins still riding after the last hole. |
| Gross or net | net | net, gross, both | Whether scores are gross, net or both are tracked. |
| Strokes | off the low | off the low, full | Whether strokes come off the lowest player or from the full handicap. |
| Handicap allowance (%) | 100 | 100, 95, 90, 85 | How much of each Course Handicap is used. |
| Natural beats net | off | off, on | When net scores tie, the lower gross score wins the skin. |
| Validation | off | off, on | The winner must make net par or better on the next hole or the skin goes back to the carry. |
| Birdie multiplier | off | off, on | A skin won with a gross birdie or better counts double. |
| Escalation | flat | flat, back nine, custom | Whether later holes are worth more: flat, back nine, or your own per-hole values. |
| Custom value per hole | None | Your own values | Your own value for each hole when escalation is custom. |
| Pick-up | out | out, net double | How a hole not finished is recorded. |
Common disputes
Do skins carry over?
In the app they do by default. Turn carry off and a tied hole simply dies.
What happens to skins left after 18?
The default is that they are void. Groups also split them, give them to the last winner, or use a countback. Agree it on the first tee.
What is validation?
An optional rule that the winner must make net par or better on the next hole to keep the skin. If not, the skin goes back to the carry.
Does a net tie lose to a better gross score?
Optionally. With "natural beats net" on, a tie on net score is won by the lower gross score.
Can a birdie be worth more?
There is an option for a gross birdie or better to count double, and an option for holes to be worth more later in the round.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I lose in skins?
At most the skin value from you for every skin the others win, so with a 2 skin and 18 skins in play that is 36, which you can see with the skins carryover calculator.
What is a fixed pot skins game?
Everyone antes once and the pot is divided by the number of skins won, instead of each skin being paid at a fixed value.
Are skins gross or net?
Either. Net with strokes off the low is the default; gross and a both mode are options.
Can five people play skins?
Yes. The scorekeeper handles two to five players in one game.
Is Hole19Tally a betting app?
Hole19Tally is a scorekeeper. It records scores, works out strokes and shows who owes whom, but it never holds, moves or takes a share of money, and it is not a gambling service. Players settle up directly with each other.
Score it in Hole19Tally
Hole19Tally keeps the score for Skins, applies the handicap strokes and shows who owes whom. Hole19Tally is a scorekeeper. It records scores, works out strokes and shows who owes whom, but it never holds, moves or takes a share of money, and it is not a gambling service. Players settle up directly with each other.
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