Tournament & Competition

Formats & Doubles

Singles, doubles and alt-shot — how each works.

Why it matters

Casual disc golf is played in several formats and knowing them means you can join any group without needing it explained. Doubles in particular is how most people first play competitively, and it is both the friendliest introduction and genuinely good practice.

How to do it

Singles: everybody plays their own disc, lowest total wins. This is the default.
Best-shot doubles: partners both throw, pick the better lie, and both throw again from there. The most common casual format.
Alternate shot: partners take turns throwing the same disc, which makes position far more important.
Worst-shot doubles: you play from the WORSE of the two lies, which is punishing and excellent practice.
Know whether your format is handicapped, and how, before you start.

Common mistakes

Both partners playing it safe in best-shot doubles.One safe, one aggressive. That is the whole advantage of the format and most pairs never use it.

Treating alternate shot like singles.Every throw hands a position to your partner. Think about where you are leaving them, not just about your own shot.

Not asking the format before starting.Ask on the first tee. It takes a sentence and it decides how you play every hole.

Key points

Doubles (best-shot) is the most common casual format.
Alt-shot and worst-shot add strategy and pressure.

The drill

Drill · One safe, one attacking — 1 round of best-shot doubles, deciding the order on every tee. Play a doubles round where you explicitly agree before each hole which of you throws safe and which attacks — and have the safe one throw first. Most pairs have never done this and it is where the format’s advantage actually lives.

Watch: How to Play Doubles in Disc Golf | Disc Golf Tips and Tutorials — Robbie C Discgolf