Skins

Win the hole outright or the pot grows

2–12 playersIndividual

How It Works

Each hole is worth one "skin." To win it you must post the lowest score on that hole outright — a tie means nobody wins that hole (with Carryover on, its skin rolls to the next hole). The total pot (every player's bet-per-round) is divided among the skins actually WON, so each skin pays pot ÷ skins won — fewer skins won means each one is worth more.

Options & Variations

Scoring: Gross, Net or Both — two separate skins games, each with its own ante and pot (default Net). Net unlocks Index on Low HC (on) and a handicap percentage (0/50/75/85/100%, default 100), plus Stroke allocation Full or Half. Carryover (default on) rolls a tied hole's skin forward so the pot builds. You can also set a Max Score cap (birdie/par/bogey, gross or net) and a Validation requirement (low score / birdie / par): the winner must back the skin up on the NEXT hole or it is voided, and the pot is split over the skins that survive.

Payouts

The bet-per-round (default $20) is the total each player puts up; it splits across skins won. Net play uses standard USGA stroke allocation, so a course handicap over 18 earns a second stroke on the hardest holes — leveling players of different skill.

In theStick

Setting up Skins: stakes, handicaps and the game's own options.

Skins results after 18 holes, settled automatically.

Pro Tips

Carryover makes late holes extremely high-stakes — one clean win can sweep a built-up pot.

A validation requirement (e.g. birdie-to-validate) stops easy pars from claiming skins.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do skins payouts work?

Each hole is worth one skin, and the pot divides by the skins actually WON — so with four players at $20 each and 8 skins won, each skin pays $10 of the $80 pot. Win a hole outright and that skin is yours; tie and nobody wins it.

What does carryover mean in skins?

With carryover on, a tied hole's skin rolls forward, so the next hole is worth two skins, then three, and so on until somebody wins a hole outright. Late in a round with several carried skins, a single clean par can swing half the pot.

Do you play skins with handicaps?

Both ways are common. Net skins applies each player's course handicap using standard stroke allocation (a stroke on the holes where you get one), which keeps mixed-ability groups honest. Gross skins is a straight low-score contest better suited to similar handicaps.

What is a validation rule in skins?

A validation requirement makes the winner back a skin up on the NEXT hole — in theStick: low score, birdie or par on that hole — or the skin is voided and the pot is split over the skins that survive. It stops a lucky one-off from collecting a skin.

What happens to skins nobody wins?

Without carryover, a tied hole's value simply stays in the pot and every won skin is worth proportionally more (the pot divides by skins actually won). With carryover, a tied hole's skin rolls forward instead. Skins still carried at the end are never won, so the pot is simply divided over the skins that were; if nobody wins a skin at all, no money moves.