Official Rules of Disc Golf
Appendix B: Doubles and Team Play
Last updated: Sunday, December 31, 2023 - 19:29
B.01 General
- A doubles team consists of two players. Alternative formats with different team sizes are possible and can be extrapolated from these rules.
- The Official Rules of Disc Golf are to be used except where superseded by these rules.
- For the purposes of team scoring, team shall be substituted for player in section 808, Scoring.
B.02 Order of Play
- The throwing order for the first hole is the order in which the teams are listed on the scorecard(s). Throwing order on all subsequent tees is determined by the scores on the previous hole, so that the team with the lowest score throws first, and so on. Ties do not change the throwing order.
- After all teams have a lie other than the teeing area, the team whose lie is farthest from the target is next in the throwing order.
- Members of a team who are throwing from the same lie may throw in either order.
B.03 Penalties
- Penalties incurred by a throw apply only to the team member who made the throw. All other warnings and penalties are incurred by the team as a whole and are scored against the team regardless of format.
- Any throw which cannot possibly improve a team's score is an extra throw. A team whose member has made an extra throw receives a warning for the first violation, and a penalty throw for each subsequent violation by any member of the team.
B.04 Lie
- In formats where both team members throw from the same lie, a team member who throws from a lie other than the lie played by the first member to throw receives one penalty throw for misplay.
- A lie being played by both team members must be marked using the same marker disc. Failure to do so is a marking violation.
- If a lie being played by both team members is relocated for any reason, both members must play from the relocated lie.
B.05 Formats
- Best Throw
- Both team members throw from the teeing area. The team then chooses which of the two positions to play from for the next throw. Both team members throw from the resulting lie, and the team again chooses which of the two positions to play from, and so on.
- A team completes a hole when either team member completes the hole.
- The score for a team on a hole is the number of throws for the lies that were played, plus any penalty throws.
- If a team picks up a thrown disc before a lie has been chosen or marked with a marker disc, the team may not choose that throw. If a team picks up both thrown discs without a lie having been marked, the second disc to have been picked up is replaced to its original position as agreed upon by the group, and the team must play from the resulting lie.
- If one team member is absent, late, or ceases play, the other team member may play, but no throws are made on behalf of the missing team member. A late team member may join play only between holes.
- Modified Best Throw
- Modified Best Throw is the same as Best Throw, with the following variation: The Director may set a limit on when the team may use each member's tee throw. The team receives two penalty throws each time that limit is exceeded.
- Worst Throw
- Both team members throw from the teeing area. The team's opponents then choose which of the two positions the team will play from, with the goal of maximizing the team's score on the hole. Both team members throw from the resulting lie, and their opponents again choose which of the resulting positions the team will play from, and so on.
- A team completes a hole when all team members complete the hole from the same lie.
- The score for a team on a hole is the number of throws for the lies that were played, plus any penalty throws.
- If a team picks up or marks a thrown disc before their opponents have chosen a lie, the disc is replaced to its original position as agreed upon by the group. The opponents then choose between the resulting lie of the moved disc, the lie of the other disc, and the previous lie as the lie for the moved disc.
- If the opponents choose a clearly favorable lie, they may be disqualified by the Director.
- If a team member is absent, late, withdraws, or is disqualified, the team is disqualified.
- Tough Throw
- Tough Throw is the same as Worst Throw, with the following variation: A team completes the hole when any team member completes the hole.
- Alternate Throw
- The team chooses which member makes the first throw on the first hole. Each team member then throws from the lie resulting from the previous team member's throw, and so forth.
- A team completes a hole when either team member completes the hole.
- The score for a team on a hole is the number of throws by that team, plus any penalty throws.
- A throw by the incorrect team member is a misplay and incurs one penalty throw. The throw is disregarded, and the correct team member throws. If an additional throw has been made after the incorrect team member has thrown, the team receives two penalty throws, and play continues.
- For any re-throw from the same lie, the same player makes the re-throw.
- The team receives a score of par plus four on any hole missed by a late or absent team member. If either team member withdraws or is disqualified, the team is disqualified.
- Modified Alternate Throw
- Modified Alternate Throw is the same as Alternate Throw, with the following variation: The Director may designate which team member makes the first throw on each hole.
- Best Score
- Each team member plays the hole as an individual player.
- A team completes a hole when a team member completes the hole with the lowest potential score for the team.
- The score for a team on a hole is the lowest score on the hole by either team member, including any penalty throws incurred by that player, plus any team penalty throws.
- Best Score Alternate Throw
- Each team member throws from the teeing area, which starts two sequences of Alternate Throw.
- A team completes a hole when either sequence of Alternate Throw completes the hole with the lowest potential score for the team.
- The score for a team on a hole is the lower of the scores for the two Alternate Throw sequences, including any penalty throws incurred during that sequence, plus any team penalty throws.
Outline of Contents
Disc Golf Rules and Standards
- Overview
- Official Rules of Disc Golf
- 800 Description of the Game
- 801 Application of the Rules
- 802 Throwing
- 803 Obstacles and Relief
- 804 Regulated Routes
- 805 Regulated Positions
- 806 Regulated Areas
- 807 Completing the Hole
- 808 Scoring
- 809 Other Throws
- 810 Interference
- 811 Misplay
- 812 Courtesy
- 813 Equipment
- Appendix A: Match Play
- Appendix B: Doubles and Team Play
- Appendix C: Resources
- Appendix D: Conversions
- Appendix E: Index
- Appendix F: Adaptive Rules of Disc Golf
- Questions and Answers
- Competition Manual for Disc Golf Events
- Translated Rules of Disc Golf
- Becoming a PDGA Certified Rules Official
- Tour Standards
- Technical Standards
- Disc Golf Rules History