Doubles

Definition: Doubles is a disc golf format in which two players compete together as partners, typically playing a shared score on each hole rather than maintaining separate individual scores. Doubles uniquely combines teamwork, complementary skill sets, collaborative decision-making, and competitive scoring distinct from standard singles play. The most common doubles format is “best shot” doubles, where both partners throw from each lie and the team selects the preferred result before both players throw again from that location. Because doubles reduces some of the individual pressure present in singles competition while encouraging aggressive scoring opportunities, it often creates a more relaxed, experimental, and highly interactive style of play that remains popular across both recreational and competitive disc golf communities. Variations include alternate shot, worst shot, and best score formats—each introducing different strategic and psychological dynamics.

Why It Matters: Doubles encourages teamwork, strategic collaboration, and aggressive scoring opportunities while players develop confidence, creativity, and competitive experience. Doubles serves as one of the sport’s most important social formats, fostering community interaction, mentorship, and accessible competition for players of varying skill levels.

Term Observations:

Best-shot doubles often encourages more aggressive play because players know a partner’s safer shot can still preserve the team’s position if an attack line fails.
Strong doubles teams frequently consist of complementary skill sets rather than identical playing styles, combining power, precision, putting, scrambling, or strategic strengths.
Communication and strategic coordination can become surprisingly important during competitive doubles rounds, particularly on difficult risk/reward holes.
Random-draw doubles leagues are popular because they encourage community interaction.
Players use doubles as an opportunity to experiment with more aggressive lines, specialty shots, or unfamiliar discs they might avoid during singles competition.
Experienced players frequently mentor developing players during doubles rounds by discussing strategy, disc selection, and shot execution collaboratively throughout play.
Doubles tournaments create unique strategic decisions regarding the order of throw and which partner should attempt aggressive runs and which should prioritize conservative placement shots.