Golf App
for Skins
How bagboy runs skins automatically — carryovers, gross vs net, real-time results, and settlement.
bagboy runs skins so you do not have to
bagboy is the best app for running a skins game in golf. Set the per-skin value, choose gross or net scoring, and enter scores hole by hole. bagboy tracks carryovers automatically, determines the winner of each skin in real time, and settles who owes who at the end of the round. No mental math, no paper tracking, no parking-lot arguments. Download bagboy free on the App Store.
For a full breakdown of skins rules, carryover math, and variations, see the complete skins guide.
Setting up skins on bagboy
When you create a round on bagboy, you add skins as one of the games. Here is what you configure:
Per-skin value
Set the dollar amount each skin is worth. Common values are $1, $2, $5, or $10 per skin. This is what each player pays to the winner of each skin. In a foursome playing $5 skins, winning one skin means collecting $5 from each of the other three players ($15 total).
Gross or net
Choose whether skins are determined by gross scores (no handicap) or net scores (with handicap strokes applied). Net skins levels the playing field for groups with mixed handicaps. bagboy applies strokes to the correct holes automatically based on the course's stroke index -- the keeper just enters gross scores regardless of which mode you choose.
Carryover rules
By default, ties carry to the next hole. If the last hole ties, carried skins go to the last outright winner. Some groups prefer that final-hole carryovers stay dead. bagboy lets you configure this before the round starts.
Once configured, the keeper does not think about skins again during setup. Everything runs from the scores they enter on the shared scorecard.
What skins look like during the round
As the keeper enters scores, the skins game updates in real time. Every player sees: who won each skin (or if it carried), the carryover count, running skin totals, and the stakes on the current hole. Three carries plus the current hole means four skins on the line -- at $5/skin in a foursome, that is $60 to the winner.
On paper, you might know a skin carried but not how many are riding. On bagboy, the exact number is on your screen before you tee off.
How bagboy handles carryovers
Carryovers are the part most groups get wrong when tracking manually. bagboy automates the entire sequence: tie detected, skin carries forward, carries stack through consecutive ties, and an outright win clears the entire stack. If the 18th hole ties, bagboy applies the rule you configured at setup -- carried skins go to the last outright winner, or they stay dead.
Why this matters. In a manual skins game, carryover tracking is where errors happen. Someone forgets a carry from three holes ago. bagboy eliminates these errors because the carry count is computed from the scores, not remembered by a person.
Gross vs. net: when to use each
bagboy supports both gross skins and net skins. Here is when to use each:
| Format | Best For | How bagboy Handles It |
|---|---|---|
| Gross skins | Groups where everyone is within 5 strokes of each other | Raw scores compared directly. No stroke adjustments. |
| Net skins | Groups with a range of handicaps (10+ strokes apart) | Handicap strokes applied to the correct holes via stroke index. Keeper enters gross scores; bagboy calculates net for skin determination. |
Most groups with mixed skill levels should play net skins. Without handicap adjustments, the lowest-handicap player wins the majority of skins. Net skins gives higher-handicap players a realistic chance on every hole where they receive a stroke.
Settlement at the end
After the last hole, bagboy shows the skins settlement. It breaks down:
- Skins won by each player. The total number of skins each player won, and which holes they won them on.
- Net payout. What each player won or lost in total. In a foursome at $5/skin, if Player A won 7 skins and Player B won 3, Player A's net is +4 skins ($20 net from each opponent).
- Combined settlement. If you are running skins alongside a Nassau or other games, the settlement screen combines everything into one net total per player. You see one number: what you owe or what you are owed.
bagboy is a scorekeeper. It shows the numbers. It does not hold, transfer, or pay out money. Your group settles however you normally do.
Full round example
Four players: Alex (10 handicap), Ben (5), Chris (18), Dana (12). Playing net skins at $5/skin.
| Hole | Alex Net | Ben Net | Chris Net | Dana Net | Result | Stack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | Tie (A/B/D) -- carry | 2 |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | Alex wins | 1 |
| 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | Tie (B/C) -- carry | 2 |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | Chris wins | 1 |
| 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | Ben wins | 1 |
Through 5 holes: Alex has 2 skins (holes 1-2), Chris has 2 skins (holes 3-4), Ben has 1 skin (hole 5). At $5/skin in a foursome, Alex has collected $30 from the group so far (2 skins x $5 x 3 opponents). bagboy shows all of this in real time, without anyone having to calculate it.
Running skins with other games
Skins pairs naturally with other games, and bagboy runs any combination simultaneously. Skins + Nassau is the most popular pairing -- consistency wins the Nassau, individual brilliance wins skins. Skins + wolf adds a team dynamic on top. Skins + dots (greenies, sandies, barkies) rewards the shot, not just the score.
One set of scores. The keeper enters once. Every game calculates from the same data.
Frequently asked questions
How many players can play skins on bagboy?
Two to twelve. Skins works best with three to six players. With more players, ties happen more often, leading to longer carryover chains and bigger payouts when someone finally wins outright.
Can I play skins without stakes?
Yes. Set the per-skin value to $0 and play for bragging rights. The carryovers, winners, and leaderboard all still work.
What about individual skins games within a larger group?
On bagboy, skins run for the whole group on the scorecard. If you want a separate skins game between just two players in a foursome, set up a match play game between those two instead.
Can I change from gross to net after starting?
Choose your format before the round starts. Changing mid-round would affect results retroactively, so bagboy locks the setting once the first score is entered.
Run your skins game on autopilot.
Carryovers tracked, winners determined, settlement calculated. Enter scores and let bagboy do the rest. Free on iPhone.
Download bagboy →