Mini Golf — 1v1 Physics Putting Duel

How to play Mini Golf

1. 1Sign in, open the lobby and press Play to face a live opponent, or take a free practice match against the bot.
2. 2Choose your angle, then set your power between 0 and 100%.
3. 3Take the shot. Your ball travels, loses speed to friction each frame and bounces off the walls at a reduced speed.
4. 4Keep shooting until your ball is in the cup — a whole turn at the hole is yours to finish.
5. 5Once you have holed out, your opponent gets the tee and plays their own ball to the same cup.

Rules

• A match is five holes, and the first player to win three holes takes it.
• Each seat plays its own ball. One player takes a complete turn at the hole, shooting until holed out, before the other player tees off.
• Both players must hole out before a hole is scored. That is deliberate: it lets a trailing player's strokes count, so a one-stroke lead can still be levelled.
• The only player-authored inputs are the shot's angle and its power (0–100).
• Every hole on the ramp is a different difficulty tier, and the hole layout and the ball physics are generated and simulated server-side.

Scoring — what decides the winner

• A hole is won by the player who took fewer strokes to hole out.
• A hole where both players take the same number of strokes is a tie and awards neither player a hole win.
• The first player to win three of the five holes takes the match.
• If the match finishes without either player reaching three hole wins, the holes played decide it.

Strategy and tips for Mini Golf

• Treat power as the primary skill. Friction eats the ball's speed every frame, so an overcooked shot rattles around the rails and leaves you a long second putt.
• Use the rails deliberately. A bank shot is often the shortest route to a cup that is blocked by a direct line, and the walls return a predictable fraction of the speed.
• Play the safe two-putt when the direct line is gone. Strokes are what win holes, so a clean positional shot beats a heroic one that misses.
• Mind the tail end of the ramp. The five holes get progressively harder, so protect a lead on the easy holes rather than chasing a perfect score on the hard ones.
• Watch your opponent's line. You play the same hole to the same cup, so the shot they just missed is information about the line that does not work.

What it tests

Mini Golf tests geometric aiming and power control against a deterministic physics simulation. Because both players face the identical course, the difference is entirely in touch.

Mini Golf FAQ

How many holes is a match?

Five, and the first player to win three holes takes it.

Do we share a ball?

No. Each seat plays its own ball, taking a whole turn at the hole at a time — you keep shooting until you hole out.

Why do both players have to hole out before a hole is scored?

So a trailing player's strokes still count. If the hole ended as soon as the leader finished, a one-stroke lead could never be pulled back.

What can my shot actually control?

Only the angle and the power, from 0 to 100. Everything after that — friction, bounces, whether the ball drops — is decided by the server's simulation.

Is it free to play?

Yes. Nothing is wagered; ranked results move your Elo and trophies for this game.

Related games

• Pool MastersEight-ball pool against a live opponent on a physics-driven table. Six pockets, full foul rules, and an aim guide that shares its verdict with the referee.
• Tower ArenaHead-to-head block stacking: pieces fall onto the tallest support beneath them and lock in place. Force your opponent into a placement that crosses the ceiling.
• PrecisionA hidden target time is rolled for every round. Stop your rocket as close to it as you can — best of five rounds, first to three wins.
• Four-In-A-RowThe classic drop-the-disc duel on a 7-column, 6-row board. Take the centre, build two threats at once, and get four in a row before your opponent.

Getting better at Mini Golf

• How Reaction Time Affects Competitive PlayWhat reaction time really measures, why anticipation beats raw reflexes, how display and input delay quietly cost you milliseconds, and where timing decides a GRYND match.
• How to Practice for Competitive GamesHow to practice deliberately rather than just play more: choosing one skill, using AI practice as a rehearsal room, measuring something real, and avoiding autopilot repetition.