Best Ball Golf Format
In best ball golf, each player on a team plays their own ball all the way into the hole, and the team counts only the lowest score on each hole. With two-player teams, the official name is four-ball, and it's also often called better ball.
It's one of the friendliest team formats: your bad hole doesn't matter if your partner makes a par.
How four-ball works
- Players pair up into teams of two.
- Everyone plays their own ball from tee to hole, exactly as in a normal round.
- On each hole, the team's score is the better of the two partners' scores.
- In stroke play, add up the team's hole scores for a total. In match play, the team with the better ball wins the hole.
Four-ball match play is one of the formats in team events such as the Ryder Cup, alongside alternate shot. For the difference between those two team styles, see alternate shot and foursomes golf.
A worked example
Two partners, Sam and Alex, play nine holes of four-ball stroke play.
| Hole | Par | Sam | Alex | Team score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 5 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 4 |
| 6 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 7 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| 8 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
| 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Total | 32 | 36 | 40 | 33 |
On their own, Sam shot 36 and Alex 40. As a team they scored 33, one over par: Alex's 7 on hole 5 simply didn't count.
Four-ball rules worth knowing
Four-ball has its own section in the Rules of Golf (Rule 23). The key points:
- Partners can play in any order they like.
- One partner can pick up if their score can't help the team on that hole. This keeps the round quick.
- Penalties are usually individual. If one partner breaks a Rule, it normally affects only their score on that hole, not their partner's.
- Partners can give each other advice, and look at each other's lines.
- In stroke play, the card must show whose score counts on each hole, so the committee can check it.
Handicaps in four-ball
For handicap events, each player gets a share of their own course handicap. The World Handicap System recommends a handicap allowance, commonly 85% for four-ball stroke play and 90% for four-ball match play, though the committee running the event can choose its own. Each player then receives strokes on the holes indicated by the stroke index. If you're new to that, read golf handicap explained.
Variations on best ball
| Format | How it's scored |
|---|---|
| Four-ball (two-player best ball) | Lower of the two partners' scores counts on each hole |
| Four-player best ball | Teams of four, lowest single score on each hole counts |
| Two best balls of four | Teams of four, the two lowest scores on each hole are added together |
| Best ball Stableford | Partners each score Stableford points, and the higher points total on each hole counts |
Don't confuse best ball with a scramble. In a scramble, everyone hits, the team picks the best shot, and all players play their next shot from there. In best ball, every player plays their own ball the whole way. Our scramble golf rules guide explains the difference in detail.
Tactics for best ball
- Let the steadier player go first and play safe, so the other can take on the flag.
- Don't both take risks on the same hole. Someone needs to make the par.
- Know your partner's score before you putt, so you know how aggressive you can be.
Try it in Mashy
Mashy is easy to turn into a four-ball. Pair up with a friend, both play the Daily course (the pins and wind are the same for everyone that day), then compare scorecards hole by hole and take the better score on each. Two pairs can play a full four-ball match this way, with the Clubhouse showing everyone's daily scores. For more ideas, see golf games to play with friends remotely.
Frequently asked questions
Is best ball the same as four-ball?
Mostly, yes. Four-ball is the official Rules of Golf name for two-player teams where each partner plays their own ball and the better score counts. Best ball is the casual name and is sometimes used for teams of three or four players too.
Is best ball the same as a scramble?
No. In best ball, each player plays their own ball from tee to hole and the team takes the lowest score. In a scramble, everyone hits, the team chooses the best shot, and all players play from that spot, so there's only one team ball in play.
What handicap allowance is used in four-ball?
The World Handicap System recommends 85% of each player's course handicap for four-ball stroke play and 90% for four-ball match play. The committee running the competition can set a different allowance, so check the event terms before you play, especially at club and society days.
Can you pick up in best ball golf?
Yes. If your partner has already finished the hole with a score you can't beat, you can pick up, and only their score counts. It speeds up play and is perfectly within the Rules, as long as the team still has a score for the hole.
What is a good four-ball team score?
Because each partner covers the other's bad holes, four-ball team scores are usually several shots lower than either player's own score. A team of two players who usually shoot around bogey golf might expect to finish noticeably closer to par.