Four-Ball golf is one of those games that combines competition and excitement in the best way. You can play your own ball, trust your partner, and work together when it matters most. If you have ever wondered what is four ball in golf, it is a game where two players work together to keep track of the better score on each hole and stay ahead by using smart strategy. This guide will help you learn the rules, how to use handicaps, and other useful tips so you can play Four-Ball with confidence and purpose.
What is Four Ball in Golf?
Four-ball is a team format in which two players work together, each playing their own ball throughout the round. The lower score of the two partners on each hole is what counts for the team’s score. Four-Ball can be played in golf as either a match-play or a stroke-play game. In club tournaments, people often call it “4-ball better ball” (4BBB) or “best ball.”
Why is it Called “Four-Ball”?
The name “Four-Ball” comes from the fact that four balls were in play at the same time during a match. In 1908, the name first showed up in the R&A’s Rule Book. Fourball Stroke Play wasn’t in the Rules until 1952.
How Does the Four Ball Golf Format Work?
Four-ball better-ball is a popular way for teams to play golf. It has been used in the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, Solheim Cup, and other high-level amateur events like the Walker Cup and Curtis Cup.
- “Better Ball” Rule: The idea of “Better Ball” in four-ball golf means that one bad hole by one player won’t ruin the team’s chances. The team can still get a low score on the hole as long as one partner plays well. If player A scores 4 and player B scores 6, the team score will be 4.
- Order Of Play: Partners can choose their own order of play, but the standard etiquette says that the ball farthest from the hole should be played first.
- “Pick Up” Rule: This rule states that a player who is out of the hole must pick up their ball to make the game go faster. This keeps the game going and speeds it up a lot, which is important to think about how long 18 holes of golf can take play without pickups. If a player is several strokes above par while the rest of their team is on the green, they should pick up their ball.
- Giving Advice: In a Four-Ball match, partners on the same team give each other advice on things, including suggestions on club selection, course management, and reading greens.
Four-Ball in Match Play (The Ryder Cup Style)
In Four-Ball in Match Play, two partners play their own balls against two other partners. The side’s score for each hole is the lowest score between the two partners. The team that scores the least on a hole wins that hole. The team that wins the most holes wins the match.
How Scoring Works in Four Ball Match Play?
A team or individual gets one point if they win more holes than their opponent in a four-ball format. If a match ends in a tie after 18 holes, each side gets half a point and there are no extra holes. The first team to get 14.5 points wins. Each match is worth one point. The standard handicap allowance is 90% of each player’s course handicap.
What “1 Up, All Square, 2 & 1” Means?
In four-ball match play, the following words tell you the score, how many holes a team is ahead, and when the match is over.
- 1 Up: A team is ahead by one hole and still has at least one hole to play.
- All Square: The match is tied because both teams have won the same number of holes.
- 2&1: The winning team is two holes ahead with only one hole left to play (the match ends on the 17th hole).
- If a team is 2 up with only one hole left to play, they win the match 2&1. If a team is 1 up on the 18th hole, they are 1 up, and if they win the 18th hole, they win the match 2 up.
Conceding Putts (Gimmies)
In four-ball match play, opponents may concede a putt of any length to a player, counting as one stroke, and this decision is final once communicated. As per Rule 23.6 of the USGA, if it would help their partner, player must not keep playing a hole after their next stroke has been conceded. Once a putt is conceded, it cannot be withdrawn or declined. If a player insists on putting after a concession, it is generally considered poor etiquette.
Four-Ball in Stroke Play (The Club Tournament Style)
In Four-Ball Stroke Play, each partner plays their own ball the whole round. The team’s score for each hole is the lower of the two partners’ gross or net scores. To get a score, only one partner needs to finish the hole. The team with the lowest total score after 18 holes wins.
How Scoring Works in Four Ball Stroke Play
Four-Ball stroke play is a game where partners play as a team. The team’s score for each hole is the lower of the two partners’ net scores. Adding up the best hole scores gives you the total score for the 18-hole round. The standard handicap allowance is 85% of each player’s course handicap.
How to Complete the Scorecard
- Record Individual Scores: For every hole, record the gross score of at least one partner, but it is highly recommended to record the scores of both partners to avoid confusion.
- Find the Counting Score: Clearly mark which player’s score will be used as the team score for that hole.
- Handicap Calculation (Net Four-Ball): When playing with handicaps, the team uses 85% of their course handicap to figure out their net four-ball score. The partners’ lower net score matters.
- Signatures: At the end of the round, at least one partner must sign the card to confirm the scores.
- Disqualification Risk: If the scorecard does not clearly show which partner made which score, or if no score is recorded for a hole, the team may be disqualified.
No Gimmies
According to the official Rules of Golf, “gimmies” (putts that are given) are not allowed in stroke play. Players must hole out every ball to avoid being disqualified. This applies to each player’s ball so that the team score is accurate.
How Handicaps Work in 4BBB?
In Four-Ball Better Ball (4BBB) Match Play, under the World Handicap System (WHS) updated in April 2024, the handicap calculation is designed to create equity by having all players compete against the lowest-handicapped player (the “low man”).
The 85% or 90% Rule
- Match Play: The lowest handicap player acts as the “scratch” player (zero handicap). The other three players receive 90% of the difference between their course handicap and the lowest player’s handicap.
- Stroke Play/Stableford: Players receive 85% of their full course handicap. The team’s score is the best net score of the two partners on each hole.
- Calculation: All players first determine their 18-hole course handicap based on the tees played, then apply the 85% or 90% allowance, rounding to the nearest whole number.
For instance, in a match, if player A has a 10 handicap and player B has a 20, and player A is the lowest in the group, they might play off zero, while player B gets 90% of the 10-shot difference (9 strokes).
Finding the Low Man
In 4BBB (Four-Ball Better Ball) Match Play, the player with the lowest Course Handicap becomes the “scratch” player (0 handicap) for the match. The other three players receive 90% of the difference between their Course Handicap and the low man’s (lowest handicap), with all, including the low player, playing off the SI holes.
Using the Stroke Index
In 4BBB, each player calculates a playing handicap based on 85% (stroke play) or 90% (match play) of their course handicap. Players take strokes on holes ranked by the course’s “stroke index” (SI) row, usually starting with SI 1, 2, 3, etc. The lowest net score between partners on each hole counts as the team score.
For example: If your playing handicap is 12, you receive one stroke on each of the 12 holes with the lowest SI values (1 through 12). If you receive 19 strokes, you get two strokes on SI 1 and one on all others, such as a bogey (5) on a Par 4, SI 6 hole becomes a net par (4).
Step-by-Step 4BBB Handicap Calculation
- Calculate Course Handicaps (CH): Determine the unrounded Course Handicap for all four players based on the tees they played.
- Find the Low Man: Look for the player with the lowest CH.
- Find the Differences: Take the low man’s CH away from the CHs of the other three players.
- Give 90% of the allowance: For each of the three players, multiply the difference by 0.90.
- Round: Round the answer to the nearest whole number. If it’s 0.5, it goes up.
- Assign Strokes: The person with the lowest handicap gets 0 strokes, and the other players get their strokes on the holes that match their Stroke Index (SI) score.
Example:
- Players: A (10 CH), B (18 CH), C (12 CH), and D (20 CH) are all players
- A (10) is the lowest
- A=0 (10-10), B=8 (18-10), C=2 (12-10), and D=10 (20-10)
- 90% Allowance: A=0, B=7.2 (8×0.9), C=1.8 (2×0.9), and D=9 (10×0.9)
- Final Playing Handicap: A=0, B=7, C=2, D=9
In 4BBB Stroke Play, players usually get 85% of their Course Handicap, but sometimes they get 90%. Unlike match play, there is no low-man adjustment; each player uses their 85% allowance. The best score of the two players counts on each hole.
Penalties: What Not to Do (Rule 23)
Rule 23 of the USGA makes it clear about penalties in Fourball play, which is when each partner plays their own ball and the side with the better score wins. The format lets players work together and be flexible, but some mistakes, whether on purpose or not, can result in penalties that affect either the individual player or the whole team.
Also, remember that a Mulligan is not allowed by the Rules of Golf unless a Local Rule says it is, so if you replay a shot without permission, you could get a penalty.
Penalties for Individuals
In Four-Ball, if a player breaks a rule (other than being disqualified), the penalty usually only applies to that player and not to their partner. The penalty strokes go on that player’s score, not the partner’s. The general penalty for match play is losing a hole, and a two-stroke penalty for stroke play. However, the partner can still play for the side.
Penalties for the Team
In some cases, a player’s breach will also penalize their partner:
- Shared Clubs Limit: If partners share more than 14 clubs, both of them will get a penalty.
- Helpful Breach: If a player breaks a rule that helps their partner’s play, the partner gets the same punishment as the player.
- Harming the Other Player in Match Play: If a breach hurts the other player in match play, both partners are punished.
- Exception: If a player hits the wrong ball, it doesn’t count as helping their partner or hurting their opponent.
The Order of Play Penalty
There is no rule that says the ball farthest from the hole has to be played first. Partners can play in any order they think is best. But in match play, a player can’t keep playing a hole after their next stroke has been given up if it would help their partner. In this case, the stroke stands, but the partner’s score for that hole doesn’t count for the side.
Partner Absence
A partner who is not there can still represent the side, but only if they come and start playing between holes:
- Match Play: Everyone must be there before the first player starts the next hole.
- Stroke Play: You have to get there before your partner starts the next hole.
If a partner is late to play, they can still give advice and help, but they can’t play until the next hole. If you break these rules, you will get the general penalty.
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Fourball vs. Foursomes
Here’s a clear, easy-to-grasp comparison table for Four-Ball vs. Foursomes that works well for players of all levels:
| Key Aspects | Four-Ball | Foursome |
|---|---|---|
| Form of Play | Two players each play their own balls | Two players play one ball, hitting alternately. |
| Alternative Names | 4BBB, Four-ball, Better ball | Alternate Shot or Scotch Foursomes |
| Scoring Method | Lower score per hole counts | Single team score per hole |
| Strokes Played | Each player plays all strokes | Plays alternate strokes |
| Teeing Areas | Both players tee off every hole | Tee shots alternate tee shots on odd or even holes |
| Order of Play | Determined by the side unless required by the Rules | Fixed by the requirement to play alternate strokes |
| Penalty Impact | Affects only the individual player | Affects the entire team |
| Typical Competitions | Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup | Ryder Cup and President’s Cup |
Four-Ball Strategies to Win
- The “Ham-and-Egg” Strategy: One player makes sure they are in a safe spot (like the middle of the fairway or green), so the other player can take bigger risks to make a birdie, knowing they have a safety net.
- The Order of Putting: In four-ball golf, putting order can be used to read greens and put pressure on the other team. The general rule is that the ball that is farthest from the hole plays first. However, Rule 23.6 lets partners play in whatever order they think is best for the team. When it’s their turn, partners can choose which of their two balls to play first.
- Partner Do’s and Don’ts : Do’s – Before a stroke, a player can do anything to the partner’s ball that the partner is allowed to do, like marking it. Partners can use the same bag or share clubs as long as they don’t have more than 14 clubs between them. Partners can also help each other out. Don’ts – Any improper action involving a partner’s ball or equipment, it’s as if the partner did it. Because of this, the penalty affects the partner’s score, like when a ball is moved or lifted without being marked.
- Manage Risk Early: If your partner is in trouble, play it safe to make sure you at least get a par. If your partner is in a good spot, take a riskier shot, like aiming at a tucked pin.
- Communication: Always talk to each other so you know where your opponents are in relation to your team’s score. Always be aware of the handicap strokes that are available on certain holes so you can play for par instead of trying to get a birdie.
- Ignore Mistakes: Don’t put up on it if your partner hits a bad shot. The best score in a four-ball match is not the average.
FAQs
Is the best ball the same as a four-ball?
When played as a two-person team, “four-ball” and “best-ball” are usually thought to be the same thing in golf. In both formats, each partner plays their own ball for the whole round, and the team keeps track of the lower score of the two partners on each hole. Sometimes “Best Ball” can refer to a four-person team taking the best score, but “Four-Ball” specifically refers to a two-person team match, often called “2-person best ball”.
Why do golfers say “Fore”?
When a golfer yells “Fore,” it’s a very important safety warning that lets other players or spectators know that a golf ball is going off course and could hit them. The word came from Scottish golf and is probably a shortened form of “forecaddie,” which means “to shout to.”
What is a good score for the 4BBB?
Most people think that a score of 42 points or higher is good in a 4BBB (Four-Ball Better Ball) stableford competition. To win or make it to the finals, you usually need to score around 45 points or more. A team that scores 6 or more strokes better than par on the course is doing very well in stroke play.
Is it okay to use a caddie in Four-Ball?
Yes, players can use a caddie in Four-Ball. This is common in many amateur, professional, and high-level tournaments. Caddies can give advice and help both members of a team, and one caddie can even help both partners.
