Jackson Reid
Four-ball, also known as better ball, is a golf format where two golfers compete as a team, with each player playing their own ball. Each hole's score is determined by the lower score of the two teammates. Four-ball can be played as stroke play or match play. In stroke play, the team with the lowest total score at the end of the round wins. In match play, the team with the most holes won at the end of the round wins. Four-ball is a popular format in amateur golf and is used in major team events such as the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, and Solheim Cup.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of game | Pairs playing format |
| Other names | Better ball, best ball, 4BBB |
| How it works | Two golfers compete together as a side, with each player playing their own ball |
| Scoring | A side’s score for a hole is the lower score of the two partners on that hole |
| Hole-out requirement | Only one player in a team needs to hole out |
| Play order | Each team can play in the order that they determine is best |
| Team score | The team with the most holes won emerges victorious |
| Handicap allowance | 85% in strokeplay or Stableford competitions, 90% in match play |
| Ball treatment | A player may mark, lift and clean, or drop their partner’s ball under penalty |
| Club sharing | Partners can share clubs or play from the same bag if the total number of clubs doesn't exceed 14 |
| Caddie assistance | A player's caddie may give advice to their partner |
| Team action | One partner can act for the team in actions such as conceding a shot or a hole |
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What You'll Learn
Four-ball is a pairs format
The four-ball format can be scored using either stroke play or match play. In stroke play, the team with the lowest total score at the end of the round wins. In match play, as seen in the Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup, and Presidents Cup, the team with the most holes won at the end of the round wins. Half a point is awarded to both teams if a hole is tied. It is common for all 18 holes not to be played, with a result such as "5 and 4" indicating that one team is five holes ahead with only four holes remaining.
In four-ball, the player furthest from the hole does not have to play first. Instead, each team can play in the order they determine is best. For example, if "A" and "B" are partners and A is further from the hole, the team can decide to have B play first. This is in contrast to another popular team format, foursomes, where players take alternate shots with a single ball, and the player furthest from the hole typically plays first.
Under the World Handicap System, each player in a four-ball team receives 85% of their handicap allowance in stroke play or Stableford competitions, and 90% in match play. Although each player has their own ball, they are treated as the same player in several respects. For example, a player may mark, lift and clean, or drop their partner's ball under penalty. Similarly, a player and their caddie may provide assistance to their partner, such as advice on club selection. Partners are also allowed to share clubs or play from the same bag, as long as the total number of clubs does not exceed 14.
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It's also known as better ball
Four-ball golf, also known as better ball or best ball, is a pairs format where two golfers compete as a side, with each player playing their own ball. In a stroke play competition, the team's score on each hole is the lower of the two players' scores. Only one of the pair is required to complete each hole, and the winners are the team with the lowest aggregate score over a set number of holes.
In a match play competition, a four-ball consists of two teams of two players competing directly against each other. All four golfers play their own balls throughout the round, and each hole is won by the team with the lowest score. This format is commonly used in the Presidents Cup, Solheim Cup, and Ryder Cup.
In better ball golf, players are grouped into teams of two and play together in the same foursome, but they compete against the rest of the field, not just the other team in the foursome. This means that only one score counts per hole for each team, and the team with the lowest total score for the round wins. Each golfer hits their own ball throughout the round, but after each hole, only the best score among the team members is recorded as the team's score for that hole.
Better ball golf is a popular format in amateur golf and is also used in some of the biggest team events in the sport. It encourages collaboration and teamwork, as a team that works well together will be able to successfully navigate difficult sequences. For example, if one golfer struggles during a hole, their partner can step up and post a good score for the team.
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It can be played as stroke play or match play
The four-ball golf format can be played as stroke play or match play. In stroke play, the winning team is determined by the lowest total score at the end of the round. In match play, the team with the most holes won at the end of the round wins. Half a point is awarded to both teams if a hole is tied.
In a stroke play competition, competitors are paired and play as a team. Each golfer plays their own ball, and the team's score on each hole is the lower of the two players' scores. Only one of the pair is required to complete each hole. The winners are the team with the lowest aggregate score over a set number of holes.
In a match play competition, a four-ball consists of two teams of two players competing directly against each other. All four golfers play their own balls throughout the round, and each hole is won by the team with the lowest score.
Four-ball is commonly referred to as "better ball" because the team's score for a hole is the lower score of the two partners on that hole. In this format, both partners do not need to hole out, and the lower score is taken as the team's score even if only one partner holes out.
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Each golfer plays their own ball
In golf, the four-ball format is a type of match-play competition where two golfers form a team, and each golfer plays their own ball throughout the round. This means that there are four balls in play at the same time. This format is also known as "better ball" or "best ball".
Each golfer in a team plays their own ball, and the team's score for each hole is determined by the lower of the two players' individual scores. For example, if one teammate scores a four and the other a five, the team's score for that hole is recorded as four. This format allows for one player to perform poorly, either on a particular hole or several, as the other can compensate.
In four-ball competitions, both players in a team do not have to hole out, as only one score will be counted. In fact, it is not even required that both members of a team play a hole, although this scenario is unlikely to occur unless a player is injured or turns up late.
The four-ball format can be scored using stroke play or match play, but it is the latter that is most famously used in the Presidents Cup, Solheim Cup, and Ryder Cup. In stroke play, the team with the lowest total score at the end of the round wins. In match play, the team with the most holes won at the end of the round wins.
In four-ball, the player furthest away from the hole does not necessarily have to play first. Instead, each team can play in the order they determine is best.
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It's been used in the Zurich Classic since 2017
Four-ball is a pairs format in golf, also known as better ball or best ball. In stroke play, each golfer plays with their own ball, and the team's score on each hole is the lower of the two players' scores. Only one player of the pair is required to complete each hole, and the team with the lowest aggregate score wins.
In 2017, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans became a team event, with eighty pairs. The tournament has been played annually since 1958 and is usually held in early to mid-spring. The four-ball format has been used in the Zurich Classic since 2017, along with the foursomes format. In the four-ball format, each player on a team plays with their own ball, and the best score on each hole is recorded. In the foursomes format, players rotate tee shots, with one player taking the tee shots on odd-numbered holes and the other on even-numbered holes.
The four-ball format is typically used on the first and third days of the event, while the foursomes format is used on the second and fourth rounds. The four-ball format is popular in amateur golf but is also used in major team events like the Presidents Cup, Solheim Cup, and Ryder Cup.
The Zurich Classic is the only team tournament on the official PGA Tour Schedule, with the best golfers in the world pairing up. The tournament is played at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, a suburb southwest of New Orleans.
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Frequently asked questions
A fourball in golf is a format where two golfers compete as a team, with each golfer playing their own ball. The team's score for each hole is the lower of the two players' scores.
The team with the most holes won at the end of the round wins. If there is a tie on a hole, half a point is awarded to each team.
In foursomes, a pair of players play with a single ball, taking alternate shots. In fourballs, each player plays with their own ball.
The fourball format is used in some of the biggest team events in golf, including the Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup, and Presidents Cup.
