Best Ball
Best ball is a team golf format where each player plays their own ball throughout the round, and only the lowest individual score on each hole counts as the team’s score. Teams usually have two players, though three- and four-player versions are common in casual events.
What is a best ball in golf?
In a best ball event, every player on a team plays their own ball from tee to green, just as they would in a regular round. The difference shows up on the scorecard: only one score per hole gets recorded for the team, and that score is always the lowest one. If a teammate makes a mess of a hole, their number gets thrown out as long as someone else posts a respectable result.
The format turns golf, normally a solo pursuit, into something cooperative. Two-player best ball is the standard setup, and the United States Golf Association governs it under Rule 23 of the Rules of Golf, where the official name is Four-Ball. The same rule applies internationally through the R&A. Three- and four-player versions exist in club tournaments and outings, but those are casual variations rather than officially recognised formats.
How best ball works
Each player plays a complete hole. Every shot, from tee to cup, is theirs to hit. Once both golfers in a two-person team have holed out, the scores are compared, and the lower of the two becomes the team’s number for that hole.
Say Player A makes a 5 on the first hole and Player B makes a 4. The team score is 4. Player A’s 5 has no effect on the team total. Both players still record their own individual scores on the scorecard, and a separate line tracks the team’s best-ball score.
Best ball runs in two scoring versions: gross (raw scores) and net (adjusted by handicap). Net is the more common amateur format. The reason is simple: it gives golfers of different abilities a real chance to contribute to the team, and the side with the lowest combined 18-hole total wins.
Best ball vs. scramble
These two formats get confused all the time, and they are not the same thing. The clearest way to tell them apart: in best ball, every player plays their own ball the entire hole. In a scramble, the team selects one shot after each stroke, and everyone plays the next shot from that spot.
| Feature | Best ball | Scramble |
|---|---|---|
| Ball used per hole | Each player plays their own ball start to finish | Team picks the best shot, all play from that spot |
| Number of shots per player | A full round of golf for each player | Roughly the same number, but always from the chosen spot |
| Team score per hole | Lowest individual score | One combined team score |
| Typical pace | Standard round length | Usually faster |
| Team scoring tendency | Higher than scramble | Lower than best ball |
| Beginner-friendly | Less so, since bad shots still count if your partner also struggles | Very, since a weaker player can lean on stronger teammates |
According to the PGA of America, scores in best ball tend to run higher than in scrambles because each player has to play out their own bad shots and hope a teammate posts something better.
Variations of best ball
The format flexes to fit different situations:
Two-player best ball is the standard. Under USGA Rule 23, this is officially called Four-Ball, named for the four balls in play across the two competing teams.
Three- and four-player best ball appears often in charity tournaments and corporate outings. The principle stays the same: the lowest single score per hole counts. Larger teams produce lower scores because the odds of someone making a good number on any given hole go up.
Net best ball applies course handicap strokes to the lowest score on each hole. The handicap math levels the field across mixed-ability teams, which is why most club-level events run this way rather than gross.
1-2-3 Best Ball is a popular variation for four-player teams that rotates how many scores count. On some holes, only the single lowest score counts; on others, the two lowest are added; on the rest, the three lowest get totalled. The rotation forces teams to balance aggressive and conservative play depending on how forgiving the hole’s scoring is.
Match play and stroke play are both compatible with best ball. Match play versions tend to be called “fourball,” and stroke play versions are sometimes labelled “better ball.” All three names refer to the same basic format in everyday use.
Where best ball is played
From local club events to the Ryder Cup, best ball reaches nearly every level of competitive golf. At the club level, it shows up in member-guest tournaments and weekend league play.
In professional golf, best ball has long been a fixture of team match-play events. The Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup, and Presidents Cup all use four-ball matches, where each team has two players and the lower individual score wins each hole.
The PGA Tour itself runs only one regular team event: the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Since 2017, the tournament has alternated between four-ball (best ball) and foursomes (alternate shot) across its four rounds. That makes it the only week of the year when fans can watch top tour pros compete as official two-man teams.
Related Golf Terms
- Scramble — A team format where the group plays from the best shot after each stroke. Often confused with best ball.
- Beach — Slang for a sand bunker.
- Four-ball — The USGA’s official term for two-person best ball, governed by Rule 23.
- Banana ball — A shot that curves dramatically from left to right (for right-handed golfers).
- Barkie — Making par or better after hitting a tree during the hole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is best ball the same as four-ball?
In everyday usage, yes. The USGA’s official name for two-person best ball under Rule 23 is Four-Ball. The Rules of Golf technically reserve the term “Best-Ball” for a less common variant where one individual competes against a side of two or three partners, but most golfers use the names interchangeably.
How many players are on a best ball team?
Two is standard and the only team size officially recognised by the USGA. Three- and four-player teams are common in casual tournaments and club events but fall outside the formal Rule 23 definition.
Do you play your own ball in best ball?
Yes. Each player hits their own ball on every shot of every hole. That single rule is what makes best ball different from a scramble, where the team picks one shot, and everyone plays from there.
Is best ball harder than a scramble?
Generally yes. In a scramble, weaker shots get discarded immediately. In best ball, every player has to play out every shot they hit, which is why team scores in best ball tend to be higher.
What does “better ball” mean?
“Better ball” is another name for best ball, more often used in stroke play contexts. “Fourball” tends to apply to match play. The mechanics are identical: each player plays their own ball, and the lowest score per hole counts.
Sources
- USGA. “Rule 23: Four-Ball.” Rules of Golf. Accessed April 2026.
- R&A. “Rule 23: Four-Ball.” Rules of Golf. Accessed April 2026.
- PGA of America. “What is Best Ball Golf vs. Scramble?” Accessed April 2026.
- PGA Tour. “How it works: Zurich Classic team format.” Accessed April 2026.
- Wikipedia. “Four-ball golf.” Accessed April 2026.
- Golf.com. “Four-balls vs. foursomes: What’s the difference in the Ryder Cup formats?” Accessed April 2026.
