Four-Ball

Four-ball is a two-vs-two golf format where each player plays their own ball, and only the lower score from each pair counts as the team score on a hole.

What is a four-ball in golf?

Four-ball is a team competition that pits two pairs of golfers against each other. All four players play their own ball from tee to green on every hole, but only one score counts for each side: the lower of the two partners’ scores. If one partner makes a 4 and the other makes a 6, the team writes down 4. The other score is discarded.

The format is governed by Rule 23 of the Rules of Golf and can be played as either match play or stroke play, according to the USGA. It is one of the three formats used at the Ryder Cup, alongside foursomes and singles, and also appears at the Solheim Cup, the Presidents Cup, and the Zurich Classic of New Orleans on the PGA Tour, which adopted four-ball and foursomes as its team format in 2017.

The name comes from the fact that four balls are in play at any time during a match: one for each of the four players. The term first appeared in the R&A’s 1908 Rule Book, according to FORE Magazine, the official publication of the Southern California Golf Association.

How four-ball scoring works

Each player records their own gross score on every hole. The team score for the hole is whichever number is lower. In match play, the lower team score is then compared to the opposing team’s lower score, and the side with the better number wins the hole. If both teams’ lowest scores match, the hole is halved.

In stroke play, the lower partner score on each hole is added together over 18 holes to produce a team total. The pair with the lowest aggregate over the round wins.

A useful quirk of the format: only one partner has to hole out on a given hole. Once a player can no longer beat their partner’s score, they can pick up and move on, which keeps the pace of play steady.

For handicap competitions, the World Handicap System sets specific allowances. Each player gets 85% of their Course Handicap in four-ball stroke play and Stableford competitions, and 90% in four-ball match play, according to Golf Monthly.

Four-ball vs foursomes vs other team formats

Most golfers confuse four-ball with foursomes because both involve four players in two pairs. The actual difference is the number of balls in play and how shots are taken.

Format	Players per team	Balls in play	How it works	Team score
Four-ball	2	4 (one per player)	Each player plays their own ball	Lower of the two partner scores
Foursomes	2	2 (one per team)	Partners alternate shots on a single ball	Total strokes on that one ball
Scramble	2-4	All players hit, then one ball is chosen	All players hit from the chosen spot each shot	Score of the team’s chosen ball
Best ball (informal)	2-4	One per player	Each player plays their own ball	Lowest score on the team

A note on terminology: “four-ball” is the official Rules of Golf term for the two-person version of best-ball play. “Best ball” and “better ball” are casual names for the same concept, and many amateur events use the abbreviation 4BBB (four-ball better-ball). Some clubs use “best ball” to mean a four-person team format, which adds to the confusion. When the term shows up in tournament rules or on a Ryder Cup broadcast, it specifically means the two-vs-two version covered by Rule 23.

Why is it called four-ball?

The name describes how many balls are in play during a match. Two pairs play their own balls, so four are always on the course at once. That is the entire logic of the term. It made its debut in the 1908 R&A Rule Book, when four-ball was strictly a match-play format, and stroke play four-ball was not added to the Rules of Golf until 1952, according to the Southern California Golf Association.

Newcomers often assume “four-ball” refers to a four-player team, since the math seems off for a two-person side. The label tracks balls. That is why a two-vs-two contest still carries the four-ball name.

Related Golf Terms

Fore — A warning shout to alert others of an incoming golf ball.
Flop shot — A high, soft shot played with an open clubface to stop quickly on the green.
Follow through — The continuation of the swing after the ball has been struck.
Flighted — Intentionally hitting a shot on a lower trajectory.
Flyer lie — A lie in light rough where grass gets between clubface and ball, reducing spin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it called four-ball if there are only two players per team?

The format involves two pairs competing against each other, so four players and four balls are in play at the same time. The label refers to the balls on the course rather than the size of each team.

What is the difference between four-ball and best ball?

In golf, “four-ball” is the official Rules of Golf term, while “best ball” and “better ball” are informal names for the same scoring concept. The two terms are usually interchangeable in two-person team play, though some clubs use “best ball” for larger teams of three or four.

Can teammates give each other advice during a four-ball?

Yes. Partners are allowed to share advice, club selection, line of putt, and strategy under Rule 23. They can also share clubs, provided the combined total does not exceed 14, and one partner can mark or lift the other’s ball, per the USGA.

Is four-ball played as match play or stroke play?

Both. The Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup, and Presidents Cup all use four-ball as a match-play format. The Zurich Classic of New Orleans uses four-ball as stroke play. Most amateur club events offer either version.

What handicap allowance is used in four-ball?

Under the World Handicap System, players get 85% of Course Handicap in four-ball stroke play and Stableford, and 90% in four-ball match play.

Sources

USGA. “Rules Guide to Four-Ball.” Accessed May 2026.
R&A. “Rules of Golf, Rule 23: Four-Ball.” Accessed May 2026.
Wikipedia. “Four-ball golf.” Accessed May 2026.
FORE Magazine, Southern California Golf Association. “What is Four-Ball and How Does It Affect the Rules?” Accessed May 2026.
Golf Monthly. “How Does Four-Ball Work? Ryder Cup Format Explained.” Accessed May 2026.
PGA Tour. “Zurich Classic of New Orleans.” Accessed May 2026.
World Handicap System Rules of Handicapping, Section 6.1. Accessed May 2026.