Learning how to play Four-Ball (also called Better Ball and Best Ball) means learning one of golf’s most effective partner formats.
In Four-Ball, two players compete together as a team, each player plays his or her own ball, and the team’s score for each hole is the lower score made by either partner.
Four-Ball is a game that rewards both steady play and timely aggression.
Four-Ball is governed by USGA Rule 23 and can be played as match play or stroke play, with either gross or net scoring depending on the Terms of the Competition.
One note before the rules: if you came mainly to settle whether your group means “best ball,” “better ball,” or “four-ball,” that’s a naming question, not a rules one — we untangle the three terms in Best Ball vs Better Ball vs Four Ball. This guide is the official how-to for the format itself.
The sections below explain exactly how to set up Four-Ball, score it correctly, apply handicaps, and avoid common mistakes.
INTO TEAM GOLF GAMES? PLAY THESE NEXT.
If Four-Ball sounds fun, these three are also worth considering:
- Alternate Shot (Foursomes) — Two-player team format where partners alternate every shot
- Low Ball Low Total — Two-point team format rewarding both team’s best score and team total
- 6-6-6 – A 2v2 golf format that switches the game every 6 holes.
What Is Four-Ball?
Before getting into setup and scoring, it helps to fully define the format.
Four-Ball is a partner game in which two players compete as a side, each playing his or her own ball throughout the hole. The side’s score for the hole is the lower score of the two partners. It can be played as match play or stroke play, and as gross or net.
Four-Ball is different from scramble, where the team chooses one ball after each shot. It’s also distinct from Aggregate (Combined Score), where both players’ scores are added together as the team’s combined total on each hole. It’s also different from Foursomes, a 2v2 game where partners alternate shots with one ball.
Let’s get into the setup and full rules of Four-Ball.
How to Play Four-Ball
The following sections walk through the basics for how to setup, manage and play a game of Four-Ball.
Number of players or teams required
A standard Four-Ball game requires four golfers divided into two teams of two. Both players on both teams play their own individual balls for the entire hole.
If the partner format is your thing, it’s also worth learning how to play Low Ball-High Ball. It’s a 2-vs-2 team game where your bad hole still counts, so both partners have to keep grinding all the way around.
Game setup
Before the round begins, the group or committee (if putting on a tournament) should confirm the following:
- Will this be a match play or stroke play Four-Ball match?
- Will scoring be done with gross or net scoring (using handicaps)
- Which tees will everyone play from?
- How will ties be broken? (see some options later in this post)
Four-Ball has many different variants, so make sure you get the setup squared away before teeing off.
Game rules
Four-Ball is generally straight forward. Follow these simple rules and you’ll be able to enjoy your round fully.
The Basics:
- Split your foursome into two teams of two.
- Each player plays his or her own ball from tee to hole.
- The lower score counts for the team.
- It’s up to the team if they want to pick up one partner’s ball to speed up play. This assumes that partner’s ball would not be chosen for the team score.
Example:
- On a par 4, for Team 1: Player A makes 5 and Player B makes 4. Their team score is 4.
- for Team 2: Player C makes 4 and Player D makes 6. Their side score is also 4.
- In match play, the hole is halved. In stroke play, both sides record 4 for that hole.
Order of play is also more flexible than in many formats. When it is a team’s turn to play, either partner may play first. That flexibility is a major strategic feature because one player can secure a safe position before the other attacks a riskier line.
Club limitation:
The 14-club limit applies to each player individually. Both partners can carry their own full set of 14. The Four-Ball wrinkle (Rule 23.7) is sharing: partners may share clubs only if the total between them is 14 or fewer. Two full bags? Legal. Borrowing your partner’s 3-wood when you’ve already got 14? Not legal.
Next up is how to keep score in Four-Ball
How to keep score
Since Four-Ball can be played either as a match play or stroke play, it’s necessary to cover both scoring methods.
In Four-Ball match play, each hole is scored separately. The team with the lower better-ball score wins the hole. Each hole is effectively worth 1 point. If both sides have the same better-ball score, the hole is halved. If one team gets such a large lead that the other team cannot catch up with the number of holes remaining, the match ends.
In Four-Ball stroke play, the side records one score for each hole: the lower of the two partner’s scores. Those scores are added over the round to produce the total round score.
A critical stroke-play rule for official tournaments: the scorecard must show at least one partner’s gross score for each hole, and the recorded score must be clearly attributable to the partner who made it. If not, the side can be disqualified.
How handicaps work in Four-Ball
If the game is net Four-Ball, handicaps must be established before play. These are the same allowances whether your group calls it four-ball, better ball, or best ball. (Run everyone through our WHS handicap calculator to get the 85% and 90% numbers locked in without hand-math.)This is different for both Four-Ball Stroke Play and Four-Ball Match Play. If you like to understand the math, we have a full post to help you understand handicap calculations.
Stroke Play (85% of Course Handicap):
In Four-Ball stroke play, each player uses 85% of their Course Handicap to determine their Playing Handicap.
Formula:
Playing Handicap = Course Handicap × 0.85
Steps:
- Take each player’s Course Handicap
- Multiply by 0.85 (85%)
- Round to the nearest whole number
- Apply strokes based on hole handicap (stroke index)
Example:
| Player | Course Handicap | Playing Handicap (85%) |
|---|---|---|
| A | 10 | 9 |
| B | 14 | 12 |
| C | 6 | 5 |
| D | 18 | 15 |
Strokes are applied on the lowest handicap holes (1, 2, 3, etc.).
Each player plays their own net score, and the lowest net score on each hole counts as the side’s score.
Match Play (90% of Handicap Difference):
In Four-Ball match play, handicaps are calculated by playing off the lowest handicap in the group, with other players receiving 90% of the difference.
Formula:
Strokes Received = (Player Handicap – Lowest Handicap) × 0.90
Steps:
- Identify the lowest Course Handicap → that player plays off 0
- Subtract that handicap from each of the other players’ Course Handicap
- Multiply each difference by 0.90 (90%)
- Round to the nearest whole number
- Allocate strokes on the hardest holes (by stroke index)
Example:
| Player | Course Handicap | Strokes Received |
|---|---|---|
| A | 5 | 0 |
| B | 9 | 4 |
| C | 11 | 5 |
| D | 13 | 7 |
Strokes are applied on the lowest handicap holes (1, 2, 3, etc.).
Key Difference:
- Stroke Play: Each player uses 85% of their own handicap
- Match Play: Players receive 90% of the difference from the lowest handicap
Common Mistakes:
- Applying strokes incorrectly by hole handicap
- Using 100% of handicaps instead of 85% or 90%
- Not playing off the lowest handicap in match play
- Forgetting to round to whole numbers
How to determine the winner
In Four-Ball match play, the winner is the side that wins more holes than the opponent. A match can end before the 18th hole if one side is more holes up than there are holes remaining.
In Four-Ball stroke play, the winner is the side with the lowest total score for the stipulated round, whether gross or net.
How to handle tie breakers
Tie-breakers should be decided before the round begins.
In casual match play, a tied match is often left halved unless the group agrees to extra holes.
In stroke play, ties are commonly settled by a scorecard playoff, playoff holes, or an agreed split. The important point is to define the procedure before teeing off.
Tips and Strategies for Four-Ball
Four-Ball is generally won by the team playing with the best strategy. The strongest teams rarely have both players trying to force birdies on every hole. A balance of aggression and conservative play usually wins.
Play aggressively when… one partner has already secured a safe position. If the first player finds the fairway or the green and is likely to make par, the second player can take on a tighter tee shot, attack a tucked flag, or try to create birdie.
Play safely when… the first partner is in trouble. If one ball is out of position, the second player should focus on restoring control of the hole rather than doubling the risk.
The most common mistakes are… strategic and administrative. Many teams send both players into attack mode without first getting a playable score in position. In stroke play, teams also fail to record scores properly by not identifying which partner made the counting score.
Good Four-Ball is not complicated: one partner covers, one partner presses, and the roles can change from shot to shot and hole to hole.
Variations of Four-Ball
Four-Ball appears in a few common forms, but the core concept never changes: each partner plays an individual ball, and the lower score counts for the side.
The main variation is match play versus stroke play. Match play scores the competition hole by hole. Stroke play totals one side score per hole across the round.
Another common variation is gross versus net. Gross Four-Ball uses actual scores, while net Four-Ball applies handicap strokes before totaling scores.
Many casual groups also use Four-Ball inside other game structures. A side may play a Four-Ball match on the front nine, the back nine, and overall, or use Four-Ball scoring for a Nassau-style wager.
The Four-Ball format is also often called “better ball” in everyday play. That term is usually understood correctly in casual golf, but the official USGA Rules treat “Better-Ball” as a separate match-play variation. “Best ball” isn’t a Rules term at all. It’s the casual umbrella name, and it stretches to 3- and 4-player teams, which fall outside Rule 23’s two-person definition. Clear terminology helps avoid confusion.
For groups who want a nastier twist on the partner format, take a look at Gruesomes. It flips the drive-selection rule so your opponents choose which of your tee shots you have to play.
FAQs About Four-Ball
Golfers tend to argue about the same handful of Four-Ball issues, these FAQs should help clear things up.
Is Four-Ball the same as better ball?
In casual conversation, many golfers use “better ball” to mean Four-Ball. Under the Rules, Four-Ball is the official two-partner format, while better ball is a common synonymous name.
Do both partners have to hole out in Four-Ball?
No. If one partner completes the hole with a score that counts for the side, the other partner does not need to finish.
Can partners share clubs in Four-Ball?
Yes. Partners may share clubs, but together they cannot carry more than 14.
Can a side just write one team score on the card in stroke play?
No. At least one partner’s gross score must be recorded for each hole, and it must be clearly show which player made the score. Failure to attribute the score correctly can disqualify the side in an official event.
How are handicaps usually set in Four-Ball match play?
A common approach is to determine each player’s Course Handicap, set the lowest player to zero, apply the 90% allowance to the differences, round, and allocate strokes by stroke index.
Can a player putt after an opponent says, “That’s good”?
In match play, a conceded stroke counts as holed and cannot be declined or withdrawn. A player may putt afterward only if doing so does not help the partner.
Those points cover the issues that most often create confusion during real rounds of Four-Ball.
Final Thoughts on Four-Ball
Here at Golf Games Hub, we love Four-Ball because it combines structure, teamwork, and individual freedom better than almost any other partner format — it’s one of the classic formats in any foursome’s rotation.
Each player stays fully involved, every hole offers real strategic choices, and a good team can recover from mistakes through strategy and mindfulness on the course.
It also scales well. Four-Ball works for serious competition, member games, friendly matches, and handicap events because the format is both official and intuitive.
That balance keeps the round competitive without making it complicated, which is exactly why Four-Ball has remained one of golf’s most enduring team games.
Other Fun Golf Game Formats to Consider
Golf Games Hub is home to every golf game imaginable. Explore our various collections of golf games:
- Traditional Golf Games
- Fun & Social Golf Games
- Points-Based Golf Games
- Betting Golf Games
- Drinking Golf Games – Like our original drinking game F the Golfer.
Below are a few of our hand-picked favorites for your consideration.
If you want a modern 2v2 format where the pressure ramps up on every single hole, check out our full guide to Wingman golf. It’s one of those games that keeps everyone locked in from the first tee.
For a 2v2 format with a completely different kind of momentum swing, read up on how to play Tug of War. It’s a back-and-forth betting game where control of the pot shifts hole by hole.
Vegas is another game to consider. It’s a high-volatility betting game where partners combine scores into a two-digit number instead of adding them (a 4 and 5 becomes 45, for instance). That scoring twist means one bad hole can lead to massive swings, making every shot feel high stakes. It’s unpredictable, fast-moving, and one of the most intense games you can bring to the course.
Thanks for stopping by, and have fun out there!
