Golf Glossary
Four-Ball (Better Ball)
In short
Four-ball, also called fourball or better ball, is a format for teams of two. Each partner plays their own ball into the hole, and on every hole only the better of the two scores counts for the side. Four-ball is covered by Rule 23 of the Rules of Golf and is played as match play, stroke play or Stableford.
What is four-ball better ball?
In four-ball two players form a side. Unlike foursomes, each partner plays their own ball from the tee into the hole. At the end of the hole the side compares the two scores: the better one counts and the other is discarded.
The name comes from match play, where two sides of two players compete, so there are four balls in play. It is called better ball or best ball because the side’s best ball counts.
The format is very popular because it combines two things. Everyone plays as in a normal individual round, and at the same time your partner gives you backup. If a hole goes wrong for you, your partner can rescue it. For beginners that takes the pressure off, and for experienced players it is an invitation to play more boldly.
Rule 23: how four-ball works
Rule 23 of the Rules of Golf covers four-ball. The key points:
- Each partner plays their own ball. There is no choosing and no swapping.
- The side’s score on a hole is the lower score of the two partners.
- The partners may play in whatever order the side considers best, so one partner may putt first to show the other the line.
- The side may be represented by one partner alone. A partner who arrives late may join only between holes.
- Penalties usually apply only to the player who breached the rule. In some cases, for example when the breach helps the partner’s play, the partner is penalised too.
- Partners may give each other advice.
In stroke play the scorecard must make clear which partner made which score. The committee then works out which score counts for the side. A player whose score can no longer count on a hole may pick up, which keeps play moving.
Four-ball in match play, stroke play and Stableford
Four-ball can be combined with all common scoring methods.
- Four-ball match play: two sides play against each other. On each hole the best score of one side is compared with the best score of the other, and the better side wins the hole. If the scores are equal, the hole is halved.
- Four-ball stroke play: each side records the better score on every hole. The strokes are added up at the end and the lowest total wins.
- Four-ball better ball Stableford: each player collects Stableford points and the higher score of the two partners counts on each hole. This version is very common in German club competitions.
In professional golf many people know four-ball from the Ryder Cup and the Solheim Cup, which have dedicated fourball sessions in match play on the first two days. Two players from each team face each other.
Worked example: four-ball Stableford
Julia and Max play a four-ball better ball Stableford. On this par 4 Julia receives one handicap stroke and Max none.
- Julia’s net par is 5. She takes 6, a net bogey worth 1 point.
- Max’s net par is 4. He takes 4, a net par worth 2 points.
- The side counts Max’s 2 points.
On the next hole, a par 3, the picture changes. Julia again receives a stroke and hits the green. She holes out in 3, a net birdie worth 3 points. Max has hit his tee shot into the water. Since he can no longer beat Julia’s score, he picks up.
After two holes the side has 5 points, and each partner has delivered once. That is how a good four-ball team works: sometimes one carries the side, sometimes the other.
Four-ball handicap allowance
In four-ball each player plays their own ball, so each player has their own handicap. But because only the better score counts, a team on full handicap would have an advantage, so the allowance is usually reduced. The competition terms set the details.
The World Handicap System recommends in Appendix C:
- Four-ball stroke play and Stableford: 85 per cent of each player’s handicap.
- Four-ball match play: 90 per cent. The lowest player then plays off zero and the others receive the difference.
Stroke play example: Julia has a handicap of 24 for the course and Max of 10. At 85 per cent Julia plays off 20.4, so 20, and Max off 8.5, so 9.
Whether a four-ball round counts towards your personal handicap depends on the competition terms and the rules of your national association. If in doubt, ask the committee.
Tips for your four-ball team
Good teamwork pays off in four-ball.
- Safe first, then bold: the first player on the tee should find the fairway. If that ball is safe, the partner can take more risk.
- Use your strokes: check the scorecard. On holes where only one of you receives a stroke, that player often has the better chance.
- Plan the putting order: whoever is further away or has the easier line putts first and shows the other the break.
- Pick up when your score cannot count: it saves time and nerves.
- Stay positive: a bad hole from your partner is no drama. That is exactly why you play as a pair.
Also take care never to play your partner’s ball. In four-ball everyone has their own ball, and a stroke with the wrong ball is penalised as in individual play.
Four-ball vs foursomes vs scramble
Golf’s team formats differ mainly in how many balls are played and when a choice is made.
- Four-ball better ball: each partner plays their own ball. The only choice is the better score at the end of the hole.
- Classic foursomes: both partners play one ball with alternate shots, covered by Rule 22.
- Chapman and greensomes: both tee off, one ball is chosen and the partners play alternate shots from there.
- Scramble: all players play every shot from the spot of the best ball.
The term best ball is not always used in the same way. Older editions of the Rules of Golf included a format in which one player competed against the better ball of two or three others. It has not been in the rule book since 2019. Today best ball almost always means four-ball better ball.
Try it at Golf Lounge
A two-against-two four-ball match fits exactly into one tee time on the 9-hole course at Golf Lounge Resort Hamburg in Moorfleet, as up to four players can book together. The Black Course is a par 33 with par-3 and par-4 holes, water hazards and bunkers. It is open from April to December to players with the DGV Platzreife (course permit). You book tee times online, and guests without membership are welcome.
Frequently asked questions
What is four-ball better ball in golf?
In four-ball two partners play as a team, but each with their own ball into the hole. On every hole only the better of the two scores counts for the side. It is played as match play against another team, as stroke play or as Stableford. The rules are in Rule 23 of the Rules of Golf.
What is the difference between four-ball and foursomes?
In four-ball each partner plays their own ball and the better score counts. In foursomes both partners play one ball with alternate shots. Foursomes demands more coordination, because every mistake affects both players at once. Four-ball is closer to normal individual play and forgives the odd bad hole.
What handicap allowance applies in four-ball?
The World Handicap System recommends 85 per cent of each player’s handicap for four-ball stroke play and Stableford. In match play it is 90 per cent, after which the lowest player plays off zero and the others receive the difference. The competition terms always take precedence.
What does fourball mean in golf?
Fourball is another name for four-ball better ball. The term comes from match play, where two teams of two compete, so four balls are in play. Each team counts its better ball on every hole. In the Ryder Cup, fourballs is one of the two team formats.
As of: October 2026