Figuring out how to properly handicap a foursome match can feel more confusing than reading a downhill, sidehill putt. Your goal is a fair and exciting competition where everyone has a fighting chance, but with all the different formats and skill levels, the math gets complicated fast. This guide will walk you through, step by step, how to calculate the correct handicap allowances for the most popular foursome games, including Scrambles, Best Ball, and Alternate Shot, so you can spend less time guessing and more time playing.
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First Things First: Everyone Needs a Course Handicap
Before we can apply any team handicaps, every player in your group needs to know their individual Course Handicap for the specific set of tees you're playing that day. This number adjusts your general playing ability (your Handicap Index) for the difficulty of the course you're on. Your Course Handicap can change from day to day and course to course, which makes it the foundation for a truly fair game.
If you don't use an app that calculates this for you, you can find the formula on the wall of most pro shops. The official formula is:
Course Handicap = Handicap Index x (Slope Rating / 113) + (Course Rating - Par)
Don't let the formula intimidate you. The three values you need - Slope Rating, Course Rating, and Par - are always printed on the scorecard for each set of tees. Once each of the four players has determined their Course Handicap, you have the numbers you need to set up any game.
From this point forward, anytime we mention a "handicap," we're referring to the player's full Course Handicap for the tees being played.
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You might be tempted to just add up everyone’s handicaps and divide by four. While simple, that method doesn't always create the fairest game. This is where handicap allowances come in. Team formats, especially a Scramble or Best Ball, disproportionately favor teams with a low handicap player. A great player's fantastic shots can mask the mistakes of their higher-handicap partners.
Handicap allowances are percentage-based adjustments recommended by governing bodies like the USGA. They are designed to balance things out and make the competition more equitable. Think of them as a leveling mechanism that ensures the game is about which team plays best relative to their ability, not just who has the lowest-handicap player on their side. Using them is the secret to a genuinely competitive foursome match.
How to Calculate a Handicap for a Four-Person Scramble
A scramble is the ultimate team format where everyone gets to contribute. All four players hit a tee shot, the team chooses the best one, and all four players hit their next shot from that spot. You repeat this process until the ball is in the hole. This format rewards teamwork and great shots, which is why it’s so popular for charity outings and friendly games.
The calculation is based on giving more weight to the higher-handicap players, since the lower-handicap "A" player's ball will be chosen most often on approach shots and off the tee.
Step-by-Step Scramble Handicap Calculation
Organize the players in your foursome from lowest to highest Course Handicap. Call them Player A (lowest), Player B, Player C, and Player D (highest).
Apply the following percentage allowances to each player's Course Handicap:
Player A: 25% of Course Handicap
Player B: 20% of Course Handicap
Player C: 15% of Course Handicap
Player D: 10% of Course Handicap
Add these four numbers together to get your final team scramble handicap. You'll subtract this number from your team's gross (total) score at the end of the round.
Scramble Example
Let's say your foursome has the following Course Handicaps:
Player A: 8
Player B: 14
Player C: 20
Player D: 28
Here's how you'd calculate the team handicap:
Player A's contribution: 8 x 0.25 = 2.0
Player B's contribution: 14 x 0.20 = 2.8
Player C's contribution: 20 x 0.15 = 3.0
Player D's contribution: 28 x 0.10 = 2.8
Total Team Handicap: 2.0 + 2.8 + 3.0 + 2.8 = 10.6
You would round that to the nearest whole number, giving your team a handicap of 11. If you shoot a gross score of 68, your net score would be 57 (68 - 11).
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How to Calculate Handicaps for a Best Ball (Four-Ball) Match
Best Ball is another extremely popular format for a foursome, typically played as a 2-v-2 match. Within the foursome, you have Team 1 (Player A and Player B) competing against Team 2 (Player C and Player D). Every player plays their own ball from tee to green. On each hole, the team's score is simply the lower of the two partners' scores. If one player makes a 4 and their partner makes a 5, the team score is 4.
For match play like this, handicapping is not about calculating a team number. Instead, it’s about strokes given between players to make individual hole matchups fair.
Step-by-Step Best Ball Handicap Calculation
First, determine the Course Handicap for all four players.
Identify the player with the lowest Course Handicap in the group. This player becomes the "scratch" golfer for the match and will play off zero strokes.
Each of the other three players calculates their handicap for the match by taking their Course Handicap, subtracting the lowest player's handicap, and then multiplying that difference by 90%. This gives them the number of strokes they will receive.
Those strokes are then applied to the most difficult holes on the course, as indicated by the "Stroke Index" or "Handicap" row on the scorecard.
Best Ball Match Play Example
Let's split our foursome from before into two teams:
Team 1: Player A (8) and Player D (28)
Team 2: Player B (14) and Player C (20)
Player A's Course Handicap of 8 is the lowest in the group. Player A will not receive any strokes.
Now we calculate the strokes for the other three players:
Player B's Strokes: (14 - 8) x 0.90 = 6 x 0.90 = 5.4. This rounds to 5 strokes.
Player C's Strokes: (20 - 8) x 0.90 = 12 x 0.90 = 10.8. This rounds to 11 strokes.
Player D's Strokes: (28 - 8) x 0.90 = 20 x 0.90 = 18 strokes.
Player D will get to subtract a stroke on holes with a Stroke Index from 1 to 18 (every hole). Player C will get a stroke on holes 1 through 11, and Player B on holes 1 through 5. Player A gets no strokes. This balances the match on a hole-by-hole basis.
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How to Calculate Handicaps for Alternate Shot (Foursomes)
Alternate Shot, known traditionally as "Foursomes," is a true test of partnership. Partners take turns hitting the same golf ball. Player A tees off on hole 1, Player B hits the second shot, A hits the third, and so on. On hole 2, Player B tees off, and they continue alternating.
The handicap calculation for stroke play is beautifully simple.
Step-by-Step Alternate Shot Handicap Calculation
Each team adds together the Course Handicaps of its two partners.
Take 50% of that combined total to get the team's Alternate Shot handicap.
Alternate Shot Example
Using our same two teams from the Best Ball example:
Team 1: Player A (8) and Player D (28)
Combined Handicap: 8 + 28 = 36
Team Handicap: 36 x 0.50 = 18
Team 2: Player B (14) and Player C (20)
Combined Handicap: 14 + 20 = 34
Team Handicap: 34 x 0.50 = 17
In a stroke play competition, Team 1 would deduct 18 strokes from their total score, and Team 2 would deduct 17. If they were playing match play against each other, Team 1 would give Team 2 one stroke (18 - 17 = 1) on the hole with a Stroke Index of 1.
Final Thoughts
Taking a few moments to properly calculate handicaps using the correct allowances transforms a casual round into a fair and engaging competition for everyone. Whether it's a scramble, best ball, or alternate shot, these methods ensure that good play is rewarded and every member of your foursome feels like they can meaningfully contribute to the team's success.
While these calculations keep the pre-round scoring fair, smart play and on-course strategy are what win the match. If your team is ever staring down a tricky lie, debating the best club for an approach shot, or needs a clear strategy for a tough hole, you can get an expert opinion right in your pocket. We created Caddie AI to provide instant, Tour-level advice so you and your partners can make committed, confident decisions for every shot you face.
Spencer has been playing golf since he was a kid and has spent a lifetime chasing improvement. With over a decade of experience building successful tech products, he combined his love for golf and startups to create Caddie AI - the world's best AI golf app. Giving everyone an expert level coach in your pocket, available 24/7. Caddie's mission is simple: make world-class golf advice accessible to everyone, anytime.
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