Teaming up for a Best Ball tournament is one of the most enjoyable ways to compete on the course, but a great round requires more than just good shots. Winning this format is all about smart teamwork, complementary play, and a solid strategy from the first tee to the final putt. This guide will walk you through the essential rules of Best Ball and give you actionable strategies to help your team work together, play with confidence, and post a winning score.
Before we get into strategy, let's make sure we're on the same page. The "Best Ball" format (sometimes called Better Ball or Fourball) involves a team of two, three, or four golfers. Here's how it works:
For example, you're playing two-person Best Ball. On the first hole, you make a 4 (par) and your partner makes a 5 (bogey). The team's score for that hole is 4. If on the next hole you make a 6 and your partner makes a 3 (birdie), the team score is a 3. You simply take the best ball on each hole.
Many golfers confuse Best Ball with a Scramble, but they are very different. The distinction is fundamental to your strategy. In a Scramble, all players on the team hit their shots, choose the best one, and then everyone hits their next shot from that spot. You're constantly playing from your team's best position.
In Best Ball, you are playing your own ball entirely. If you hit a bad drive into the woods, you're in the woods. You don't get to use your partner's nice drive that's sitting in the middle of the fairway. This makes every player's performance on every single shot count, creating a completely different dynamic.
The number one strategy in Best Ball, especially in a two-person team, revolves around the order of play. You should almost always have one player adopt a "safe" role and the other an "aggressive" role. This starts on the tee box and continues all the way to the green.
Let’s call the first person to play from any position the "Anchor Player." Their job is simple: get the ball in play. Forget the heroics. Aim for the fat part of the fairway. Hit the middle of the green. Get the first putt close. The Anchor Player's goal is to secure a par, or at worst, a manageable bogey. Their job is to take the pressure off their partner.
Once the Anchor Player is safely in play, the "Aggressive Player" is freed up. With a par essentially "in the bank," this player can take more risks to go for a birdie. Here’s how it looks in practice:
This "safe-then-aggressive" approach is the heartbeat of good Best Ball. It prevents the team from making a big number and maximizes opportunities for birdies.
The right partner is about more than just finding the best golfer you know. It's about finding a teammate whose skills complement your own. The classic and most effective pairing is the "Bomber and Putter." One player has great length off the tee, putting the team in advantageous positions on Par 5s and long Par 4s. The other has a fantastic short game, capable of getting up-and-down from anywhere and draining putts.
Other effective combinations include:
Don't just walk to your ball and hit. Best Ball is a team sport. Talk to each other!
This constant stream of information helps you make better decisions and feel more like a cohesive unit.
Beyond the primary safe/aggressive strategy, subtle decisions throughout the round can make a big difference.
Remember who the shots are designed for. If you're the shorter hitter on a long Par 4 that your big-hitting partner can easily reach in two, your job isn't to kill yourself trying to get to the green. Your job is to hit two solid shots to get on or near the green and secure that par. Let your partner worry about trying for the eagle putt.
Conversely, if an approach shot is suited perfectly to your 8-iron distance, you should step up and identify yourself as the better choice to be the "Aggressive Player," even if you would normally hit second.
The best teams aren't carried by one person. Instead, they "ham and egg" it, which means different players contribute on different holes. Maybe you carry the team through the first three holes, then your partner gets hot and cards birdies on 4, 5, and 6. For your team to go really low, you both need to contribute.
This is also a huge mental advantage. When you have a bad hole, you don’t have to get down on yourself. Your job is to mentally reset and trust that your partner has you covered on this one, then get ready to contribute on the next hole. Never give up on a hole until both players are out of it.
The only thing that can really derail a Best Ball round is when both players blow up on the same hole. This often happens on a high-risk, high-reward shot where both players get greedy. If you're facing a tough par 4 with water all down the right side, don't have both players try to be heroes.
Use the "Anchor Player" strategy here more than ever. The first player should bail out well to the left, even if it means a longer approach shot. Securing a 5 on that hole feels infinitely better than both of you hitting it in the water and walking off with a 6 or 7.
Mastering Best Ball golf centers on strategic teamwork and smart decision-making. By applying the "safe and aggressive" player model, communicating effectively, and knowing your partner’s strengths, you can take the pressure off, maximize birdie opportunities, and avoid those costly double bogeys.
Team strategy adds another layer of thinking, but ultimately, executing the shot still falls to you. Having a sound strategy for how to attack a pin or play a risky recovery shot can be the difference between a team par and a team birdie. For times when you need an expert opinion right on the course, we built Caddie AI. It can give you an on-demand strategy for any hole or analyze a tricky lie from a photo to help you make smarter decisions, so you and your partner can play with total confidence.
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