Four-ball is one of the most enjoyable ways to compete on the golf course, turning a traditionally individual sport into a dynamic team game. Unlike a scramble, you get to play your own ball from tee to green, but you have the huge advantage of a partner backing you up on every single shot. This article will break down the essential rules of four-ball and give you clear, actionable strategies you can use on the tee, with your approach shots, on the green, and in how you communicate as a team.
Before jumping into strategy, let's make sure we're on the same page. Four-ball is a team competition where two golfers form a team and compete against another team of two. Here's how it works:
For example, if you make a 4 and your partner makes a 5, your team's score for that hole is 4. If you had both made a 4, the score would still be 4. This format is often played as match play (where you win, lose, or tie the hole against the opposing team's better ball) or as stroke play (where you're simply adding up the best score on each hole for a total team score).
The beauty of this format is that it relieves so much pressure. A bad shot or a bad hole doesn't sink your whole round because you have a partner who can pick you up. This freedom is the secret to unlocking winning four-ball strategy.
The single most important principle in four-ball is to *always* have at least one of your team's golf balls in a good position to make par. This is your safety net. If one player is in the fairway off the tee, the other is free to be aggressive. If one player hits their approach shot safely onto the green, the other can attack the flag. If one player has a tap-in for par, the other can go for that must-make birdie putt without fear.
Any strategic decision you make should start with this question: "How can we make sure one of our balls is safely in play?" This simple mindset leads directly to the most common and effective four-ball strategy: the "Anchor and Aggressor" model.
This is where sound four-ball strategy begins. On every tee box, you and your partner should have a clear plan. One player takes on the "Anchor" role, and the other becomes the "Aggressor."
The first player to tee off is typically the Anchor. Their only job is to get the ball in a safe, playable position - ideally, the middle of the fairway. They shouldn't worry about hitting it as far as possible. They should take a club they feel confident with (maybe a 3-wood or even a hybrid on a tight par 4) and make a smooth, controlled swing. Their goal is security. By putting a ball in play, they provide the safety net for the team.
Once the anchor's ball is resting comfortably in the short grass, the second player is "freed up." They can now play the role of the Aggressor. This means they can be more aggressive with their line and club selection.
This dynamic gives your team the best of both worlds on every hole: a high floor (a likely par from the anchor) and a high ceiling (a great birdie look from the aggressor).
Typically, the more consistent, accurate player on your team should take on the role of the anchor. The longer, more aggressive player is a natural fit for the aggressor role. However, this can - and should - be flexible. If the anchor player is feeling great with their driver, let them be the aggressor on a hole that suits them. Communication is essential here.
The anchor/aggressor mindset continues with your approach shots. The order of play is determined by who is further from the hole. Let's use that to your advantage.
Scenario 1: The first player to hit knocks it on the green.
Let's say you're first to play your approach shot and you hit it safely to the center of the green, 25 feet from the hole. You have successfully established the team's "par." Now your partner is completely freed up. They should take dead aim at the flagstick, even if it's tucked behind a bunker. They are essentially playing with house money. If they stuff it, your team has a great birdie chance. If they miss the green, you still have a perfectly good look at a two-putt par.
Scenario 2: The first player to hit misses the green.
Now, let's reverse it. Say your partner hits first and hooks their approach into a greenside bunker. The pressure now shifts to you. Your job is *not* to be a hero and fire at the tough pin location. Your job is to become the anchor and secure the team's par. Aim for the fattest part of the green, even if it leaves you a 40-foot putt. The top priority is getting your ball on the putting surface to take the pressure off your partner's difficult sand shot.
Great four-ball teams use their two-player advantage masterfully on the greens. This is where many matches are won and lost.
The player whose ball is further from the hole always putts first. This provides an incredible advantage for the second player. After your partner hits their putt, they should immediately tell you about the line and speed. For example: "That broke about a foot from left to right, but I didn't hit it hard enough. Make sure you play a little more break and give it some pace."
This information is pure gold. You just received a live test run of your own putt, taking almost all of the guesswork out of the read. This is a huge tactical advantage that you should use on every single green.
Another classic four-ball situation is when one partner has a very short putt remaining for par or birdie. In match play, the opposing team will likely "concede" that putt, meaning you can pick up your ball and count that score. Let's say your partner is already "in the hole" with a par-4.
Now, it's your turn, and you have a 15-foot putt for birdie. Since your team's par is already secure, you can be extremely aggressive with this putt. You don't have to worry about the comeback putt if you miss. Your goal is to make sure your putt gets to the hole. If you run it three or four feet by, it doesn't matter. You have a free run at birdie, so give it a confident, firm stroke and try to hole it.
All these strategies hinge on one thing: effective communication. A quiet four-ball team is an ineffective one.
Four-ball can be a slow format if a group isn't careful. If you are clearly "out of the hole" (for example, you are lying 5 in a bunker while your partner has a 10-footer for birdie), it's often best for the game and for the pace of play to simply pick up your ball. You are already rooting for your partner to make their putt, and letting them focus without additional distractions can be a smart team play.
Four-ball golf introduces a fantastic layer of strategy and teamwork to the sport. The key is to shift your mindset from pure individual performance to that of a cohesive team, using the anchor-and-aggressor model to balance safety and opportunity on every hole and communicating clearly on putts to take advantage of having a free read.
Navigating the constant strategic choices in a four-ball match is part of the fun. Deciding on the tee whether to be the anchor or the aggressor requires understanding the hole layout, your ailities, and the in-match situation. These are the exact kinds of problems that we designed the on-course features of Caddie AI to help with. By giving it the hole info, you can get a clear, simple strategy laid out for you that can help you and your partner form a game plan before a single club is pulled, helping you avoid mistakes and zero in on the smartest play.
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