What Are the Rules for Four-Ball Golf?

Thinking about playing Four-Ball golf but not quite sure how it all works? You've come to the right place. This fun, strategic format is a favorite in team events and friendly weekend games for a reason, and this guide will break down all the rules, scoring nuances, and strategies you need to know to play with confidence. We’ll cover the basic setup, the critical rules on scoring and penalties, and the tactics that will help you and your partner play your best.

What Exactly Is Four-Ball Golf?

In the simplest terms, Four-Ball is a two-person team game where each golfer plays their own ball from tee to green. After each hole, the team takes the lower of their two scores, and that one score becomes the team's' score for that hole. That’s why you might also hear it called "Best-Ball" or "Better-Ball," because you're using the best score from your team on every hole.

It's important not to confuse Four-Ball with a Scramble or Foursomes (Alternate Shot):

• Scramble: Both players tee off, choose the best drive, and both hit their next shot from that spot. This repeats until a ball is holed.
• Foursomes (Alternate Shot): Teammates hit the same ball, taking turns hitting shots until the ball is holed. One player tees off on odd-numbered holes, the other on even.

Four-Ball is different. You get the benefit of having a partner to back you up, but you still get to play every shot with your own ball. This makes it a great balance of teamwork and individual play, reducing pressure while still letting you experience the full course.

The Essential Rules of Four-Ball Golf

While the concept is straightforward, there are specific rules (officially covered in Rule 23 of the Rules of Golf) that you need to be aware of. Understanding these can prevent confusion and give your team a strategic edge.

Playing the Hole: The Fundamentals

The foundation of Four-Ball is simple: you and your partner each play your own ball throughout the hole. If you hit your ball into the trees, that’s your ball. If your partner stripes one down the middle, that’s their ball. Your scores are completely independent until the hole is over, at which point you compare cards and record the lower score.

A huge advantage of this format is that if you're having a disaster on a particular hole - say you find two water hazards and a bunker - you can simply pick up your ball. As long as your partner is still in good shape, they can continue playing the hole to post a score for the team. This takes a lot of stress out of the game and keeps the pace of play moving.

Order of Play: A Key Strategic Element

In Four-Ball, partners can decide to play in any order they think is most beneficial. This is a massive departure from standard individual play. For example, on a tough par 3 over water, the team might decide to have the more consistent iron player hit first to safely put a ball on the green. This frees up the other partner to be more aggressive and fire right at the flag without fear of a major mistake ending the hole for the team.

The same applies to putting. It's almost always best for the person further from the hole to putt first. This gives their partner a free look at the line and speed. If the first player sinks the putt, great! If they just miss but leave a tap-in, it allows the second player to make a bolder, less cautious stroke on their own birdie attempt.

Scoring: Match Play vs. Stroke Play

Four-Ball is played in two main formats, each with its own scoring method.

Four-Ball Match Play

This is the format famously used in the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup. It’s you and your partner against another team of two.

• Winning a Hole: Your team wins a hole if one of your players records a lower net score than both of the opponents. For example, if you make a net 4 and your partner makes a 5, and your opponents both make a 5, your net 4 wins the hole. Your team goes "1 up."
• Losing a Hole: Your team loses the hole if both of you have a higher net score than at least one of your opponents. For instance, you and your partner both make a 5, but one of your opponents makes a net 4. Your team goes "1 down."
• Halving a Hole: If your team's best score is tied with the opponent's best score, the hole is "halved" (tied), and the match score remains unchanged.

The match is over when one team is leading by more holes than there are left to play (e.g., "3 and 2" means they are 3 up with only 2 holes left).

Four-Ball Stroke Play

This is more common in club tournaments or Pro-Ams, where multiple teams are competing against the entire field.

• Keeping Score: At the end of each hole, you and your partner look at your individual gross scores. You figure out your net scores (if using handicaps), circle the lower net score, and put that down as the team score for the hole.
• Winning the Event: After 18 holes, you add up the 18 team scores. The team with the lowest total score wins the tournament.

How Handicaps Work in Four-Ball

Applying handicaps correctly is essential for a fair game between teams of different skill levels. The method changes slightly between match play and stroke play.

For Match Play:

1. All four players determine their Course Handicap.
2. Identify the player with the lowest handicap (the "A" player). This player will play off of zero (scratch).
3. The other three players will receive the full difference between their Course Handicap and the "A" player's handicap.

Example:
- Player A: 6 handicap
- Player B (A's partner): 12 handicap
- Player C: 10 handicap
- Player D (C's partner): 18 handicap

Player A is the lowest at 6. He receives 0 strokes.
- Player C gets 10 - 6 = 4 strokes.
- Player B gets 12 - 6 = 6 strokes.
- Player D gets 18 - 6 = 12 strokes.
These strokes are applied on the hardest-rated holes (Holes 1-4 for Player C, 1-6 for Player B, and 1-12 for Player D).

For Stroke Play:

To prevent teams with one very high-handicap player from having an unfair advantage, a percentage of each player's handicap is usually used.

• Most events use 90% for men and 95% for women of their Course Handicap.

Example:
- Player 1 (Man): Has a Course Handicap of 10. He gets 90% of 10, which is 9 strokes.
- Player 2 (Woman): Has a Course Handicap of 20. She gets 95% of 20, which is 19 strokes.
They then use these adjusted handicaps to calculate their net score on each hole.

Penalties and Partner-Specific Rules

Rules between partners are relaxed in Four-Ball. Here’s what you need to know:

• Sharing Clubs: You are allowed to share clubs with your partner, as long as the total number of clubs between the two of you isn't more than 14. This is a direct exception to the individual-play rule.
• Giving Advice: You and your partner can give each other unlimited advice on club selection, reading putts, etc. You are a team, and acting like one is perfectly legal.
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If you incur a penalty (e.g., hitting your ball out of bounds), that penalty only applies to

score for the hole. Your partner’s ball and score are unaffected. This is why you can swing freely after your partner is safely in the fairway.
• When One Action Affects Both Partners: If your actions cause a penalty that applies to your partner (like accidentally moving their ball), your partner receives the penalty. The key thing to remember is that the penalty goes to the owner of the ball that was affected.

Winning Strategy for Four-Ball

Just playing your own game isn’t enough. To be a great Four-Ball team, you need a smart, collaborative strategy that leverages the strength of both players.

1. Communication is Everything

Top Four-Ball teams are constantly talking. Before a shot, quickly discuss the wind, the real yardage, the smart miss, and club selection. When one player is out of the hole, they should let their partner know immediately. This allows the remaining player to adjust their strategy, often playing more conservatively to just ensure a score for the team goes on the card.

2. The "Aggressive/Conservative" Play

This is the classic Four-Ball strategy, especially off the tee. One player’s job is simply to get their ball in play - hit a fairway wood or long iron if needed. Once that first ball is safely in the fairway, the second player is free to pull out their driver and hit an aggressive shot, trying to get further down the hole for a shorter approach. This one-two punch maximizes your chances of both having a play and getting one ball into a great scoring position.

3. Master Your Putting Strategy

Strong Four-Ball putting is a testament to teamwork. Always have the player who is away putt first. Their goal is twofold: try to make it, but also provide a great read on line and speed for their partner. If the first putt is lagged up to tap-in range, the second player can putt without the pressure of a potential three-putt. They can take a more aggressive, dead-center line, knowing the par is already secured.

4. Never Give Up on Your Partner

Even if you hit a bad shot, don't immediately get down on yourself or check out of the hole. Your partner might make a mistake on their next shot, putting the pressure back on you. A grinded-out bogey from an impossible spot can often tie or even win a hole when other players also find trouble. Stay in the game until it’s truly impossible for you to help.

Final Thoughts

Four-Ball is a fantastic format that blends individual performance with team camaraderie, making victory feel like a shared accomplishment. By understanding the core rules for scoring and penalties and having a smart, communicative strategy, you and your partner will be well-equipped to go out there, have fun, and post some great team scores.

Playing Four-Ball also means you’ll face unique strategic forks in the road on every hole. When deciding who plays safe and who plays aggressively, Caddie AI can analyze the hole for you and suggest a smart tee shot plan. If one of you finds trouble, I designed Caddie to analyze tricky lies and recommend the smartest recovery shot, turning a potential disaster into a manageable situation. It can remove the guesswork from club selection and shot strategy, giving both you and your partner more confidence to commit to your swings.