What Does 4BBB Mean in Golf?

Ever seen 4BBB on a tournament sign-up sheet and felt a slight panic? You're not alone, but the good news is this popular golf format is far simpler and more fun than its name might suggest. This guide will walk you through exactly what Four-Ball Better Ball means, how to play it, and give you some expert strategies to help you and your partner find the winner's circle.

Decoding 4BBB: It's Simpler Than You Think

Let's get straight to it. 4BBB stands for Four-Ball Better Ball. It’s a team tournament format, and once you break down the name, it's pretty self-explanatory.

• Four-Ball: This simply means there are four balls in play on every hole within your group. In a typical 4BBB event, you play as a group of four, made up of two teams of two. Each of the four players plays their own golf ball from the tee until it’s in the hole.
• Better Ball: This is the scoring part. On each hole, you and your partner both record a score. The team's score for that hole is simply the lower, or "better," of those two scores.

So, if you make a 5 (a bogey) and your partner makes a 4 (a par), your team's score for that hole is a 4. All you have to do is circle the 4, write it down on the scorecard, and move on. The 5 is essentially erased. It’s this built-in safety net that makes the format so appealing - if you have a bad hole, your partner can bail you out!

How a 4BBB Hole is Played: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough

Imagine you and your friend Pat are a team. You’re playing against Chris and Sam. Here’s how a typical par-4 hole would unfold:

1. On the Tee: All four of you - you, Pat, Chris, and Sam - tee off one after another. There's no special order beyond standard golf etiquette.
2. Playing the Hole: Here’s where 4BBB differs from a scramble. You don’t choose the best drive and all play from there. Each player plays their own ball for the entire hole. You find your drive in the fairway, and Pat finds his in the rough. You both play your second shots, third shots, and so on, until you both hole out. The same goes for Chris and Sam. All four balls are played independently.
3. Finalizing Scores: Once everyone has putted out, you compare scores within your team.
   • You made a par 4.
   • Your partner, Pat, had a tougher time and made a 6.
   • Your team’s score is the "better ball," which is your 4.
   You then look at the other team’s scores.
   • Chris made a par 4.
   • Sam made a bogey 5.
   • Their team’s score is 4.
4. On the Scorecard: For that hole, your team writes down a 4, and their team writes down a 4. The hole is a tie (also called a "half"). If your team had scored a 4 and theirs a 5, you would have won the hole. You keep doing this for all 18 holes, and the team with the lowest total score at the end wins.

Understanding Handicaps in Four-Ball

Most 4BBB competitions use handicaps to level the playing field, and this is where it can feel a little more complex. Don't worry, it's manageable. Most events use a percentage of each player's Course Handicap, typically 85% or 90%. Check the rules sheet before you play. The score you record for the team is your net better ball.

Here's how those handicap strokes are typically applied:

Step 1: Calculate Playing Handicaps. First, each player gets their 4BBB Playing Handicap. If the competition rule is 90% of the course handicap, a player with a 10 Course Handicap would have a Playing Handicap of 9 (10 x 0.9 = 9).

Step 2: Apply the Strokes. You use this Playing Handicap just as you would in a normal Stableford or stroke play round. A player with a 9 Playing Handicap gets one stroke on the holes with a Stroke Index of 1 through 9.

Let’s run through an example:

Let's stay with our a team (You and Pat) vs. their team (Chris and Sam). The hole is a Par 4 with a Stroke Index of 8. The event is using 90% handicaps.

• You: Course Handicap 12 (Playing Handicap becomes 11, from 12 x 0.9 = 10.8)
• Pat: Course Handicap 20 (Playing Handicap becomes 18, from 20 x 0.9 = 18)
• Chris: Course Handicap 6 (Playing Handicap becomes 5, from 6 x 0.9 = 5.4)
• Sam: Course Handicap 16 (Playing Handicap becomes 14, from 16 x 0.9 = 14.4)

On this hole (Stroke Index 8):

• You get a stroke (your PH of 11 is greater than or equal to 8).
• Pat gets a stroke (PH 18).
• Chris does NOT get a stroke (PH 5).
• Sam gets a stroke (PH 14).

Now let's say these are your gross scores (the actual number of shots taken):

• You make a 5. With your stroke, your net score is 4.
• Pat makes a 6. With his stroke, his net score is 5.
• Your team’s net better ball is your score: a Net 4.
• Chris makes a 4. With no stroke, his net score is 4.
• Sam makes a 5. With his stroke, his net score is 4.
• Their team’s net better ball is a Net 4 thanks to both player’s efforts.

Again, the hole is a half! The "net" score is what matters.

Winning Strategies for 4BBB Golf

Okay, now for the fun part. As a coach, this is where I see good teams become great ones. Success in 4BBB isn’t just about having two good players, it’s about having two smart players who work together.

1. The "Safety & Aggressor" Approach

This is the classic, time-tested strategy. The first player to play their shot into the green has one job: get on the green safely. Aim for the middle, make an easy two-putt par, and post a solid score. This takes the pressure off your partner.

Once your ball is sitting safely on the green, Player Two isnow free to be the aggressor. They can aim for a tucked pin, try to drive the green on a short par-4, or go for a par-5 in two. If it pays off, you make an eagle or birdie. If it doesn't and they end up in a bunker or the water, no big deal - your "safety" score is already on the board.

2. Communicate Constantly

Don't be a silent partner. Talk through every shot. After your drives, a simple "I'm in the fairway, just 150 out. I’m going to hit a smooth shot to the middle" gives your partner incredible freedom. Conversely, if you say "I've pulled it into the trees and have to punch out sideways," your partner immediately knows their shot is now the important one, and they need to play more conservatively to make sure the team has a score.

3. Leverage Your Handicaps

Before the round starts, look at the scorecard. Who gets strokes where? If Pat has a high handicap and is getting a stroke on a long par 3, he is the designated aggressor on that hole. His "net par" is actually a bogey, giving him a huge cushion. Your job as the lower handicapper might be to just put the ball on the green. Identify the holes where each of you has a distinct advantage and plan accordingly.

4. Stay Positive and Supportive

One of the best apects of 4BBB is that you have a teammate to lean on. If you hit your tee shot out of bounds, your mental job isn't over. Don't sulk back to the bag. Instead, become your partner's personal caddie and biggest cheerleader. Watch their shot, give them the line on their putt, and keep the momentum positive. When they have a bad hole, you’ll repay the favor. A team that stays positive can save multiple shots a round.

4BBB vs. Other Popular Golf Formats

It's easy to mix up golf formats. Here’s a quick-hitter guide to how a Four-Ball differs from two other common team games.

• 4BBB (Four-Ball): Two teams of two. Each of the four golfers plays their own ball throughout. The best score (gross or net) for each team is the score for the hole.
• Scramble (or Texas Scramble): One team of two, three, or four players. Everyone tees off. The team chooses the best shot, and everyone hits their next shot from that spot. This process is repeated until the ball is holed. It's a much lower-scoring format that emphasizes teamwork on every single shot.
• Foursomes (or Alternate Shot): Two teams of two. This is the toughest format! Partners on a team share a single golf ball and take turns hitting it. 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 hits the tee shot. It’s a demanding test of partnership and consistency.

Final Thoughts

Four-Ball Better Ball (4BBB) is a fantastic format that blends individual play with team strategy. It allows you to play your own game while knowing your partner has your back, making it a favorite for weekend competitions and club championships. Understanding the scoring, handicap system, and basic strategies will turn it from an intimidating acronym into one of your favorite ways to play golf.

Mastering a format like 4BBB often comes down to course management - knowing when to play it safe and when to attack a pin. We designed our app, Caddie AI, to give you that strategic advantage right in your pocket. As you and your partner approach a shot, you can input the details to get a smart recommendation, helping both of you make better on-course decisions and ultimately build a winning scorecard.