What Is a Four-Ball Match in Golf?

Playing friendly matches is one of the best parts of golf, but teaming up with a partner to take on another duo introduces a fantastic strategic dimension to the game. That’s precisely the fun behind a four-ball match. This article will walk you through exactly what a four-ball is, how it’s scored, and most importantly, give you practical strategies you can use with your partner to win your next match.

What Exactly Is a Four-Ball Match?

At its core, four-ball is a team competition format played between two teams of two golfers each. The name "four-ball" tells you the most important rule: every single player plays their own golf ball from the tee to the hole. There are always four balls in play on every hole. This is the main difference from a scramble, where the team selects the best shot and everyone plays from there.

After each player on the two teams has completed a hole, the scores are compared. Each team takes the lower of its two partners' scores for that hole. This low score is known as the "better ball," which is why you'll often hear this format called "Four-Ball Better Ball" or simply "Better Ball."

The team with the lower of the two "better ball" scores wins the hole. If the best scores from both teams are the same, the hole is tied (or "halved").

Here’s a quick a example to make it crystal clear:

• Team 1: You make a 4 (par), and your partner makes a 5 (bogey). Your team's score for the hole is your 4.
• Team 2: Opponent A makes a 5 (bogey), and Opponent B makes a fantastic 3 (birdie). Their team's score for the hole is Opponent B's 3.

In this case, a 3 beats a 4, so Team 2 wins the hole. Even though you beat one of your opponents individually, their partner’s strong play secured the hole for their team.

How Four-Ball Works: Match Play vs. Stroke Play

While the a four-ball system of taking the better score per hole is consistent, the way the overall winner is decided can differ. The format can be played as either match play or stroke play, which changes the dynamic of the competition significantly.

Four-Ball Match Play

This is the classic, head-to-head version of four-ball that you see in a prestigious an event like the Ryder Cup. The objective isn't to post the lowest total score over 18 holes, but simply to win more holes than the opposing team.

• Scoring: The score is kept relative to the number of holes won or lost. If your team wins the first hole, you are "1 up." If the opponents then win the next two holes, you are "1 down." If a hole is tied, the overall match score doesn't change.
• Winning the Match: The match ends when one team is "up" by more holes than there are left to play. For instance, being "3 up" with only two holes remaining (a 3 &, 2 victory) ends the match right there.
• Concessions: A unique aspect of match play is the ability to concede shots. If your opponent has a one-foot putt, you can tell them it's "good," which means you are conceding the putt. You can a concede a hole at any time. This speeds up play and adds a layer of sportsmanship and strategy.

Match play is a hole-by-hole battle of wits and nerve, where one bad hole can be immediately erased by winning the next one.

Four-Ball Stroke Play

Often used in club championships, pro-am events, and member-guest tournaments, four-ball stroke play feels more like a traditional round of golf. The goal here is to achieve the lowest possible team score over the full 18 holes.

• Scoring: Similar to a regular round, you simply write down your team's single best score on each hole. If you make a 4 and your partner makes a 5, you write down a 4.
• Winning the Tournament: At the end of the round, you add up the 18 "better ball" scores. The team with the lowest total aggregate score for the tournament is the winner.

In this format, every stroke truly counts. A high score on a hole from both partners can be very damaging to your total score, whereas in match play, you would just lose one a hole at worst.

The Role of Handicaps in Four-Ball

For most amateurs, handicaps are what make competitive golf fair and enjoyable. Four-ball has a specific, standardized system for applying handicaps to level the playing field. According to the Rules of Golf (Rule 23), here is how you calculate handicap strokes for a four-ball match:

1. Find Everyone's Course Handicap: First, each of the four players determines their valid course a handicap for the tees being played.
2. Identify the "Low Man": Look at the four course a handicaps and find the player with the lowest one. This person is sometimes called the "A Player" or the "low man."
3. Calculate Handicap Allowances: The A Player will play off of scratch (0 strokes). The other three players receive strokes based on the difference between their a handicap and the A Players. For a most competitive a match the allowance is 90% of the difference (95% for women's events).

Let's use an example to illustrate:

• Player A (Team 1): 6 Course Handicap (The A Player)
• Player B (Team 1): 14 Course Handicap
• Player C (Team 2): 10 Course Handicap
• Player D (Team 2): 20 Course Handicap

Here's how the playing handicaps are calculated:

• Player A: Gets 0 strokes (As the A Player).
• Player B: (14 - 6) = 8. Then 8 x 90% = 7.2. This is rounded to 7 strokes.
• Player C: (10 - 6) = 4. Then 4 x 90% = 3.6. This is rounded to 4 strokes.
• Player D: (20 - 6) = 14. Then 14 x 90% = 12.6. This is rounded to 13 strokes.

Now, these players get to subtract their strokes on the most difficult holes. Player D a will "get a stroke" on the 13 hardest holes ( handicap holes 1 through 13 on the scorecard), meaning a gross 5 becomes a net 4 on a those holes.

Winning Four-Ball Strategy: How to Play as a Team

Four-ball isn't just about two people playing well individually, it's about two people playing smart together. A great team can often beat two more skilled, but less strategic, individuals. Here are some proven strategies to use in your next match.

1. Designate a "Rock" and a "Hammer"

This is the foundation of four-ball strategy. The goal is for one player to make a safe, stress-free par, freeing up their partner to play aggressively and hunt for a birdie.

• The Rock: This player's goal is to keep the ball in play. Hit the fairway, aim for the center of the green, and secure a "team par." This takes immense pressure off their partner. This is usually the player with lower handicap or is more consistent. Usually the better player tees off first to set a benchmark score.
• The Hammer: Once the Rock is safely headed for a par, the Hammer is unleashed. This player can fire a more aggressive line at the pin, attempt to drive a short par-4, or go for a par-5 in two. They know they have a backstop, so they can take calculated risks to try and secure a birdie that wins the hole.

This dynamic shifts from shot to shot. If the first player hits their tee shot into the trees, the roles reverse. The second player becomes the "Rock" and must find the fairway.

2. Communication is Your Most Valuable Tool

Good partners are always talking. This isn't just about encouragement, but about sharing valuable information.

• Discuss Club Selection: When your partner hits a great 7-iron to the middle of the green, that’s great intel. It confirms the yardage and tells you how the wind is playing. You can now adjust your own club choice accordingly.
• Read Putts Together: Two sets of eyes are better than one. Share what you see on the green. If you're putting first on a similar line, tell your partner exactly how the ball broke. You can say something like, "It's quicker than it looks," or "I definitely didn't play enough break."
• Offer Positive Reinforcement: Golf is tough. After a bad shot, hearing "Don't worry, I've got you covered," from a partner can make all the difference and help them refocus for the next shot.

3. Play it Cool - Never Apologize or Give Up

One of the biggest mistakes in team play is checking out of a hole after a poor shot. It's deflating for your partner and often a tactical error.

Your teammate might unexpectedly hit their ball out-of-bounds or into a water hazard, and suddenly your scramble to make a net bogey is the most important shot on the hole. You never know when your score will be needed, so grind out every hole until a your is in the a cup. Similarly, avoid saying "sorry" for a bad shot. It serves no purpose other than to add negativity. You are a team - you a win and lose together. Just a move onto your next shot.

4. Know the State of the Match

You have to be very aware of what is happening in the whole. Both, what our team is doing and what the opponent is a doing is also something you want to stay keenly aware of a to inform our own strategy.

In match play, situational awareness is a big separator.. If both your opponents have hit their tee shots into trouble, there’s no need for you or your partner to attempt a hero shot. A simple par will likely be enough to win the hole. Conversely, if one of your opponents has a short putt for birdie, your team needs to get aggressive to try and match it. Apply pressure when you can, play conservatively when the opponents hand you an opening.

Final Thoughts

A four-ball match is a fantastic golf format that perfectly balances individual performance with partnership and team chemistry. By understanding how the scoring and handicaps work, and by approaching each hole with a smart, collaborative strategy, you and your partner can get more out of every round get ever higher wins.

Developing that on-course strategy is exactly why we designed our features at Caddie AI. When you and your partner are weighing risk versus reward, we can give you a smart, simple game plan for any hole in seconds. If your partner is safely in the fairway and you're contemplating an aggressive line to the green, we are at your fingertips to provide that instant, data-driven second opinion to help you make every decision with complete confidence.