What Is Foreball in Golf?

Ever heard the term Foreball mentioned on the golf course or in the clubhouse and found yourself nodding along, slightly confused? You are definitely not alone. While Foreball isn't an officially recognized golf format, the term you're almost certainly hearing is Four-Ball, one of the most popular and enjoyable team formats in golf. This guide will clear up the confusion, break down exactly how to play a Four-Ball match, and give you the strategies you and your partner need to win.

Untangling the Term: Is it Foreball or Four-Ball?

Let's get this settled right away. In the official Rules of Golf, there is no format called "Foreball." It's a common mispronunciation, a bit like hearing someone say they hit a 'four iron' with their 'three wood.' The correct term is "Four-Ball," which gets its name because in a typical group, there are four players, and each plays their own ball - four balls in play on every hole. The format is also frequently called "Best-Ball" or "Better-Ball," as you and your partner take the best score between you on each hole.

So, the next time someone invites you to play a round of "Foreball," you can smile confidently, knowing they mean Four-Ball. And now, you’re about to become the expert on how to play it.

How to Play Four-Ball (Best-Ball): The Rules Simplified

At its heart, Four-Ball is a simple and wonderfully forgiving team game. It removes a lot of the pressure of individual stroke play because you always have a partner backing you up. It's the format used for a majority of Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup matches, and it’s a staple at member-guest tournaments for a reason: it's competitive, strategic, and a whole lot of fun.

Here’s how it works:

• The Teams: You play with a partner, forming one two-person team. You play against another two-person team.
• The Game: Each of the four players plays their own golf ball from the tee to the hole. You play your own ball all the way through, just like you would in a normal game. There's no picking up and playing from your partner's shot (that's a Scramble, which we'll discuss later).
• The Scoring: A Four-Ball competition can be scored using either match play or stroke play.
  • In match play, the two teams compete hole-by-hole. At the end of each hole, you compare the scores. The team with the player who had the lowest individual score wins the hole. If the lowest scores are tied, the hole is halved (or "pushed"). The team that wins the most holes wins the match.
  • In stroke play, you complete the full 18 holes. On each hole, you and your partner write down both of your individual scores, but you only circle the lower of the two scores. That one lower score becomes your "team score" for that hole. At the end of the round, you add up these 18 team scores for your total.

A Clear Scoring Example (Stroke Play):

Imagine you and your partner, Alex, are on the first hole, a par-4.

• You play the hole and make a solid par 4.
• Alex has a bit of trouble, finding a bunker and finishes with a double-bogey 6.
• Your team's score for the hole is 4. Her 6 doesn't hurt the team. She can pick up her ball once it's clear she can't beat your score to speed up play.

On the second hole, a par-3:

• You hit your tee shot into the long grass and end up with a bogey 4.
• Alex hits a beautiful iron shot and drains the putt for a fantastic birdie 2.
• Your team's score for the hole is 2. Your 4 is irrelevant, and Alex is the hero.

You can see the appeal. One player can have a terrible hole without ruining the team's scorecard. It encourages you to brush off a bad shot and focus on the next one, knowing your partner has your back.

What About Handicaps?

For friendly games, you can simply use your gross (actual) scores. However, in official tournaments, handicaps are used to level the playing field. In a Four-Ball match, this is typically done by taking a percentage of each player's course handicap (often 85% or 90%).

For example, if you are a 10 handicap playing in an 85% event, you would get 8.5 strokes, which rounds up to 9 strokes for the round. Your partner, a 20 handicap, would get (20 * 0.85) = 17 strokes. You then apply those strokes on the most difficult holes (as ranked on the scorecard, 1-18) to determine your net score on each hole. The team's score for the hole is the lowest net score.

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The Strategic Side of Four-Ball: Playing as a True Team

This is where Four-Ball shines and where a good team can beat two more skilled but uncoordinated individuals. Good strategy isn’t just about hitting good shots, it’s about playing smart an communicating with your partner.

1. Designate the "Aggressor" and the "Anchor"

This is the cornerstone of great Four-Ball strategy. Before you even tee off on a hole, you should decide who is going to play aggressively and who is going to play safely.

• The Anchor: This player's job is to ensure a par is on the card. They hit first off the tee, aiming for the fairway. Their approach shot is to the middle of the green, away from a tucked pin or dangerous bunkers. Their goal is simple: put a safe, stress-free '4' (on a par-4) on the scorecard. This player frees up their partner to take a risk.
• The Aggressor: Once the anchor's ball is safely in the fairway, this player is free to go for it. They can take a more aggressive line off the tee to get a shorter approach shot. They can fire directly at the flagstick, even if it's guarded by a bunker. They are swinging for birdie, knowing that if it doesn't work out, their partner's par will save the hole.

Who plays which role can change hole-by-hole. If you’re feeling confident with your driver, you might volunteer to be the aggressor on a par-5. If your partner is a great iron player, they might be the aggressor on a tricky par-3.

2. Smart Order of Play

The order in which you play, especially on the greens, matters. If the anchor is 20 feet away from the hole and the aggressor has a tricky 10-footer for birdie, the anchor should always putt first. If they make their putt, a huge weight is lifted. If they lag it close for a tap-in par, the aggressor knows the par is secured and can putt their birdie attempt more aggressively, without worrying about leaving a long come-backer.

Similarly, if one player is already out of the hole (e.g., in the water off the tee), their role immediately changes. They become a caddie and a confidant for their partner. They can help with club selection, read a putt, or simply offer encouragement.

3. Manage Morale and Momentum

Four-Ball is as much a mental game as it is physical. If your partner hits a bad shot, don't walk over with your shoulders slumped. Be positive. Say something like, "Don't worry about it, I'm in a great spot." This support lets them relax and recover on the next shot.

Conversely, when your partner hits a great shot, celebrate it! Positive energy is contagious. A successful pairing communicates constantly, strategizes together, and builds each other up. Never underestimate the power of being a good teammate.

Four-Ball vs. Other Common Formats: Clearing the Confusion

To really master Four-Ball, it helps to understand how it differs from other team formats you might play in a tournament or an outing.

Four-Ball vs. A Scramble

• The Biggest Difference: In a Four-Ball, you play your own ball from tee to green. In a Scramble, the team plays from the best ball's position after every shot.
• Example: In a four-person Scramble, all four players tee off. They find the best drive, and all four players hit their second shot from that spot. This continues until the ball is in the hole. Scrambles are all about making birdies and eagles. Four-ball is about consistent teamwork.

Four-Ball vs. Foursomes (Alternate Shot)

• The Biggest Difference: Foursomes is probably the toughest team format. A two-person team plays only one ball and must alternate hitting shots. Player A tees off, Player B hits the second shot, Player A hits the third, and so on.
• Example: The strategy in Foursomes is intense. You have to think about leaving your partner in a good position, and you feel immense pressure not to mess up after they've hit a great shot. It’s vastly different from the freedom of playing your own ball in a Four-Ball.

Final Thoughts

In short, Four-Ball is a "best-ball" team format where you and a partner both play your own ball, taking the lower of your two scores for the team's result on each hole. Success comes not just from hitting good shots, but from smart strategy, clear communication, and supporting your partner from the first tee to the eighteenth green.

When you're deciding on that hole-by-hole strategy - who plays it safe and who takes the fight to the pin - having an expert second opinion can make all the difference. I built Caddie AI to be that on-demand golf brain in your pocket. You can ask for a smart, safe play to secure your par as the anchor, or ask for the ideal aggressive line when you're going for birdie. This gives you and your partner the clarity and confidence to commit to your strategy and play better as a team.