Best ball is one of the most popular formats for casual rounds and club competitions. It rewards strong individual play while giving every player a safety net: if you have a rough hole, your partner can save it. If you birdie, the team birdies — even if your partner made a double.
| Format | How scoring works | Best for | Pace of play |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Ball (4-Ball) | Each player plays their own ball the entire hole. The team uses the lowest (best) score among the two or four players. | Pairs or foursomes wanting individual play with team safety net | Same as normal play — all players hit all shots |
| Scramble | All players hit each shot. The team picks the best shot, then everyone plays from that spot. Repeat until holed. | Charity events, corporate outings, high-handicap groups | Fastest format — bad shots simply are not used |
| Foursomes (Alternate Shot) | Two players share one ball. They alternate shots — player A tees off odd holes, player B tees off even holes, then they alternate shots until holed. | Ryder Cup style — serious pairs competition | Faster than normal — only one ball per pair |
| Shamble | Everyone hits a tee shot. The team selects the best drive. Then each player plays their own ball from that spot into the hole. | Groups that want scramble drives but individual scoring after | Moderate — faster start, individual play after |
| Hole | Player A | Player B | Team | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hole 1 (par 4) | 5 (bogey) | 4 (par) | 4 | Player B scores par — team takes that score |
| Hole 2 (par 3) | 3 (par) | 4 (bogey) | 3 | Player A makes par — team uses it |
| Hole 3 (par 5) | 4 (birdie) | 6 (bogey) | 4 | Player A birdies — the team scores birdie |
| Hole 4 (par 4) | 6 (double) | 6 (double) | 6 | Both struggle — team stuck with double bogey |
| Hole 5 (par 4) | 5 (bogey) | 4 (par) | 4 | Player B saves the hole with a par |
Best ball can be played as stroke play (team total over 18 holes) or match play (team wins holes, not strokes). Most casual rounds use stroke play best ball. Most club competitions use match play best ball (called 4-Ball in the Rules of Golf).
In best ball stroke play, each player uses a percentage of their course handicap — commonly 100% for both partners. In best ball match play, compare handicaps between the two players and give the higher-handicap player the difference on the relevant holes.
Unlike a scramble, every player tees up and plays their own ball from start to finish. No picking up your ball to play from your partner's spot.
After holing out, the team score for that hole is the best individual net score among the two players. The other score(s) do not count toward the team total — though each player must still hole out if you are using their net score.
In stroke play, sum the 18 team hole scores. Lowest team total wins. In match play, count who won more holes. If one pair leads by more holes than remain, the match is over.
When one partner has a straightforward shot and the other is in trouble, the safe partner should play first. If the safe partner makes par or better, the other can be more aggressive without risking the team's hole.
If your partner has already made par, you can go for the birdie putt. If your partner blew up, lag for bogey instead of risking a 3-putt. Best ball rewards smart turn-taking.
When both players are putting from similar distances, try to choose slightly different lines. One of you will discover the break the other can use.
In match play best ball, make your opponent hole out even when it looks like a tap-in. Pressure putts miss more than you think, and conceding holes is optional, not obligatory.
Best ball (also called 4-Ball) is a team format where two or four players each play their own ball throughout the hole. At the end of the hole, the team uses the lowest — or best — score among all players. It gives each player a safety net: if one partner struggles, the other can save the hole.
In best ball, every player plays their own ball the entire hole, and the team uses the best score. In a scramble, everyone hits a shot, the team picks the best shot location, and everyone plays from that spot — you never finish out your own ball. Best ball feels more like regular golf; a scramble is faster and more forgiving.
In stroke play best ball, most groups use 100% of each player's course handicap applied individually, then take the lowest net score per hole. In match play best ball, only the difference in handicaps matters: the lower-handicap player plays scratch and the higher-handicap player receives the difference in strokes on the hardest-rated holes.
No — in best ball you each play your own ball. Your partner's score only helps the team if it is better than yours. A bad score from your partner never hurts you.
In stroke play, if your partner has already recorded a score the team will use and your ball cannot beat it, you can pick up for pace of play — but you must hole out if there is any chance your score could help the team. In match play, if the team's hole is already won, both players may pick up.
In the official Rules of Golf (Rule 23), 4-Ball is a match play format where two sides (pairs) compete head-to-head and each player plays their own ball. Each side's score for a hole is the better of its two players' scores. It is essentially what most golfers call "best ball match play."
Best ball is most common with two players (partners) using the best of two scores per hole. It can also be played with four players on a team using the best of four scores — sometimes called "four-ball best ball" or just a team event.
Yes, because one bad hole from one partner can be rescued by the other partner's score. A team of two average golfers playing best ball will typically shoot several strokes better than either individual's stroke play score.
Best ball is the sweet spot between individual and team golf. Each player is fully engaged because their score might be the one that counts — but a bad hole from one partner does not doom the team. It is great for mixed-ability pairings and makes for some genuinely exciting hole-by-hole competition. Set up handicaps properly, decide on stroke play vs match play, and let the best score win each hole.