Foursomes — also called alternate shot — is the format where two golfers share one ball and take turns hitting it until it goes in the hole. It is the ultimate team format: one bad swing can put your partner in a terrible spot, and one great recovery can save a hole. Here is everything you need to know to play it.
The player who tees off hole 1 tees all odd-numbered holes (1, 3, 5... 17). Their partner tees all even-numbered holes (2, 4, 6... 18). This cannot change mid-round. Think about which player you want teeing the hardest holes on each nine before you commit.
After the tee shot, partners take turns hitting the same ball: A drives, B hits approach, A chips, B putts, and so on. The rotation continues without exception — even if one partner is in a bunker and the other is nearby, the order does not change.
Your team plays a single ball. If either player hits a provisional, loses the ball, or takes a penalty, the other player hits next as the alternating sequence demands. Out-of-bounds, penalty areas, and unplayable lie relief options still apply, but the shot responsibility follows the rotation.
Record each stroke by either partner plus any penalty strokes taken. This is your team's score for the hole. In stroke play, sum all 18 holes at the end. In match play (Ryder Cup style), compare hole-by-hole against the other team.
In stroke play, a foursome team's combined handicap is typically set at 50% of the two players' Course Handicaps added together. Example: a 12 and an 18 handicap play as a 15-handicap team (12 + 18 = 30, half = 15). Specific competitions may use different percentages — check the local rules.
| Hole | Par | Tees off | Strategy note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (odd) | 4 | Player A | Decide tee duty before round — whoever tees off hole 1 tees odd holes throughout |
| 2 (even) | 3 | Player B | Player B tees all even holes; the shot order then alternates from there |
| 3 (odd) | 5 | Player A | If A misses the fairway on hole 3, B hits the approach — plan accordingly |
| 4 (even) | 4 | Player B | Plan who you want teeing the hardest holes on each nine before the round |
| 18 (even) | 4 | Player B | The tee rotation is fixed — you cannot change it mid-round |
| Format | Team size | Balls in play | Shot sequence | Official rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foursomes (alternate shot) | 2 | 1 | Partners alternate every shot on the same ball | Rule 22 — Foursomes |
| Four-ball (best ball) | 2 | 2 | Each player plays their own ball; best score per hole counts | Rule 23 — Four-Ball |
| Scramble | 2 or 4 | 1 per shot (team selects best) | All players hit, team picks best, everyone plays from there | Not an official Rules of Golf format |
| Greensomes (Chapman) | 2 | 1 (after tee shots) | Both hit tee shots, select one, then alternate from there | Local rule / unofficial variant |
In best ball (four-ball), each player gets their own ball and only the better score counts per hole. A missed putt by partner A doesn't hurt the team if partner B makes it. In foursomes, there is NO safety net: partner A's errant drive puts partner B in the rough with a nearly impossible approach. Every shot by one player directly affects the next shot by the other. This is why foursomes produces both the highest drama and the highest scores in professional team events like the Ryder Cup.
Foursomes is a format where two players form a team and play one ball between them, alternating shots throughout each hole. One partner tees off odd holes (1, 3, 5...) and the other tees off even holes (2, 4, 6...). After the tee shot, they alternate every subsequent shot until the ball is holed.
In traditional golf terminology, a "foursome" meant a match between two pairs — so each match involved four people total. The word stuck to describe the format even though each side is only two players. Today it's called foursomes or alternate shot interchangeably.
In foursomes, two partners share one ball and alternate every shot. In four-ball (best ball), both partners each play their own ball throughout the round and only the best score per hole counts. Four-ball is generally easier because each player gets more shots.
The Ryder Cup features foursomes (alternate shot) matches alongside four-ball (best ball) matches and singles. In foursomes sessions, each pair of players shares one ball and alternates shots. The team that wins more holes wins the match, and points are awarded per match.
No. The alternating rotation is strict. Whoever tees off a hole continues to hit every other shot on that hole — there is no choosing based on the lie, situation, or who has the better short game. The only choice is who tees off which set of holes (odd vs even), decided before the round starts.
In stroke play, if a team plays from the wrong order, they must correct the error before making another stroke, returning to the previous spot and replaying the stroke — and a 2-stroke general penalty applies. In match play, the opposing team may immediately cancel the stroke by giving a hole-loss penalty if the wrong partner played.
For stroke play, most competitions use 50% of the sum of the two players' Course Handicaps. A 10 and a 16 handicap would play as a 13-handicap team. For match play, 50% of the difference in the teams' combined Course Handicaps is used, and the better team gives strokes to the worse team on the hardest stroke-index holes.
The most important factor is who tees the hardest holes on each nine. On many courses, the hardest par-4 or par-3 falls on an odd or even hole — you want your stronger driver or more reliable tee-ball player assigned to those. Also consider par-3 holes: the person who does NOT tee the par-3 is likely hitting the second putt, so a good putter there is valuable.
Plan tee duties for the whole round upfront. Look at the scorecard before you start. Which are the three hardest holes on the front nine? Which player's strengths better match the shot shape required off those tees? Make the decision before hole 1 — not on the tee box.
The putter matters as much as the driver. In foursomes, whoever does NOT tee a par-3 hits the approach and probably the first putt. Whoever DOES tee the par-3 is likely putting the second putt under pressure. Think about who you want putting in crunch moments, not just who drives well.
Play target golf, not hero golf. One player's wild tee shot ruins the hole for both. The priority is giving your partner a playable lie — not outdriving the other team.