Ball
Same as Best Ball but the N is capped at the team's actual size. Lets a 3-player team in a best-ball-of-2 event still score on every hole instead of being forced to score 0 when someone has to leave early.
- Players
- Variable team size
- Net scoring
- Supported
How it works
The mechanics, hole by hole.
- 1Same scoring rules as Best Ball — each player plays their own ball, team takes best N.
- 2N is capped at the team's actual size. A 1-player 'team' in a best-2 event scores just their one ball per hole.
- 3Lets short-handed teams (no-shows, early departures) still post a competitive score instead of NA'ing every hole.
- 4Lowest team total wins.
When to play it
Best fit.
Whenever you can't guarantee everyone shows up — corporate days, multi-day trips, anything where someone might bow out at the turn. Same competitive feel as Best Ball, just without the cliff when a team's down a player.
Worked example
3 holes, with the math shown.
| Player | H1 (par 4) | H2 (par 5) | H3 (par 3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| Tom | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Austin | 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Luke | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Team (Best 1 of N (capped)) | 4 | 4 | 3 |
Each player's contributing balls are highlighted. The team's 3-hole total is 11. Across 18 holes, that's the team's leaderboard score.
Other team formats
You might also like…
Scramble
Everyone tees off, take the best ball, all play that one in. Best 1 of N per hole.
Shamble
Best drive picked, then each plays their own ball in. Best 2 of N count.
Best Ball
Each plays their own ball; team's score = best N. The pure team format.
Chapman / Pinehurst
2-player alternate-shot variant. Both drive, swap, then alternate to the hole.
6-6-6 (Sixes)
18 holes split into three 6-hole segments, each a different format.
Run your Ball event with us.
We're onboarding outings, trips, and tournaments through the beta. Tell us about your group and the date — we'll come back with a link.
Email us →support@scoring.golf