Best Ball / Four-Ball — Stroke
Best Ball is the informal umbrella for 2/3/4-player team formats where each player plays their own ball and the team takes the lowest counting score(s). The strict 2-player USGA variant is called Four-Ball (Rule 23) and uses USGA-mandated 85% handicap allowance. Larger 3- and 4-player teams stay under the Best Ball label since the USGA Four-Ball rules only cover pairs. Played across 18 holes against the full field; lowest team total wins. Gross or net.
- Players
- 2-, 3-, or 4-player teams
- Net scoring
- Supported
How it works
The mechanics, hole by hole.
- 1Every player plays their own ball for the entire hole — drive to putt.
- 2Team's score per hole = sum of the lowest counting scores. 1-of-2 (true Four-Ball), 1-of-3, 1-of-4, or 2-of-4 (the '2 Best Balls' large-team variant) — admin picks the count.
- 3Played as stroke play against the rest of the field across 18 holes.
- 4Gross or net (handicap strokes deducted per USGA allocation before picking the lowest).
- 5Lowest team total wins.
When to play it
Best fit.
The format for serious team competition where you want 'real golf' — no scrambles, no team conferences over short putts. Four-Ball (1-of-2) is the Ryder Cup format; 2-of-4 is the standard member-guest format. Rewards depth — a team of four solid players beats one star and three blowups.
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 4) | 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
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Scramble
Everyone tees off, take the best ball, all play that one in. One team score per hole.
Shamble
Best drive picked, then each plays their own ball in. Best 2 scores per hole count.
Best Ball / Four-Ball — Match
Same best-ball scoring as the stroke version, played head-to-head, hole-by-hole.
Ball
Capped Best Ball — short-handed teams still score on every hole.
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.
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