Four-Ball Match
Same best-ball scoring as Four-Ball Stroke, but each hole is a head-to-head match: lower team best-ball wins the hole. Match status uses standard Ryder Cup language: A/S, 2 Up, Dormie 3, 4&3 closeouts.
- Players
- Two 2-player teams
- Net scoring
- Supported
How it works
The mechanics, hole by hole.
- 1Each player plays their own ball; team best-ball = lower score per hole.
- 2Hole won by the team with the lower best-ball; ties halve the hole.
- 3Status reported in standard match-play language: A/S, 1 Up, Dormie 2, 3&2.
- 4Match closes out when a team is up by more holes than remain (e.g., 4 Up with 3 to play = won 4&3).
When to play it
Best fit.
The bread and butter of Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, and most club team competitions. Use it for any 2v2 match where you want dramatic momentum swings and the satisfaction of a clinched 'Dormie' moment. Pairs of partners with complementary games (one bomber, one short-game wizard) thrive.
Worked example
3 holes, with the math shown.
| Hole | Team A best ball | Team B best ball | Hole result | Status after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 5 | A wins | 1 Up (A) |
| 2 | 4 | 5 | A wins | 2 Up (A) |
| 3 | 3 | 3 | Halved | 2 Up (A) |
After 3 holes, Team A is 2 Up. If they hold the 2 Up lead through hole 16, it's reported as Dormie 2 (lead equals holes remaining — A can't lose, can still tie). Win hole 17 to go 3 Up with 1 left: 3&1, match over.
Other head-to-head (2 vs 2) formats
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