Golf Games: Four Ball, Better Ball or Best Ball

One of the “official” golf formats, Four Ball also is known as Better Ball or Best Ball. The game consists of two teams of two players, each of whom plays his own ball on each hole (thus, Four Ball). At the end of each hole, the best score of each pair becomes the score for that team. In a match play format, the pair with the lowest score wins the hole. In a stroke play format, the lower number is recorded as that team’s score for the hole.

Example: On the first hole, Team A scores a 5 and a 4; Team B gets a 6 and a 3. Team A’s score for the hole thus is 4; Team B’s is 3. In Match Play, Team B wins the hole.

Four Ball deserves more play than it gets. It’s a natural for regular foursomes, especially since it can be played with handicaps.

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