Best Ball Golf: Rules, Strategy and Scoring
Best ball (also called four ball) is a team golf format where each player plays their own ball on every hole, and the team's score is the lowest individual score. In a two-person best ball team, if Player A makes 4 and Player B makes 5, the team score is 4. Best ball is the format used in the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup, and it is the most common weekend team format after Nassau.
Best ball is the format that bridges individual golf and team golf. Every player plays their own ball, keeps their own score, and manages their own game -- but only the best score on each hole counts for the team. This dual identity is what makes it the preferred format for serious competitions (the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup use four ball for their afternoon sessions) and casual weekend matches alike.
What Is Best Ball?
Best ball is a team format where each player on a team plays their own ball throughout every hole. At the end of each hole, the lowest score among the team's players becomes the team score. If both partners make par, the team score is par. If one makes birdie and the other makes double bogey, the team score is birdie.
The terminology can be confusing. "Best ball" and "four ball" refer to the same format. The official rules of golf use the term "four ball" for competitions where two partners each play their own ball and the better score counts. "Best ball" is the colloquial term used by most golfers in everyday play. If someone says "let's play best ball," they mean this format -- not a scramble, which is a completely different structure.
The format works with teams of 2, 3, or 4 players. Two-person best ball is by far the most common: two teams of two, each playing their own ball, with the lower score on each team counting. This 2v2 best ball is the backbone of member-guest tournaments, club championships, and Ryder Cup afternoon sessions.
How to Play Best Ball
- Form teams. The standard is teams of two playing against each other (2v2). Assign teams based on handicaps for competitive balance. A common pairing method: the best player partners with the worst, and the middle two pair together.
- Decide on gross or net scoring. In gross best ball, raw scores count. In net best ball, each player receives their full handicap strokes on the appropriate holes. Net best ball is recommended for groups with more than a 5-stroke handicap difference.
- Each player plays their own ball. From tee to green to hole, every player plays their own ball independently. There is no shared shot selection (that would be a scramble). Each player makes their own decisions about club selection, strategy, and risk.
- Record the lower team score each hole. After the hole, compare your team's scores. The lower one counts. If Player A makes a net birdie and Player B makes a net bogey, the team score is birdie. Both scores are tracked individually in case of tiebreakers.
- Pick up when you cannot contribute. If your partner has already made a 4 and you are lying 5, pick up your ball. There is no reason to continue the hole. This keeps pace of play fast and is one of the format's key advantages over stroke play.
- Settle based on match play or stroke play. In match-play best ball, the team with the lower score wins each hole (like a Nassau). In stroke-play best ball, the lowest 18-hole team total wins. Match play is more common for betting; stroke play is more common for tournaments.
Scoring and Settlement
Best ball settlement depends on whether you are playing match play or stroke play. Here is an example of both.
Match Play Best Ball (2v2)
| Hole | Team A Best Ball | Team B Best Ball | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 5 | Team A wins hole |
| 2 | 4 | 4 | Halved |
| 3 | 3 | 4 | Team A wins hole |
| 4 | 5 | 4 | Team B wins hole |
| 5 | 4 | 3 | Team B wins hole |
After 5 holes: Team A is 1-up. This can be played as a standalone match or as part of a Nassau (front nine, back nine, overall). Most groups play best ball as a Nassau, which gives you three bets running simultaneously and the option to press.
Stroke Play Best Ball
In stroke-play best ball, simply add up each team's best ball scores across 18 holes. The lowest total wins. For a four-player best ball event with 20 teams, the net team totals determine the final standings. A competitive two-person best ball team shoots 62-66 on a par-72 course; average recreational pairs shoot 66-70.
Strategy Tips
- Play complementary strategies. If your partner hits a safe tee shot into the fairway, you can take a risk with driver to try to reach the par 5 in two. If they miss the green, you play for the center. The beauty of best ball is one player can play safe while the other attacks -- you get the upside of aggression without the downside.
- Know when to pick up. If your partner has made birdie and you are still off the green, pick up and save your energy. Finishing a meaningless hole wastes physical and mental energy. Smart best ball teams recognize immediately when a hole is won and move on.
- Coordinate on par 3s. On short holes, the first player to hit should aim for the middle of the green to guarantee a par look. If the first ball finds the green safely, the second player can fire at the pin. This strategy produces more team birdies with lower risk.
- Count strokes on handicap holes. In net best ball, handicap strokes dramatically change hole strategy. If your partner gets a stroke on a difficult par 4, their net par (gross bogey) is likely good enough to win the hole. You can play aggressively knowing the safety net is already in place.
- Mind your pace. Best ball can be slow if all four players insist on finishing every hole. Pick up proactively, be ready when it is your turn, and keep the round moving. Fast play preserves energy and focus for the holes that actually matter.
Common Disputes
Is "Best Ball" the Same as "Four Ball"?
Yes. "Four ball" is the official term used by the USGA and R&A in the Rules of Golf. "Best ball" is the widely used colloquial name. They describe the same format: each player plays their own ball, and the lowest score on the team counts. When someone says "let's play best ball," they mean four ball -- not a scramble. The confusion between best ball and scramble is the most common format misunderstanding in recreational golf.
Do Both Players Need to Hole Out?
No. Once one player on the team has secured a score that the other cannot beat, the second player should pick up. In match play, this is especially common -- if your partner makes a 3 and you are already at 4 with a putt remaining, pick up. Your score cannot help the team. In stroke play best ball, some tournaments require all players to post individual scores for handicap tracking, but the team score is still based on the lowest.
How Are Handicap Strokes Distributed in Best Ball?
Each player receives their full handicap allocation on the holes designated by the scorecard's stroke index. This is not a combined team handicap like in a scramble -- it is individual. Player A with a 10 handicap gets strokes on the 10 hardest holes. Player B with a 20 handicap gets strokes on all 18 holes, with extra strokes on the 2 hardest. The team's net best ball on each hole is the lower of their two net scores.
What Happens When Both Partners Make the Same Score?
The team score is that score -- there is no bonus for both players making the same number. If both partners make birdie, the team score is birdie, same as if only one player made birdie. In match play, if both teams' best balls tie, the hole is halved. There is no tiebreaker based on how many individual players achieved the score.
Variations
Best Ball Nassau
The most common way to bet on best ball: wrap it in a Nassau with three bets (front nine, back nine, overall) and pressing. Each hole is decided by comparing the two teams' best ball scores. This combines the team dynamic of best ball with the betting structure of Nassau.
Individual Best Ball
No teams -- each player plays their own ball and the overall lowest score wins. "Best ball" in this context simply means everyone is playing to post their best score. This is essentially stroke play with a different name and is most commonly used in league formats.
Best Ball with Skins
Play best ball between teams, but add a skins game on top. The team with the lower best ball score wins the skin for that hole. Tied holes carry over. This combination gives you both the ongoing team match and the hole-by-hole drama of skins.
Three-Player Best Ball
Three players, each playing their own ball, with the lowest score counting. This works well when you cannot get a fourth or when playing a round-robin format where each player pairs with each other player across different rounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
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