Four balls is a team format where a team of two golfers each play their own ball. The teammate with the lower score on each hole provides that team’s score for that hole. RECOMMENDED VIDEOS FOR YOU... For this reason, the format is also often called Fourball Better Ball
Four-ball golf
Fourball is a playing format in the game of golf. It is also known as best ball or more properly better ball. In a stroke play competition, competitors are paired and play as a team. Each golfer plays his own ball; the team's score on each hole is the lower of the two players' scores. Only one of a pair is required to complete each hole. The winners are the team with the lowest aggregate score over a set nu…
What is four ball in golf?
Four ball, also known as better ball, is a golf competition format consisting of two teams of two players each. Teams compete against each other using the better of the two players' scores for each hole.
What is best ball/four ball?
Best Ball/Four Ball is a competition where two golfers play as partners, each playing his own ball. The lower score of the partners is the score for the hole (so pick a good partner!).
What is the difference between stroke play and four ball?
In Four-ball, also known as Best ball, or Better ball, two partners or (pairs) play together and hit their own ball on every stroke for each hole. Is sometimes abbreviated as 4BBB. The format can be played as either a Stroke play or a Matchplay Tournament. In stroke play, competitors are paired and play as a team.
Who are the winners of a four-ball golf tournament?
The winners are the team with the lowest aggregate score over a set number of holes. Since 2017 this format, along with foursomes, has been used by the Zurich Classic on the PGA Tour. In a match play competition, a four-ball consists of two teams of two players competing directly against each other.
What is the difference between best ball and better ball?
If Golfer A takes 5 strokes to complete a hole and Golfer B takes only 3 strokes, the team will choose the better score of 3 to enter on their scorecard. This format is usually called “Better Ball” when played by teams of 2 golfers and “Best Ball” when played by teams of 3-4 golfers.
What does better ball mean in golf?
"Better ball" is a name for a golf competition format in which two golfers play as a team, but each playing his or her own ball throughout. On each hole, the two golfers on a team compare scores. The lower of the two scores - the better ball - counts as the team's score.
What is the difference between 2BBB and 4BBB?
4 Ball Best Ball A two person team's event where the team takes the best score by either of them for each hole the best score only is to be recorded. The competition may be either stroke, stableford or par. (Although the correct term for this form of play is 4BBB, it is often commonly referred to as 2BBB).
How do you play 4 ball better ball?
The lowest aggregate score over a set number of holesFour-ball golf / Rules to win
How do handicaps work in 4 ball better ball?
Four Ball Better Ball The lowest handicap player gives strokes to the other three players based on 90% of the difference between the lowest handicap and that of each player.
How do you score 4 ball better ball Stableford?
Better Ball is one of the most popular team games in golf. It is a 2-person Best Ball (also known as Four Ball), where each player plays his or her own ball throughout the round and on each hole the higher points count as the team score.
Does 4BBB affect handicap?
Competitions - Four Ball Handicapping Print An in-conjunction singles event should be sent for handicapping if both players are completing all holes. Singles cards can still be used for 4BBB entry but to handicap requires manual calculation of each card and player with ad-hoc score entry for qualifying scores.
What are two best golf balls?
Two-Person Best Ball Best ball (also known as fourball in the Ryder Cup) involves 2-person teams where each player on the team plays his or her own golf ball throughout the round. After each hole the player with the lowest score on the hole (or “best ball”) out of the 2-person team serves as the team's score.
What is a Texas Scramble format in golf?
Texas Scramble is a team game in which every member of the group tees off on each hole. The players then decide which ball is in the best position for the second shot. Once this is confirmed, the other members of the team will pick up their balls and everyone will play from the chosen position.
Why is it called four-ball?
Where did Four-Ball get its name? The name first appeared in the 1908 R&A's Rule Book, and came from the fact that there were four balls in play at one time in a match, thus the name Four-Ball. Four-Ball Stroke Play did not appear in the Rules until 1952.
What is 3 ball better ball in golf?
3 ball better ball in golf is a tournament style in which teams of three golfers compete against other teams of three. For each hole, the best score among the team of three is counted as that team's score for that hole. At the end of the round the team with the lowest overall score is the winner.
How many golf balls are in a 4BBB?
In a 4BBB tournament, golfers tee off in groups of four, and each golfer plays his own ball throughout. So there are four golf balls in play on each hole, but only one ball (the better ball, or low ball) counts per team per hole. Four golfers per group in a 4BBB can mean one of two things:
What does 4BBB mean in golf?
"4BBB" is the name of a golf tournament format, and understanding it is pretty simple so long as you know what "4BBB" stands for: "4-ball, best ball" or "4-ball, better ball.". In a 4BBB tournament, golfers tee off in groups ...
What is a 4BBB golf group?
Four golfers per group in a 4BBB can mean one of two things: or one, 4-person team (2-person teams is more common). Another way of putting it: 4BBB is usually just another name for a best ball (4-person teams) or better ball (2-person teams) format. In some parts of the golf world, it is common for 4BBB tournaments to use Stableford scoring .
How to play 4BBB?
Playing 4BBB With 2-Person Teams. If two-person teams are in use for the 4BBB tournament (as noted, the most common way to play it), then Team 1 and Team 2 tee off together. Again, that means four golf balls are in play on each hole within the group.
Better Ball Rules
In better ball golfers are grouped in teams of two that play together in the same foursome. But rather than compete against the other 2-golfer team in the group teams in a better ball tournament are playing against the whole field.
How to Play Better Ball
Each golfer hits his own ball throughout the round but after each hole, only the best score amongst the team members is recorded and counts as the score for the team for that hole.
How to Win
The best scores for each hole are added and the team with the lowest total score will win the tournament.
Appeal
Better ball rounds are often organized for the qualification round of season-long fourball tournaments. Indeed, in order to organize the field of teams into brackets a qualifying round of better ball is often used, where the team posting the best result will be seeded at #1 and so forth.
Alternative Meaning: Better Ball Match Play
It should be noted that the better ball appellation is also often used to describe a similar setup but in a match play environment. Indeed, some refer to the better ball format when describing a match that pits two 2-golfer teams going head to head against each other instead of each playing against the entire field.
What is a four ball golf?
Four-ball golf. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Jump to navigation Jump to search. Four-ball is a pairs playing format in the game of golf. It is also known as better ball and best ball, although the latter more properly describes a variation involving teams of 3 or 4 players. It is also sometimes abbreviated as 4BBB .
How many players are in a four ball golf game?
In a match play competition, a four-ball consists of two teams of two players competing directly against each other. All four golfers play their own balls throughout the round (rather than alternating shots); each hole is won by the team whose member has the lowest score.
What is 4BBB in golf?
It is also sometimes abbreviated as 4BBB . In a stroke play competition, competitors are paired and play as a team. Each golfer plays his own ball; the team's score on each hole is the lower of the two players' scores. Only one of a pair is required to complete each hole.
What is the best ball in golf?
Four player best ball is a variety of golf in which all four players in a group are working together to achieve the best possible score. As every hole played only counts for the best score handed in by a player on a team, a squad has the ability to shoot much lower than their individual scores.
What is a foursome in golf?
When playing as a foursome in a best-ball event, all four players in a group are working together as part of a team. Each player tees off and plays the hole in the order of the team's choosing, with each player completing the hole with their own ball.
How is the order of shots determined in golf?
When playing shots in a normal round of golf, the order off the tee is determined by the scores of the players on the previous holes, and all future shots are determined by the player farthest from the hole. In best ball, however, as all four players are working together, the team may select the order of the shot for all four players as they see ...
Can a team submit a score for a hole?
But the team can still submit a score for the hole. The team as a whole is penalized, however, for major rules violations that affect an entire round, such as a player playing with too many clubs in the bag. In instances such as this, the team's final score is assessed a penalty equal to the penalty assessed to an individual in a normal round ...
Four-Ball Formats
The format can be played as either a Stroke play or a Matchplay Tournament.
The Rules
Rule 23 has several rules that many golfers may not know about and find interesting
Fourball Scoring
It is the responsibility of each side to fill in their scorecard correctly.
Rule Details
A round is deemed to have started when one of the partners makes a stroke to start his first hole.
Fourball Strategies
Your ability to win especially in Four-Ball matchplay competitions can be greatly improved if you adopt certain strategies.
Final Thoughts
A Four-Ball competition or game is one of the most popular formats at Club Level and local golf tournaments.
Related Articles
Nick Lomas is the founder of GolfSpan, an avid golfer, not quite a pro but has over 15-years of experience playing and coaching golfers from all over the world. His mission is to bring the golfing community a better experience then it comes to choosing the right golf gear, and finding the right set up for your game.
What is the best ball strategy?
While the concept is simple, success at best ball is all about executing a smart strategy on every hole. The most reliable strategy is for one player to “play safe” and protect a good score. Having their partner safely in the fairway, allows the other player to go for broke in hopes of making the lowest score possible. Players using this strategy successfully to win hole after hole are often described as “ham-and-egging it.” Give me a side of toast, please!
What is the team score after each hole?
After each hole, the low score is counted as the team score. For example, one team is playing a par-4 hole. Golfer “A” takes four shots and golfer “B” takes five shots. Because golfer A’s score is the better of the two, the team’s score will be four.
How many balls are in a Ryder Cup?
The most basic fact, and hence the name, is there are four balls in play. If you have ever watched the intense competitions in any Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup or Solheim Cup competition, then you have seen a four-ball match (or best ball match).
What is a four ball?
Four-ball. Four-ball is also a form of team match or stroke play, and it is covered under Rule 23. “Four-Ball is a form of play (in either match play or stroke play) involving partners where you and your partner compete together as a side, with each of you playing your own ball, and your side’s score for a hole is the lower score of the two ...
What is a foursome in golf?
Foursomes is a form of team match or stroke play covered under Rule 22 in the Rules of Golf. “ (Foursomes is) a form of match play or stroke play where you and a partner compete as a side by playing one ball in alternating order on each hole. You and your partner must alternate in teeing off to start each hole.”.
