What is the fourballs format in golf and how does it work?

It’s a popular format at all levels, but what is fourballs in golf? Here’s how it works…

Played at clubs all over the world and used by top-level tournaments such as the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, and Solheim Cup, it’s one of the more popular formats in the sport. But what is fourballs in golf?

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Sometimes known as ‘Best Ball’ or ‘Fourball Better Ball’, fourball is a format played by two teams of two, with every player using their own ball throughout.

It can be used in match play (where teams compete to win holes) or stroke play (where teams compete to finish in the fewest shots possible).

On each hole, the lowest score in each team is what counts toward the official score.

Let’s look at an example.

On the first hole:

• Team 1: Player A scores 4, Player B scores 5
• Team 2: Player C scores 6, Player D scores 3

So Player A’s score will count for Team 1, and Player D’s score will count for Team 2.

In match play, Team 2 would win the hole as Player D’s score was better than Player A’s.

In stroke play, you would mark a 4 for Team 1 and a 3 for Team 2, then add it all up at the end as you would in an individual competition.

• NOW READ: How does the foursomes format work?