Page type: Glossary / definition
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Meaning
Four-Ball Match Play is a team competition in which two partners form a side, each plays their own ball, and the side's score for each hole is the lower score of the partners. That side competes against another two-player side, with the match decided by holes won, lost or tied.
How it matters in match play
Each side records its lower score for the hole, including the lower net score when handicaps apply. A side wins a hole when its counting score is lower, or when the opposing side concedes or receives a loss-of-hole penalty. A partner need not hole out if the other partner's score is the one that counts, subject to Rule 23 procedures.
Table
| Quick reference | Detail |
|---|---|
| Term | Four-Ball Match Play |
| Category | general |
| Applicable rule | Rules of Golf Rule 23.1, Rule 23.2 and Rule 3.2; WHS Appendix C |
| Related concepts | Four-Ball, Better Ball, Team Competition, Match Play, Handicap Allowance |
Worked example
Alex and Ben play against Chris and Dana: Alex scores 4 and Ben 5, while Chris scores 4 and Dana 6, so both sides score 4 and the hole is halved; on the next hole Alex scores 3 while Ben scores 5, Chris 4 and Dana 5, so Alex and Ben win the hole and go 1 up.
Rule reference: Rules of Golf Rule 23.1, Rule 23.2 and Rule 3.2; WHS Appendix C
Sources: www.randa.org , www.randa.org , www.usga.org , www.usga.org
Common questions
How many players are in Four-Ball Match Play?
It normally has four players: two partners on each side. Each player plays their own ball, rather than partners alternating shots. The two sides compare their better score on every hole.
What handicap allowance is recommended for Four-Ball Match Play?
WHS Appendix C recommends 90% for Four-Ball Match Play. The allowance is applied to each player's unrounded Course Handicap after the four players' handicaps are adjusted so the lowest player plays from zero relative to the others. The Committee should state the allowance in the Terms of the Competition.
Does every player have to finish every hole in Four-Ball Match Play?
No. If one partner has holed out or had the next stroke conceded and the other partner's score cannot count, the side's hole is complete. If neither partner holes out or otherwise completes the hole under the Rules, the side loses the hole unless the opposing side has already conceded or lost it.
Is Four-Ball Match Play the same as Best Ball?
The terms can overlap in everyday golf, but Four-Ball is the Rules of Golf form: partners each play their own ball and the side uses the lower score. Do not assume a casual event's use of “best ball” has the same rules; check its Terms of the Competition.
Can partners choose who plays first in Four-Ball Match Play?
Yes. Under Rule 23.6, partners may play in the order their side considers best, subject to the general order-of-play rules and the restriction on continuing after a conceded stroke when doing so would help the partner.
Can one partner finish a Four-Ball Match Play round alone?
A side may be represented by one partner for all or part of a round. If an absent partner arrives, that partner may begin playing only between holes, subject to the timing conditions in Rule 23.4.