A simple guide to the popular team format
If you’ve ever watched a team golf event like the Ryder Cup, you’ve probably heard commentators mention four ball. For casual viewers or newer golfers, the name can be a little confusing. Does it mean four golfers play one ball? Or that four balls are used on every shot?
In reality, four ball is one of the simplest and most exciting formats in golf. It’s a team-based format where each player plays their own ball, but only the best score from each team counts on every hole.
Because it encourages aggressive play and teamwork, four ball is a staple of some of golf’s biggest competitions and it’s also popular at amateur clubs and society events.
Here’s everything you need to know about how four ball works, where it’s played, and how it compares to other golf formats.
What does four ball mean in golf?
Despite the name, four ball doesn’t mean four golfers hitting the same ball. Instead, it refers to four balls in play at the same time, one for each player.
A standard four ball match involves two teams of two players.
Each golfer:
- Plays their own ball throughout the hole
- Completes the hole individually
- Contributes a score to their team
However, the key twist is that only the best score from each team counts for that hole.
For example:
- Player A scores 4
- Player B scores 5
The team’s score is 4, because it’s the lower score.
The same happens for the opposing team. The two best scores are compared to determine who wins the hole.
This format is typically played as match play, meaning teams compete to win individual holes rather than counting total strokes across the round.
How four ball works is played
At the start of a four ball match, two teams of two players are paired together. All four golfers play the hole simultaneously, each using their own ball.
Once the hole is completed, each team looks at their two scores and selects the lowest one. That score becomes the team score for the hole.
If Team A’s best score is lower than Team B’s, Team A wins the hole. If both teams have the same best score, the hole is halved, meaning neither team gains an advantage.
Because every player still plays their own ball, four ball keeps the rhythm of traditional golf while adding a strong team dynamic.
One player can take risks, trying to attack the pin or reach a par five in two, while the partner plays more conservatively to guarantee a safe score.
This balance between risk and reliability is part of what makes four ball so enjoyable to watch.
Four ball golf format vs other golf formats
Golf has several team and individual formats, and it’s easy to confuse them. Four ball is unique because every player still plays their own ball, but the team benefits from the best score.
In Foursomes, for example, teammates share a single ball and take alternate shots. This format requires careful coordination and often produces more conservative play.
In a Scramble, commonly used in charity or corporate golf days, all players hit their shots and the team chooses the best one before everyone plays from that spot.
Traditional stroke play, on the other hand, has no team element. Every shot counts toward an individual’s final total score across the round.
Compared with these formats, four ball sits somewhere in the middle. Players maintain their individual game while still contributing to a shared team result.
Where you’ll see four ball golf formats played
Four ball is widely used in team golf competitions, both professionally and at amateur level.
The format is most famous for its role in international team events like the Ryder Cup, where teams from Europe and the United States compete across several formats. Alongside Four Ball, the event also features alternate shot matches and singles matches.
Other major tournaments that use the format include the Presidents Cup and the Solheim Cup, which follow similar team-based structures.
At club level, four ball is also a common format for:
- Member tournaments
- Friendly matches between clubs
- Golf society days
It works particularly well for amateur golf because a bad hole from one player doesn’t necessarily ruin the team’s chances. If one partner struggles, the other can still produce a strong score to keep the team competitive.
Four ball golf partnerships
One of the most exciting elements of Four Ball is watching great partnerships develop.
Some teams naturally complement each other, pairing an aggressive player who makes lots of birdies with a steady player who rarely makes mistakes.
At the Ryder Cup, four-ball is one of the formats used in the team matches. In 2025, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry of Team Europe defeated the American pair Justin Thomas and Cameron Young in a four-ball match. The highlights from this match provide a good example of how four-ball is played. https://youtu.be/1uxOFnD7QJM?si=jHwyluMQy5xyrMAX
Because players know their partner can cover for them, four ball often leads to more aggressive golf and dramatic swings in momentum, which is why it’s frequently scheduled in the opening sessions of team tournaments.
Why four ball is so popular
Four ball remains one of golf’s most popular team formats for a simple reason: it encourages exciting, attacking golf.
When one player knows their partner has already secured a safe score, they’re free to take risks, going for a difficult pin position or attempting a long shot that might produce an eagle or birdie.
For spectators, this leads to more birdies, dramatic swings in matches, and emotional celebrations between teammates.
For players, it creates a format that blends individual skill with teamwork, making it both competitive and social.
Why four ball is so popular
Four ball remains one of golf’s most popular team formats for a simple reason: it encourages exciting, attacking golf.
When one player knows their partner has already secured a safe score, they’re free to take risks, going for a difficult pin position or attempting a long shot that might produce an eagle or birdie.
For spectators, this leads to more birdies, dramatic swings in matches, and emotional celebrations between teammates.
For players, it creates a format that blends individual skill with teamwork, making it both competitive and social.
Whether you’re watching elite professionals compete on the international stage or playing a friendly club match, four ball adds a layer of strategy and partnership that makes golf even more engaging.
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This blog has been created as general information and should not be taken as advice. Make sure you have the correct level of insurance for your requirements and always review policy documentation.
