four-ball golf

{{Short description|Pairs playing format in the game of golf}}

Four-ball is a pairs playing format in the game of golf. It is also known as better ball{{cite web |url=https://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/ryder-cup/ryder-cup-blog/difference-fourball-foursomes-66245 |title=The Difference Between Fourball and Foursomes |website=Golf Monthly |first=Jeremy |last=Ellwood |date=September 30, 2018 |access-date=December 17, 2019 |archive-date=December 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217134411/https://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/ryder-cup/ryder-cup-blog/difference-fourball-foursomes-66245 |url-status=live }} or best ball. It is also sometimes abbreviated as 4BBB.

In a stroke play competition, competitors are paired and play as a team. Each golfer plays their 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 number of holes.{{cite web |url=https://www.randa.org/Rog/2019/Rules/The-Rules-of-Golf/Rule-23 |title=Rules of Golf - Rule 23: Four-Ball |publisher=The R&A |access-date=December 16, 2019 |archive-date=June 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606233516/https://www.randa.org/Rog/2019/Rules/The-Rules-of-Golf/Rule-23 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules/rules-2019/rules-of-golf/rules-and-interpretations.html#!ruletype=pe§ion=rule&rulenum=23 |title=Rules of Golf: Rule 23 – Four-Ball |publisher=USGA |access-date=December 17, 2019 |archive-date=December 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212224959/https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules/rules-2019/rules-of-golf/rules-and-interpretations.html#!ruletype=pe§ion=rule&rulenum=23 |url-status=live }} Since 2017 this format, along with foursomes, has been used by the Zurich Classic on the PGA Tour.{{cite web |url=https://www.pgatour.com/news/2017/04/17/zurich-classic-team-format-how-it-works.html |title=How it works: Zurich Classic of New Orleans team format |publisher=PGA Tour |date=April 18, 2019 |access-date=December 17, 2019 |archive-date=December 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217134416/https://www.pgatour.com/news/2017/04/17/zurich-classic-team-format-how-it-works.html |url-status=live }}

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 on a single ball); each hole is won by the team whose member has the lowest score. This form of golf is commonly played in team golf competitions such as the Ryder Cup,{{cite news |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/2018/09/26/ryder-cup-fourball-foursomes-and-scoring/1429772002/ |title=Ryder Cup format: Breaking down fourball, foursomes and scoring for non-golf fans |newspaper=USA Today |first=Adam |last=Woodard |date=September 26, 2018 |access-date=December 17, 2019 |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109004726/https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/2018/09/26/ryder-cup-fourball-foursomes-and-scoring/1429772002/ |url-status=live }} Solheim Cup, and Presidents Cup.