Better ball rules & scoring
Team · 4+ (even) players
Better ball, often called four-ball, lets both partners play their own ball. On each hole the team's score is the better of the two; the other score does not add to the team total.
How to play Better ball
- 01Both partners play their own ball
- 02Take the lower score on each hole
- 03Add the team hole scores
How scoring works
For each team, compare the partners' scores on a hole and keep the lower one. Add those selected scores for the team total. Net scoring compares the partners' net hole scores after strokes received.
| Hole | Alex / Sam | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 / 5 | 4 |
| 2 | 6 / 4 | 4 |
| Total | — | 8 |
The team posts 8, taking Alex's score on hole 1 and Sam's on hole 2.
Score Better ball in Chalk
Assign golfers to pairs in Better ball mode. Each player records their own scores and Chalk shows the team's better score per hole.
Before you tee offConfirm team pairings, gross or net play, and the handicap allowance for the competition. Four-ball match play is a different way to settle the same per-hole scores.
Explore match scoring ↗For formal competition rules, see the R&A Rules of Golf. Local competitions and side games can set their own terms.