How to play Best Ball
Everyone plays their own ball, and each team's best individual score on a hole is the team score. A bad hole from one golfer doesn't hurt if a teammate is there.
The rules
- Form two or more teams. Teams of two are most common, and bigger teams work too.
- Everyone plays their own ball on every hole.
- Each team's lowest score on a hole is its team score.
- In match play, the lowest team score wins the hole. In stroke play, add up the team scores and the lowest total wins.
One hole, start to finish
Team A wins the hole (1-up in match play), or leads by 1 stroke in stroke play
On the board
Who it's for
Any group that can split into two or more teams, most often a foursome as 2 v 2. Trips play it as 4 v 4 too. It's the gentle choice for mixed handicaps, especially net.
Variations ForeBoard supports
Choose these when you set up the round.
Match play or stroke play
Match play counts holes won. Stroke play ranks teams on their total.
Gross or net
In a net round, the team takes its lowest net score. Each golfer uses their full handicap.
Questions golfers ask
Is Best Ball the same as Four-Ball?
Four-Ball is the usual name for Best Ball in match play, two against two.
Does ForeBoard apply a handicap allowance, like 85%?
No. Net Best Ball uses each golfer's full handicap.
What if a teammate has no score on a hole?
In match play, the hole counts once each side has at least one score. On the stroke play team board, it counts once every golfer who has posted in the round has posted that hole.
How is it different from a scramble?
In Best Ball everyone plays their own ball all the way in.
Scramble vs Best Ball vs Shamble →
Score it free on ForeBoard
Choose Best Ball, share the link, and everyone sees the score as you play. No app, no account.
Start a round