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All game formats Pairs · Points or strokes

Fourball Better Ball

Also called Better ball, Best ball, Fourball Stableford, Fourball strokeplay

Two of you, each with your own ball. On every hole the better of your two scores is the pair's score — usually played as Stableford.

Players
Pairs
Scoring
Points or strokes
Allowance
85% of course handicap
Winner
Best pair score

How it works

  1. 1Each player gets 85% of their course handicap.
  2. 2Both of you play every hole with your own ball.
  3. 3The better net score (or more Stableford points) of the two is the pair's score for that hole.
  4. 4Add up the pair's scores. Best total wins.

Worked example

On the 4th you score 2 points and your partner 3. The pair scores 3.

Ties

Level at the top? Compare the back nine, then the last six, then the last three, then the 18th. In stroke play, half, a third, a sixth and an eighteenth of the handicap come off each in turn.

Good to know

Once one of you has a good score in, the other can pick up and save time.

Close relations

Fourball MatchplayPairs, own ball, better score counts.Aggregate PairsAdd both scores together on every hole.Team StablefordBest two points of four count on each hole.

Allowances follow the World Handicap System recommendations used by Golf Ireland. Your club or society may set its own — the entry sheet wins.