A four-ball golf match, used in match play competitions, consists of two teams of two golf players competing directly against each other. Each golfer plays their own ball throughout the round, such that four balls are in play. A team's number of strokes for a given hole is that of the lower scoring team member. It is also known as best ball or more properly better ball.
In stroke play, the scores are added normally, and the team with the lower score at the end of the match wins.
In match play, each hole is won by the team whose member has the lowest score on that hole, and that team is awarded a point for the hole. If the teams tie for a hole, the point for the hole is divided between the teams. At the end of the match, the team with the most points wins.
Four-ball golf is commonly played in team golf competitions such as the Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup, Presidents Cup, and the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball.
The concept of "best ball" can also be adapted to other individual sports, particularly bowling; the TV series Celebrity Bowling used a modified "best ball" format throughout its run.