| Format | What you play | What counts |
|---|---|---|
| Scramble | Everyone plays from the selected spot | One team score |
| Best ball / Four-Ball | Each partner plays their own ball | Lower partner score |
Scramble: one selected ball for the whole team
In a normal scramble, each player hits a tee shot. The team chooses the shot it wants, and everyone plays the next shot from that selected spot. The team repeats the choice until the hole is complete and records one gross team score.
The details around that pattern are event terms. Ask where a selected ball may be placed or dropped, how many tee shots each member must contribute, team size, whether the result is gross or net, and whether a handicap allowance applies. The R&A lists Scrambles among other forms of play and tells committees to publish clear competition terms. Do not import a one-club-length rule or tee-shot quota from a different tournament.
Best ball in everyday golf usually means Four-Ball
At club events, "best ball" often means two partners each play their own ball from tee through hole, with the lower score becoming the side's score. The USGA notes that Four-Ball is commonly called better ball, while PGA guidance uses best ball for this recreational setup.
The formal distinction matters. Under The R&A's Rule 23, Four-Ball can be match play or stroke play: two partners play separate balls and the lower score counts. Formal Best-Ball is a match-play variation in which one player competes against a side of two or three partners, with each partner playing their own ball. The label alone is not enough; read the organizer's definition.
A four-stroke example
Imagine two-player teams on a par-4.
In a scramble, both hit tee shots and the team selects Player A's drive. Both hit from there, the team selects Player B's approach, and both putt from that position. The team selects Player A's first putt, which leaves a tap-in, and Player A holes the second putt. The team records a 4: one team score, not an individual 4 for each player.
In best ball or Four-Ball, Player A plays their own ball in 4 and Player B plays their own ball in 6. The side records 4, but B's 6 remains B's score. If A makes 5 and B makes 4, the side still records 4. The scoreboard can match while the experience differs: scramble gives the team a fresh shared choice after each shot; best ball gives each golfer one independent attempt.
Which format is better for beginners?
Pick a scramble if golfers are new, abilities are mixed, or the goal is a relaxed team day. A poor drive can be replaced by a teammate's drive, so everyone contributes to a shared decision and no single bad shot has to define the hole.
Pick best ball or Four-Ball if players want full-hole strategy and their own ball in play. A partner's low score can protect the side, but every golfer still manages their own shots. Neither format guarantees a faster round or lower score: a larger scramble may require discussion, while Four-Ball keeps everyone engaged with a separate ball. Choose how much independent golf your group wants.
A quick comparison
Scramble: a shared position after each selection, one team score per hole, collaborative shot choice, and usually less pressure on an individual shot.
Best ball or Four-Ball: separate balls, the lowest partner score counts, individual scores remain visible, and strategy includes when to play safely or take a risk.
If handicaps apply, do not guess from a formula online. The USGA publishes recommendations, but the committee sets the applicable Terms of the Competition.
Questions to ask before the first tee
- Does "best ball" mean the informal low score of partners, or formal match-play Best-Ball?
- Is the event stroke play or match play, and is scoring gross or net?
- In a scramble, how many players are on the team and how many tee shots must each player contribute?
- From a selected scramble lie, must the ball be played as it lies, placed, or dropped?
- What handicap allowance, if any, is written in the Terms?
- How are ties decided, and what must be entered on the scorecard?
The R&A says committees should set the format, team-scoring details, handicap terms, and tie procedure in advance. Read that sheet before choosing a strategy.
Optional gear for your team round
Sort out the format and event rules first. If your next purchase is a distance device, a laser is relevant when you want yardage to a visible flag from the selected scramble position or your own Four-Ball lie. You do not need to buy one to play either format, and a teammate may already have one.
The Bushnell Tour V7 Shift is an option if visible-pin ranging and target-lock feedback are features you will use. It is not a requirement for a scramble, and it does not choose the team’s best shot. Follow event restrictions on distance devices, slope and club recommendations.
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Check the exact model, seller, current price and delivery on Amazon before ordering.
Laser rangefinder • Slope-Switch
Bushnell Tour V7 Shift
A laser option for golfers who want a visible flag reading, with target-lock feedback and switchable slope.
- Compatibility
- Requires line of sight and aiming. Check event rules; turn off slope and do not use club-recommendation features where prohibited.
- Ownership cost
- Uses a replaceable CR2 battery. Budget for replacements; this is not a rechargeable model.
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Is a scramble the same as best ball?
No. In a scramble, the team repeatedly selects one shot and everyone plays from that location, producing one team score. In best ball as the term is commonly used, each player plays their own ball and the lowest partner score counts for the hole.
Is best ball officially called Four-Ball?
Often, but not always. Recreational golfers commonly use best ball or better ball for a two-player Four-Ball setup. The R&A Rules call Four-Ball the form played by two partners in match or stroke play, while formal Best-Ball is a match-play variation with one player against a side of two or three. Check the event's definition.
Do all players hit every shot in a scramble?
In the standard format, all team members play a shot from the selected location, then the team selects the next location and repeats until the hole is complete. The organizer's terms can add requirements about placement, tee shots, team size, or other details, so read them before play.
What handicap formula should a scramble use?
There is no single formula you should assume for every scramble. The competition committee states whether handicaps apply and which allowance governs the event. The USGA publishes recommendations, but your tournament's written Terms of the Competition control.
Which format is more forgiving for beginners?
A scramble is often more forgiving because a team can choose a teammate's better shot instead of continuing with every poor shot. That does not guarantee a lower score; the group still has to choose well and execute the next shot.
Does a best-ball team have to use two players?
Formal Best-Ball can put one player against a side of two or three partners. Recreational events may use the words differently, and Four-Ball normally describes two partners as a side. Confirm team size and the scoring definition with the organizer.
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