Best Ball Format

Team Best Ball

Team best ball takes the best net score between the two players on a team against the best net score of the other team for each hole, and is played for a specific number of points per hole.

Team High Best Ball

Team High Best Ball is actually "worst ball". It will take the highest net score between the two players on a team against the high net score of the other team, played for a specific number of points per hole. If you combine this with Team Best Ball, you have a "hi-low" type format.

Best Ball Handicap Options (Setting #82)

You have three handicap options with best ball:

• Handicap off the low player in the foursome - If the lowest player in the foursome is a 3 handicap, everybody else will have 3 strokes deducted from their handicap, and the 3 handicap will play to a 0. This is the typical method of handicapping for Best Ball, as it leads to players receiving strokes who need them on the hardest holes.
• Use the player's full handicaps - A player who is a 5 handicap will get a shot on the 5 lowest handicapped holes, regardless of the handicaps of the other players. This method results in the higher handicapped players to NOT receive the strokes where they need them most. For example, if you have a 5,10,15, 20 handicap players, all of them will receive strokes on the 5 hardest holes, which essentially negates those strokes.
• Base the handicap on the difference of players in the same flight - If the "A" player on team 1 is a 5 handicap, and the "A" player on team 2 is a 8 handicap, the "A" player on team 2 would receive 3 strokes, and the "A" player on team 1 would receive 0 strokes. The same would apply to the "B" flight. This is not a typical configuration, and usually only rarely used when a league combines Best Ball with individual match play, so that strokes for a player are on the same holes.