Four-Ball Handicap

Four-Ball Handicap
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Four-ball matchplay uses a 90% handicap allowance — not the full Course Handicap. Here's how to calculate Playing Handicaps and shot allocation for all four players.

Definition

In four-ball matchplay, each player's Playing Handicap is their Course Handicap reduced to 90% — the WHS allowance for a format where only the better of two partners' scores counts on each hole. Shot differences are then calculated relative to the player with the lowest Playing Handicap in the group.

Why 90%?

In four-ball, only the best net score of two partners counts on each hole. Having a partner to bail you out reduces the statistical advantage of a higher handicap — so the WHS applies a reduction from 100%. The allowance for four-ball matchplay is 90% (note: four-ball stroke play and stableford use 85%, because in counting formats the cumulative partner benefit is slightly stronger).

The 90% is applied to each player's Course Handicap individually, then shot differences are calculated relative to the player with the lowest resulting Playing Handicap.

The steps

Calculate Course Handicap for each player

HI × (Slope ÷ 113) + (Course Rating − Par), rounded to the nearest whole number.

Apply 90% to get Playing Handicap

Multiply each Course Handicap by 0.90. Round to nearest whole number.

Find the lowest Playing Handicap across all four

The player with the lowest Playing Handicap is the baseline — they receive zero shots.

Calculate shots received for each player

Each player's shots = their Playing Handicap minus the lowest Playing Handicap. Shots are allocated by Stroke Index (lowest SI first).

Worked examples

Example 1 — Society four-ball (Slope 118, CR 71.5, Par 72)

Player	HI	Course HCP	× 90%	Shots received
A (lowest)	6.2	6	5	0 (baseline)
B	11.4	11	10	5
C	16.0	16	14	9
D	22.8	23	21	16

How it works: Course HCP = HI × (118÷113) + (71.5−72). E.g. Player A: 6.2 × 1.044 − 0.5 = 5.97 → 6. Playing Handicap = Course HCP × 0.90, rounded. Shot differences = each player's PH minus Player A's PH (5). If A and B are partners vs C and D, each player uses their individual shots on the relevant stroke-index holes.

Example 2 — Mixed handicap group (standard course, Slope 113, CR = Par 72)

Player	HI	Course HCP	PH (90%)	Shots received
A (lowest)	3.4	3	3	0
B	14.6	15	14	11
C	20.0	20	18	15
D	28.2	28	25	22

Shots received = each player's Playing Handicap minus A's Playing Handicap (3). Player D receives 22 shots — one on every hole (SI 1–18) plus a second shot on SI 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Common questions

Does the 90% apply to both players' handicaps equally?

Yes — every player in the four-ball group has 90% applied to their Course Handicap individually. The 90% is not relative to a partner — it's applied to each player separately, then the lowest Playing Handicap becomes the baseline for shot differences.

Is four-ball the same as better ball?

Yes — "four-ball" and "better ball" describe the same scoring format: each player plays their own ball, and the better net score of the two partners counts for the team on each hole. The same 90% matchplay allowance applies regardless of which term your club uses.

What if all four players have the same handicap?

After applying 90% and rounding, all four Playing Handicaps will be equal. All players receive zero shots and the match is played off scratch — no shot allocation needed.

Do clubs always use 90% for four-ball matchplay?

WHS recommends 90% for four-ball matchplay and par/bogey, and 85% for four-ball stroke play and stableford. Some clubs use 100% for simplicity in casual games. For qualifying competitions the WHS allowance must be applied. Always check what allowance a competition is using before teeing off.