2 October 2026 · 10 min read
Golf scramble, four-ball and foursomes explained: how they run, how they score, what allowance
Scramble, four-ball and foursomes differ in ball, scoring and allowance: 25, 20, 15 and 10 per cent in a four-player scramble, 85 or 90 in four-ball, 50 in foursomes, with worked examples.
In a scramble the whole team plays on from the spot of the best shot, in four-ball each of two partners plays their own ball and the better score counts, and in foursomes two partners hit one single ball in turn. Four-ball and foursomes have a rule of their own in the R&A rule book (Rule 23 and Rule 22), the scramble does not. The handicap allowance differs by format: the Rules of Handicapping recommend 85 or 90 per cent for four-ball, 50 per cent of the combined team handicap for foursomes and 25, 20, 15 and 10 per cent for a four-player scramble (Swiss Golf, Handicap Rules 2024).
The three formats at a glance
| Format | Balls in play | What counts on a hole | Where it is governed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scramble, two to four players | one ball per stroke, everyone plays from the chosen spot | the team's single result | Committee Procedures, Section 9, details in the terms of the competition |
| Four-ball (Vierball), two partners | two balls, each plays their own | the lower of the two scores | Rule 23 |
| Foursomes (Vierer), two partners | one ball, hit alternately | the side's single result | Rule 22 |
The German name for foursomes is Vierer, also called alternate shot in English. The German golf federation DGV expressly warns against mixing up four-ball (Vierball) with the Vierer of Rule 22 (DGV service portal). The R&A uses the word Best-Ball for a variation of match play: a single player competes against a side of two or three partners, and each partner plays their own ball (Rule 23.1). If an invitation only says “best ball”, read the terms of the competition to see how it is scored.
Scramble: one ball, the best shot decides
The team has two, three or four players. Everyone tees off, the team selects one of the shots and everyone plays the second shot from that spot. Then the team selects again, until the ball is holed (R&A, Committee Procedures, Section 9). The scramble has no rule of its own: what the R&A does not cover, the Committee decides, so the terms of the competition count. The R&A names three variations:
| Variation | Feature according to the R&A |
|---|---|
| Texas Scramble | Team of four players, usually a minimum number of tee shots from each member has to be used. Some forms require everyone to play their own ball on a par 3. |
| Florida Scramble (also Dropout Scramble, Step Aside, Stand Aside, Stand Out) | The player whose shot was selected does not play the next shot. |
| One-Person Scramble | One player hits two balls, one is selected, two more shots are played from there, and so on until the hole. |
The R&A does not say how many tee shots per player are compulsory, it only speaks of a minimum number. It is in the terms of the competition, and if it is missing, ask before the start.
Four-ball and foursomes: two partners, two balls or one
Four-ball: two balls, the better score counts
Each partner plays their own ball. The side counts the lower of the two scores. If only one partner has holed out, their score counts and the other does not need to hole out. If neither holes out, the side loses the hole in match play, and in stroke play it is out unless it corrects the mistake in time (Rule 23.2a). The partners choose the order of play freely and may advise each other (Rules 23.5a and 23.6). Together they carry at most 14 clubs (Rule 23.7).
In stroke play the card shows at least one partner's score per hole, clearly identified as the score of the player who made it, otherwise the side is disqualified (Rule 23.2b). One partner may certify the hole scores.
Foursomes: one ball, two partners in turn
The two partners of a side play one ball and hit alternately (Rule 22.1). The tee shot alternates too: on each hole the other partner tees off first, and the side chooses who starts on hole 1 (Rules 22.3 and 22.4a). Whoever tees off on hole 1 therefore also tees off on holes 3, 5 and all the other odd ones. Penalty strokes do not change the order.
If the wrong partner hits, that is a breach of the order. In stroke play this stroke and all further ones with that ball do not count, and the right partner plays from the spot where the wrong stroke was made. On top comes the general penalty: loss of the hole in match play, two penalty strokes in stroke play (Rule 1.3c). If the side does not correct the mistake before the next tee shot, it is disqualified (Rule 22.3).
The allowance: recommendation and worked examples
The allowance follows Appendix C of the Rules of Handicapping. The Playing Handicap is the unrounded Course Handicap times the allowance, rounded to the nearest whole number, 0.5 upwards (Rule 6.2a). The allowances in Appendix C are recommendations: the golf club decides whether to apply them, and the committee should state the value in the terms of the competition.
| Format | Recommended allowance in Appendix C |
|---|---|
| Scramble, 4 players | 25 / 20 / 15 / 10%, from the lowest to the highest handicap |
| Scramble, 3 players | 30 / 20 / 10% |
| Scramble, 2 players | 35 / 15% |
| Four-ball, stroke play and Stableford | 85% (Par/Bogey: 90%) |
| Four-ball, match play | 90% of the difference to the player with the lowest handicap |
| Foursomes | 50% of the combined team handicap |
The allowances for greensomes and singles are in Organising a golf tournament. The calculations follow.
Three worked examples
Four-player scramble: four players have Course Handicaps of 8, 15, 25 and 36. The lowest contributes 25 per cent, the highest 10 per cent. Appendix C says nothing about rounding the sum, Rule 6.2a rounds the Playing Handicap. So calculate once at the end and then round:
| Player, by Course Handicap | Course Handicap | Share | Contribution to the team |
|---|---|---|---|
| lowest | 8 | 25% | 2.0 |
| second | 15 | 20% | 3.0 |
| third | 25 | 15% | 3.75 |
| highest | 36 | 10% | 3.6 |
| Total | 12.35, rounded 12 |
The team gets 12 strokes. If it shoots 68 gross, its net score is 56. With two players on Course Handicaps of 10 and 24 the contributions are 3.5 and 3.6, together 7.1, so 7 strokes.
Four-ball match play: players A, B, C and D have Course Handicaps of 10, 18, 27 and 39. A plays off zero, the others get 90 per cent of the difference to A. This is the example from Appendix C:
| Player | Course Handicap | Difference to A | 90% of that, rounded |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| B | 18 | 8 | 7 |
| C | 27 | 17 | 15 |
| D | 39 | 29 | 26 |
If A cannot play, the others' strokes stay the same (Appendix C, note 1). Foursomes match play: Team 1 is A and B with 28 together, Team 2 is C and D with 66 together. The difference is 38, half of it 19. Team 2 therefore gets 19 strokes, and that is how Appendix C states it as well.
Does it count for the handicap?
No. Swiss Golf lists only individual stroke-play formats as counting for the handicap: stroke play, Stableford, Par/Bogey and Maximum Score, in a competition or as general play (Handicap Rules 2024, Rule 2.1a). Scramble, four-ball and foursomes are not on that list. The DGV gives this reason for four-ball: the partners may advise each other. How a round becomes a handicap is in The golf handicap explained, the Stableford scoring in Stableford and the scorecard.
Simulator software need not follow Appendix C. On its help page for Performance Studio (last updated on 1 May 2026) TrackMan gives 20, 15, 10 and 5 per cent for a four-player scramble, for handicaps of 0 and above. The Rules of Handicapping recommend 25, 20, 15 and 10. For two players both give 35 and 15 per cent (TrackMan Support). Ask the venue which values its system uses, and check once by hand.
Which format for which group
| Group | Format | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed group, beginners included | Scramble | Only the chosen shot counts, a poor one drops out. |
| Two partners who each want to play their own game | Four-ball | Each plays their ball out, the better score counts. |
| Two partners who want to coordinate | Foursomes | One ball in turn, which takes agreement. |
How to turn a format into a whole tournament is in Organising a golf tournament, what an event costs per person in Company event in a golf simulator, and the rules for getting started in Golf rules for beginners. Match play with its own score and its own allowance is explained in Match play explained.
Scramble, four-ball and foursomes in the simulator
Two programs from the directory know the formats. E6 Connect lists Stroke, Scramble, Best Ball, Stableford and Match Play on its site (E6 Connect), and TrackMan Performance Studio lists Scramble, Better Ball, Foursome and Greensome on its help page. In the directory three indoor venues name E6 Connect as their software: John's Golf in Wiezikon, Swing Easy in Étoy and Indoorgolf Rotkreuz. Two name TrackMan Performance Studio: Alpine Golf in Le Châble and Alpine Golf in Verbier (as of 2 October 2026, our own listings). Whether the venue offers the mode is not in any of these listings. Ask when you book.
For groups, 87 of the 110 indoor venues give details on group bookings (as of 2 October 2026, our own listings). The golf simulator near me page shows the nearest venue, the map all of them by canton, and what is on in tournaments and events is under golf simulator events.
Frequently asked questions
What is a scramble in golf?
A scramble is a team format with two to four players: everyone tees off, the team selects one shot and everyone plays the next shot from there until the ball is holed. The R&A has no rule of its own for it, the terms of the competition set the details.
How do you calculate the handicap in a scramble?
The Rules of Handicapping recommend 25, 20, 15 and 10 per cent of the Course Handicaps from lowest to highest for four players, 30, 20 and 10 for three players, 35 and 15 for two players. You add the shares up and round the sum like a Playing Handicap, 0.5 upwards. The terms of the competition may set it differently.
What is the difference between four-ball and foursomes?
In four-ball each of the two partners plays their own ball and the better score counts (Rule 23). In foursomes the two partners play one ball and hit alternately (Rule 22). The DGV expressly warns against mixing the two up.
How many strokes do I get in four-ball match play?
According to the recommendation of the Rules of Handicapping, the player with the lowest Course Handicap plays off zero, the others get 90 per cent of the difference to him. With Course Handicaps of 10, 18, 27 and 39 that is 0, 7, 15 and 26 strokes.
Does a scramble or four-ball count for the handicap?
No. In Switzerland only individual stroke-play formats count for the handicap: stroke play, Stableford, Par/Bogey and Maximum Score, in a competition or as general play. The DGV calls four-ball not handicap relevant because the partners may advise each other.
Sources
- R&A: Regel 22, Vierer (Foursomes) (Ein Ball im Wechsel, Abschlag und Schläge, falsche Reihenfolge, Schläger)
- R&A: Regel 23, Vierball (Four-Ball) (Niedrigerer Score zählt, Karte, Reihenfolge, Schläger, Best-Ball)
- R&A: Committee Procedures, Abschnitt 9, Andere Spielformen (Scramble, Texas Scramble, Florida Scramble, Einer-Scramble)
- R&A: Regel 1, allgemeine Strafe (1.3c) (Verlust des Lochs im Lochspiel, zwei Strafschläge im Zählspiel)
- Swiss Golf: Handicap-Regeln 2024, Anhang C und Regel 2.1a (Empfohlene Anteile, Beispiele, handicapwirksame Spielformen)
- DGV-Serviceportal: Vierball (Vierball nicht mit dem Vierer verwechseln, nicht handicaprelevant)
- E6 Connect: Spielmodi (Stroke, Scramble, Best Ball, Stableford, Match Play)
- TrackMan Support: Handicap Calculation For Teams Formats (Abruf über die Help-Center-Schnittstelle) (Teamformate in Performance Studio, Anteile im Scramble)
- Swiss Golf Simulators: eigene Einträge (Software und Gruppenangaben der Anlagen, Stand 2. Oktober 2026)