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In the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup and Solheim Cup, there is perhaps no more exciting format than four-ball.
There are, perhaps most obviously, four balls in action and, with the golfers involved being among the best in the world, chances are the birdies and eagles will come thick and fast.
However, there are times when a little trickier strategy trumps looking for par breakers.
Let’s see what PGA pro Pete Styles has to say in this video about the fourball format.
“This is the fourth football game we are talking about,” he said.
“We have four players, four balls playing and two golfers playing with two others.
“So the best score for any player in the team is what matters to the team.”
The patterns explain that one group may get four and five, another group seven and four. Both teams take their best score – four – and the hole will be considered square.
This process is also explained by another topic of this format: better football.
In Styles’ example, on the next hole, the first team made two threes and the second team made two sevens. The first team wins but only wins the hole despite taking four fewer strokes.
“There are some tricks to understanding this format because you’re not trying to get the lowest score of the whole field,” Styles reminds us, “you’re trying to beat the opposition (in front of you).
“And I see what they’re doing so I can think about the game in a different way.”
Styles provide another example. It’s basic but explains the tricks. He thinks the first team hit both of their shots out of bounds.
“What is the second group doing?” he asks. “Well, I would put the driver away because we are trying to prevent the ball from entering.
“What the first team should have done is that after the first guy went out of bounds, the second guy should have stayed in the hole with a shot to remove the danger.
“So there are a lot of times this way where you don’t try to score too low. He takes risks and pressures the opposition.
“You don’t want to give a hole.
Pete Styles website
READ MORE: How to play foursomes, the fastest format in golf
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