Strategy Tips - Foursomes and Four Ball Play

[bkuehn1952]

I will be playing a Foursomes (match play) match and a Four Ball (match play) match.  Any strategy tips?  My partner has a similar game except he tends to drive the ball a bit further and I might be a somewhat better putter. It is too late for my partner to replace me - ha ha ha!

[sjduffers]

In fourball (each partner plays their own ball and the best net score is that of the team), I would have you tee up first on par 4 and par 5, as finding the fairway should free up your partner to really go for it, and gain even more distance, possibly giving a greater chance at a better net score.

Also, in fourball, if you are both on the green, but you are putting for birdie and he is putting for par but is closer to the hole than you, have him make his par first: you secure the gross par score, it frees you up for the birdie putt (you can have at it without fear of consequences if you miss), and it may show you something around the hole, giving you better information for your own birdie attempt. Of course, if your gross par would result in a net birdie (vs his net par, meaning his index is better than yours), do apply some caution with the birdie putt (for net eagle), but still have him putt first, as you'd still get some additional information around the hole.

In foursomes (alternate shots), you have to give the best possible chance to your partner, and that means not taking inconsiderate risks and playing it relatively safe. If you want to take advantage of his driving and your putting, you'll have to look at the layout of the course and see if he can get more drives than you by playing first (as you would be teeing off on the second hole, etc...). Conversely, depending on the placement of the par 3s in the layout, assuming your partner finds the green, you could end up putting more second shots (chances at birdie) than him, depending on the order you guys go. Do the combined analysis (driving and par 3s) and decide which player should be teeing first.

Edited September 18, 2016 by sjduffers

[bkuehn1952]

Thanks @sjduffers solid advice.

[DaveP043]

15 hours ago, sjduffers said:

In fourball (each partner plays their own ball and the best net score is that of the team), I would have you tee up first on par 4 and par 5, as finding the fairway should free up your partner to really go for it, and gain even more distance, possibly giving a greater chance at a better net score.

I'm going to disagree with this just a bit.  In a fourball match, I think its really important to have two balls in play when you reach the green.  Its very rare that I want my partner to "really go for it" on a drive, if that means he's also going to significantly increase the potential to lose the ball or hit it into a hazard.  On a second shot, that choice can be a little riskier, once one player is in good position.

Another circumstance, a par-5 where one player can definitely get home, and the other player "might" be able to get home.  Have the stronger player go first.  If he succeeds, the "weaker" player can also go for it, giving you two chances.  If the stronger player hits a poor shot, the second player can hit a relatively safe shot, perhaps a lay-up.  If the weaker player automatically lays up first, you've given away one of your chances unnecessarily. 

In foursomes, I always suggest relatively conservative play.  

A last thing is attitude.  I always apologize to my partner before we start, and never again.  I know I'll make some mistakes, but I'm always trying to do my best, and I know my partner is doing the same.  I can't expect my partner to succeed on every shot, I can only expect him to be trying his best.  As long as he's doing that, there's never anything to apologize for.

[Club Rat]

In most match play events "Par" is your friend, bogeys usually result in loss of hole.

When an opponent makes a bird, they have played well and deserve to win the hole unless we can halve the hole.
One key I have always used is "order of play" when we are away.

When and if myself or my partner has an opportunity to make a reasonable putt for birdie, I'll instruct my partner to putt for the bird and possible win rather than wait their turn as long as his position (stance) does not interfere of the opponents play.

I'll use the same strategy when either has a better chance to chip close when a player has a really tough chance to get it close.
Example: I'm away and my partner is closer with an easy play on the fringe or fairway cut. I do not want to add pressure on their shoulders because I will most likely not get a bunker shot or a chip from the ruff to a tucked pin close, type scenario.

Also, an example myself or partner has a close putt for bird, set up and knock it in if our team is away.
That makes the opponents more tense knowing they must make, which usually leads to them not making their putt.
There will be times they may make it, but the added pressure will eventually cause them on other holes to mess up.

Use situations to your advantage when you can and creating the most pressure on your opponents is a big key to winning.

[natureboy]

7 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

I'm going to disagree with this just a bit.  In a fourball match, I think its really important to have two balls in play when you reach the green.

Maximizing your potential birdie chances on all 18 holes seems like a good strategy.

[DaveP043]

1 minute ago, natureboy said:

Maximizing your potential birdie chances on all 18 holes seems like a good strategy.

I agree, but I believe my team would have more chances if both of us are in play pretty much all the time.

7 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

I  Its very rare that I want my partner to "really go for it" on a drive, if that means he's also going to significantly increase the potential to lose the ball or hit it into a hazard.  

If "going for it" takes my partner out of play too often, its a loss of birdie chances, not a gain.  If he can go long without going wild, he should be doing that all the time anyway.

[natureboy]

2 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

I agree, but I believe my team would have more chances if both of us are in play pretty much all the time.

If "going for it" takes my partner out of play too often, its a loss of birdie chances, not a gain.  If he can go long without going wild, he should be doing that all the time anyway.

I was agreeing with you. Two balls on the green in regulation gives a potential double chance at birdie while a chip-in is probably less likely. Accumulate enough GIR between the two partners and you should get a decent number of total looks at (net) birdie.

I agree reasonable aggressiveness vs. 'going for it' all the time is the way to go. Sticking with a solid 90% swing vs. clubbing down is the way I'd approach it, though, unless driver is overkill for the hole or there's trouble to avoid. Distance is its own form of accuracy and if you can keep it in the fairway consistently for short approaches that should increase the number of birdie looks and chances by decreasing average proximity.

Strong. consistent ballstriking seems great for fourball: solid length, mostly in the fairway or good out of the rough to hit the green for a less makeable look or protect par on a miss.

[sjduffers]

On September 19, 2016 at 5:13 AM, DaveP043 said:

I'm going to disagree with this just a bit.  In a fourball match, I think its really important to have two balls in play when you reach the green.  Its very rare that I want my partner to "really go for it" on a drive, if that means he's also going to significantly increase the potential to lose the ball or hit it into a hazard.  On a second shot, that choice can be a little riskier, once one player is in good position.

@DaveP043, you are right: I shouldn't have said "really go for it", as it brings "out of play" probably too frequently. Instead, it should be "get a good one", i.e. not playing it ultra-safe (and not going crazy either). I'd still have the shorter driver go first though, to get some insurance.