Can we change balls between holes in a foursomes game?

I love a good foursomes game. I get utterly engrossed in it. Who is teeing off on which hole? Where do I need to leave you for your approach? What’s the best miss?

And which ball are we going to use?

We’re going to focus on that last question for this week’s rules column. While it may be a difficult enough decision choosing between the premium ball you might be toting and the distance rock beloved of your partner, I was recently asked whether you’re stuck with the choice.

If you pick a ball for your foursomes encounter, is it OK to switch it up or do you have to play the same ball throughout in alternate shot?

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When can you change balls during a foursomes match?

This question usually comes up when I’m being asked about match play games – and it’s normally because someone has questioned whether it’s allowed or not between holes – but the format doesn’t actually matter.

Rule 6.3a says a player needs to hole out with the same ball played from the teeing area. There are obvious exceptions to that: when it’s lost or out of bounds, or if another ball is substituted – such as when taking relief under a rule.

The same rule also says a player “may change balls between two holes”.

For the avoidance of any further doubt, Rule 22.1, which covers foursomes, says the side playing one ball is treated “in the same way as the individual player is treated”.

So unless your club is toting the one-ball rule, and I would be stunned if they were, you’re free to change up as you’d wish.

Main image: A golfer tees up their ball at the start of a hole | Source: Adobe Stock

Got a question for our expert?

Despite the changes to the Rules of Golf in 2019 and 2023, there are still some that leave us scratching our heads. I’ll try to help by featuring the best of your queries in this column.

What do you think of these foursomes rules? Let me know by leaving a comment below, email me at s.carroll@nationalclubgolfer.com or get in touch on X.

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