Becoming a golf enthusiast is more than learning how to keep your ball on the fairway and reach the pin in the fewest amount of strokes. It’s a game that comes with different rule sets that level out the handicaps, and lets amateur golfers play with more experienced players, and have fun doing so. You may have seen a sign in the clubhouse for a scramble or best ball tournament and it’s left you wondering what is a scramble in golf, and what the heck is a best ball.
Both rule sets are similar to one another, and both are usually organized by the golf course with prizes awarded for the best scores. There are subtle differences between the two, and you may find you prefer one style of play over the other. Here’s a look at the answers to the question of “What is a golf scramble vs best ball?” and how each set of rules is different from each other.
How a Golf Scramble Format is Played
Stud Golf by Jeff Adair is licensed with CC BY 2.0 DEED
So, what is a golf scramble format? This format consists of a group of two to four players each taking a turn driving their ball from the tee. Everyone evaluates where their ball landed, and the group chooses the ball placement that they like the best.
The players whose shots were not taken then pick up their balls and place them within one club length of the selected ball. All players then play their shot from the selected spot. This process is repeated until everyone has reached the green and drops their ball into the cup.
It’s worth noting that the ball that’s the farthest down the fairway isn’t always the best lie to play from, and players get to decide who has the best position as a group. If the ball lands in the rough, a sand trap, or by a tree, the ball can’t be moved for an easier play.
A scramble works best when the players have different skill levels or handicaps. The format levels out the playing field and enables less-experienced golfers the opportunity to improve their game by playing with more experienced golfers. 
Playing a Round With the Best Ball Format
Golf Ball Pyramid by Dan Perry is licensed with CC BY 2.0 DEED
The best ball format is usually played in a competitive tournament because each team plays against each other to see who can win. Teams can be made up of two, three, or four players, and each player gets the opportunity to play their turn. However, instead of counting everyone’s score for the hole, only the best score is counted. The remaining scores are discarded in favor of the fewest strokes.
The rules of the best ball format are the same as a regular round of golf outside the use of the best score. However, the handicap of each golfer is figured into the play in that the handicap awards free strokes on the same number of holes as their handicap. In other words, a golfer who has a nine handicap can get a free stroke on nine holes. The free strokes are first used on the most difficult hole, then on any hole afterward.
The team with the lowest score is considered the winner of the tournament.
Why There’s Confusion Between the Scramble and Best Ball Formats
Golf Ball and Club on Grass by Marco Verch, a Professional Photographer is licensed with CC BY 2.0 DEED
The United States Golf Association (USGA) doesn’t use the best ball to describe the rule set for the best ball. Instead, it calls the format four-ball, and official tournaments follow the USGA’s rules even if they call it a best-ball tournament. The name of the best ball competition is more well-known than the four-ball, which means it’s the more popular title of the two. 
In contrast, the rules of a golf scramble sound more like the best ball format because the team chooses the best lie from which to make the next play. It’s easy to get confused as to how the play progresses with a golf scramble vs best ball format.
Both formats are fun, have their advantages in terms of getting better at playing golf, and provide a break from the standard rules and format of a round of golf. You’re on your way to becoming a pro once you know the difference between the two formats.
