How do Ryder Cup players decide which ball to use for alternate shots?

It’s hard to play golf, but it becomes even more difficult when you have the added pressure of putting your partner at risk because of a mistake. Foursomes is a game where two golfers alternately hit shots until the hole has been completed.

When creating teams and partnerships for Foursomes, Ryder Cup captains consider a number of factors. The Ryder Cup captains take into account a number of factors when creating teams and partnerships for Foursomes.

The players will all be using their clubs at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome, Italy. But when they play in Foursomes, which is also known as alternate shot, whose ball do they use? Both.

Zach Johnson, the U.S. Ryder Cup Captain, confirmed that “the One Ball Rule” is not in force during his Tuesday press conference.

Johnson’s reference was to Model Local Rule G-4. This states that “During an entire round each ball the player uses for a stroke must match the brand and model found on a single entry in the current List of Conforming Balls.” To put it simply, this means golfers are required to use the same ball type throughout the whole round when Model Local Rule G-4 has been adopted by a competition or event. If you choose to use any of the balls on the Conforming List (Titleist, TaylorMade or Callaway), you can use it for the entire round.

The USGA states that the One Ball Rule is designed to prevent players from switching between balls of different characteristics depending on whether they are playing a long par 5, or a short par 3, for example.

Johnson’s statement that the One Ball Rule is and not is in effect at the Ryder Cup reveals that Foursomes teams can use different balls for different holes, which they almost certainly will. The same ball must be used throughout the hole. However, teams are allowed to change balls before the hole begins.

Johnson explained: “Three practice rounds, or even a round trip could be enough to become accustomed to someone else’s ball off the tee. That’s what it’s all about, right?” If we’re playing together, it’s more likely than not that I will tee-off with your ball. This allows us to have better control over your iron play, wedge play, or whatever else you may do with your own ball. It’s almost like an unwritten rule.

It is. Each player in the American and European Ryder Cup Teams uses a multilayer urethane ball. The biggest performance differences will be noticeable on approach shots as well as shots around the greens. Some balls fly higher and spin faster than others when used with irons or wedges. Teams want their players to use their own balls.

If Patrick Cantlay is paired with Xander Schauffele again in Foursomes, and Schauffele needs to hit a tee-shot on a par-3, expect him to use the Callaway Chrome Soft X LS. Cantlay will use his Titleist Pro V1x ball to tee-off on a par 4 so that Schauffele can use the ball of his choice on the approach shot.

The following is a list of all the golf balls used by the American and European Ryder Cup Teams:

United States

Sam Burns – Callaway Chrome Soft X

Patrick Cantlay – Titleist Pro V1x

Wyndham Clark – Titleist Pro V1x

Rickie Fowler TaylorMade pix

Brian Harman – Titleist Pro V1 (2017)

Max Homa – Titleist Pro V1

Brooks Koepka Srixon Z Star Diamond

Collin Morikawa TaylorMade T5x

Xander Schauffele – Callaway Chrome Soft X LS

Scottie Scheffler – Titleist Pro V1

Jordan Spieth – Titleist Pro V1x

Justin Thomas – Titleist Pro V1x

Europe

Ludvig Aberg – Titleist Pro V1x

Matt Fitzpatrick – Titleist Pro V1x

Tommy Fleetwood – TaylorMade’s TP5 images

Tyrrell Hatton – Titleist Pro V1x

Nicolai Hojgaard – Callaway Chrome Soft X

Viktor Hovland – Titleist Pro V1

Shane Lowry – Srixon Z Star XV

Robert MacIntyre TaylorMade Tp5x

Rory McIlroy TaylorMade T5

Jon Rahm – Callaway Chrome Soft X

Justin Rose – Titleist Pro V1 Left Dot

Sepp Straka – Srixon Z-Star Diamond