Skip to content

Betting101 guide

What Does ‘2/3 Balls’ Mean in Sports Betting?

what-does-2-3-balls-mean-in-sports-betting

In golf betting, ‘2/3 Balls’ is a popular market where you bet on which golfer will have the lowest score within their specific playing group for a single round.

You are not betting on the winner of the entire tournament, only on the head-to-head matchup within the official group of two or three players for that day’s 18 holes.

Best Online Sportsbooks

United States

BetOnline

No Strings Welcome Offer50% up to $250

AustraliaCanadaUnited States

Minimum deposit $10 Crypto

BetUS

Welcome Bonus125% up to $2500

CanadaUnited States

Minimum deposit $100

Lucky Rebel

Welcome Bonus125% Free + 50 Free Spins

CanadaUnited States

Minimum deposit $50

Bookmaker

Crypto Bonus20% Cash up to $500

CanadaUnited States

Minimum deposit $50 (card) / $100 (crypto)

MyBookie

Crypto Bonus100% up to $1000

CanadaUnited States

Minimum deposit $20 (crypto) / $45 (card)

Bet105

Welcome Offer$25 Free Bet

CanadaUnited States

Minimum deposit $50

BetAnything

Free Play100% up to $500

CanadaUnited States

Minimum deposit $20

BetWhale

Crypto Bonus200% up to $6000

CanadaUnited States

Minimum deposit $20

Everygame

Welcome Bonus100% up to $150

CanadaUnited States

Minimum deposit $20 (card), $10 (crypto)

Canada

BetOnline

No Strings Welcome Offer50% up to $250

AustraliaCanadaUnited States

Minimum deposit $10 Crypto

BetUS

Welcome Bonus125% up to $2500

CanadaUnited States

Minimum deposit $100

Lucky Rebel

Welcome Bonus125% Free + 50 Free Spins

CanadaUnited States

Minimum deposit $50

Bookmaker

Crypto Bonus20% Cash up to $500

CanadaUnited States

Minimum deposit $50 (card) / $100 (crypto)

MyBookie

Crypto Bonus100% up to $1000

CanadaUnited States

Minimum deposit $20 (crypto) / $45 (card)

Bet105

Welcome Offer$25 Free Bet

CanadaUnited States

Minimum deposit $50

BetAnything

Free Play100% up to $500

CanadaUnited States

Minimum deposit $20

Pinnacle

Benefits(Low Vig)

Canada

Minimum deposit $10

BetWhale

Crypto Bonus200% up to $6000

CanadaUnited States

Minimum deposit $20

United Kingdom

888 Sport

Multiple Promotions:See Website

CanadaUnited Kingdom

Minimum deposit $10

William Hill

Multiple promotionsSee website

United KingdomUnited States

Minimum deposit $5

5Dimes

Sign Up Offer50% up to $2000

AustraliaCanadaUnited KingdomUnited States

Minimum deposit $50

Australia

BetOnline

No Strings Welcome Offer50% up to $250

AustraliaCanadaUnited States

Minimum deposit $10 Crypto

5Dimes

Sign Up Offer50% up to $2000

AustraliaCanadaUnited KingdomUnited States

Minimum deposit $50

How it Works

For the first two rounds of a professional tournament (e.g., Thursday and Friday), players are typically sent out in groups of three. For the weekend rounds (Saturday and Sunday), after the cut, they usually play in pairs. This gives rise to two distinct bet types:

πŸŒοΈβ€β™‚οΈ 3-Ball Betting

This applies when three golfers are playing together in a group.

  • The Bet: You are betting on which of the three players will shoot the lowest score for that round.
  • Example: A group consists of Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Jon Rahm. You place a 3-ball bet on Rory McIlroy. You win if McIlroy shoots a 70, Scheffler shoots a 71, and Rahm shoots a 72.
  • What if there’s a tie? If two or more players tie for the lowest score in the group, bookmakers apply dead heat rules. This means your original stake is divided by the number of players who tied, and then that amount is paid out at the original odds. You don’t lose the bet, but your winnings are reduced.

🏌️ 2-Ball Betting

This is a straightforward head-to-head bet between two golfers playing in the same pair.

  • The Bet: You are betting on which of the two players will have the lower score for the round.
  • Example: On a Sunday, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are playing together. You place a 2-ball bet on Tiger Woods. If Woods shoots 68 and Mickelson shoots 70, your bet wins.
  • What if there’s a tie? This is the key difference. In 2-ball betting, the tie is often offered as a third betting option. If you bet on a player to win and the round ends in a tie, your bet loses. You must bet specifically on the ‘Tie’ option to win in that scenario. Some bookmakers may void the bet (a “push”) if there’s a tie, but the three-way market (Player A, Player B, Tie) is more common.

Why is this Bet Popular?

  1. Daily Action: It gives you a betting interest on every day of the tournament, not just the final outcome on Sunday.
  2. Simplicity: It’s much easier to research and form an opinion on two or three players’ form than on an entire field of over 100 golfers.
  3. Finding Value: You can leverage your knowledge about how a player might perform on a specific course or in certain weather conditions against only their immediate playing partners.