: relating to or being a golf match in which three players compete against one another with each playing a single ball

Examples of three-ball in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Suggesting that Sears can fill it up even if Duke takes away the three-ball tonight admittedly sounds a little absurd. Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2025 The three-ball is just a refined tool in his arsenal, one he’s worked tirelessly to hone. Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 8 Dec. 2024 He’s drawn five walks this year in 157 plate appearances, and he’s only seen seven pitches in three-ball counts. Keith Law, The Athletic, 18 Apr. 2024 Their offensive strategy is pushing the rest of the league to a historical reliance on the three-ball. Melvin Backman, Quartz, 30 Oct. 2024 Michelle Cervantes, Gianna Flores and Bella Hiner all worked three-ball counts as Cervantes and Hiner both walked. Breven Honda, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2024 The Samoan southpaw — as large as ever, though with considerably less hair — held the Giants scoreless on a handful of hits but put four batters on base via walks and ran three-ball counts to another five hitters. Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2024 Reddish then calmly reset his feet and confidently knocked down the three-ball early in the second quarter. Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023 The biggest threat was a three-ball, one-strike count to Jonah Bride with two outs in the eighth. Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 29 June 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of three-ball was in 1839

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Cite this Entry

“Three-ball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/three-ball. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.

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