Get On With The Game

One of the biggest mysteries to me as a golf coach is seeing a golfer fishing for golf balls.

It sometimes seems that a golfer is more worried about the number of golf balls they can fish out from the depths of the pond, rather than the ball they have lost or the score they are going to achieve.

I bring this to light in this article for two equally important reasons.

One is a pet peeve of mine and many golfers across the world. Slow Play.

I have no time for slow play, especially when it caused by a golfer that is searching for balls that are not even their own.

Get on with the game, and head to the pro shop to purchase some balls if you are short.

But the second reason is the one why hunting for golf balls is damaging your game.

Those of you that consider yourselves poor golfers that need to use whichever ball you come across in the lake are making your problems worse.

There is a reason why you won´t see professional golfers looking for golf balls in the lake.

THE REASON IS THAT LAKE BALLS DO NOT PERFORM IN THE SAME WAY AS A NEW BALL DOES.

Now I know that some of you, especially beginners or those that play on courses with lots of water are probably thinking that you can´t afford to use a new ball every round or take a new ball out every time you lose one, but bear with me.

Golf balls cost varying amounts, the cost of lake balls or secondhand balls in the local pro-shops is around $10 per bag, the cost of a brand new dozen, start at around the same price $10 or so.

It is only when you start approaching the higher grade balls that you begin to really notice the difference to your wallet.

But, please remember you should be playing with the best new ball you can afford to play with.

I don´t often say this, but buy branded balls.

A branded ball, if we take arguably the best ball on the market, is heavily tested before leaving the factory. The rigorous testing the ball goes through ensures a highly consistent golf ball that performs equally with each shot until the ball reaches a point where it will no longer perform to the same exacting standard.

A golf ball that has been in the water for just 24-hours is no longer able to perform and although it may look absolutely pristine it is not. It may fly a shorter distance, may spin less it could even be more unbalanced leading to bad shots.

I want you to try something.

Grab 10 different balls, new, used or lake balls and head to the putting green.

Place a tee behind your putter about 10 inches and putt each ball in a straight line at the same pace.

I guarantee you that they will be a large dispersion in the distance between the shortest and the longest putt. A perfect example of why you should use the same new ball each game you play.