Below Average player and golf balls

[shun_naka]

I'm still a fairly below average player - highest score was last week when i hit 104

I've got a big bag of old, used, scuffed, well beaten golf balls which ive been using for the last year (a big tesco bag full of them that i got when i bought my first set of clubs from gumtree )

Within the bag theres a few Pro V1s and other premium balls. I usually separate them and think to myself i'll wait to use them when im better/more consistent. Currently losing an average of 1/2 balls a round (and finding atleast 1) so dont want to use all the "good" ones and have to buy more

is this a daft idea? should i just use the premium balls ive got? (they'll most likely be lake balls anyway?)

 

[turkish]

I say use the best balls you have- you might not be getting best results from well hit shots if the balls are duffed up.

I'd then look at maybe buying lake balls or for deals on things like Srixon distance until you are confident you won't lose a lot... and keep the duffers for the shag bag!

Where are you losing shots then if you aint losing balls when I was shooting scores like that I was losing anywhere between 3-6 balls a round.... I don't keep track but I probably average 1.5 balls a round still and I average around the 90 mark scorewise.

 

[gmhubble]

I did exactly the same till I realised I could buy 100 at a time for £10 off gumtree or eBay locally - so right now I use the best ones I can - often play three balls at once

Use them am different appreciate the difference and when you do get good enough enjoy spending £45 on a dozen!

 

[Orikoru]

Just use the best ball you've got if they're cheap/found anyway. I have a big box of new Callaway balls at home but I only open them up for competitions. For practise rounds I just use whatever ball I found on the last practise round. Each round I tend to lose one or two and find one or two others anyway.

I don't think there's any sense in deliberately using the worst balls that you have. Personally I would shove them right down the bottom of the bag to be used only when I have a mare and lose 5 or 6 of the better ones!

Also, if I'm hitting it over a lake or something else where there's a higher chance of losing it, I might use a crap ball on those holes only. Just in case..

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Personally, I wouldn't touch lake balls with a barge pole, I find them very inconsistant. There are loads of decent 2 or 3 piece balls on the market that are absolutely fine for a beginner at very reasonable prices. You can often pick up boxes of a dozen or even 15 balls for about a tenner.

Browse around the online shops for the best bargains. Things like Srixon soft feel would be perfect :thup:

 

[jhills89]

personally I don't see the point is using a bag of duffers. If you want to improve you wont do that by doing this. You will have no consistency with your shots and your short game will be all over the place until you get use to the same ball. If your worried about money your better off spending £10 on 24 Dunlop balls or a box of 12 srixon distance balls and and at least getting use to the same ball. Will help you improve massively. I play with someone who only uses balls his find and he gets annoyed that he hits 2 balls the same power off a putter and one doesn't reach the hole and 1 goes 5 ft by.

 

[shun_naka]

I say use the best balls you have- you might not be getting best results from well hit shots if the balls are duffed up.

I'd then look at maybe buying lake balls or for deals on things like Srixon distance until you are confident you won't lose a lot... and keep the duffers for the shag bag!

Where are you losing shots then if you aint losing balls when I was shooting scores like that I was losing anywhere between 3-6 balls a round.... I don't keep track but I probably average 1.5 balls a round still and I average around the 90 mark scorewise.

My dropped shots are mainly from duffs - duffed drives that go about 50yards, or duffed chips, hitting the ball fat etc.

dont get me wrong, the other week i hit my worst score and lost about 6! so it can happen!

Just use the best ball you've got if they're cheap/found anyway. I have a big box of new Callaway balls at home but I only open them up for competitions. For practise rounds I just use whatever ball I found on the last practise round. Each round I tend to lose one or two and find one or two others anyway.

I don't think there's any sense in deliberately using the worst balls that you have. Personally I would shove them right down the bottom of the bag to be used only when I have a mare and lose 5 or 6 of the better ones!

Also, if I'm hitting it over a lake or something else where there's a higher chance of losing it, I might use a crap ball on those holes only. Just in case..

Personally, I wouldn't touch lake balls with a barge pole, I find them very inconsistant. There are loads of decent 2 or 3 piece balls on the market that are absolutely fine for a beginner at very reasonable prices. You can often pick up boxes of a dozen or even 15 balls for about a tenner.

Browse around the online shops for the best bargains. Things like Srixon soft feel would be perfect :thup:

Cool, i might just go for it then with the better ones. I dont know why but i had it in my head that by using the rubbish balls (while im still rubbish) i can take advantage of the better ones when im playing better!

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I buy lake balls, Pearl grade, Callaway, Taylormade, Srixon, off a well known auction site. If you buy in winter with the codes they give you can get them for 35p a ball. In summer it goes up to 45p a ball, approx. They are fine, certainly last a round and if you are losing them then you don't get stressed. People get very fussy about balls but lake balls from regular sellers are fine and do the job for h/handicappers. If you reach the point where you are not losing balls then by all means spend more but until then I'd save my money.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Personally, I wouldn't touch lake balls with a barge pole, I find them very inconsistant. There are loads of decent 2 or 3 piece balls on the market that are absolutely fine for a beginner at very reasonable prices. You can often pick up boxes of a dozen or even 15 balls for about a tenner.

Browse around the online shops for the best bargains. Things like Srixon soft feel would be perfect :thup:

Agreed!
You'd be better getting new/proper balls from lower down the range than lake balls or refurbished balls. At least then you know exactly what you're getting.

 

[shun_naka]

I buy lake balls, Pearl grade, Callaway, Taylormade, Srixon, off a well known auction site. If you buy in winter with the codes they give you can get them for 35p a ball. In summer it goes up to 45p a ball, approx. They are fine, certainly last a round and if you are losing them then you don't get stressed. People get very fussy about balls but lake balls from regular sellers are fine and do the job for h/handicappers. If you reach the point where you are not losing balls then by all means spend more but until then I'd save my money.

Agreed!
You'd be better getting new/proper balls from lower down the range than lake balls or refurbished balls. At least then you know exactly what you're getting.

Genuine question - what is the big deal about lake balls? Unless you're a very low handicapper or very talented, are you really likely to notice a difference?

 

[Neilds]

If you go down the new ball route, as recommended, you could should condsider Srixon Soft Feel or Wilson DX2. About £15 a dozen so good value

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Genuine question - what is the big deal about lake balls? Unless you're a very low handicapper or very talented, are you really likely to notice a difference?

I've known them have very inconsistent flight and not react anything like they were supposed to. A mate of mine bought some and they were like range balls that had been repainted.
In my opinion no matter what your handicap the ball should be of a decent quality and reliability.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Genuine question - what is the big deal about lake balls? Unless you're a very low handicapper or very talented, are you really likely to notice a difference?

In my opinion the difference at high/h level, I'm there, is marginal. I have been given Pro V1 balls at corporate days and they feel lovely off the face. I can still lose them though and if I was buying them then I would cry every time I lost one, about £4 a pop I believe. I get it if you are single figures, are looking for spin on the ball, longevity etc but is your game in that place? Mine is not so why spend the extra.

Some great suggestions have been made on here about lower priced new balls, Pro V1 is the extreme in terms of price so definitely don't go down that road, and maybe you should buy some of those and then some Pearl Grade lake balls and make that judgement for yourself. Personally I am happy to buy the lake balls and I have never had an issue with them. When I manage to get 36 holes out of a ball or my lake balls start splitting or wobbling then maybe I will look for new balls. Until then I'll keep stocking up on the lake ones. Putting a new, pearl grade Taylormade Lake ball on a tee feels just as good to me as putting a brand new shop bought one on there as well. They really are very good.

Incidentally, you will note I keep mentioning pearl grade. Pearl is the top grade and are nearly new. A grade are marked and certainly don't last as long. Okay for winter but for summer going pearl is a better option. Some people mix up refurbished balls with lake balls. They are different. I don't use refurbished as they can be poorer quality. Each to their own though.

 

[rudebhoy]

Sports Direct do 2x24 dunlops for £17. That works out at 35p a ball. They are obviously not the greatest, but are probably the best option for a beginner who doesn't want to lose a tenner's worth of balls every round.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

I've known them have very inconsistent flight and not react anything like they were supposed to. A mate of mine bought some and they were like range balls that had been repainted.
In my opinion no matter what your handicap the ball should be of a decent quality and reliability.

Exactly the same for me plus some of the ones I've hit have felt spongey off the face. I don't think sitting at the bottom of a lake for any extended period of time can do a ball much good.

 

[garyinderry]

I'm off the opinion starting out you will be fine using any old ball. Clean preferably.

 

[shun_naka]

In my opinion the difference at high/h level, I'm there, is marginal. I have been given Pro V1 balls at corporate days and they feel lovely off the face. I can still lose them though and if I was buying them then I would cry every time I lost one, about £4 a pop I believe. I get it if you are single figures, are looking for spin on the ball, longevity etc but is your game in that place? Mine is not so why spend the extra.

Some great suggestions have been made on here about lower priced new balls, Pro V1 is the extreme in terms of price so definitely don't go down that road, and maybe you should buy some of those and then some Pearl Grade lake balls and make that judgement for yourself. Personally I am happy to buy the lake balls and I have never had an issue with them. When I manage to get 36 holes out of a ball or my lake balls start splitting or wobbling then maybe I will look for new balls. Until then I'll keep stocking up on the lake ones. Putting a new, pearl grade Taylormade Lake ball on a tee feels just as good to me as putting a brand new shop bought one on there as well. They really are very good.

Incidentally, you will note I keep mentioning pearl grade. Pearl is the top grade and are nearly new. A grade are marked and certainly don't last as long. Okay for winter but for summer going pearl is a better option. Some people mix up refurbished balls with lake balls. They are different. I don't use refurbished as they can be poorer quality. Each to their own though.

Thanks - this is pretty much my thoughts about lake balls - im not good enough yet to notice the downsides of them and with consistently losing balls i'm not wanting to spend a fortune.

What kind/make of pearl grade do you recommend? And do you have a preferred retailer? (if we cant post links to retailers feel free to PM me!)

 

[turkish]

I mentioned srixon distance balls earlier and my mate off 9 plays them often- for our level you're probably not going to lose much on the greens out of it and for £10 a dozen can't go wrong.

I play Bridgestone E6 and can get them for about £15-16 a dozen if you shop around. I did have lake balls for the winter and yeah some can be a bit inconsistent but most are absolutely fine.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

PM sent :thup:

 

[hovis]

I'm off the opinion starting out you will be fine using any old ball. Clean preferably.

I'm the same. the golf ball will have zero effect on your scores at the moment