Do you carry a provisional ball in your pocket?

[Foxholer]

Still stick with "total". I suspect that the overwhelming majority of forummers are ordinary club golfers playing mostly in club competitions where the "one ball rule" does not feature. Maybe I'm unique in that in 58 years of playing I have never been required to stick to the same kind of ball for 18 holes.

A rare event for me to disagree with Rosecott. Codswallop? Yes. But not 'total codswallop' to me as the Pros and Elite Ams may have that Rule in the Conditions of Comp - along with the requirement for 'conforming grooves' that Ams don't need until 2024.

So on my 'codswallop scale' it measures condiderably under 'total'!

For all but Elite Ams and Pros - where the Conditions of Comp require it - it's as Rosecott states.

@ColchesterFC. Whoever told you that you could only play the 1 type of ball in your bounce or competition round was talking 'total codswallop'.

 

[Imurg]

This is a severe no no, all it's doing is putting negative thoughts in your mind before you hit it. .....

Only if your fragile mind thinks that way..........

 

[kid2]

Something on the thread about where do you put stuff in your pockets got me thinking, and a few people commented that they carry a provisional ball in their pockets. isn't this a little defeatist?

So do you carry one

...


To me its putting doubt in my mind.... Plus if I did happen to hit one in the cabbage and reload, by walking back to my bag and pulling a ball and also marking it, it stops me rushing and loosing focus....,

I'm also a little dubious about players carrying balls in their pockets as I had some experiences with players that hit it so far off line a satellite would have a hard time finding it only for them to miraculously find it when the got to the spot roughly where it landed...

 

[Allanxyz]

If you don't believe an old-stager, here is what the R&A say on the subject:


The "One Ball" Condition

The Committee may introduce a condition of competition stating that a player must use balls of the same brand and type, and accordingly, a player may not change the brand name and cannot change from a brand type to another type of the same brand. Again, this condition is recommended for elite events only. The R&A does not currently introduce this condition at any of its Amateur events, but it is introduced at The Open Championship. The suggested wording for such a condition is contained in Appendix I, Part C of the Rules of Golf.

How many of us play in "elite events"?

I've no reason to not believe you and as I said in my first post I thought the rule was pretty much something as per the above, just wasn't 100% sure. But as whoever the chap was who mentioned the rule wasn't making something up that doesn't exist at all, it's "codswollop" rather than "total codswollop" for me!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Always have one in my pocket but never worry about it. Certainly don't feel any bad karma for having it. Drove as well as I have in years yesterday

 

[Cheifi0]

I don't generally carry a ball in my pocket, just a bit too clunky but not having a back up can be worse just because now your thought is I can't miss because I will have to go fetch a ball, which is more detrimental than been prepared. I now take an extra ball up to the tee and leave it behind me on the ground somewhere.

 

[Evesdad]

Always, spare ball in left pocket live ball in the right between holes. It's never crossed my mind negatively just like one there for when its needed and saves time getting one from the bag.

 

[SocketRocket]

Since I started buying boxes of 'Provisional Balls' from American Golf I no longer need to carry a spare ball. They always go straight and long.

 

[Slab]

Always carry a provisional in left pocket... actually I think it should be compulsory and added to the rules (obviously with the option that the player can decide which pocket to keep it in)

For your FC's sake there's far less moving to go get another ball while they tee off but mostly because I don't really want to expend the effort of going back to the bag as I'm just too lazy

 

[FaldosJumper]

There should be a sometimes option... for instance in stroke comps where you leave your bag 100 yes from the tee, saves time and stops you looking a fool when running to the bag and back any other forms of the game generally no.

 

[JezzE]

Good job the tide was out and you found your ball at the first at Machrihanish that day so you could play from the beach and not need your provisional. :whoo:

Made par...!

 

[chrisd]

I've always have a spare in my pocket and if I need to use it and don't find ball one I replace it from my bag ASAP

 

[G_Mulligan]

Only if your fragile mind thinks that way..........

everyone deals with mental fragility in their own way. Personally my fragile mind can't deal with building a score so I try not to keep count of my total.

...


To me its putting doubt in my mind.... Plus if I did happen to hit one in the cabbage and reload, by walking back to my bag and pulling a ball and also marking it, it stops me rushing and loosing focus....,

I'm also a little dubious about players carrying balls in their pockets as I had some experiences with players that hit it so far off line a satellite would have a hard time finding it only for them to miraculously find it when the got to the spot roughly where it landed...

I like that idea and something I do but have not thought why. Unless you teed off last you have time while others are playing to quietly get a spare ball and mark it and can calm yourself down and keep the provisional in play. Unless it is a long walk back to the tee and the bags can be left some way further down the hole I don't carry a spare ball.

If I saw somebody else with a spare ball I would really like to never believe that I think they might be cheating when they go into the woods. Unless they have a reputation I would always prefer to trust in every golfers integrity for the sport. PLus I usually go in with them and help them to look and I can honestly say I have never had cause for concern if somebody finds their own ball, but maybe I have been lucky with my playing partners over the years and hopefully not just naive.

 

[bignev]

I voted for yes I carry a spare but having read through the thread I can see that possibly thats me telling my self I dont trust my driving. So as of now for a month Im going to not carry a spare and see how I fare. Will post the result.

 

[Foxholer]

I trust also that those who claim that having a spare ball in your pocket is a sign of mental weakness are not those that claim that every player should do everything possible to avoid slow play!

 

[chrisd]

I trust also that those who claim that having a spare ball in your pocket is a sign of mental weakness are not those that claim that every player should do everything possible to avoid slow play!

I only carry a spare ball to loan it to players who don't carry one - no mental weakness there eh!

 

[Hobbit]

This is a severe no no, all it's doing is putting negative thoughts in your mind before you hit it.
.

Only if your fragile mind thinks that way..........

If its a hole that I can leave my bag part way up the fairway I'll take a spare ball just in case.

As for being defeatist; it doesn't even enter my mind................. I must stop putting two tees in my pocket before a round

 

[Qwerty]

I carry one, It just saves the walk of shame back to the bag.

I don't think of it as negative, just prepared. Theres nothing worse than running bag to the bag especially if its away from the tee, I'd say you've more chance of missing the fairway again after doing this. (More chance to think about it, and the though of holding up play etc..)

 

[didsbury_duffer]

Something on the thread about where do you put stuff in your pockets got me thinking, and a few people commented that they carry a provisional ball in their pockets. isn't this a little defeatist?

So do you carry one or not?

I am sure that the first thing the mind coach (see latest GM Opportunity from Mike H) will say is don't carry a prov ball in your pocket - too negative.

 

[backwoodsman]

No. Don't carry one. If needed, borrow one off someone who does. That way, when the prov also goes in the cabbage, I've still only lost one ball