How many balls?

[rksquire]

Further to the resurrected ball thread below, some people mention a seasons worth of balls being the 4 for 3 offer (48 balls). I think I probably play close to 48 times a year, and on average, would need more balls than this.

I play on a parkland course, some tight drives and well placed water, a lot of out of bounds / overgrown wooded boundaries, unruly rough - honestly think I lose 2 balls a round (average). I've rarely had a ball for 2 full rounds and don't think I've ever completed 3 rounds with the same ball. Appreciate, the quality of the golfer feeds into this; I'm not a good golfer, but not terrible (hovering above 10). Sometimes I've lost 4 balls; sometimes none, so think I'd need close to 100 balls which makes the premium price point a bit much for me.

How many balls, as an average, would you lose per round?

 

[Imurg]

I play in the region of 200 rounds a year...if I lose a couple of dozen in that time I've had a bad year.....

And I find way more than I lose.....

 

[Slab]

Sometimes none, sometimes up to three (then there's the nightmare rounds) ... average maybe about 1.5 per round

 

[timd77]

I’ve voted zero because generally I don’t lose 1 every round. A ball will tend to last 2-3 rounds, sometimes more. The ball I’m using tomorrow will be on its 3rd outing. Obviously now I’ve typed this it won’t make it to a 4th, but there you go!

The course I play has lots of trees but my miss is right 90% of the time so I just aim up the left, it rarely stays there! No water in play really, which probably helps.

Saying this, I do have the ability to lose 2 balls in successive shots, no problem!

 

[MACM85]

Depends on the day and how I am playing on the course. Would say if I was to lose one a round then it isn't out of the question, However will have a few rounds in a row where I won't lose any.

 

[Neilds]

I don’t have an ‘average’ golf round. Sometimes I can go 2/3 rounds without losing a ball then can lose 5/6 in a round.

 

[Orikoru]

Hard to answer because I can't be bothered to actually do the maths. I don't lose a ball every round - but then there will be a round where I lose 2 balls if I'm driving poorly, for example. Overall I think I lose less than one ball per round, but the average is closer to 1 than 0 so I've voted for one. It's probably more like two lost in every three rounds, so 0.667 balls lost per round.

 

[Voyager EMH]

Last two weekends I played with a ball that I had found. It has gone in the retirement bucket. I'll use another foundling tomorrow - a Callaway Supersoft.
I think I lose a ball once in about 15 to 20 rounds at my own course. 3 or 4 a year maybe. More frequently, I imagine, at unfamiliar courses.
I expect a brand new ball to last at least 3 rounds, if not lost.
I did post a picture of a Srixon Softfeel that did me 5 rounds a good while ago. The retirement bucket ceremony was emotional.

EDIT: Took me a while, but I found it.

Post in thread 'I played today and..(Rolling) -originally created by JohnnyDee'

May 29, 2022

Social 4BBB game yesterday. Decided to play with vintage clubs as a practice for a vintage meet at Flempton tomorrow.
Ping Eye 2 driver, 3 and 5. Forgan Powerpakt irons 2-9, Edinbugh Golf SI and John Letters Golden Goose putter. That was 13 clubs so took King Cobra f-speed driver as well which I used 5 times on the front nine only. Well, we were playing for £2 and I wanted to be competitive.
Draw for partners on the first tee. I'm lowest and my partner gets 11 shots and I give the two opponents 9 and 17.
Without using my metal driver, I made 3 birdies, one blob and 5 pars on the back nine...

• Voyager EMH

• 

 

[rksquire]

Last two weekends I played with a ball that I had found. It has gone in the retirement bucket. I'll use another foundling tomorrow - a Callaway Supersoft.
I think I lose a ball once in about 15 to 20 rounds at my own course. 3 or 4 a year maybe. More frequently, I imagine, at unfamiliar courses.
I expect a brand new ball to last at least 3 rounds, if not lost.
I did post a picture of a Srixon Softfeel that did me 5 rounds a good while ago. The retirement bucket ceremony was emotional.

EDIT: Took me a while, but I found it.

Post in thread 'I played today and..(Rolling) -originally created by JohnnyDee'

May 29, 2022

Social 4BBB game yesterday. Decided to play with vintage clubs as a practice for a vintage meet at Flempton tomorrow.
Ping Eye 2 driver, 3 and 5. Forgan Powerpakt irons 2-9, Edinbugh Golf SI and John Letters Golden Goose putter. That was 13 clubs so took King Cobra f-speed driver as well which I used 5 times on the front nine only. Well, we were playing for £2 and I wanted to be competitive.
Draw for partners on the first tee. I'm lowest and my partner gets 11 shots and I give the two opponents 9 and 17.
Without using my metal driver, I made 3 birdies, one blob and 5 pars on the back nine...

• Voyager EMH

• 

I can lose more in a round than you do in a year! That's crazy to me.... at that rate I wouldn't mind playing the most premium 'premium' ball.

 

[The Squirrel]

Less than 1 per round now but there's only one short par 3 over a lake, and OOB risk is generally minimal where I am, so if the undergrowth is not too thick you'll probably be fine. I find the bright yellow Taylormades easy to spot which helps.

The week I was at Oliva Nova was VERY different. There are only 2 holes there where either water or OOB or both are not very seriously in play (well, for hackers like me anyway). I bet their pro shop sells a million balls a season

 

[jim8flog]

I once bought 3 dozen Bridgestone balls for play most of them are in the clikka tube with a few spare in a box.

Like others have said a lot of times the ball will end up in the practice bag after a couple of rounds ( I use premium balls and they rarely last 3 rounds before being too scuffed to use any further).

On the other hand I have lost 2 or 3 in one round on a rare occasion.

 

[Golf is fun]

Typically a ball lasts me 3 rounds or so, before it either gets lost, or really scuffed up and removed from play. I would say the 4 for 3 deals is my years supply of balls, but I haven't yet started on last years supply, and it's almost time to order for this year, so I guess they're slightly more than a years worth.

As an aside, for the people who lose 3+ per round, what's the main cause of loss? Water, Trees, Deep rough, OOB? Just curious, because this would be costing 6+ shots a round.

 

[Neilds]

Typically a ball lasts me 3 rounds or so, before it either gets lost, or really scuffed up and removed from play. I would say the 4 for 3 deals is my years supply of balls, but I haven't yet started on last years supply, and it's almost time to order for this year, so I guess they're slightly more than a years worth.

As an aside, for the people who lose 3+ per round, what's the main cause of loss? Water, Trees, Deep rough, OOB? Just curious, because this would be costing 6+ shots a round.

Thanks for letting me know, I hadn't realised losing balls was costing me shots as well as money

 

[patricks148]

in the last 7 months ive not lost a single ball

 

[Imurg]

in the last 7 months ive not lost a single ball

That's a bit like me saying I haven't fallen off my bike in the last 25 years.....

 

[Golf is fun]

Thanks for letting me know, I hadn't realised losing balls was costing me shots as well as money

You're welcome, but I'm still curious how.

Are you taking on carries you can't make?
Blasting drives miles wide?
Hitting decent shots that are just off target but just can't be found in longer grass?

I'm also fascinated by the fact you could potentially be playing off 4, but lost balls make it 10.

 

[Neilds]

You're welcome, but I'm still curious how.

Are you taking on carries you can't make?
Blasting drives miles wide?
Hitting decent shots that are just off target but just can't be found in longer grass?

I'm also fascinated by the fact you could potentially be playing off 4, but lost balls make it 10.

Not sure where you think I am a 4 or 10 handicap, I am 20 so my misses are as varied as my golf. We have a few OOB right next to the fairway so doesn't take much to put a ball in the field. We have 1 big lake on the 15th with water on a couple more, and then there is the rough and the trees. I can lose them in a wide variety of places
That said, played a new course (played it once last year and once about 5 years ago) and didn't need to even start looking for the ball, never mind play a provisional so swings and roundabouts.

 

[Golf is fun]

Not sure where you think I am a 4 or 10 handicap, I am 20 so my misses are as varied as my golf. We have a few OOB right next to the fairway so doesn't take much to put a ball in the field. We have 1 big lake on the 15th with water on a couple more, and then there is the rough and the trees. I can lose them in a wide variety of places
That said, played a new course (played it once last year and once about 5 years ago) and didn't need to even start looking for the ball, never mind play a provisional so swings and roundabouts.

Sorry, I got mixed up and thought you were the OP for some reason, who said they hover around 10.

 

[Voyager EMH]

in the last 7 months ive not lost a single ball

I hit one into a pond in October. I hope I can make it through to May.

 

[Backache]

It varies , generally none if I'm using an old pickup, maybe 1-3 if I'm using brand new pro v1's