How many balls?

[sjw]

Funnily enough, I looked in my bag the other day, and thought, I don't need to carry this many balls any more! (probably 9 or 10 there). I carry my bag, so weight saved is important.

Unfortunately, even though I generally lose 1 max per round, and recently I've had quite a few rounds where I don't lose any, last time out I blasted 2 OB on the 18th and had another ball just completely disappear on me. Not sure what a nice amount is. I'd love to go out with just a sleeve of balls, but it's rounds like the other day that mean I just don't have the cojones. Typically, the more balls I carry, the fewer I use.

It also depends on whether it's a brand new ball out of a sleeve or not. If it is, it'll disappear sooner rather than later. The more balls I own the more I lose.

 

[Billysboots]

Can’t really put a number on it. When the rough is up in season I would probably lose more but I counter that by taking my 2-iron off a lot of tees to keep the ball in play.

The reality at the moment is that I don’t lose many.

 

[GreiginFife]

In a year more get retired to the practice bag than I lose.

 

[stymied]

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

I've never personally bought a golf ball. As a kid my parents bought them. As an adult I play the ProV1s or TP5's I find.

I should add I've won balls and occasional receive them as gifts.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

This is so course dependent. At my current course I can go round without losing a ball. I've used my current one for 4 rounds now.

At my last course 1-2 per round wasn't exceptional. A previous course could easily eat 3-4 per round, tough course with water and rough to beat you up.

You can't judge any golfer on this without knowing their course.

 

[GreiginFife]

This is so course dependent. At my current course I can go round without losing a ball. I've used my current one for 4 rounds now.

At my last course 1-2 per round wasn't exceptional. A previous course could easily eat 3-4 per round, tough course with water and rough to beat you up.

You can't judge any golfer on this without knowing their course.

Surely if you keep it in play you won’t lose a ball regardless of course?

 

[RichA]

It varies for me. I play twice most weeks and can have a month when I don't lose any then a week when I lose 6.
My local courses have brutal, shin deep rough where you probably won't find your ball. Around the trees it's maybe strimmed twice a year.
I go elsewhere occasionally and play courses where I can't understand how it would be possible to lose your ball; the rough is cut to 2 or 3 inches even in-between the trees.

 

[chico]

It's totally dependent on my driving. I go 3 or 4 rounds with the same ball occasionally but at my worst I'd lost 6 balls in the first 8 holes. I did put my driver away for the rest of that round and lost no more.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Surely if you keep it in play you won’t lose a ball regardless of course?

Yes, of course. With some courses, that is easier than others though. Hitting over water, tight rough, gorse etc. My current course is fairly open, only one bit of water, rough is rarely up. You can lose balls but you have to try really quite hard. Other courses, you really don't have to try that hard.

On a pro level, how many balls will be lost in the water at Sawgrass this week? How many will they lose at St Andrews in the Open later in the year? Same players, different courses, very different outcome.

 

[Orikoru]

Surely if you keep it in play you won’t lose a ball regardless of course?

What sort of hare-brained scheme is that??

 

[GreiginFife]

What sort of hare-brained scheme is that??

What was I thinking?

 

[sjw]

In a year more get retired to the practice bag than I lose.

No one likes a show-off

 

[GreiginFife]

No one likes a show-off

I’m not a big hitter like you youngsters are so seldom get far enough to find the trouble.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I don't lose many at all - they are usually retired as they become knackered.

Did lose one last week...can't remember previous time...hit a tee shot into a ditch and though I saw exactly where it went in the water in the ditch was very silty and I couldn't find find it. Just as well I'd won my match on the previous green.

 

[clubchamp98]

I’m not a big hitter like you youngsters are so seldom get far enough to find the trouble.

This .
As I get older I get shorter so not offline as much as I used to be.
So I am not losing balls anywhere near like when I could reach all the bad stuff.
And the long carries are a lay up now.

Used to lose a few going for the par 5s in two but those days are over.

 

[PJ87]

Calm day I'll go round with the same ball

Wind up a bit maybe lose 1-2

Wind up a lot can be a box lol but I'll find one in the gorse each time and come out level for the round for golf balls

 

[Burnsey]

I don't often lose one on my home course, but do like to hit the odd tree, so might change it during the round.

 

[arnieboy]

As Clubchamp98 said I also am not a long hitter so tend to keep it on the short stuff. It comes in handy when playing the young dudes in pairs competitions as their mindset seems to be hit it as far as possible, often into trouble!

 

[Springveldt]

Surely if you keep it in play you won’t lose a ball regardless of course?

My old course was the same as @Lord Tyrion and I lose way more there compared to my current links course. The old course was weird for me, miss a fairway by 10 yards and there’s a good chance it’s lost, miss by 30 yards and it could be safe depending on the hole. It’s a tight, tree lined parklands course with tee boxes that sometimes point you into the trouble and a few tee shots were if you hit a fade they are a nightmare with trees in the way.

Current links course I bought the Titleist 4 for 3 last year and still have 2 dozen left. At my old course it wasn’t unusual for me to restock at the end of July. 1 bad day could be 5 or 6 lost.

 

[Tashyboy]

There are days when I need radian B on my neck I have shook it so much losing balls. But for the last month or so I have not lost a thing. The ball I have at the moment is a taylor made splatter ball. I have had it the last three rounds. It is looking knackered, has seen better days and keeps coming back to me when lost. I have called it “ Missis Tash”. I am gonna retire it.