Lake Balls - As good as new? Or are they Poo?

[medwayjon]

Well what do we think?

Personally for me they are definately edging towards the side of the brown stuff as they do not wear well and lose the features of the new ball in terms of feel and distance.

 

[toonarmy]

I suppose like most things in life, it all depends on where you get stuff from.

I'm sure you will be able to get rubbish pond balls as well as perfectly good ones...

...especially at the level most of us play at!

 

[par_par_par_treble]

playing a comp last Saturday, my brand new pro V helped me to a back 9 of 52 (playing the back 9 first), but my “Callaway hx tour 56” lake ball achieved 41 on the front 9.

Obviously not all down to the ball, but I know which ill be using next weekend

 

[Imurg]

In our monthly stableford yesterday my brand new prov-1 scored me 15 points on the front - lost it on the 10th and got 20 points on the next 8 with a prov-1 lake ball.
Didn't feel any different to me, same performance,feel etc etc.
if they're decent enough use 'em!!

 

[viscount17]

can't vote, usual problem with surveys, too cut and dried.

lake balls serve a purpose. no, I wouldn't use them for a serious round but for a beginner they make perfect sense.

 

[GB72]

I am sure that they are OK if you get a good batch but to me it is a bit psychological. I simply like to start a round looking down on a new golf ball. I am now only losing maybe 1 ball a round if that so the cost is not that high.

 

[billyg]

To be honest MWJ ive been using them as they are a huge step up from the sort of 'Donnay Titanium- 15 for a fiver from Sports Direct' type ball (which now feel like striking clay pidgeons or lumps of chalk) and I was loosing far too many to justify spending on shiny new ones and they offer a cheap way into high quality golf balls.

If nothing else it has allowed me to define for myself where the money goes without having to break the bank and i'm very grateful for that. The prospect of having to shell out £20 or £30 on top of the £20 it costs me in juice per weekend to get to the course and back was just a bit more than I could contemplate.

I'm starting to see the fruits of re-distributing lumps of mushy turf over the winter though and ive turned in three H/C scoring cards in my last three rounds( 98,102 &97 on a par 72 sss 68) last week so when the current stock runs out I might treat myself to some of those lovely AD333's- probably the kiss of death but hey ho.

I think it's a great way to get a feeling (literally) of just how good golf ball technology can be when your game gets better (not just yet for me) and I therefore can't knock them.

Ive got a sleeve of Pro V1's sitting in the cupboard for when I can break 90 on a regular basis but until then i'm happy to use almost anything that keeps me playing and enjoying.

I don't doubt the lower handicappers on here are right when they say that it's not for them and fair play. Until (and if) I ever get to that level it's good quality lake balls and mid-priced golf balls for me

bill

 

[Sam]

I have quoted this before but maybe worth repeating:

Balls that had spent 8 days in water produced drives six yards less than the benchmark ball. Balls that had spent 3 months submerged in water travelled 12 yards less, and balls kept in water for 6 months went 15 yards less

.
Most of the big players in Lake Balls claim to dredge their ponds monthly so what does that make? Distance loss of 7 or 8 yards? Would many of us notice that in a drive of a couple of hundred yards (-3%)? The results of the tests say nothing about loss of 'feel' - I suspect it would have been mentioned had there been any.

 

[happyhacker]

Small point par_par_treble, but it's illegal in a comp to change ball halfway through a round (I think). Not a huge issue but might be worth minding for next time incase someone mentions it to you.

Just a friendly heads up.

 

[Dodger]

Pros comps not your run of the mill choppers medal happyhacker.

 

[haplesshacker]

I think that you can change your ball at anytime between holes, but not whilst on a hole. Unless of course you happen to have lost it! But I think you have to notify your playing partners / competitors.

 

[mick]

just won 38 pearl grade pro v1's from e-bay I will post my thought after a couple of rounds with them.

 

[StuartD]

I think that you can change your ball at anytime between holes, but not whilst on a hole. Unless of course you happen to have lost it! But I think you have to notify your playing partners / competitors.

You can change a ball during a hole if its damaged with agreement from your playing partners / competitors.

you can change a ball after a hole if you wish. Pros must use the same ball. This is what caused the argument with seve/olly V Azinger/???? in the ryder cup. The yanks were using changing from a 100 compression into the wind to a 90 compression downwind

 

[Yidio]

Certainly can't tell the difference between new & lakeball AD333's. Feel & distance exactly the same IMO.

£15 a dozen or £20ish for 40 Pearl grade. Hmmm,tough choice that....