First Tee Box - new ball or used ball?

[BigTerf]

First tee box, which do you tee up?

 

• shiny, new ball every time
• any scuff-free version of your gamer, previously cleaned and ready to go, freshly marked up again
• any version of your gamer, gotta chuck it in the ball washer before you throw it on the tee
• whatever you grab out of your ball pocket in your bag because it doesn't really matter which ball I play...

 

Follow-up question - if you hit a "breakfast ball", "first hole mully", "small bucket" or whatever you want to call it, same as above, or is that less picky?

 

I am asking this because I often feel odd when I have to wash a ball on the first tee...  (pre-COVID when we could still have ball washers)

Edited February 7, 2021 by MattTerfehr

[xkilgorextroutx]

I always grab a new ball, I figure it's the start of a new round might as well start off fresh.

 

I'm usually on an old scuffed ball by the time I get to the second green LOL

[GLF4EVR]

Most of the time it is just whatever I pull out of the bag.  Only one condition on the first hole.  Don't hit a yellow ball.  The driving range borders along the right side of the entire fairway on the first hole.

[Tanner25]

Usually, a shiny, new ball every time. However, if the first hole is difficult, then a scuffed ball. 

[lefthack]

2 of the 3 balls I am playing are used, the 3rd MIGHT be.

 

<edit> they are clean, I don't put dirty balls in my bag. I have a towel. Once I get through the 300+ used I have, I will play new.

Edited January 26, 2021 by lefthack

[MPAndreassi]

Fresh

[mikedejong33]

I start every round with a new ball. But if I lose it I will only drop old ones. New balls get their own round, I don’t like dropping a new one mid round. 

[CallawayOffCenter]

brand new always! feels great to start with a pearl. 

[2bGood]

Usually a new ball. I typically only carry 3 - 5 balls, so I grab a new ball for each round and hopefully play the full rounds with it and then retire it to be a back up ball. Once I have 5 balls in the bag I take out the ones in the worst shape and add them to the 'shag bag'.

 

Most of my shag bag balls I take out in the evening if I am practicing on the course and hitting several balls at a time as I don't care if I lose them. 

[Eastflava0]

 

36 minutes ago, mikedejong33 said:

I start every round with a new ball. But if I lose it I will only drop old ones. New balls get their own round, I don’t like dropping a new one mid round. 

 

Interesting.  I like the new ball new round thing. I've always just played the balls that I have used previously which are in my valuables pouch. (never more than 3), I have all my new balls marked in my "ball pocket" of my bag.  I am going to have to find a used balls section in my golf bag... hmmmm

[95124hacker]

Used premium ball. I’ll switch out after a few holes to a fresh premium ball unless I’m playing extremely well with the used one.

[bigbutch]

My buddy finds a lot of balls. He gives me more than I can use. I only use proline like new balls, so that's what I tee up on every hole.

[CyFan]

First tee, slightly used ball.  New ball comes out on 3rd or 4th hole after I know what swing showed up.  It then has only 14-15 holes on it, and is used the next round on the first tee. 
 

Exception is a tourney, then new balls only. 

[NCLancer]

3 hours ago, GLF4EVR said:

Most of the time it is just whatever I pull out of the bag.  Only one condition on the first hole.  Don't hit a yellow ball.  The driving range borders along the right side of the entire fairway on the first hole.

I usually play a gently-used (I've found a bunch) white Titleist Pro V1 except on the first hole of a local course when I play a yellow ball because their driving range is down the left side of the 1st fairway and they use white balls...if I pull one a bit it's so much easier to locate my yellow ball.  So I'm just the opposite of you! 

[GLF4EVR]

11 hours ago, NCLancer said:

I usually play a gently-used (I've found a bunch) white Titleist Pro V1 except on the first hole of a local course when I play a yellow ball because their driving range is down the left side of the 1st fairway and they use white balls...if I pull one a bit it's so much easier to locate my yellow ball.  So I'm just the opposite of you! 

We are pretty close.  I have not purchased a single golf ball for over 10 years.  The path I like to use off of the 1st tee cuts across the range a little.  So there can be over a dozen range balls in the fairway at any given time.  On a busy day, using one of the Callaway soccer balls is the better way to go.

[obsessed_golfer]

Used ball......I'll switch to a new one on the 2nd tee!

[Pepperturbo]

LOL When I read the title, I thought this thread was about the First Tee organization. 

 

Typically, I tee off with a slightly used ball, but there are days when a nice shinny new ball is used on the first tee.  When that happens is pretty much impulsive and depends on the quality of course.  A high end or private club, new ball, muni track, used is fine.

 

My golf balls last 4-8 rds before they are discolored or scuffed and go in the shag bag.  As long as the ball is not cut or bruised and when wiped off with damp towel, (I seldom use a ball washer) it looks clean, it goes on the tee.  I seldom hit a breakfast ball here at home, no need.  However, when in Maui or TX, I may when playing with buddies that like hitting breakfast balls because they didn't hit a warm-up bucket.

[Unplayablelies]

New. If it’s not I already admitted defeat before teeing off

[TTCarrera]

I start with the ball I finished with yesterday.

[RobotDoctor]

The hall I finished my previous round with. 

[DavidH88]

I use a new ball for the start of a season, then continue with the same ball. (If i don't lose it)

[Egs57]

old, used. I hate losing a ball on my first shot.

[Itsjustagame]

Competitive/money round new ball. Casual round maybe not.

[Lions1988]

New ball every time and never a "breakfast ball"

[robcha]

New round new ball! Clean slate start. 

[Abh159]

If I'm playing a weekend round or a tournament it's a brand new ball every time.

 

If it's just a quick/casual 9 holes after work or something similar it's usually a clean, used ball without any scuffs or marks on it. 

 

Side note... I don't think I've ever used a ball washer. I just use a wet towel.

[chippa13]

Either new or unblemished and freshly thru the ball washer.

[Jersey golfer]

Depends on the course I am playing. If it is a difficult hole and high degree I could lose the ball then a used ball. Otherwise, its nice to start a round with a new ball.

[MattM97]

New unless there is water, I want my ball to hit the bottom of the cup once before I lose it. 

[Jonesy]

New ball, unless it's a goat track.. then it's brand new 2nd hand