Switchng Balls mid-round

[Lefty94]

using a cheaper one when playing bad

I was playing with my father-in law the other day. Keep in mind anytime he breaks a 100 he is happy. He loves the nice golf balls, but refuses to pay for them. In the past for his b-day, christmas or fathers day I usually get him some mid range Callaways or some other nice ball. This year I got him some TM Burners. He loves them, but is afraid to lose them. About the 6th or 7th hole he blocked he tee shot out of bounds never to be found again. He said that he hit his 2 ball limit and was playing junk balls the rest of the day. Apparently he starts playing "good" balls and when he loses two, he switches to the junk balls.

Does anyone else do this?

I know if I am playing bad I might break out a rock-flite if it is a tight fairway and I know by the way I am playing that I might hook it into the junk and lose it. Or if I am trying to go for it, and carry H2O that I have a 50-50 chance of clearing.....but never for most of the round.
Just curious how many others do this?

[dorfblee]

I usually only switch if the weather changes or if I picked the 'wrong' ball initially. As for playing poorly, I suppose I would switch to a cheaper ball in my bag regardless of the weather.

 

It's just golf balls . . . it's like brake pads on a cars. They are a "for use"/replaceable item, so I use them.

[Feddyvon]

I play with a lot of superstition during rounds. It sounds rediculous, and I know that it always points back to me and my swing, but sometimes a simple change makes the difference in my head. I always keep at least two different brands of ball in my bag, and will switch after really bad holes. I'll switch gloves mid-round, or I'll play the first 6 holes with my hat on, have a bad start, and then play the rest without the hat. Like I said, it sounds rediculous, but it works for me...mostly. I just need a mental trigger to make me settle down a bit.

[ballzo]

I do that sometimes if things start getting too expensive.

[Giantbear]

If i'm not hitting well, i'll use an old ball for the water holes where, with that days swing, there is a good chance my ball is going to go swimming.

[Need4spd]

With the price of premium balls being $40 and up in most cases it's hard not to justify doing this. I don't lose many balls, and I don't carry "junk" balls persay, but if I do lose one, especially if it's late in a round, sometimes I'll reach for a practice ball, which for me are just balls that I've played with in the past and finished previous rounds with.

[Planet_Boom]

I suppose it is just like a beginner using cheaper balls because they are likely to lose more.

 

If my feel your swing isn't on form then I would definately change to balls I dont mind losing. I also change balls if I start losing some of my "better" balls once it starts adding up. Nothing worse than losing £5 worth of balls if you've got the same amount of balls for half the price.

[Aztecs1]

I'm about a 20 handicap, but my range of play can fluctuate A LOT. So if I am having a "bad" day I switch from the ball I usually play (D2 Feel), to random balls that I have found on the course. Even though the D2s are cheap @ $15 it's still irritates me to see them hooking into the woods not to be found again after just taking them out of the sleeve. And it helps to clean out the bag occasionally. And being a 20 cap. it's not the ball that's holding me back, so playing used/found balls makes a small if no difference to me.

[NYGOLF]

Don't you think that changing your ball can make your game worse? Especially if in your mind you're using an "inferior" ball?

 

Mind tricks!

[Baconator]

Don't you think that changing your ball can make your game worse? Especially if in your mind you're using an "inferior" ball?

 

Mind tricks!

 

I'll still switch to older/cheaper balls if the wheels are falling off and since I don't care whatsoever about losing the ball (other than my score I suppose) I feel a lot less worried about messing up my shot.

[WRXJIM]

Im the same... I will start with NOBs, and after losing two, I will start to use a PD soft for any "risk/Reward" holes... If my driver abandons me, I will even tee of a PD soft or a found Pro V1 and then switch back to my NOB for my approach shots and putting.

 

Call me cheap... but Im gunna blame the wife!

[bermuda]

I'll start with a new/good ball (E6+) and switch if I lose it, especially at a course I play at the beach with a lot of wind and scrubby brush, where it's easy to lose a ball every hole or two if you're not careful. I find a number of ProV1s and other good balls, so I rarely have to resort to a cheapo ball for my old ball (except for a TF Feel that I found and really like).

[Bomb and Gouge]

I played with a guy who used range balls for over water shots! ha hah a! That is confidence!!!

[Cuda Kota]

Im the same... I will start with NOBs, and after losing two, I will start to use a PD soft for any "risk/Reward" holes... If my driver abandons me, I will even tee of a PD soft or a found Pro V1 and then switch back to my NOB for my approach shots and putting.

 

Call me cheap... but Im gunna blame the wife!

 

I'm cheap, too, but I play the ball as it lies....and you can't/shouldn't switch balls mid-hole!! Talk about breaking several rules at once.

 

Not trying to pick on anyone, but geez.... :man_in_love:

 

To answer the question posted...no, I don't change mid-round. It's an expensive game. I may change balls round-to-round, but I've thrown away $4-5 on dumber things before.

[xan_user]

Im the same... I will start with NOBs, and after losing two, I will start to use a PD soft for any "risk/Reward" holes... If my driver abandons me, I will even tee of a PD soft or a found Pro V1 and then switch back to my NOB for my approach shots and putting.

 

Call me cheap... but Im gunna blame the wife!

 

Keep in mind switching balls mid-hole is not allowed in golf.

 

Or has that rule been changed too?

[WRXJIM]

I know the rules... It just doenst need to be that serious for me... ruins the game... it is a pleasure activity for me, to burn calories, and relax/unwind... I dont keep an active handicap, and dont really care either...

 

Has less of an effect on your round score than the "Texas wedge", or "mulligans/Gimmes" IMO...

 

I ALMOST put a "clause - (read: Im not playing in the US open,)" in there and I knew the rule guys would come out of the woodwork and STATE THE OBVIOUS!...

 

Next time Im going for that sub 70 round (if ever), or am ever lucky enough to play in a serious situation. Of course I wouldnt swap balls..

 

but while I am playing for PLEASURE and playing my mid 80 rounds by myself or freinds... Ill ignore the guys that dont pass on the right, never break 55mph, etc :) cause its just not a big deal... and I dont see why anyone would throw money away?

[ozgoodz]

I start ever round with one good ball (new TM TP Red). Once that's lost I hit whatever is in my bag (lots of found NXT Tours). For me, if I'm losing balls it is either off the tee or long iron. I really don't notice much difference between good/bad balls in this area. Well, except for the E5+ in the long iron department (it hits short and high).

 

As for rules, I had a guy talking to me about the rule for "put the ball marker down then pickup the ball, put the ball down then pick the marker up". Seriously, who gives a crap. Plus, he's the one saying "that's good" the whole round for anything inside 1 foot. Jerk.

[Pinehurst1999]

I am picky about playing specific balls that are low spin...but I will hit others on a rough day.

[bsd230]

I do that if I'm playing poorly or bad conditions. I prefer high spin soft balls, but if I'm hitting it poorly I'll switch to a ball that is low spin and cheaper. I don't lose too many balls, but if I'm playing poorly what's the point of wasting a good golf ball.