Is it Worth it to Buy a Ball Retriever?

[Uncle Peter]

I was interested in getting a nice 15 foot Ball Retriever. Do you think it's worth it to buy one?

[Fourputt]

It depends. I've got one that I've carried for 20 years. I think I paid about $5 for it, so I've gotten my money's worth out of it many times over. I don't fish for balls, just retrieve my own or those of my playing companions, but in 20 years I've rescued a lot of water shots. I wouldn't pay for one of the $30 - $40 types... they won't save any more balls than a cheap one.

[Keg0brew]

I carry one.

I'm not embarrassed to hit balls I find on course. In fact, I buy probably one box of balls a year for use in 2-3 tournaments a year. All the balls I play with on a regular basis are ones I find on course.

Having one also gives you something to do when you are waiting on the group in front of you.

[Chief Broom]

Or you could just walk the course when playing. This way you get exercise and find a lot of balls at the same time!

[Uncle Peter]

  Chief Broom said:

Or you could just walk the course when playing. This way you get exercise and find a lot of balls at the same time!

At my local golf course, there's a fence going around the course. I would primarily use it to get the balls that I'd hit over the fence.

[James_Black]

  Uncle Peter said:

At my local golf course, there's a fence going around the course. I would primarily use it to get the balls that I'd hit over the fence.

sure go ahead and get one but don't bother getting an expensive one, what's the point? As already stated it's not going to get you any more golf balls.

I remember my pro shop was trying to sell a Titleist golf umbrellan for 40 euro (60 dollars) I went to another store and got a normal golf umbrella for 3 euro (5 dollars). It still kept out the rain.

[Uncle Peter]

I also had a question about the 15' Ball Retriever?

How does it work? There's a lever-like thing inside, and I haven't figured out how it works yet. Any help?

[billysandy]

Depends on the time you have, the course you play on, and whether it has places where people hit balls, but don't even try to retrieve. When i started golf at 16, one summer night i found 40 golf balls in 45 mins on an empty course. All along the left hand side of our 7th hole, where people always hook into, but never bother retrieving. Having played golf for 16 months, i have never bought new golf balls.

[Uncle Peter]

You know I have one of those at my local course on the 3rd hole. The course hooks left. If I get the retriever, I'm definatly going to look for some balls.

[iacas]

No. No. No.

[Dub]

Never owned or carried a retriever...but on occasion used someone elses.

[imtomtomim]

no. I like playing the same brand ball (all bought slightly used and discounted) and I pick up loose balls in the woods every time I need to go in there. Even if I don't find my ball, I usually come out with at least 1 if not 3 or 4 extra balls, recently, been finding pro v1's all over the place. I also play my balls way past it's life, basically to no cover except inside the dimples, so losing one is just an opportunity to finally break in a new one.

[treebound]

As long as it doesn't slow play I have no problem with retrievers. I've used a couple different types over the years, some work well, some don't. Try one in the store if you can to figure out how they work.

Another benefit I've found while living out west in rattlesnake country is for moving various critters out of the way or for reaching into brush or deep grass if the patch looks sketchy.

[Jay-Bird]

Please don't ever play in front of me and have me waiting on you to fish out balls while I'm trying to play golf.

[IcemanYVR]

hate fishing poles... another device created to slow down play. ( not saying you're slow, just in general )

If I hit my ball in the water, it's gone. I hit a bad shot and deserve to lose the ball.

[golfbarefoot]

I personally think it's bad karma. It's like saying, I know I'm going to to hit awful shots....

[KD Epic]

I'll never use one but uh... I do know I'm going to hit awful shots... Whether I use a ball retriever or not doesn't change that, unfortunately.

[chilly]

Absolutely worth it. My wife got me the Callaway model for Christmas. Home course has an island green on #9, this spring I found two Pentas when they'd first come out. It's a great way to find balls you'd like to try out, without having to buy them. I can find 10-12 about every time I troll on #9, usually a couple ProV1/ProV1x and Bridgestones in there, and a mix of others. The rough looking ones go in the shag bag.