When do you replace the ball

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by k-troop

I'm guessing that a lot of these "I use a ball for a full round" or "two full rounds" are the golf-ball equivalent of the 300-yard drive threads.  Either that or y'all are all hitting consistent 200 yard tee shots on courses that have no hazards or rough.

Originally Posted by David in FL

Now, having said that, I gotta say, I seem to lose more balls than than what seems to be the norm here too.

I agree.  If I finish a round with the same ball I started it with ... it's always a good one.  And that probably happens - and I'm guessing here - maybe 1 out of 5 rounds at best.  It's more common that I lose one or two per round.  My "best" was a few months ago where I actually thought I was going to pull a Tin Cup and run out of balls.  (I lost either 9 or 10 that day - no joke)

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by David in FL

Quote:

Originally Posted by k-troop

My point is that Shorty and SeanMiller have been absent of late, so someone needs to call people out just for the sake of it.

I'd say I complete 18 holes without losing a ball around half the time.  (I almost never play 18 on a single ball because they tend to get pretty scuffed up after a couple wedge shots.)  I've probably completed 36 consecutive holes without losing a ball no more than 5 times in my life.  Playing once a week, it would take me an entire year to accumulate a dozen balls which have been played for 18 consecutive holes.  I guess y'all are all much better golfers than I am.

You're replacing scuffed balls.  A lot of the people who have responded here clearly don't.....or at least their definition of scuffed likely differs from yours.  I'll bet you put a lot more than a dozen scuffed balls a year into the shag bag....

Now, having said that, I gotta say, I seem to lose more balls than than what seems to be the norm here too.

All of my full shot wedges and irons have V-grooves which don't damage the ball.  Only my 54° Vokey and my 56° CG15 have square grooves, and I virtually never use them for full shots.

[Rouleur]

I wouldn't replace a ball unless it was cut or split, or there are decent chunks of the cover hanging off, generally from a cart path or similar. These are things that would affect the flight quite a bit.

The Yellow DT in the OP would be fine to play for me.

But, unlike many, I'm lucky to make 9 holes with the same ball (that is success for me, 2 x 9 hole rounds with the same ball). My last round I played the same ball on half a dozen holes, then lost 18 balls, 2,3 or 4 at a time off the tees... That should make a few of you feel better :)

[David in FL]

Originally Posted by Fourputt

All of my full shot wedges and irons have V-grooves which don't damage the ball.  Only my 54° Vokey and my 56° CG15 have square grooves, and I virtually never use them for full shots.

I must be a real wimp with my wedges, because I virtually never damage a ball, even with a full swing, regardless of the grooves.

[teamroper60]

Originally Posted by David in FL

I must be a real wimp with my wedges, because I virtually never damage a ball, even with a full swing, regardless of the grooves.

I used to use a 60* with non-conforming grooves and it would shave a ball pretty good but my new 60* doesn't leave a mark, so I am right there with ya.

I have only managed to play a few rounds with just one ball and everytime I have managed to do so, I lose that ball within the first couple of holes on the next round I play.

[achadha7]

Wow balls must be cheap there, i pay $2.65 per dt solo so caddy has strict instructions to keep his eye on the ball the 2 i lost in my last round were water and dogs who took the ball and ran away

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by teamroper60

Quote:

Originally Posted by David in FL

I must be a real wimp with my wedges, because I virtually never damage a ball, even with a full swing, regardless of the grooves.

I used to use a 60* with non-conforming grooves and it would shave a ball pretty good but my new 60* doesn't leave a mark, so I am right there with ya.

I have only managed to play a few rounds with just one ball and everytime I have managed to do so, I lose that ball within the first couple of holes on the next round I play.

Unless you are a pro there are no non-conforming grooves yet, unless they were nonconforming before the new rule.   And I've noticed that on the rare occasion that I do use my CG15 for a full shot, it doesn't shred the ball like a couple of my older wedges did.

[teamroper60]

The grooves on the old wedge are not the current design whereas the new 60* has what Callaway describes as "conforming grooves". Does that work better for ya?

[dfreuter415]

At the beginning of a new golf season (April, here in Pennsylvania), I will clean out my bag and put in new balls that are Titleist, Callaway, and Bridgestone brands. I will continue to use a ball unless it either gets a ding on it (tree or cart path mark), or until it no longer performs by making too many double bogies. It then goes into my fall ball supply. (I always keep one or two of the discarded balls in my bag that I plop down when I have a long shot over water. No use putting a good ball in the lake.)

Back to the topic, after a round with Titleist, I will usually change to Bridgestone or Callaway, and continue to rotate the different brands, unless the Titleist (or whichever ball) round was exceptionally good. In that case, I will continue using Titleist until the streak ends or I lose the ball, then will go back to rotating different brands of balls.

Long about mid-November when the leaves start falling, I pull out my fall ball supply, and the better balls in the bag will return the following season. The reason for putting older balls in my bag is that I really don't want to lose a ball in a cluster of leaves, which happens at most courses here in Western Pennsylvania.  Also, with the wet spring conditions here, I prefer using balls that are not new, but when April arrives I clean out my bag and start the procedure again.

There are some other instances that I have discarded an entire box of balls. In a round last year I tried a Srixon YELLOW ball and was 12 over par for the first 8 holes, I switched back to my Titleist white ball for the last ten holes and was 1 over par. (I knew it was the ball's fault.) After the round I gave the yellow balls to my wife.

[In The Hole]

I don't know, it might be one of those things that are just in my head, but then most things in sport are head games.

If I am just playing a round, any ball will do, but if I am playing comp. I will play probably 4 new balls for the round. (rarely lose any)

I just find that once the ball starts to scuff that is spins more, so once a ball is scuffed will use it only on par 3's and shorter holes, where I need a longer club and require the ball to hold straighter I will use a new ball so as to get the least amount of spin.

As I said, probably a mental thing.

[roperdad]

I'm very loyal.  As long as a ball sticks with me, I'll stick with them!  But that usually doesn't last too long...  Sometimes I can keep a single ball in play for a full round, only to lose three on the next three holes?!?!

I'm not sure if I'm making the decision or they are.

[k-troop]

Had to cut one from the team today.  Through 12 holes, it missed several easy opportunities and just wasn't performing.  So I had to let it go.

I left it just off the back of the 12th green.  Hehe.  Some poor bastard probably though it was his lucky day, finding a fairly new TP5 sitting right there off the back of the green.  Little did he know that ball SUCKS and would only bring him anguish and disappointment.

I'm kind of a sadist.

[David in FL]

Had to cut one from the team today.  Through 12 holes, it missed several easy opportunities and just wasn't performing.  So I had to let it go. I left it just off the back of the 12th green.  Hehe.  Some poor bastard probably though it was his lucky day, finding a fairly new TP5 sitting right there off the back of the green.  Little did he know that ball SUCKS and would only bring him anguish and disappointment. I'm kind of a sadist.

Now that's just mean! :-)

[achadha7]

Lol so[quote name="k-troop" url="/t/64925/when-do-you-replace-the-ball/0_100#post_812832"]Had to cut one from the team today.  Through 12 holes, it missed several easy opportunities and just wasn't performing.  So I had to let it go. I left it just off the back of the 12th green.  Hehe.  Some poor bastard probably though it was his lucky day, finding a fairly new TP5 sitting right there off the back of the green.  Little did he know that ball SUCKS and would only bring him anguish and disappointment. I'm kind of a sadist. [/quote] Lol someone like me picked it up put it in his bag and prolly uses it at home for chipping practise. I have abt a dozen diff ball in the bag which i have never played just use for practise

[turtleback]

Originally Posted by k-troop

Had to cut one from the team today.  Through 12 holes, it missed several easy opportunities and just wasn't performing.  So I had to let it go.

I left it just off the back of the 12th green.  Hehe.  Some poor bastard probably though it was his lucky day, finding a fairly new TP5 sitting right there off the back of the green.  Little did he know that ball SUCKS and would only bring him anguish and disappointment.

I'm kind of a sadist.

And THIS is why I never pick up found balls.  I don't need to inherit other people's problems.

[WhatsInTheBag]

With the new prov1s until I loose it. I mean they barely ever get dirty and I feel like they play just as good after 2 rounds.

[PGA09]

I will usually play the same ball until it gets any type of scuff on it from wedge shots or any other cover wear. Once there is any kind of mark that may affect the flight of the ball, it goes into the practice bag.

[dfreuter415]

Originally Posted by k-troop

Had to cut one from the team today.  Through 12 holes, it missed several easy opportunities and just wasn't performing.  So I had to let it go.

I left it just off the back of the 12th green.  Hehe.  Some poor bastard probably though it was his lucky day, finding a fairly new TP5 sitting right there off the back of the green.  Little did he know that ball SUCKS and would only bring him anguish and disappointment.

I'm kind of a sadist.

I used to coach a high school JV team, and one day one of my players missed a short putt against an opponent and felt the same as k-troop. He launched his ball into the woods and headed off to the next tee. I intercepted him and informed him that if he wanted to finish the round he needed to find the ball. Had he been playing a private match, I wouldn't have thought much of it, except that this kid was a hot head who couldn't control his emotions. But, when you are representing your school and your community, one needs to treat the game with the due respect and composure.