How many balls do you typically carry?

[nevets88]

Saw this question on reddit, interesting reading the answers, figured I'd ask here. For me, it depends, on a course I know, it's around half a dozen, otherwise a dozen.

[Lihu]

I answered 11-14, but it usually starts off as 2 to 4 then builds up as I have time to search for balls before every shot I make and/or that my partners make. It's either that or play Angry Birds.

[bkuehn1952]

I once got ready to tee off and noted I had the ball I was playing and one extra.  Hmmm...decided to trot over to the car and get a couple more.  I like to have about 6 at the start.  If I have a round where I lose more than 5 balls, my interest is going to be pretty low and generally one can supplement one's supply along the way, as @Lihumentioned.

Since I walk & carry, total weight of the bag is always a concern.  Most found balls are left at the next tee unless it is a pristine high end sphere.

[stealthhwk]

I started out playing pinnacle gold, so I got awful used to 15 packs. Hated changing to balls that are only sold by the dozen. So now I buy two dozen and as soon as I drop down to 15 its time to buy balls after my next round.

[Elmer]

I try to carry enough balls to cover my worst case scenerio- losing a ball every other hole.
There fore I try to carry 9 balls in my ball pocket, and my bag has a 3 ball silo on the outside, so I end up with 12.

If I am playing a scramble, I double the balls usually with water balls!

[Golfingdad]

I usually just stick my hand in the ball pocket and hope that I can grab a handful and feel that there are more ... so probably 8-10 or so usually.

My absolute worst round, ball-wise, was a couple of years ago where I lost, I think, 8.   I was down to one ball that I had found - I lost every ball I brought that day.

Since, my worst days I usually lose 3 or 4 at the most.

[Groucho Valentine]

I dont have a set number of balls i carry. Sometimes old balls build up in my bag. For tournaments i carry no more than 6 balls. If i loose more than that, i should probably just walk off anyway lol. 

[WUTiger]

I normally like to have three sleeves worth ready to go in the main ball pouch.

I also carry a mesh bag with six "experienced" balls for short-game practice; I''ll leave these in the car before I tee off, to cut down weight.

I have a carry bag. If I stuff two dozen balls stuffed in here and there, this presses inward against the pouches, and makes it hard to get club shafts in and out of the bag.

[arturo28mx]

6 to 8 balls. I will lose two or three balls in a round at most (many times I lose none). When it's a course I've not played maybe I will carry a dozen balls.

[MrFlipper]

Wow you guys carry a lot of weight there. I walk and carry my bag so there is a weight issue as well.

I carry 3, 1 in play and 2 in the bag. Carrying lots of balls is like carrying a ball retriever, negative implications. With fewer balls there is pressure to make them count, good for maintaining your mental toughness.

And when you are down to your last ball, you have to play decently so you don't run out. Makes you focus better. Only have run out once, very embarrassing to ask your buddy for a ball since you lost all of yours. Ever had a buddy ask you for a ball to hit right after he lost one of his own? Humuna humuna humana sorry um no I don't have one for you :)

[bkuehn1952]

36 minutes ago, MrFlipper said:

Ever had a buddy ask you for a ball to hit right after he lost one of his own? 

Brings to mind a conversation I heard during my first member-guest many years ago.  The other 2-some was a father (60 years old or so) & son (30 or so).  Both accomplished golfers with the son a bit wild off the tee.

"Dad, throw me another ball"

"No"

"What???"

"You lost too f***king many balls already"

Last time they were partners, as I recall.  

[djfajt71]

I usually carry about a dozen of my main balls and another 1/2 dozen set aside for provisional.

[Dave2512]

6 to 8 but I start with 6 and pick up whatever I find that I use. Typically try to keep just one ball in there. Around the greens changing balls makes judging spin tough for a few holes if I switch mid round.

[MrFlipper]

31 minutes ago, bkuehn1952 said:

Brings to mind a conversation I heard during my first member-guest many years ago.  The other 2-some was a father (60 years old or so) & son (30 or so).  Both accomplished golfers with the son a bit wild off the tee.

"Dad, throw me another ball"

"No"

"What???"

"You lost too f***king many balls already"

Last time they were partners, as I recall.  

One that I recall clearly like that was long ago, all I had in my bag were new prov1s, so I cringed and threw him one. Promptly yanked OB. He went back to his bag, dug around, found a ball and threw it to me with a "sorry. here's a new ball to replace that new one of yours".  A top flite XL haha. Uhhhhhhh no, but what can you say? He didn't know any better. Probably the last time I let someone hit one of my golf balls.

[pecos24]

I voted 7-10.   1 in play, 1 in my pocket and 2-3 sleeves in my bag.  

[Lihu]

25 minutes ago, MrFlipper said:

One that I recall clearly like that was long ago, all I had in my bag were new prov1s, so I cringed and threw him one. Promptly yanked OB. He went back to his bag, dug around, found a ball and threw it to me with a "sorry. here's a new ball to replace that new one of yours".  A top flite XL haha. Uhhhhhhh no, but what can you say? He didn't know any better. Probably the last time I let someone hit one of my golf balls.

Or get them used in a bucket of 50 at Golfsmith with the $10 coupon. . .

[NJpatbee]

I usually carry about a dozen.  My home course has a number of blind shots and I can lose a few - I have lost 3 on one hole.   I have never lost close to a dozen balls but knowing I have plenty is one less item to be concerned about.  For the record I usually ride a cart or take a pull cart for 9 holes so weight is not an issue.

[rkim291968]

Always 9 b/c they fit one of my golf ball pocket perfectly.   Once in a great while, I will lose them all in a round.   Typically, I will lose 1 - 4 balls per round and will restock them afterward. 

( I hate playing the same brand ball with golf partners.  I will carry two different brand of balls of similar quality  for that reason. )