A standard round of golf involves a ton of holes to aim for – 18 to be precise. Even the most careful player in the world is bound to lose a golf ball from time to time. With this in mind, how many golf balls does a beginner need?
While the answer to this question depends on your level of paranoia and how clumsy you are as a player, there are a few rules of thumb that may help you make a decision that works for you.
Read on to find the perfect number of golf balls to bring!
The ‘One Per Two’ Rule
The ‘one per two’ approach isn’t a hard and fast rule, but it can certainly help unsure beginners out when they’re first getting to grips with the game. In short, you should bring one golf ball for every two holes you’re playing.
This means that for a standard round of 18 holes, you should bring 9 balls with you. This way, you’d have to lose more than one ball every two holes to run out. The good thing about this rule is that you can scale it down for shorter games and still know how many balls to bring!
How Many Golf Balls Does a Beginner Need?
How long is a piece of string? If you’re a particularly clumsy player or have literally never swung a golf club before, then feel free to bring as many golf balls as you need to feel comfortable.
As long as you can carry them around with you easily, there’s nothing to stop you from bringing a whole golf bag’s worth with you! That said, anywhere between 6 and 15 balls should be more than enough for most people during a standard round.
Poor weather conditions, unwanted distractions, or even plain bad luck can easily mean you lose a ball or two while playing. Even the pros need to bring spares just in case!
Are You Riding or Are You Walking?
The number of golf balls you bring should probably change when you’re riding from hole to hole versus walking. Taking a long drive back to your trunk or the course building can be a real headache – trust us.
In general, bring a more conservative number of balls when walking and increase this number considerably if riding instead.
What Kind of Golf Balls Should a Beginner Use?
Wondering what kind of golf ball you should be using as a beginner? In this section, we’ll explore some of the best golf ball types that a beginner should use. Keep in mind that this advice has been written for the following type of player:
- Someone who has a comparatively slow swing
- Someone whose swing is relatively ‘weak’
- A player who needs a ball that’s quite forgiving
If you have an abnormally fast or powerful swing for a beginner, you may want to opt for a more intermediate style of golf ball.
Low Compression Rating
When shopping for golf balls, pay attention to the compression rating given on the side of the packaging. In general, a lower compression rating can be far more forgiving for a newbie’s swings.
Your flight paths will be far more predictable with a generous amount of lift and travel.
Softer Golf Balls Are Better
As a beginner, it’s probably best to buy golf balls that are on the softer side of things. As with the lower compression ratings described above, a softer golf ball is less likely to cause problems for someone who hasn’t got that many rounds under their belt.
Don’t Break the Bank
Don’t worry too much about buying the ‘latest and greatest’ here. As a beginner, you likely won’t be able to take advantage of the features and design considerations of more premium golf balls on the market.
If in doubt, just pick up something cheap and see how you get on. Some newer players even pick up a fresh sleeve every time they visit their golf course.
How to Choose the Right Golf Clubs as a Beginner
Perhaps more important than the golf balls you play with are the clubs you choose as a beginner. It’s vital that you pick a set that’s suitable for you. The last thing you want to do is entrench bad habits early on – trust us.
Again, Don’t Break the Bank
As with golf balls, there’s no point in splashing out on the most expensive option you can find. The more ‘premium’ options out there just won’t make much difference for you as a new player.
If you’ve got cash to splash, we say spend it on a few lessons instead. A good teacher will be able to boost your progress considerably. Mastering your swing technique should be your primary focus as a newbie, not the clubs you buy.
Buy Second Hand if You Can
Buying second hand is the smartest way to buy golf clubs in our opinion. As long as you’re buying from a reputable store or site, a set of second hand clubs will perform just as well as a brand new equivalent and will be a fraction of the cost.
Get a Custom Fitting If Possible
If you’ve got an extra $100 – $200 in your budget, it can be a good idea to get custom fitted for new clubs. A trustworthy provider will be able to make expert suggestions about the kind of clubs that might work best for you.
Try Before You Buy
It’s not always possible, but actually holding the clubs in your hands before you pay for them is a great idea if you can manage it. Getting to grips with a set is the only way to know if they’re the right choice for you.
How Many Golf Balls Does a Beginner Need? Conclusion
In short, the number of golf balls you bring with you is entirely up to you. If you want advice that’s a little more concrete, we say follow the ‘one per two’ rule – bring one ball for every two holes of golf you’re playing.
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