How many balls do you carry?

[Rob Person]

Saw a guy today at the GC load his bag with 2 dozen balls. (New Tour response)

I asked him why so many? He replied that if he hits one cart path, tree branch, root, or hard packed area, that he plays a new ball, then just bags up the "used ones" and gives them to the high school team. 

I'm sure we all have had a ball hit something playing a round, but 90% of the time there's no damage to the ball, and still very playable. 

So how many balls do you pack for a round?

I have 12 usually.  6 for the round, and 2 sleeves incase a friend needs a new ball.

I carry 2 of them in my pocket though.

 

[Swood1994]

I used to have a lot for practice and everything like that but now when I walk I carry as little as possible. 2 new sleeves (6 balls) and 2-3 old balls for warming up around the putting or chipping green. I used to think I’d need a lot in case I have one of those days but ultimately I found that if I truly lost 6 brand new balls In 1 round id be heading to the range or home before the round would be over anyway. 

[PhilM75072]

I carry three that I alternate during the round, and another nine in the ball pocket. I really don't need to carry that many, as I rarely lose a ball or have one damaged enough to take it out of play by hitting a cart path or tree. However, since I always ride, that extra weight is only felt while carrying my bag from the car to the cart! 

[BreakfastBall15]

I’d say all balls considered I’d say about a dozen. Around 6 are split between my gamer and some I’m testing out. The rest are balls I don’t care about to switch to when I’m having a rough round

[cnosil]

I don't load up for a round;  I just keep balls in my bag.  At any given time I have about 3 dozen balls in the bag.   

[ParFore74x]

I probably have 12-15 or so good balls at any given time. I try to keep it light since I’m a walker. 

[Shapotomous]

I start with 6 gamers in the bag and might end up with 3 or 4 that i find that are worthy to keep around.

[Another Steve]

I generally start a round with about a dozen balls. Three that are actively participating in my round -  all new or lightly used. One in play and two spares in my pocket. Then 9-12 new balls in the ball pocket. Usually I will finish the round with a half dozen additional “strays” that get tossed in the big shag ball tote or given away if someone in my foursome wants them. 
 

My mentor was an ~ahem~  “frugal person of full blood Scottish lineage” and I do not ever recall seeing him buy a golf ball. I inherited a 50 gallon Rubbermaid tote full to the top with probably 60 years worth of found balls, plus several dozen new balls that he won at various outings. Mostly balls that I would not play unless I had no other option. I plan to donate the bin to my local driving range one or two buckets at a time….. oh, He liked titelists but would never buy them. He would, on occasion, temporarily borrow them from the golf course for a few holes until the course decided to take them back.

[Northern Monkey]

I usually have around a dozen new balls and then around 2 dozen old/found balls that I use for practice. The only reason the old ones stay in the bag is that I use a Motocaddy electric trolley so the weight doesn’t affect me

[GolfSpy_APH]

5 hours ago, cnosil said:

I don't load up for a round;  I just keep balls in my bag.  At any given time I have about 3 dozen balls in the bag.   

This is similar to me. I usually have two dozen or so in my bag at any given time. Most are my go to and then from time to time I will also have others that I am curious about or want to try out. 

[Hacker60521]

I carry a dozen. I figure if I lose all 12 then it’s been a bad day and I should just walk away. If I find any lost balls I’ll toss them in the cart if I’m riding. Otherwise, I’ll leave the little treasures for someone else. 

[David Leighton Reid]

I carry 4 - 6 golf balls.....more is just extra weight.  

Edited April 21 by David Leighton Reid

[Tom the Golf Nut]

I typically have three sleeves in my bag but when I get home there are about 6 more. Walking the course, I find a lot. They go in my practice bucket.

[brogies]

I probably have about a dozen used balls in my lower bag compartment with 1-2 new sleeves waiting to play and then 3-6 new-ish balls in my ready-to-play pocket.

I take three of the ready-to-play balls and put one in my pocket and then two in my golf cart/push cart when I start a round.

[Skibum]

I carry a sleeve plus 2 balls I put in my pocket before I leave for the course. I usually don’t lose many balls when I play, so I usually don’t go thru the sleeve. The balls I put in my pocket are usually from the last round I play as long as they are in good condition. 

[Pete Player]

One in the pocket, which I play with. And enough for finishing the round in spares in the bag.

Minimum of two sleeves reserve in comps.


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[Josh Parker]

I haven't looked but prob between 1-2 dozen.  Then I have the found golf balls in another pocket and empty those out every few rounds for the net at home. 

[THE GOLF GUY]

I always have two sleeves, that will generally last me over a month or so. My usual schedule for playing is, Monday ,Wednesday and Friday and record about (15) rounds a month. 

[Alf. S]

If I’m carrying then it is normally 8-10. But if I’m using my electric trolley then probably nearer 20, 10-12 newish/unblemished, another 8 of “practice” balls. I play with Pro V1s the practice balls will be a selection of premier balls found on the course. 

[glenbgolf]

8 srixon xv yellows 4 q star yellow 8 taylormade tour response 3 callaway diablo and a pro v. wind, temperature, green  and ball striking during the round decides the switch. i start with the srixon xv yellow if i am hitting well this is my stay ball. 

[Gazhass]

Roughly 10 -15,which or new to nearly new and the rest are finds and old balls for practice in short game area putting green and the weekly 9hole mess around.

[tgetty]

Usually I would say I keep about a dozen balls in the bag.  Occasionally I will have a few "Junk" balls in the bag that I find on the way.

[Danny Noonan 7]

I carry 9-12 balls in my bag when I carry my bag.  If I use my pull cart, I carry 12 -15 balls.  In the winter in the Pacific Northwest, I carry 2 sleeves of premium balls (Titleist Pro V1 or TaylorMade Tp5) and the rest are mid level balls.  In the summer, all the balls are premium.  The balls are white and yellow and the balls are a mix of new and used.  I find a lot of balls during the round and I sort the found balls into 2 classes, playing balls or practice balls.

[MissionMan]

I have 6 new ready-to-play balls and about a dozen premium balls that are more than 3 rounds old that I use for practice shots, high-risk shots over corners, etc.

Our course is in a holiday location so it's easy to play an extra ball. If I hit a wayward drive or iron shot, I'll sometimes tee up a second and see if I can hit a better shot, then go back and play the original. Sometimes I am doing something that borders on stupidity, I'll take out a throw away. It may be something like driving over a dogs leg on a par 4 where I know if it misses, it's a lost ball.

[StripeyGreenTV]

I’m still at the stage that I carry way too many! Typically I’ll have 6 new balls all marked up ready to go and the a handful of used balls for provisionals. So probably a dozen in total, which is massive overkill! That’s fine in the summer when using a trolley but in winter it adds a bit of weight to the carry bag!

[DuskLion]

I’ll normally carry 12, and then anything pickup on the course. I don’t trust myself to carry less although if I lost half of them on a round it would be a bad day at the office 

[Rich man]

I carry 6. I can go a couple of rounds on the same ball at my home course. 

[Mike B]

Wow when I first read the title, I thought I carried way too many at a dozen. I use orange or yellow golf balls depending on the season. If I find a lost one I donate it to one of my playing partners. I sincerely believe that a lost golf ball wants to stay lost.

[Kidrock1]

I carry about 24.

[schmidtty]

Usually carry 10 in my cart bag, including 4 or 5 pre enjoyed. Carry bag has 4 or 5. These are all usually the same balls unless I'm ball testing, then I'll have some variety

Edited April 26 by schmidtty
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