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Everytime I use decent balls they always manage to find water/out of bounds even if the hit is perfect.

• Sathion 28 Posts

  Sat, Oct 5 2013 5:01 AM

  Has anyone else had an issue when a shot should have never made it to water or only miss the ding by a faction of a bar and had it go super wayward into water/Out of bounds? I been buying new nike balls and they just seem to be water/OoB magnets.

• srellim234 2,077 Posts

  Sat, Oct 5 2013 10:19 AM

  Every once in a while those complaints pop up but it's mainly an issue of the player not adjusting to the properties of the new ball.

  The Nike's added distance means it's going to carry farther and roll out longer than your previous ball, reaching hazards you didn't think it would reach.

  That also means a smaller margin for error to the sides on your shots. A shot hit 10% to the right or left is more likely to reach the out of bounds since it's going a longer distance. The added spin of the Nike also makes it more susceptible to the wind on perfectly struck shots. On less than perfect shots it will spin off line more than a lesser ball.

  Again, it's a matter of adjustment. While many good players are able to adjust, many others go back to using other balls that aren't as loaded with attributes. Find the ball that works best with your style, clubs and pocketbook.

• ScottHope 10,656 Posts

  Sat, Oct 5 2013 2:08 PM

  Agree with all of srellim's post and in addition I will add that I believe there is a little bit of a psychological effect involved too. Obviously, if you have paid for a ball that has a limited lifespan you will want to get the most out of it and will try not to lose it, but how many times have you heard that if we try to not do something, we end up doing it. I know it's difficult to not care about losing paid for balls, but maybe that's exactly the reason why we don't seem to lose many of the WGT rocks, maybe it's because we don't care about losing them and therefore play in a more relaxed way. How can you hit the ding if you're all tensed up about losing that expensive ball.

• lencraddy 1,927 Posts

  Sat, Oct 5 2013 2:33 PM

  LOL  I have the same trouble with FREEBEE balls from wgt Nation,, usually find the water or inexplicably lost in weeds etc, 

  len

• JasonNumber100 2,915 Posts

  Sat, Oct 5 2013 2:36 PM

  I have the Nike balls (lvl71). Whenever I play Congressional they always seem to go in the water. I think the lakes seem to attract them, but then I have another theory. On a long approach shot I'm so worried about going in the water that I try so hard to avoid it. However, because I'm so focused on it that is exactly where the ball goes.

  If the lake wasn't there the ball would probably have gone on the green or stayed on the fairway. It's because I focus on the water rather than focusing on the green that my ball ends up in the lake.

  I know the theory, but it's easier said than done. It's the fear factor that drives the ball into the water.

• Fernidini 32 Posts

  Sat, Oct 5 2013 6:37 PM

  One thing also is people dont look at the different camera views. If you did you might notice what looks like a straight shot to the green from behind is actually way off when you look at it from another angle. look at all possible angles before you hit it and adjust accordingly.

• CerinoDevoti 3,232 Posts

  Sat, Oct 5 2013 6:46 PM

  Fernidini:

  One thing also is people dont look at the different camera views. If you did you might notice what looks like a straight shot to the green from behind is actually way off when you look at it from another angle. look at all possible angles before you hit it and adjust accordingly.

  Another thing is the wind direction arrow is based on the current camera angle not a straight line between the player and the hole. Many times in the fairway what appears to be the camera behind the player is offset to one side and it gives a false impression of the wind direction.

• alanti 10,564 Posts

  Sat, Oct 5 2013 7:16 PM

  CerinoDevoti:

  Another thing is the wind direction arrow is based on the current camera angle not a straight line between the player and the hole.

  Yup good point and pays to look at the shot from all the angles.

  As for the OP I would advise using a cheaper ball. At your level and experience you will lose more balls and the advantage of the better balls is countered by the equipment you have - in other words you cannot gain the full advantage of the ball especially with spin attributes.

  And for me the power of positive thinking hugely negates the "doubters". I see it in RL where some players change to an older ball when water is in play - 9 times out of 10 they will proceed to dump their ball in the water! My thoughts are where I want to hit the ball to and what water/hazard?

• oneeyedjohn 9,589 Posts

  Sat, Oct 5 2013 7:34 PM

  All valid points above, the negative psychology definitely plays a part.

  The point Cerino raises is especially valid, a good example being 18 at STA on the approach, 2 different wind directions from 2 different camera angles.

  Another good example is the 12th at Congo, even with no wind ur approach seems to want to drift towards the water, I always aim slightly left of pin and let it drift in and run up on a L>R arc

  There's a saying in golf, that if u aim for the bunker u will never end up in it.

• BushcraftOnFire 3,325 Posts

  Sun, Oct 6 2013 4:51 PM

  I agree with the psychological aspect.. but I think there are also "black holes" out there. Unless you hit long on St A's #1 you will likely go into the small stream (which would NEVER be a lost ball in reality). Last night.. I lost 3 (THREE) brand new balls on Kiawah #2.

  I hit the tee shot a bit long and ended in the rough on the far side of the fairway. Not a big deal really.. 20% rough I think (I actually like those shots). So I got out my irons.. hit with one that would easily clear the weeds down the fairway. Went into the weeds even though the iron should have cleared it by more than 20 yards.

  OK.. I figured I made a mistake.. so I played the next one short.. Went down TWO club lengths.. the ball shouldn't have made it within 20 yards of the weeds... especially according to the last shot. This one went MUCH longer than it should have and again flew into the weeds.. Didn't even roll!!!

  The last ball was the icing.. I figured this was stupid.. and so I hit a wedge just to get back on the fairway.. I think it was a 100 yard wedge.. the weeds were about 140 IIRC. This one went 100 yards (maybe 110 with the windage.. I don't remember.. and then ROLLED into the weeds (another 25 yards down the fairway.. go figure.

  Before anyone yells at me about windage.. I have played a few rounds.. and IF the wind was that strong.. it should have EASILY put the first shot far beyond the weeds.. but then I wouldn't be typing this.. would I? LOL!

  Remember it's just a game.. although that's sometimes hard

  D