Golf Ball Retriever

I'm going to pick up a golf ball retriever after having seen how useful they are (thanks to GoLagiSlow). The ones I've seen at shops are about 6 1/2 feet long (at max) but when retracted, are quite tiny. My question is whether 6 1/2 feet is the standard or should I scout for a longer retriever?

Bro... that is like my height... any longer than should be used to pick up rambutan and mangoes instead

watermyforrest wrote:

Bro... that is like my height... any longer than should be used to pick up rambutan and mangoes instead

Don't say... sometimes, the ball is quite a distance away but can still be reached. GoLagiSlow's ball retriever was quite long.

What a question......!

The length of the retriever is directly proportional to the greediness of a golfer in salvaging used balls that strayed into the water hazards.

Statistics show that 75% of the balls left in water are between 1m and 2m. Mostly rolled in.

If the balls were less than 1m from water margin, the guy who left it there accidentally can pick them up with his hands. You won't have a chance.

If the balls were between 1 and 2m from hazard line, some of them will be picked up with a 3 iron, or a retriever if like minded players have one in their bags. But not all players carry the 15th stick, so some will be left behind.

Those balls that have gone too far into water will need a longer model of telescopic retriever which is about 3 m long. With your arm added in, this will reach balls about 4m from hazard line.

So if you only want to pick up those within 2m (75%), you need just a 2m retriever.

If that does not satisfy your greed, then invest in a 3m telescopic retriever.

The return on investment is usually quite fast if you go to courses like Raffles, where there are lots of water hazards. Always take out your wedge, putter and a retriever when you walk towards an island green. You will be amazed how many Pro V1 you can find around the island greens.

freedrop wrote:

What a question......!

The length of the retriever is directly proportional to the greediness of a golfer in salvaging used balls that strayed into the water hazards.

Statistics show that 75% of the balls left in water are between 1m and 2m. Mostly rolled in.

If the balls were less than 1m from water margin, the guy who left it there accidentally can pick them up with his hands. You won't have a chance.

If the balls were between 1 and 2m from hazard line, some of them will be picked up with a 3 iron, or a retriever if like minded players have one in their bags. But not all players carry the 15th stick, so some will be left behind.

Those balls that have gone too far into water will need a longer model of telescopic retriever which is about 3 m long. With your arm added in, this will reach balls about 4m from hazard line.

So if you only want to pick up those within 2m (75%), you need just a 2m retriever.

If that does not satisfy your greed, then invest in a 3m telescopic retriever.

The return on investment is usually quite fast if you go to courses like Raffles, where there are lots of water hazards. Always take out your wedge, putter and a retriever when you walk towards an island green. You will be amazed how many Pro V1 you can find around the island greens.

Great points. Thanks, freedrop!

Techo, let me share my experience with you....I seldom buy balls. One, I don't lose that many balls. Two, I know how to find other peple's lost balls.

1. Invest in a good golf ball retriever. A good retriever should be sturdy, easy to use, expandable and light. There are many types and it may be worthwhile to check with one of your golfing buddies who has about 600 balls in his trunk. The one I like is made of white plastic rings with a spring to trigger one of teh rings to trap the ball. Hard to explain.

2. Learn to pick out spots where balls are typically lost; along OB fences where grass grows in length, in deep grass to the right of fairways, about 150m to 200m from the tee (since most golfers are right handed and the most common error is a slice and when you slice, the ball will end up not more than 200m), in landing areas on holes with blind tee shots and in water hazards. Likewise, if there are water on the right, try look for balls on the left roughs. Many players will over compensate and hook their balls to the left. Vice versa.

3. Walk quickly between shots so that you will have more time to search as you move from shot to shot. Holding up the entire field of golfers behind you while you look is an unacceptable violation of golf etiquette. It's also liable to get you tossed off a course. When you are waiting for next shot with slow players in front, don't stand there, look around roughs. .

4. Don't walk by a water hazard without looking as you walk by. Streams are better sources of balls because their width can usually be covered with a retriever. Early morning rounds also usually produce more balls.

5. Try to play following a large tournament, especially behind Japanese or angmo. Often, balls will be handed out at tournaments and because of time limitations and the fact that the balls were "free" many golfers will not look for them. Japanese have a superstition about lost balls - their custom is that picking up lost balls will incur bad luck, and they always play new balls. Once I played in Japan near Tokyo, and went into some not so thick bushes to look for my ball. I came out of the bush with 12 other new balls!

6. Walk in the rough as you move from one shot to the next. Look down into the rough as you walk. Develop the ability to scan the rough without walking into trees. Wear sun glasses with lens that will filter other colours and contract white very welll so you can easily see balls among short roughs. Best are those about ball heights. Balls cannot be seen 2m away because of the height of grass, but when you walk near and look straight down, you will find them.

Last week in Kukup, I found 2 balls in the rough at hole 3, and another one more in following hole, so I knew there is a rich guy in front who is high handicapper. By the end of 18th, I found 7 balls, I believe they came from same guy since it was only morning and not many players were in front of us.

Brilliant!! Perhaps it's time to change professions!! Ball-finder

freedrop wrote:

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Last week in Kukup, I found 2 balls in the rough at hole 3, and another one more in following hole, so I knew there is a rich guy in front who is high handicapper. By the end of 18th, I found 7 balls, I believe they came from same guy since it was only morning and not many players were in front of us.

EEEErrrrrrr Think that is my balls..... bro Hon !!!!

No, you were one flight behind us, so not yours..

Aiyo !!!!!! you all played so fast that you go around and end up at our back !!!

Bro Technospaz, below are my 2 cents worth.

Enjoy your golf game while you are on the course.

Don't let the ball picking habit ruin the reason why you are in the course.

Anyway the ball you find may not be the ball that you want.

Is it worth it? 8)

Agreed with bro nemo !

My main aim on the course is to chase all Monitor Lizards ! Will try one day to Malacca to chase Croc.....

woooyooooo

Nemo is right, never pick up old balls. Enjoy the fun of picking up new Pro V1 left behind by Japanese corporate golfers, especially when the front flight is playing slow pace.

Uncle Lau, if you want to chase crocs....try A Farmosa in Malacca. There is a hole with about 4 or 5 real crocodiles living in the bunker/pit, with warning signs of course.

nemo wrote:

Bro Technospaz, below are my 2 cents worth.

Enjoy your golf game while you are on the course.

Don't let the ball picking habit ruin the reason why you are in the course.

Anyway the ball you find may not be the ball that you want.

Is it worth it? 8)

Good point, Nemo. But I'm not interested in picking up balls which don't belong to me (i.e. I'm not a ball-hunter). I'm more keen to pick up my own balls. The last time I played at Warren, I could see my ball just at the bottom of the ridge near a stream. I couldn't walk down (the easiest way down was to tumble) and if I did get down, I couldn't get up. It was a new'ish ball too (one of my NXTs). I had that feeling of the ball being so close but yet so far. I was prepared to walk away... but then GoLagiSlow showed up with a ball retriever and in a matter of a few seconds, was able to retrieve my ball. I was elated!

That's why I'd like to pick up a golf ball retriever. It's not retrieve my own balls... not to go ball hunting

freedrop = lost balls specialist.

mUAr_cHEe wrote:

freedrop = lost balls specialist.

Technospaz = Losing balls specialist.

mervyntan = ball specialist.

mUAr_cHEe wrote:

mervyntan = ball specialist.

... and the path goes downhill from here...

i played one senior gentleman before... he juz enjoyed finding all these lost balls, we suspect even more than playing golf... he picked them up and give them away (free).... btw, he was a v good player, so got lotas of time to go fishing for balls, while the rest struggle along..

Techno, I think the retriever Freedrop mentioned is the "Gotcha" retriever (go google it). There are several different designs available, from a simple loop to fanciful catch designs to prevent the ball from falling out, then as you mentioned different lengths.. Oh!.. the choices we have to make!!!!

Last time I went to bfg to regrip the ball retriever, I got turned away! DGMan say my action not repeatable and I cast too much (all along I thought casting was good for retrieving balls as the fishermen seem to have success???) So I was told to take lessons before I go back; Right now I'm still trying to look for a good instructor (was told to look for lady instructor as they are more familier with finding/scooping balls??). But I still think that I need more flex in my current retriever and also maybe a more upright lie angle? Unfortunately my ball retriever is not forged and so I dare not adjust the lie.....Still, sometimes I go hangout at bfg and ogle at those forged ones... some of the GR forumers swear by that Japanese forged brand....think it's called ImKuku or something to that effect. Maybe one day I'll get good enuff to get fitted for a ImKuku.. ball retriever

Good luck on your search!

Ssquirrel wrote:

Techno, I think the retriever Freedrop mentioned is the "Gotcha" retriever (go google it). There are several different designs available, from a simple loop to fanciful catch designs to prevent the ball from falling out, then as you mentioned different lengths.. Oh!.. the choices we have to make!!!!

Last time I went to bfg to regrip the ball retriever, I got turned away! DGMan say my action not repeatable and I cast too much (all along I thought casting was good for retrieving balls as the fishermen seem to have success???) So I was told to take lessons before I go back; Right now I'm still trying to look for a good instructor (was told to look for lady instructor as they are more familier with finding/scooping balls??). But I still think that I need more flex in my current retriever and also maybe a more upright lie angle? Unfortunately my ball retriever is not forged and so I dare not adjust the lie.....Still, sometimes I go hangout at bfg and ogle at those forged ones... some of the GR forumers swear by that Japanese forged brand....think it's called ImKuku or something to that effect. Maybe one day I'll get good enuff to get fitted for a ImKuku.. ball retriever

Good luck on your search!

Ssquirrel wrote:

Techno, I think the retriever Freedrop mentioned is the "Gotcha" retriever (go google it). There are several different designs available, from a simple loop to fanciful catch designs to prevent the ball from falling out, then as you mentioned different lengths.. Oh!.. the choices we have to make!!!!

I've seen them online and similar models here in SG. Thanks

Ssquirrel wrote:

Last time I went to bfg to regrip the ball retriever, I got turned away! DGMan say my action not repeatable and I cast too much (all along I thought casting was good for retrieving balls as the fishermen seem to have success???) So I was told to take lessons before I go back; Right now I'm still trying to look for a good instructor (was told to look for lady instructor as they are more familier with finding/scooping balls??). But I still think that I need more flex in my current retriever and also maybe a more upright lie angle? Unfortunately my ball retriever is not forged and so I dare not adjust the lie.....Still, sometimes I go hangout at bfg and ogle at those forged ones... some of the GR forumers swear by that Japanese forged brand....think it's called ImKuku or something to that effect. Maybe one day I'll get good enuff to get fitted for a ImKuku.. ball retriever

Good luck on your search!

Hmm...

kopiO wrote:

i played one senior gentleman before... he juz enjoyed finding all these lost balls, we suspect even more than playing golf... he picked them up and give them away (free).... btw, he was a v good player, so got lotas of time to go fishing for balls, while the rest struggle along..

Must buy one ball picker for our 14 April Kranji match.....you play i go pick balls... Please used Pro V ah...

Bro Technospaz, you bought your ball retriever liao..right ? At today's lunch time ?

Just to help to weigh your options

Golf Ball Retriever
- picks one ball at a time.

Fishing net with retractable pole
- Can pick a few balls at a time (depending on that spot). Higher ROI, if you pick more balls.
- Fishing at the pond
- Pluck rambutan / mangoes
- Catch butterflies while waiting for the flight in front.