Well, we’ve all read about, heard about and maybe even tried out the so-called “cheater ball,” the Polara golf ball. Though we here at GolfStinks have already given both the positive as well as the negative effects the use of the ball could possibly have on the sport, we haven’t actually offered up our own experiences with the ball. Well, this past weekend, I gave the Polara ball a real try for the first time, so I’ll be the first to share my opinion.
Prior to this past Saturday, my only experience with the Polara had been teeing off with one which was given to me on the last hole of a round by my playing partner, who had been using them all day. I reluctantly agreed to try one out as I still had that “cheater ball” mentality in mind. But curiosity had certainly gotten the best of me. I proceeded to mis-hit the tee shot, only for it to somehow still land safely in the rough a couple hundred yards out. So the question became…did I land safely in the rough rather than out of bounds because of the ball? Or would I have been safe anyway? Unfortunately, this is a question that still looms to this day.
So this past weekend, I played eighteen holes at a local course and decided to try the Polara out on half the round – regular balls on the front nine and Polara’s on the back. Now I understand that by not playing the same holes, I can’t really make a fair comparison as far as the scores go. But that’s not the comparison I’m really trying to make. I want to find out if, quite simply, the ball is going to travel straighter as the claim states. So, for the record, my score was four strokes lower on the back nine with the Polara than on the front with regular balls. But for the real issue…
On the front nine, I felt like I played my typical game. A few good shots, more not so good. After the ninth hole, my score was just about what it normally is. So I switched over to the Polara’s to start the tenth. For about the first four or five holes, I didn’t see or feel much difference in my balls flight path, distance or otherwise. However, by the second half of the back nine, I noticed a few of my shots were traveling pretty straight on clubs I normally tend to struggle with. But again, for me anyway, this just opens up more questions – mainly, how do I know that if I hit that same shot with a regular ball, the result wouldn’t be the same? So is it the ball? Or is it the idea of the ball that’s giving me a more mental edge than a physical one? And if it is more of a mental edge, then doesn’t that mean the ball is working, just in a different way?
As I said, my score did come down on the back nine, but would that have happened anyway with a regular ball? I think another couple of rounds may be in order to try to get a more accurate assessment. And next time I think I’ll try playing the same holes with the two different balls. But in the meantime, I think I’ll plan on keeping the Polara’s in my bag and I will continue to use them. Hey, just because they may not be legal on the PGA Tour doesn’t mean I can’t use them on my local muni.
More reviews to follow.
Swing ’til you’re happy!
Nothing says you can’t use the Polara, but I think you MUST tell your playing partners if your in any form of competition, or playing skins, etc. for money. And if they object — gracefully put the Polara back in your bag’s ball-pocket for a future round.
And obviously any round played with a Polara can’t be posted for GHIN. “…Strict Rules of Golf, Mr. Bond.”
Agreed Ted. I don’t want anyone busting my stones if I want to play it, same as I don’t care if someone does. But absolutely, if there is any kind of competition, then we all use it or we all don’t. Level playing field when money, beer or food is on the line.