You’re a weekend golfer. Of course you want to play better, but you don’t have the time or money to invest in all the lessons and practice necessary. After all, you have a life; commitments; and family that take precedence over your “hobby.”
You’re not looking to be a pro, but wouldn’t hitting a few more fairways and greens in regulation boost your enjoyment out on the course? Well, we kind of agree. And on that note, GolfStinks decided to test some equipment that can do just that: Let you spend more time in the fairway and less time being frustrated.
Of course said equipment doesn’t conform to the USGA rulebook, but you have to ask yourself: Does that really matter? If you were a pro golfer it would, but that’s like 1% of the golf population. As for the rest of us, it shouldn’t matter…not even in local tournaments (more on that in a moment).
In the meantime let’s look at the equipment: Polara Golf (in full disclosure, GolfStinks received several dozen Polara golf balls and three different Polara drivers free to test-out over the past several months).
First, let me say that aesthetically, Polara equipment looks no different than what you’ve got in your bag currently – there’s nothing strange or wacky about the way they look or feel (in fact, they may look and feel better than what you’re using now).
As for performance: Separately, the balls and driver can limit slices to help keep you in (or at least closer to) the fairway. But use ball and club together and weekend golfers are in for a treat. I average 93 strokes for 18 holes. When I play the with the Polara ball/driver combo, my average drops to 87. My short game hasn’t improved, but I’m shaving strokes by staying in-play off the tee, which is what Polara equipment has been created for.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s hard to always know when the Polara gear is working (on occasion, you’ll have a sense the shot ended up better than expected). For the most part, the performance enhancing abilities are subtle. But after a few rounds, you’ll notice your scores have improved. And you’ll realize you’re not only in (or near) the fairway more often, but you’re also having more fun because of it.
To offer another perspective: One of the Polara clubs we received was a woman’s senior flex. As such, I was able (through a mutual friend) have “Elaine” test the club/ball combo out. Elaine reported that “using the club and ball resulted in straighter shots” and “increased my distance off the tee by about 20 yards.” Elaine also stated she will continue to use her Polara club and purchase Polara balls, despite the equipment not conforming to USGA rules.
Let’s get back to the USGA rule thing for a second. Unless you’re playing on a pro tour or in amateur competition, using non-conforming equipment really shouldn’t matter. I realize that not following the rules doesn’t sit well with most people, but remember – the USGA rulebook was really written to identify the best golfers in the world. If you’re not one of (or trying to be one of) the best in the world, then what you need is a basic set of guidelines and etiquette to follow instead (see the USRGA.org rulebook). Trust me, it will make your golf life so much easier than trying to remember crazy rulings.
Now, if you’re playing for money, that’s a bit different. You should be upfront – let your opponents know about your equipment. Give them the opportunity to use it too or simply adjust the amount of strokes being given based on how you score with Polara gear.
And if you’re playing in a local tournament, tell the officials what you’ve got in your bag. Give them an option – your handicap using the Polara equipment or your higher handicap without using it. The CEO of Polara says he uses this approach at every tournament he plays…and most of the time they take his lower handicap and let him use the Polara stuff!
Like Elaine, I’ll continue to use the driver I received because it really works. And the balls work too, but once my supply runs out, we’ll have to see – I’m partial to using refurbished balls and I don’t think I will find refurbished Polara balls anywhere.
But the truth is, I am having fun spending more time in the fairway – it really does make my round that much more enjoyable (less time in the woods or in the adjacent fairway, etc.). And for me (as well as so many other weekend golfers), having fun is really what golf comes down to, isn’t it?
Check out the Polara Golf site HERE.
And when you play basketball, do you play on eight-foot baskets and shoot three-pointers from 10 feet away? Because it’s just more fun to be able to dunk like LeBron and drain threes like Larry Bird.
Understandable point John. But remember, it costs nothing to play a game of pick-up basketball. Not much cost in terms of equipment either and not many (past youth age) are taking basketball lessons. There are no magazines geared towards helping folks play better basketball and very few senior-citizens are dribbling down the court or driving the lane to the hoop. And this goes for most other sports too – baseball/softball, soccer, football, etc.
Golf is different…very different. As such, weekend golfers should have different rules from the pros or those in competition. And you could argue that other sports change rules to accommodate recreational play as well. More forgiving equipment is just one example. The USGA has its place in the game, but it does not govern all of golf…and nor should it.
In that vein, do you also play with a 3-second rule, a 24-second clock, and pre-game-verified ball inflation pressure?
In golf, often enough, you’re playing a “handicapped” score. If you’re playing against your friends, then you should adjust your handicap accordingly — and treat the foursome behind you to a faster pace of moving off the fairway.
Golf is a game, “played” by regular people just trying to have fun with friends. The PGA Tour player’s job is golf – competing to make $$$$$ and they have agents to get them lucrative endorsement deals. The two forms of golf played by regular people and PGA Tour players are completely different. Check out the rules and etiquette of golf on http://www.usrga.org These apply to recreational golfers, not PGA Tour players.