I take my young kids golfing whenever I can. When we go, we play more beginner friendly courses, and I play from the front tees with them (or where ever they tee off to keep it more social.) Rather than handicaps, I had an idea to make the game a fair match and more fun.
I have to use a ball that is smooth on one half and normal dimples on the other. It will not fly nearly as far as a Pro V1 and will have a lower ball flight (much like my kids shots.) If I stay in the fairway, I can lift and place the ball however I want (dimples facing straight back) but if I am not in the fairway, I have to play the ball as it lies. Depending on how the ball comes to rest, I may be hitting a ball that will severely hook (dimples on left) or slice (dimples on right). It will force me to be creative and turn that boring muni into a completely different course.
I envision other addendums to the rules. If I get up by two holes or more, I have to play the ball as it lies everywhere. And if I get up by 3 holes, my opponents get to lift & place my ball however they want, and I have to hit it. Basically, they get to try and sabotage me until the match gets closer.
So who would be willing to give Mudball a try? And how would you make it better?
Bart Pair
Yikes. I made a ball in 7th grade for a science project, ‘why do golf balls have dimples?’ Used sandpaper to take the dimples off and then had a golf pro hit a bunch of shots and recorded the data. That was back in the day of the balata, so the cover was super soft. Not sure how that technique would work on today’s balls…
That is the problem. I actually have several variations on the modern golf ball I want to make and test. The ball manufacturers I have spoken with that are willing to produce small quantities charge $7k-$12k just to make the mold.
Very intriguing idea. Thanks for sharing. I, for one, am always up for new ways to make golf more fun and interesting. How do you make or acquire this ball??