Problem while playing solo: Locating ball in flight off tee

[DavidY]

Lately, I have been playing golf solo.....mainly taking almost every Friday afternoon off work. As a result, my usual golfing partners are unable to join me for a round. My problem while golfing solo is locating the flight of the golf ball off the tee when using the driver. When playing in a group, my partners usually help me out...I usually have the hardest time within the group to locate the balls in flight as others are teeing off.

Every round while playing solo, I have had to hit several provisional balls since I don't know where (not a clue) the first ball off the tee has gone. Since my swing speed isn't very fast and have a very inconsistent swing (not close to breaking 100 yet), I am guessing that my drives are in the 180-220 yard range. I usually slice when I manage to hit the ball decently. Otherwise, the ball may go anywhere (ie. hook, wormburner, miss the ball completely or top the ball). I have also been using coloured balls (mainly bright yellow) to help my eyes locate the ball out of the air....still no luck usually.

I wear eyeglasses with the magnetic clip on shades (greyish blue) and have a very high prescription for being nearsighted. I also have a set of prescription sunglasses with an amber/brown tint....would this different tint allow me to better locate the ball while off the tee?

Any other advice would also be appreciated. Thanks.

Dave

[BirdieGirl]

I play solo every now and again too~ and am a newer golfer as well.

I have trouble at times seeing white golfballs in the air as soon as they hit the skyline. I best I have found for being able to keep your eye on the ball when it hits that skyline/clouds is the coloured balls.

I'm not sure what else to suggest though. I usually have a good indication where I've gone once I've hit, although there are still the odd times when I'll hit the ball in a weird way and by the time I have looked to see the ball location, I've lost it completely and couldn't tell you where to go to find it. I guess when I play solo, I just need to accept that I may lose a few balls that day. :$

[dks_34]

I've played as a solo and have had a solo join my group. Usually I try to watch everyone's ball, just seems like the "nice thing to do" and I would hope they would do the same for me.

As birdie girl said when I play solo I always expect to lose a couple of balls.

[DavidY]

BirdieGirl and dks_34,

Thanks for the quick replies. Do you also play a lot of provisional balls when you cannot locate the ball in flight? Or do you just go and search for it....if you don't manage to find it, do you just play a drop?

I usually play just one provisional ball per hole if it is needed. Yesterday, on one particular hole (#6, 471 yard par 5), I lost track of both the original ball and the provisional ball.....and I wasn't willing to hit another provisional. Found both balls in the fairway....too bad about finding the original since the provisional was way longer off tee (it had to be my best drive this year by far). ;)

Dave

[goshawk]

I play solo quite often, and I also had problems locating the ball. I also wear prescription glasses. I found that the amber tint polarized clip-ons were the best for playing. Not only do I see the ball better, but it seems like the green is much clearer for reading putts.

[DavidY]

I play solo quite often, and I also had problems locating the ball. I also wear prescription glasses. I found that the amber tint polarized clip-ons were the best for playing. Not only do I see the ball better, but it seems like the green is much clearer for reading putts.

Thanks for the golf tip....I will definately try wearing my amber prescription sunglasses for my next round.

Dave

[golfinseb]

I do the same, amber tint polarized don't skim on quality you will regret it.