One of the most common problems those new to the game of golf have is the shortage of distance off the tee with the driver. I mean, the ball barely makes two hundred yards off the tee, which means it leaves a lot of golf to play to make the green for a par. Often the most frequent question handicap golfers ask their buddies after a round of golf is why can’t I hit the golf ball longer with my driver?

Golf is such a struggle when you can not hit the ball far enough off the tee to give yourself a chance of a decent score for each hole.

Frustration creeps in and it is easy to lose motivation at this point. You often find that beginners can hit the short irons a good distance but the long irons and the woods not very far. Why is this? It does not seem to make sense.

Well, it is to do with confidence in the club you are playing. Short irons are easy to play well. They have a generous amount of loft, and a shorter shaft length. Practice hitting these well and confidently, then work on the longer irons and three wood, rather than the driver. Leave that in the bag for now. Concentrate on hitting down on the short iron shots, and this will help you hit the ball before the ground. All golfers know the frustration of hitting the ground before the ball.

The driver and long irons need a different approach and skill set to play them well. With these clubs you need a longer and slower swing, relying on the loft of the club to make the ball rise in the air and carry for longer distances. It is difficult to adjust to playing these clubs well when you are new to the game.

If your objective is to hit the ball longer with your driver, all you need is a sound golf swing and a good swing rhythm, to be successful.

A golfer is always faced with a constant barrage of things that he can possibly spend his money on. These things range from the necessary things like golf clubs, to completely unnecessary things like trophy cases for hole-in-one balls. It would seem that a golfer’s money could constantly be thrown away on the many things that are available for purchase.

However, one of the most expensive things that a golfer has to spend money on is not what you would expect. Golf balls are perhaps the most irritating thing that a golfer buys. He seems to buy them over and over, as they disappear into bushes, lakes, or sand traps. Rates for golf balls can seem fairly ridiculous too, with some selling for over $25 for a pack of 12. If you want to save money on golf balls or even get them for free, read on for a few tips on how you can do just this.

While you are in the middle of a golf game, there are usually many opportunities to find golf balls that have been left behind by golfers before you. It isn’t a good idea to constantly interrupt your game in search of golf balls, but if you happen to walk right by a cluster of bushes or a small water hazard, you might as well take a moment to look for golf balls that have been left behind.

If you don’t mind getting your arm wet, usually you can find multiple balls just by reaching into a water pool. Bushes and other similar obstructions are also good places to look. Other golfers may find you strange when you are rooting around for golf balls, but it is definitely worth it in the end when you don’t need to pay insane amounts for golf balls every week. All you have to do is shove them into a bag you carry with you, then wash them off as soon as you get home for golf balls that are like new.

You can also buy used golf balls from many different sources, including sporting good stores in your local area. These are sold at a huge discount off of the original price, and you can usually not even tell that they have been used thanks to the cleaning processes. Usually they are not sold in matching brands or colors, so if uniformity is your thing you may be disappointed. Unless you are more than just a casual golfer, used or second-hand balls will probably work just fine.

It takes a very trained hand to be able to tell the difference between a new ball and a used ball, or between an expensive ball and a cheap ball. The spin and the hardness of the balls are usually varying, but probably not enough for you to notice. Try two contrasting balls in a row and see if you notice anything, and if not then you can be happy that you are able to stick with the cheaper balls.

It may not seem like much of a money saver to get all of your golf balls for free or for a discounted rate, but the money you save will sure add up. Whether it’s just a few dollars a week or whether you notice a significantly large saving, it’s still money in your pocket that wouldn’t have been there otherwise.

Therefore, you should remember the golf ball savings techniques that have been discussed so far: first of all, you should always take whatever chance you get to search for golf balls that have been left behind by previous golfers in areas that they are likely to have lost them. Secondly, buy used golf balls from sporting good stores in order to save money. If you follow these two guidelines, you are sure to experience the benefits of being free from paying full price for golf balls.

Have a look at www.golfstore101.info for some excellent tips, advice and accessories.

Lake golf balls are:
Lake golf balls are the golf balls recovered from lakes or bodies of water that lie within a golf course. These balls have been hit into the water by golfers, and not recovered by them for whatever reason (they did not wish to waste time in searching, they failed to locate the ball etc).

The people who recover them:
On a regular basis, usually once a month, the bodies of water are dredged by golf course personnel, or a contracted company, and the golf balls are recovered, and then sent away to be prepared for resell.

Are they water damaged ?
As long as the balls do not stay in the water for longer than three months and they will in most casees have only been in the water fo one month, they should not suffer from any water damage. Obviously, the balls that have suffered from significant impact damage, that has resulted in the penetration of their surface, will no doubt then be prone to damage from the water. This is why it is best to buy the top grades of lake golf balls (grading explained below – “Pearls of wisdon”).

Cleaning of the golf balls:
Once recovered, and found to be in good enough condition, they are then professionally cleaned up and repackaged so that they can be resold. This allows players to use top quality, branded balls, at a lot lower cost then if buying brand new. A golfer can expect to pay less than 50% of the retail price of the golf balls.

What about damage ?
Golf balls that have been recovered from lakes, then sold on as lake golf balls, tend to not have been hit that many times, in fact a lot have only been hit a few times. Considering this, they are then without or with very little impact damage.

Lake golf ball grading system:
There are four different gradings for the lake golf balls, reflecting their state of repair. These gradings are, going from pristine to obviously damage, are: Pearl, Grade A, Grade B, and Grade C. In detail, Pearl means the balls are as good as new, Grade A means the balls have small un-noticable markings, Grabe B balls will have small amounts of surface damage, and Grade C balls will have a significant amount of noticeable damage that could be internal as well as external.

The golf balls unfit for recovery:
Golf balls that do not fit within the grading system, and therefore unfit for resell, will be recycled. In fact, you could say they will be re-born. Broken down, and re-assembled as brand new golf balls. Much like your plastic and paper goods (milk containers, cereal boxes, junk mail etc).

Which grade to choose ?
When in search of lake golf balls, it is best to make sure that they are in one of the higher grades of repair, thus ensuring that your game is not adversely affected by the inferior  quality of damaged balls. Generally speaking, the vendors of lake golf balls will only sell the top graded balls, but it is always best to be safe, and check. If the grade is not mentioned, then stay clear, and shop elsewhere.