Of course we all mark our golf ball so we can easily identify it when playing. We by our golf balls with the numbers 1 to 4….most of the time. I recently purchase a dozen golf balls with 5 to 8 for something different. During my friendly rounds, I do not care which number is on my golf ball. I ensure my ball has my special mark, but that is about it. However, when it comes to competitions, that is something completely different.

As I stated in a previous post, I am going to mark my ball as seen in the picture on the left. But what is important about the number of the ball? Most of you would say nothing, however it has significance for me during competitions.

I know this is might seem odd because a number is just a number, but not for me. I play specific numbers and they are always paired together. The numbers 1 and 3, 2 and 4 are paired together. I colour the numbers 1 and 2 in blue; the numbers 3 and 4 in red.

When I use the number 1 blue marked ball, I match with the number 3 red. Number 3 would be my provisional until I am down to 1 blue ball and then I switch them up. When I am down to one ball of each sleeve I switch to the other two numbers and start the process all over again.

On a side note, I have never hand to switch to the numbers 2 and 4 during a tournament, regardless of its length.

Several respondents did not say what number they wanted to use, but they were adamant about a number they would not use. The number 3 that correlates to 3-putts was very colorful. Thanks to everyone who voted.

Do you have a favourite number of your golf ball that you like during competitions? #golfchat

— The Grateful Golfer (@TheGratefulGolf) May 18, 2021

My entire process sounds a bit superstitious, but there is a method to my madness. By following this process, I always ensure that my provisional ball is of a different number and colour. That way there is no confusion on which ball I hit first and which I hit second. You would be surprised at how many times I asked a player about the two different balls they just played and they cannot tell me definitively which was which. How crazy is that, right!

As I write this article I realize that I am a bit of a stickler for my favourite numbers during competition. Using and marking the balls as I do just seems natural. This habit was formed out of experience of watching other players make the tragic mistake of hitting the same number and make of ball and being penalized for it. So, rules 7.2 and 18.3c(2) are eliminated because of my tradition of how I make my favourite numbers during competition.

Do you have a favourite number for your golf ball?

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!