If you hate wandering around looking for the golf ball you shot too far, you definitely need a ball retriever that will help you recover it in no time. It acts like a telescopic arm which enables you to grab balls that are out of your reach, helping you restore all the balls you use during a game, even if they ended up in the woods or in lakes. The best retrievers are solid, have a firm grip, and hold on to the ball until you get it back, and in the following matrix, we will show you what are the top products at the moment.
Retrievers for Golf Balls Evaluations
I Gotcha Ultimate
A reliable retriever needs to be easy to use in the first place and this one manages to keep a low profile with the incredibly lightweight design. You can easily carry it in your golf bag and take it out when needed and it will immediately extend from 20″ to up to 18′ to reach the lost ball. Thanks to the firm grip and the sturdy pole, it won’t bend and you will have full control over it. The ball is securely grabbed and it won’t fall until it reaches your hand. You can use it anywhere from rocks, water, even mud and it won’t have troubles retrieving the ball.
ProActive Hinged Cup
Another great tool to have in the golf bag is this retriever which boasts an innovative cup design and mechanism. The hinged cup guarantees the ball won’t slip once it is grabbed and makes handling a breeze. The long telescopic pole that can extend to up to 15′ or 18′, depending on your choice, is made of a lightweight aluminum that will remain firm and won’t break or bend while extending. And thanks to the rubber handle, you can get a great grip and control it in the direction needed.
Callaway
Callaway is a known manufacturer that covers a wide range of golf tools and gadgets and their retriever is a reliable companion on the golf course. Whether you lost your ball in the woods, in a lake, or in the mud, you can use this compact retriever which measures only 45″ and extends to up to 15′ to grab the ball you lost. It is made of a high-quality aluminum alloy that stays firm and straight even when fully extended. To integrate better to your golf bag, it comes with a zip headcover that makes it look like a golf club.
Search and Rescue
Simply place it over the ball, no matter where it fell, and lift it to collect the ball. The mechanism grabs the ball in a snap and delivers it to you from distances of 6.5′ or 15′, making it easier to recover balls that were sent too far. The pole is made of a weather resistant powder coated aluminum and the retrieving rings are stainless steel to prevent it from rusting after getting into contact with water. For added protection, it has a headcover for when not in use.
Sumnacon
Although you cannot reach long distances with this retriever, it will surely come in handy in water or bushes when you do not want to stick your hands. The stainless steel shaft has a rubber handle to ensure you get a good grip and the plastic scoop features an automatic lock mechanism that holds on tight to the ball. It is lightweight, practical, and handy, being just great for carrying in your golf bag.
What is a Retriever for Balls?
Whether you are a professional golfer or a beginner, you probably know how frustrating it is to chase every single golf ball around the course. Some players are forced to reduce their playing time because of their neck and back problems. If you are one of those golfers with back problems, you will want to avoid facing difficulties when playing. Therefore, investing in a quality ball retrieving tool can solve all your problems.
As you already know, in golf it is all about comfort and convenience and the best retrievers can prove this point. It can easily help you grab golf balls that fall into bushes, rivers, hazards and so on. It is frustrating when you have to continue your game and the ball gets stuck in a sand trap or a waterhole. A golfer can waste plenty of time trying to chase balls by hands. Moreover, not every player can hire a personal caddy to chase the balls. Quality golf balls are quite expensive. Plus, some of them can be customized for easy identification on the course. However, there are numerous models on the market and most of them are capable of getting the job done right.
Guidelines for Making the Right Pick
Most golf players, whether they are professionals or newbies, use ball retrievers because this helps them find their ball and recover it from hard-to-reach places. For a retriever to be useful during a golf game, you need to know which are the most important aspects to pay attention to when picking it.
A solid handle
A retriever must have a solid handle made of a durable yet lightweight material like aluminum. This guarantees the pole will not bend or break when extended to the maximum length and that it won’t be bulky to carry around. Also, the handle should have a rubber part so you can easily hold it with gloves or with wet hands.
Adjustable length
The main reason why you would use a ball retriever is to recover your ball from a bush or a pond so having one that measures the length of your extended arm is not useful at all. Instead, you need to rely on one that can extend to at least 15′. Our highest ranked retriever can reach up to 18′.
A good grip mechanism
Once the ball is caught, it needs to stay in place until you are able to get it from where it was lost. For that, it must come with a good grip mechanism which tightly presses onto the ball until it is safely in your possession. A weak mechanism will make the ball fall half-way so you will need to work two times to catch the ball again.
Brands You Can Confidently Buy From
In the world of golf, there are some equipment pieces that turn out to be very useful and the retriever is one of them. Considering how expensive a good golf ball can be, losing it during a game is not something you would want to happen, so having a tool to help you recover the ball is a great help. To avoid spending your money on a poor retriever, it is best to know which are the most reliable brands on the market.
IGOTCHA
Among the most popular brands of retrievers is IGOTCHA that offers a variety of devices that can help you get your golf balls back. Made of durable and quality materials and relying on a sturdy grabbing mechanism, these retrievers are the embodiment of quality and performance.
ProActive Sports
The second favorite brand of customers is ProActive Sports and their list of sports equipment includes golf push carts, golf ball holders and cleaners, sports bottles, tees, and golf accessories. The retrievers they design are practical, resistant, and very easy to use.
Callaway
Another reliable brand that puts quality first is Callaway and their list of products includes some of the best golf clubs and the most practical golf ball retrievers. With a long history in the golf field, Callaway has managed to discover the needs of their clients and seem to have found the way of designing the most reliable golf aids. The golf ball retrievers Callaway is one of those products.
With its compact design which allows you to pick up the balls you lose in hard or dangerous to reach places, the I Gotcha Ultimate was an inevitable pick as our number one choice. It easily traps the ball to ensure not a lot of time will be lost on this task, while the strong stainless steel shaft ensures this is a long-lasting investment you will not regret making. Almost as good as this entry is the ProActive Hinged Cup which can be extended to 15 or 18 feet and features a comfortable rubber handle that allows you to use it without feeling inconvenienced in any way. Your arms won’t get tired, so your game won’t have to suffer either, to put it in simpler words. However, if you put value ahead of anything else, the right choice for you might be the Sumnacon which boasts a telescopic design that enhances convenience in use and is made with stainless steel to ensure a longer durability.