Top 12 Ways to “Cheat” at Golf

Golf is hard. Make it easier by employing one or all of the below “strategies.”

1. Take a drop on an errant tee shot instead of returning to the tee. USGA rules say a lost or out of bounds tee shot must be rehit from the tee. You also have to take a stroke penalty. Of course, this will add lots of time to round, but rules are rules, people. Hence, the majority of players take drops instead.

2. Play a scramble. The popular team tournament format is a lot of fun. Play the best lie, and leave the course happy, regardless of your personal performance. Of course, this format is also illegal according to USGA rules. So don’t do it anymore. Unless of course you play golf for your own enjoyment instead of being a Golf Puritan.

3. Pick up and clean your ball. Muddy golf balls are lame and can screw up your shot. Do the right thing and pick them up to clean or improve your lie. And by right thing I really mean cheat.

4. Whack away surrounding plant life for better swing access. Bushes and tree limbs are always getting in the way of my swing. Thankfully, my iron doubles as sickle. Having played golf for 17 years, I don’t think I’ve ever played with a group of friends that welcomes swing improvement without literally picking up the ball.

5. Score with gimme putts. The gimme putt has always made me chuckle. It ranges anywhere from two inches to two feet depending on the time of day and one’s performance. Of course, it too is verboten in USGA play. (And yet, 99% of all players implore some variation of this.)

6. Throw the ball or toss it instead of dropping it. What’s the point of “dropping” if you can’t improve your current predicament? At least that’s what my grandfather always used to say. So unless you're a professional or in an official USGA sanctioned tournament, most players go with a light toss to avoid the really rough stuff.

7. Standing behind a player while s/he putts. It doesn’t matter that if you’re engaged in a friendly round of golf. This is against USGA rules and should not be allowed under any circumstances.

8. Carrying more than 14 clubs. When’s the last time you checked your buddy’s club count? If you insist on playing USGA rules at all times, you better check. Chances are at least one of your play partners is packing extra clubs.

9. Asking your play partners what club they hit. Another no-no. And it doesn’t matter if you’re still trying to learn the game. Playing a round is not the time to improve your game. That’s what practice is for. Remember, a golf course is hallowed ground. Don’t disrespect it by learning a thing or two as you play on them in a friendly competition.

10. Grounding your club on practice swings. Never, ever ground your club while practicing a shot. You are only allowed to air swing. Same goes for sand trap practice swings. We wouldn’t want anyone improving their ball strike before hand, now would we? Either get with the program or get out of the game.

11. Putting with the flag pole in. I don’t care if your incredible approach shot is only inches away from the hole. Always remove the flag pole or suffer the one stroke penalty. What are we playing for fun or something? This game is serious and should be treated as such at all times and all places.

12. Play an antislice golf ball. Why did I title my story with “cheat” in quotations? In addition to being facetious and sensational, it was also to prove a point, which is this: While all 12 of the above behaviors are banned in professional and other USGA sanctioned tournaments, they are perfectly acceptable for the 85% of golfers that play for recreational, social, and convenience reasons. A self-correcting Polara golf ball is no different. It improves your golf game, thus making the game more enjoyable by playing from the fairway, losing fewer balls, and speeding up play. The anti-slice golf balls work so well, they were even praised in a feature by Fox News!

Of course, Polara Golf will never condone moral cheaters that lie about their score — that’s wrong in any context. But we welcome all of the above in the appropriate setting (which is how recreational golf is played).

Now Offering Accessories at PolaraGolf.com

Polara Golf is at the forefront of product innovation with its anti-slice and anti-hook golf balls and is always looking for other golf products that speak the same message of growing the game of golf and making it more fun for those that play recreationally.

Right now, if you purchase any accessory, along with any Polara product, you will receive 10% off your entire order at checkout.

Bionic Glove:

The "ONLY" Golf Glove Designed by an Orthopedic Hand Surgeon

Get a grip on your golf game and enjoy longer distance and greater accuracy. Bionic technology is totally unique in the marketplace. The difference is found in the design based on the anatomy of the hand and the science of ergonomics.

• LONGER DISTANCE AND GREATER ACCURACY - Anatomical relief pads help prevent the clubface from twisting at the moment of contact and increase swing speed.
• NATURAL DEXTERITY AND COOL, DRY HANDS - Motion zones over the knuckles and web zones between the fingers promote natural movement and help hands "breathe."
• SECOND SKIN COMFORT - The combination of the pre-rotated finger design and top-grade cabretta leather helps the glove feel and fit like second skin.
• LONG-LASTING DURABILITY - Bionic lasts up to 2-3 times longer than traditional leather golf gloves

SNAG Player Pak:

SNAG (Starting New At Golf) is a FUN game that is easy to learn and can be played ANYWHERE.

SNAG contains all the elements of golf but in a modified form. Falling somewhere between miniature golf and regulation golf, SNAG allows for full shots, pitching, chipping, and putting. It is a proven learning & training tool for entry level golfers.

Any age group can play and it's perfect for inexpensive family fun! The game has its own simplified rules and terminology, SNAGology as we call it, that adds fun to the learning and playing experience. Play indoors or outdoors, at the beach, in the snow, on the grass, or asphalt. It's portable so you can make "The World Your Course"!

The player pack includes a Launcher, Roller, Launch Pad, Flagsticky, 3 balls and a cloth carry bag. Get a Player Pak for everyone in the family, find your open space and hold your tournaments.

The Paks come in three sizes, 26” (green) for 5-7 yr. olds, 30” (blue) for 8-10 yr. olds and 34” (red) for 11+.

SNAG Princess Pak:

The Princess Paks are just like the Player Paks but pretty and pink! They come in two sizes, 26” (green) for 5-7 yr. olds, and 30” (blue) for 8-10 yr. olds.SNAG (Starting New At Golf) is a FUN game that is easy to learn and can be played ANYWHERE.

The Princess pack includes a Launcher, Roller, Launch Pad, Flagsticky, 3 balls and a cloth carry bag. Get a Player Pak for everyone in the family, find your open space and hold your tournaments.

Getting it right: Polara golf balls are for slicers, not just beginners

Are Polara balls only for beginners?

That’s the conclusion of a recent online review of our patented Ultimate Straight and Ultimate Straight XS balls. But the conclusion (or assumption for that matter) is dead wrong.

Polara self-correcting balls are for anyone that hit slice or hook shots, which account for the majority of players, and for golfers looking to improve their golf game.

Yes, beginners often struggle with slice more than experienced players. But I’ve been playing golf for 17 years and slice my shots a lot more than is tolerable as a recreational, casual, and weekend golfer.
The same is true for most players. “Two thirds of male golfers have a slice problem,” says Polara president Dave Felker. “That probably works out to about 15-16 million male golfers in the US alone.”

Obviously, it’s a big problem—one that can be combated with a lifetime of practice, for sure. Or in the case of professional players, raw talent.

But what about the rest of us? The 85% that play golf for recreational and casual reasons and don’t have the natural skill, time or tolerance to dedicate a lifetime to the game?

There’s Polara self-correcting golf balls. The correct up to 90% of all golf slices. In addition to correcting your golf slice, Polara’s accuracy golf balls also correct hooks and are guaranteed to improve your overall golf game.

Simply put, the golf balls just work. But don’t take our word for it. Just ask the New York Times, Fox News, CNBC, and the many other reviewers and consumers that have become believers after seeing the balls in action.

In a perfect world, there would be no slice. So long as there is, Polara will be by your side to help improve your golf game by curing hooks and slices.

Training for Your Olympic Quest or Your Next Round...

Take your game to the next level--- 2016 Summer Olympics or just next weekend.

Fitness-- The summer is the best time to regain that fitness level crucial to hours of training on the range or around the green. Grab the terrier and take off walking for 3-4 miles a day, maybe follow with a nice swim and you are certainly on your way to the qualifier for the Rio Olympics. Donʼt forget to add a little weight training with your aerobic activities to add that extra 30-40 yards off the tee when you need to punish one.

Plan your Strategy for the next 4 years-- Developing a solid 4 year plan will take a few hours with your mates, preferably after 18 holes in a cool hydrating atmosphere. When you arrive home ready to announce your lofty goal to the smarter half of the team, be confident, and calmly explain with their help, putting in more hours at work and mowing the lawn weekly, that over the next 4 years, greatness is within reach, and possibly GOLD. (Maybe mention gold prices are very high too)

This will be the toughest part of winning Gold-- Convincing your spouse of the preceding strategy. This could take weeks or months to accomplish. You really have to strike quick while the Olympics are fresh and adrenaline is still registering slightly in your bloodstream. Donʼt underestimate the power of bribery in your presentation. I offered to make matching gold earrings for my wife for those nights I wear the medallion out to dinner with friends.

Hire a former PGA Tour Player for full time coaching-- You know how to play golf, you even hit 6-8 excellent shots a day. Now the critical part of the plan starts to take hold with the experience of a Tour player working with you on swing analysis, equipment, course management, conditioning, nutrition, wine tasting, short game, and planning your next 3-4 years competing around the globe. This could get a little expensive so once again very important for the spouse to cut the budget with less important purchases.

Be patient during the Process-- Even the greatest player of our generation has to accept that golf takes many reps for many months to accomplish the consistency needed to dominate and win the big events. Golf has to be the toughest game to Master and when a middle aged man with a part time job goes for the Gold in Rio it will take all the patience and dedication one can muster.

Good luck and see you in Rio !

Donnie Hammond
PGA Tour Pro

The Breakfast Balls' Death Valley Challenge was Truly Death-Defying

Our friends at The Breakfast Ball had a huge idea for a crazy challenge to raise money for The First Tee of Southern Nevada. They played four straight rounds of golf (that is 72 holes) in 120+ degree weather in Death Valley at Furnace Creek Golf Course.

With the help of Polara Golf and several other companies, The Breakfast Ball Boys DID IT and captured every minute of it through photos and on-the-go journalism. Along the way they saw many walks of wildlife, as it was just them and Mother Nature out on the course that day, and drank themselves into a water coma (48 bottles consumed between the two of them in 12 hours). The Pro Shop guy of Furnace Creek told them that he has never seen anyone play 4 straight rounds at Furnace Creek in July before. Way to go gentleman, I think you set a record for sane golfers with the most rounds played in excessive heat.

As round after round was completed, they could start to feel the day and the course wearing on them. The balls weren't stopping on the greens like they were the first round, a couple of mis-hits were made and a few more strokes on some holes than they wanted were counted. But who cares, they were out there to support a great organization, The First Tee of Southern Nevada. It's all about the kids and spreading the word to grow the game of golf (in extreme weather conditions even).

Quote from Breakfast Balls', Mathew, "It’s not the best or coolest (no pun intended) record but it’s ours and it’s one of my proudest moments.  Well that’s not entirely true. What I was most proud about was that I had come up with this idea, put it into action and pulled off a fundraiser for The First Tee of Southern Nevada in a ridiculous location, in crazy hot weather 200 feet below sea level and in less than 4 months! Score one for the good guys!"

This truly is a story for the record books. I am so glad that Polara participated in this extreme event and we would do it again in a second. The boys were able to raise $700 for The First Tee of Southern Nevada.

Make a donation to The First Tee of Nevada and show your support to The Breakfast Balls' Mathew and Bill for donating their time and efforts for a great cause. To read the full play by play recap,
part 1 and part 2.

"So this is my final plea to all of you out there, if you haven’t made a donation because of whatever reason take a look at what we did and why we did it," said Mathew of The Breakfast Ball. "The Kids, bottom line. Then, if you can, help us out by getting us to my $1,000 goal and let EVERYONE know, even the Kids at the First Tee that with a little Perseverance a little hard work and a couple loose screws upstairs in your head that you too can do anything when you set your mind to it! Thanks everyone! Without all of your help and support we would have been just two idiots playing golf in the middle of Death Valley just cause it was there. Yeah, I know. That still was the case!"