Always trying to get better at golf. One big thing I focus on: eliminating variables. Club selection for a given distance, foot positioning, grip, and...golf ball choice.
I know guys who treat golf balls like precious gems. Spend 10 minutes hunting for a lost ball. Buy floating golf balls so they don't lose them over water. Worst of all: picking up random garbage balls other golfers left behind. Water hazard dries up a bit? They're down in the mud fishing out some beat-up range ball. And then they play it on the next shot. Drives me crazy.
Makes no sense. You're paying $50 or more to play a round and then cheaping out on the ball? That's when you pull out the Callaways or Titleist DTs. A buck or three per ball. They cost more because they're better. The pros use them on Tour for a reason: perfect balance of distance and putting feel. Cheap balls just help you hit bad shots. Rule one: buy the good balls. One variable locked in.
Rule two: use the same ball every round. Pick your ball, stick with it. Keep that variable constant so you can work on everything else.
Here's why this matters so much for putting. Go to Golf Galaxy, grab a pack of "long distance" balls and a pack of "best feel" balls. Take one of each to the putting green. Same spot, same stroke. The distance ball jumps off your putter and rockets across the green. The feel ball rolls smooth, stops shorter. Totally different behavior from the same putt.
Now imagine switching between random balls every round. Your putting will never be consistent. Ever. One ball, every time. Make it a good one. Your putting will thank you.