Best Golf Ball Shaggers
What are the current best golf ball shaggers out there on the market? With so many to choose from, it’s not going to be too easy to eliminate various options to be left with those that are not only within budget, but also capable of doing the job they are intended for.
So, we are going to check out some of the best options out there, and later on we will explain exactly what you should be looking for when going to purchase this product.
Of course, you may never have even considered owning this product in the first place. So, we do have a budget version included in our list if you would like to experience the difference it can make to your practice rounds.
Table of Contents
- 1. Best Premium Brand Model - Callaway Pro Caddie Premium Ball Shagger
- 2. Best for Beginners - Silfrae Gold Ball Pick Up Bag
- 3. Best for Large Numbers - Intech Golf Ball Shag Bag
- 4. Best Budget - The Practice Stick Ball Shagger
- 5. Best Overall - How True Ball Shag
- What Exactly is a Ball Shagger?
- Who is it Aimed At?
- Factors to Consider When Purchasing a Golf Ball Shagger
- Brand Name Doesn’t Always Matter
- Conclusion
1. Best Premium Brand Model - Callaway Pro Caddie Premium Ball Shagger
- Holds up to 35 balls
- Suitable for all levels of player
- Feeds one ball at a time
- Easy to use design
Whenever you purchase something from Callaway, you know you are getting a premium brand and an item that should be manufactured to the highest standard. Thankfully, this premium ball shagger is not going to let you down.
With it holding up to 35 balls at any given time, that should provide you with enough options on the practice green. This part in itself is impressive compared to other models out on the market, so it does mean you will have more time working on shots thanks to this improved capacity.
It works by pressing a small lever, and you can use either your foot or your club. This will either drop a ball down, or pick one up depending on which operation you want. This mechanism is not any different from most out there, so they aren’t doing anything special at this moment in time.
However, it does this part smoothly, and in an instant. But then, you wouldn’t expect anything else from Callaway apart from a product that works smoothly. It really is effortless.
Also, with the length of the shagger, there’s no need to bend over to pick up those balls, and that’s also a great thing. The design of the holder part also means the balls won’t simply roll back out. They are kept in there until you want them released.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
If you find yourself hitting a lot of balls on the practice green or when working on your game in general, then the Callaway Pro Caddie Ball Shagger is going to be ideal. It holds enough balls without being too cumbersome, and is manufactured to the highest standard just as you would expect from this brand.
However, it does come with a slightly higher price, along with holding fewer balls, and it less compact, so all of that leads to it losing some marks.
2. Best for Beginners - Silfrae Gold Ball Pick Up Bag
- Made from canvas and plastic
- Ideal for beginners
- Can pick up to 60 balls at a time
- No bending required
- Tube is detachable and 31.5” in length
This model by Silfrae may not look the best, but then it is a more inexpensive option on the market. Yes, it’s made from a blend of canvas and plastic, but that needn’t be a bad thing as it still does the job that it is intended for.
At 31.5” in length, this is going to be suitable for most people. It does mean that bending to pick up the balls will be a thing of the past.
This is pretty much a standard length, so it should cover the main market that this item is focusing on. Also, the fact you don’t need to apply pressure when picking up the balls will also help.
The speed at which you can operate this bag is also quite impressive. It does pick up the balls quite easily, and the canvas bag section is certainly strong enough to hold up to 60 balls without you feeling as if it’s just going to rip in an instant.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
This model by Silfrae is inexpensive, but effective at the job it was designed for. If you have never owned a ball shagger before, then this could very well be the ideal solution for you. It doesn’t cost a fortune, and does its job well, so what else would you want from it?
This model does lose a mark thanks to it looking cheaper than others, and it gives the impression it won’t last long, even though that’s not the case. However, it is aimed at a beginner, so the low price is a bonus.
3. Best for Large Numbers - Intech Golf Ball Shag Bag
- Made from lightweight aluminum
- Can hold up to 80 balls at a time
- Zipper compartment for better storage
- Available in various designs and colors
This golf ball shag bag by Intech may cost more than some on the market, but the design and materials used in this product are better than you will often see elsewhere.
Made from lightweight aluminum, it is sturdy without being too heavy, and that’s kind of important when you are going to potentially carry as many as 80 balls at any given time. They have clearly realized that carrying so many balls would become difficult, so reducing the overall weight does make a difference.
This model comes with spring clips at the end of the aluminum tube. Those clips will grab the ball and propel it up into the bag. The sleeve then works by holding all the balls in place, so they won’t simply fall back out.
Another cool aspect of this bag is the additional zip pocket that comes with it. This small feature makes a huge difference as it means you can easily carry your phone or keys onto the practice green with you, and then not worry about whether they are falling out.
But then, the only problem could be the vast number of balls the bag can carry. However, you don’t need to go ahead and fill it up all of the time, so that’s easy enough to work around.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
This model performs well, but it is more expensive than a number of options out there on the market. For that reason, it’s best to avoid this one if you don’t spend too much time out on the practice green or anywhere else.
However, if you are working hard to hone your game, then you are going to be hitting a lot of balls, so a model that picks them up with ease is certainly a useful addition to your golf equipment.
It does lose half a mark, as holding 80 balls is perhaps a bit extreme. Being able to condense the bag to make it less bulky would have been a good touch and made it easier to carry it around.
4. Best Budget - The Practice Stick Ball Shagger
- Very lightweight and highly durable
- Capable of holding up to 23 balls
- Easy to store in your bag
- Easy to use
The Practice Stick ball shagger comes in a straightforward design, but it’s one that does make it easier to carry the ball shag around when out on the practice green.
It is extremely slender in its design, but that’s a great thing. It does mean it’s very convenient when it comes to carrying it around, and this is a major bonus.
Also, the product is long enough for you to be able to pick up those balls without stooping, and that’s what we are wanting to achieve with a ball shag.
Capable holding up to 23 balls, it does mean this holds the least number we have mentioned here, but that does help with the slenderness of the item. You can easily carry it in your bag when going out to work on your short game, and it’s there to make life easier when picking up your balls.
It works by having metal clips on the end, which help lift the balls into the tube while also keeping them in there. It’s a simple mechanism, as it’s seen elsewhere with other models, but it works well, so why change it?
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
This ball shag has everything you need. It holds enough balls to keep you busy on the practice green, while it’s also light and compact enough to be carried around. Overall, this model is suitable for everyone.
This bag is very good at what it does, but it loses half a mark thanks to the low number of balls it can hold. Aside from that, it represents real value for money.
5. Best Overall - How True Ball Shag
- Portable design
- Holds up to 60 balls
- Added pocket for storing phone and keys
- Canvas and plastic combination, making it lightweight
This ball shag from How True may not be the most pleasant on the eye, but it is still highly effective at what it does. Made from a combination of plastic and canvas, it holds up to a maximum of 60 balls at any given time.
However, you need to fully extend this item to get its full capacity. In other words, you can make it more compact if you are only hitting a few balls, so it takes up even less space.
This ability to extend the bag to include more balls means you don’t have to carry around the bulkier bag all of the time. This is just a nice feature which shows they have thought about every aspect in the design.
This model also comes with an added pocket that sits on the front of the bag. The pocket is designed for holding keys or your phone, and this is a cool extra touch that you don’t see on most other shag bags on the market.
The way it works is also quite simple. All you need to do is press the tube over the ball, and the internal mechanism will lift the ball up and deposit it into the bag. Nothing could be easier, and it takes seconds to do.
When it comes to the mechanism, then it does everything you would expect it to do. It lifts the balls, keeps them there, and releases them when required.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
This bag is suitable for players of all levels, and it’s because of the price as well as the ease of carrying it around. It can hold up to 60 balls, and that’s more than enough for most people. Overall, there’s little to complain about with this particular version.
This bag gets full marks as it not only looks good, but it’s competitively priced and holds up to 60 balls. The added pocket for your phone or keys is a nice touch, and overall it really is the complete package.
What Exactly is a Ball Shagger?
We have mentioned several options above when it comes to the best ball shaggers on the market, but what is this actual device?
Basically, it’s a hand-held device that allows you to pick up balls without bending over. It’s fast, easy to use, and it does stop that backache that comes when you are hitting a number of balls around while trying to work on your game.
It’s primarily used for people working on either their short game, or on the putting green. It will allow you to spend more time with hitting more balls, especially with the fact that options we have included can hold up to 80 balls at a time.
So, that’s it. Nothing special or spectacular, but still very effective at helping you out with a rather specific aspect of your game.
Who is it Aimed At?
Of course, you may wonder who should bother with getting this device, and the answer is anybody who is interested in working on their game. Also, it does involve you hitting the course to practice, but as long as you are doing that, then a ball shagger is capable of making a significant difference.
So, whether you are a novice or a highly experienced player with a low handicap, this device is ideal if you plan on working on your short game.
Factors to Consider When Purchasing a Golf Ball Shagger
But what should you even be looking for when it comes to purchasing a golf ball shagger? Well, there are a number of key factors that should spring to mind before you go ahead and part with your cash.
Consider the Number of Balls
Different versions can carry a wide range of balls, with some on the market being able to hold up to 80 at any given time. However, you need to be sensible with this.
Remember that 80 balls is going to add some weight. If you need to physically carry that around to pick all of those balls up, then is that something you really want to be doing?
Sometimes, having the ability to do so much can end up being over the top. If you feel that carrying around so many balls is pointless, then what would be the point in buying one with such capacity?
If you are worried about the weight, then cut down on the number of practice balls you hit, rather than struggle with picking them up.
Consider the Length
Another thing to consider is the length of the item. The aim here is to stop you bending over to pick up all of those practice balls, so you need to make sure that the one you purchase will stop you from doing that.
This is something that should be easy to use. Stooping on a regular basis will defeat the purpose of the product in the first place, and that would be pointless.
So, check out the length and measure how that length would work for you at home before you go ahead and purchase it.
Ease of Use
Being aware of how easy it is to use also makes sense. How do you even operate the item for it to either pick up the ball, or dispense it to you?
Most will have you using either your club or your foot, but this shouldn’t be cumbersome. It should effectively happen in an instant, rather than something you struggle with.
Portability
Portability is also clearly important as you will be carrying this around the practice green picking up balls. Think abuot how cumbersome some products may be, and how comfortable you are with carrying something that is bigger by nature.
Also, consider if something that is able to be condensed is useful for you. There are several items out there that do this if it’s important.
Brand Name Doesn’t Always Matter
This device is one of those quite unique items in that the brand name doesn’t really matter that much when it comes to the one that you will end up buying. The main focus has to be on its ability to do the job at hand, rather than the name that’s on the outside.
That is why we recommend looking at more specific reasons to identify the best ball shag for your needs.
So, think of these points when buying this item.
Think about your general practice shots and how many you hit.
Think about having to carry it around and how cumbersome it may be.
Forget about color and design, but focus on practicality.
Don’t think you need to spend a fortune on this product. You don’t.
By keeping those few simple points in mind, it should mean you will have no problem determining the right ball shag for your needs. Also, this isn’t a product that is going to cost you a fortune, but it’s still worth taking time to make sure you are happy with the final product.
Conclusion
When it comes to the best ball shags out there on the market, then we think the How True model is the best. However, this is due to not only the mechanism used to pick up the ball, but also the cool added feature of somewhere to store your phone. That type of thing shows they have put some extra thought into the design.
Aside from that, the Practice Stick Ball is another useful item thanks to it being inexpensive. It does hold fewer balls, so if you don’t generally hit a lot of practice shots, then this may be ideal. Also, it’s compact and lightweight, which are added bonuses.