Here is the scene: After hammering your tee shot down the center of the fairway on a par four hole, you find yourself standing 225 yards or so away from the green. With a boost to your confidence, you toy with the thought of pulling out your fairway wood for your second shot. The distance is not the factor, as you have made similar shots before; it is that menacing water hazard glimmering near the green that makes you cringe. You consider whether it is smarter to play it safe and approach the green in two shots, not one. The pride of launching your golf ball onto the green with one swing, and having the chance to score the coveted birdie, is what all of us as golfers dream about. It is just you despise the thought of surrendering another golf ball into the drink. You glance over at the clubs in your golf bag for inspiration and catch sight of your golf ball retriever – the trusty tool that has rescued your golf ball on previous occasions. At that moment you realize the water hazard is not that intimidating so you grab your fairway wood and go for the green. Golf ball retrievers are extremely handy tools to have at your disposal when playing golf. If golf is a new game for you, or you have played a few rounds here and there, you might be curious how a device like this can improve your game. As in the above scenario, having a ball retriever on hand will give you an edge, a powerful mental edge. Golf is a sport that requires a excellent amount of thought and concentration, and a mental edge will give you the confidence to make more incredible shots. Those incredible shots will lead to an increased level of confidence on the course, and ultimately, a better scorecard and the admiration of your peers. There are various types of golf ball retrievers on the market today to fit your budget and suit your preference. There are trapper, hinged-cup and ring-headed to name a few. Many styles use a telescoping feature, and in some models will enable you to rescue golf balls 20 to 30 feet away! One of the more well loved retrievers use the use of a rake head. Not only can you snag your golf ball out of the pond, but you have the chance to grab additional balls other players have left behind. Considering you can never have too many golf balls in your bag, that is a fantastic bonus. Since you are already spending a excellent amount of money on your favorite brand of golf balls, knowing you can retrieve an errant shot back to safety is simply peace of mind. Do not undervalue the enhancement a golf ball retriever can add to how well you play your game. A simple tool, you bet, but one that will encourage you to play a riskier, albeit, more confident and rewarding game. The next time you are staring down a water hazard and visualizing your fantastic shot, have that retriever on hand and just go for it!