A golf ball shagger might just be the most underrated practice tool in the game. If you've ever spent more time bending over to pick up balls than actually swinging the club, you already understand the problem it solves. This simple device is about much more than just saving your back, it’s a tool that can transform the quality and rhythm of your practice sessions.This article will explain exactly what a golf ball shagger is, why it's so beneficial for your game, and how to use one to get the most out of every repetition.
In the simplest terms, a golf ball shagger (sometimes called a shag tube or shag bag) is a device designed for picking up and storing multiple golf balls without requiring you to bend over. Think of it as your personal assistant for the practice green or backyard range. The most common and recognizable type is the tube shagger, which is typically a lightweight aluminum or plastic tube with a special mechanism at the end.
Here’s how the classic tube model works:
Once full, you can easily carry the tube to your practice area. To release a ball, you’ll typically unclip a small latch or press a lever with your foot or club head, and a single ball will roll out, ready to be hit. It's a remarkably simple but effective design that completely changes the dynamic of practice.
You might think a tool like this is only for serious players who hit hundreds of balls a day, but the benefits apply to everyone. From the weekend warrior trying to fix their chipping to the junior golfer just getting started, a shagger makes practice smarter, more efficient, and far more enjoyable.
Without a shagger, a typical short game practice session looks like this: You dump a bucket of balls, hit all of them, and then spend several minutes walking around and bending over to collect them. This constant stop-and-start breaks your mental focus and rhythm.
With a shagger, the process becomes a seamless loop. You hit a small set of balls, shag them up in about 30 seconds, and you’re immediately ready to hit again. This repetition keeps you in the “zone.” You’re focused on the feel of the club, your setup, and your target - not the tedious cleanup process waiting for you at the end.
This is the most obvious benefit, but it can’t be overstated. Bending over dozens of times during a single practice session puts a significant strain on your lower back. For older golfers or anyone with existing back sensitivity, this pain can cut practice short or even discourage it altogether. A shagger eliminates that strain completely, allowing you to practice as long as your desire, not your back, allows. Think about it: hitting 50 chips means bending over 50 times. A shagger reduces that number to zero.
Because the shagger dispenses one ball at a time, it naturally encourages a more deliberate approach to each shot. Instead of raking over ball after ball with your feet and hitting them machine-gun style, the shagger forces a reset for every swing. This is the perfect opportunity to build and reinforce a solid pre-shot routine.
Repeating this process makes your on-course routine feel automatic. You’re practicing not just the swing, but the entire process that leads up to it.
While the classic tube is the most popular, there are a few variations available, each with its own advantages. Choosing the right one depends mostly on your needs for capacity and portability.
This is the model we’ve been describing. It’s lightweight, slim, and easy to slide into a golf bag. Most are made from aluminum or durable plastic and hold between 20 and 25 balls.
A shag bag looks like a small duffel or tote bag, usually made of heavy-duty canvas, with a tube-and-clip mechanism at the bottom. To pick up a ball, you press the mechanism onto the ball, and it flips up into the bag. These can hold significantly more balls - often 75 to 100.
This isn’t a shagger in the traditional sense, but it serves a similar purpose on a larger scale. These are rolling basket-like devices (picture a small lawnmower with a wire cage) that you push over a large area to collect dozens or even hundreds of balls at once. They are ideal for private practice areas or ranges but are not portable enough for everyday use at the course.
Owning a ball shagger is the first step. The next is to use it to structure your practice for real improvement. Rather than just hitting balls randomly, you can use the shagger to perform targeted drills that build skill and confidence. Here are a couple of my favorites as a coach.
This drill is all about getting into a rhythm and honing your muscle memory for a single type of shot. It turns mindless whacking into deliberate, mindful practice.
Many golfers only practice one distance, but the real game demands adaptability. This drill uses the shagger to make practicing different distances a fluid and intuitive process.
These drills show how a shagger is more than a collector, it’s a pacer. It helps organize your practice into manageable, focused blocks, which is one of the most effective ways to learn and improve.
In the end, a golf ball shagger is a simple, affordable tool that bridges the gap between inefficient and effective practice. By saving your back and keeping you in a continuous rhythm, it allows you to build real muscle memory and develop a consistent pre-shot routine that stands up under pressure on the course.
Of course, better repetition is only half the battle, knowing what to repeat is just as important. For those moments when you're working on feel and aren't sure if you're practicing the right thing, our app an be a game-changer. With Caddie AI, you can get a smart recommendation for a specific drill to work on, ask about how to play a tricky lie you faced on the course, or just get a simple explanation of a shot you're struggling with. We help you connect deliberate practice with expert knowledge, so every swing moves you closer to playing smarter, more confident golf.
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