when it doesn't really matter

like (i'm sure) many golfers, i've played many practice rounds with whatever ball i happen to have found on the last hole with at the same time playing some of my best golf, so there was a bit of mud on the side and the ball generally looked like it was around when Faldo was good but that didn't seem to matter at the time when i was hitting fairways and greens in regulation and holing the odd put or 2, needless to say that this is mostly down to not being under pressure but it does make me think, having spotless balls is not always the answer

my drive for 3 off the tee in stableford is nearly always striped down the middle, "pressure off" at work!

indeed, if only you could hit your provisional first