Do I Need a Shag Bag?

If you are involved with any sport, you have probably seen the quote, “There is no glory in practice, but without practice, there is no glory.” This saying is appropriate for a wide array of different aspects of life. However, it is especially true when it comes to the game of golf. Therefore, if you practice at home, then yes, you need a shag bag!

What is a Shag Bag?

Golf is one of those sports that requires consistent practice. One of the best ways to practice as well as improve your game is by hitting shots repeatedly. Most people would agree that collecting the golf balls after this repetitive practice is a pain. Enter the shag bag!

This bag is a ball “picker upper” that you hold in your hand. It eliminates having to bend over to pick up the golf balls. If you want more time for practicing, a ball shagger is a must. However, choosing from the wide variety of which products can be challenging is why the top five products are included here.

Madewell Shagger Bag Practice and Range Golf Ball Shagger

This is the original shag bag! With a 30.5-inch height, this shagger is an excellent choice for all-sized golfers according to various users. This unit is a good choice for both beginners and expert players.

Specifications

• Durable canvas bag
• Holds up to 80 balls
• Stainless steel clips
• Brass zipper
• Grip handle
• Steel support plates
• Comes in black, green, red, and blue
• Overall 4.8 out of 5 Stars

When reading the reviews for this product, you quickly realize how much purchasers love this shag bag, and the ease of use. Many users state this bag saves practice time as well as eliminates back strain with its unique design.

Some purchasers stated that the zipper is upside down on this bag. However, to get the balls out of the retrieving sleeve, the unit must be inverted. This inversion makes it natural to zip from the top side down, according to users.

HOW TRUE Golf Ball Shagger

If you want a versatile shagger, the HOW TRUE unit might be an excellent choice. Quick and easy assembly, because it only comes in two pieces. However, these pieces are plastic and not aluminum, possibly causing the shagger to easily bend.

Specifications

• Convenient pockets (wallets, phone, keys, etc.)
• Extends up to 75 cm
• Holds up to 60 golf balls
• Provides quick and easy ball pickup without bending over
• Removable tube for storage
• Lightweight and portable
• Nylon and plastic
• Overall 4.6 out of 5 Stars

What others are saying

According to some users, this device is compatible with almost any 1.65 inches-in-diameter golf ball, including wiffle and hollow balls.

Users enjoyed the ball bag attached to this device for storing golf balls when not in use. They were able to detach the ball picker and store it in the bag also. Users liked the weight of this device also. It is light which makes it easy to maneuver when collecting balls.

The one drawback discussed in the reviews was this shaggers ability to hold 60 golf balls. While it technically can hold up to about 60 golf-sized balls, after about 30 golf balls, the picker arm can sometimes become detached from the weight.

The Practice Stick Ball Shagger by ProActive Sports

When golf balls get wet, shaggers sometimes have issues picking them up. The ProActive Sports shagger has no problem picking up damp balls. With this golf ball shagger, both regular and wiffle golf balls can be collected. However, it is quick and easy to get the regular balls out of the tube, while it takes a little more effort to remove the wiffle balls. Most likely due to the weight of a golf ball vs. a wiffle ball.

Specifications

• Gathers up to 23 golf balls
• Sized to place in your golf bag
• Easy to use
• Simple design
• Lightweight
• Durable
• Made in the USA
• Overall 4.6 out of 5 Stars

What others are saying

One issue associated with this golf ball shagger was a problem with the metal spring on the end. Some users suggested that this spring wore out after a few months of use and did not hold the balls in the tube. However, other reviews directly contradicted this statement with praise of the unit’s durability.

Callaway Pro Caddie Premium Ball Shagger

This golf ball shagger gives a variety of unique shagger features. One of the most favorite shagger features is this device’s ability to feed one ball at a time for hitting practice, as well as shag the ball. It has feet for you to set the ball shagger on the ground, and prop it up for feeding the golf balls to hit. With a tap of a club, this feature allows a golfer to slow down and focus on a single shot. Serving a dual purpose always gets an extra point in my book.

Specifications

• Holds 35 balls
• Feeds one ball at a time for hitting practice
• Patented design
• Removes loose ball clutter
• Multi purpose ball shagger
• Made from durable plastic
• Overall 4.5 out of 5 Stars

What others are saying

Besides it being a feeder and shagger, users also appreciated the durability of this device. Various users stated they had used one of these devices daily for months without issue with wear and tear. Others say they have dropped the unit from a golf cart without significant damage.

The one drawback associated with this golf ball shagger is the balls tend to get stuck inside the tube. Users stated wet balls, wiffle balls, and sometimes regular golf balls would not come out of the tube. It must be noted; however, most users also said once the balls were manually removed, the unit worked great.

JP Lann Legacy Deluxe Shag Bag

While this shag bag closely resembled the “Original Shag Bag” mentioned above, it holds less balls, but says it picks up wiffle balls just as well. As with the others, this will save the back.

Specifications

• Tear-resistant nylon bag
• Aluminum body
• Holds up to 75 balls
• Sturdy plastic handle
• Picks up wiffle balls without crushing
• Overall 4.7 out of 5 Stars

What others are saying

A favorite feature of this bag was the price point. Many of the reviews mentioned it was priced reasonably while still being sturdy and durable. This statement was reinforced in other reviews when users stated that this JP Lann bag had been used for months daily without tears or other types of damage.

The one complaint found in the reviews contradicted these reviews, however. One or two users said the prongs that capture the golf balls do not work well over time.

Final Thoughts

Golf requires consistent practice if you want the best results. Shag bags make it more convenient to practice every day. With the above information, you are now well-equipped to make an informed purchase. Remember, the only path to glory is practice.