Frequently Asked Questions About GolfCross^®

What's GolfCross^® like to play?
Apart from the obvious differences like having a whole lot more ball control, and a target that requires you to have a good relationship with your wedge, golfers say that GolfCross is exciting to play because it encourages them to take risks. With golf you don't go for the hole from 50 yards out and expect to get it in. It's just too small for that. You chip on and expect to get close so that you can hole out within two putts. But with GolfCross, because the target is so much bigger, there's a greater chance that you can goal out from that distance. There's also a very reasonable chance that if you miss the goal from further away, you'll get yourself into trouble. That's because your oval GolfCross ball will be flying through the air when it passes the goal, not rolling sedately along the green.

It's not that you can't play safely in GolfCross - you can. You can chip onto the yard and then go for goal with your next shot from closer in and with less risk. But when it comes to goaling out, the chances in GolfCross are there and the rewards are high, so you're tempted to take them. In golf, there isn't really a risky putt that's going to end up off the green if it doesn't go in. You automatically play the safe, measured shot. That's what putting is all about. Apart from perhaps using the slope of the green, there isn't a risk you can take when you're holing out that will see you either going in or being further away from where you started. But in GolfCross, your shot for goal could be disastrous or a payoff. And, where there's a certain inevitability to the final tap into the golf hole, with GolfCross there are no 'gimmies'. It's this risky nature of GolfCross that attracts golfers who want a new challenge.

Where can I play GolfCross^®?
As GolfCross^® has only been launched in the UK since November 2004, at present there are only a few GolfCross courses available to play. Since launch the excitement and requests from existing golf course owners, retail outlets, golfing magazines and potential players has been enormous. Courses do take a few months to set up and get established so please continue to check this website regularly or Register Your Interest to keep abreast of the latest additions to the fast growing number of courses being set up throughout the UK.

Please refer to the Where Can I Play section in this website for further information.

Can I use my golf clubs for GolfCross^®?
Yes exactly the same clubs are used but you won't need a putter. Most players replace it with an additional wedge because of all the lofted shots that are the stuff of this new game. The only other piece of equipment you'll need apart from the oval GolfCross ball is a tee cup which holds the ball at the different angles required to make it fly straight or curved.

Where can I get oval GolfCross^® balls?
Balls and tee's are available via the GolfCross On-Line Shop, at GolfCross courses and from selected retail outlets.

The book GolfCross® - The Definitive Guide, gift sets of balls and other product is also available.

Will playing GolfCross^® affect my golf?
Without question, yes, but it will be a positive change because you'll need to master the lofted shot into the goal, it will be by necessity that you will improve your golfing short game. There is also the positive effect that the oval GolfCross ball will have on your swing; knowing that you can always hit it straight if you set it in the right position is a mindset that you'll take back to golf. You'll generally swing with more confidence and you should remember though that GolfCross is not remote control hitting, the ball might be smart but you still need to be able to hit it cleanly. You need touch, accuracy, correct club selection and all the other things that make golf such a wonderfully challenging sport.

Are the yards in GolfCross^® like the greens in golf?
Yes, in as much as they are both preliminary target areas of different shapes and sizes. Because there's no putting in GolfCross, the yards aren't mown any differently from the fairways and ground level perimeter pegs define the shape. Being in the yard in GolfCross is more important than being on the green in golf because there's only one easy way into the goal and unless you're in the yard you can't turn the goal to face you.

Does the oval ball fly as far as the round golf ball?
The oval GolfCross ball generally travels a shorter distance than the round ball because it presents a larger profile to the air. The shorter the club the less the distance differential - usually around ten yards for a short iron and up to forty for a driver, (based on the ball being positioned in its maximum trajectory and distance position).

Why does the oval golf ball hum as it travels through the air?
The oval GolfCross ball makes a high pitched hum when it is spinning rapidly forwards or backwards (tumbling) around its short axis. The higher the pitch of hum the greater its rate of spin. It makes this noise because the airflow over it is irregular. As the ball tumbles it creates a vibrating wave of disturbed air behind it which creates sound. The sound the oval GolfCross^® ball makes allows you to predict what it will do in the air and what course it will take when it comes in contact with the ground. For example, a back-spinning ball with a high pitched hum will have a high trajectory, a steep angle of descent and stop quickly on pitching. One advantage of the oval ball over the round ball is that you can hear it coming and take evasive action if necessary.

What are the most important variables in the design of the oval GolfCross^® ball?
Weight and shape. Weight determines the ball's ability to sustain spin, and shape impacts on how easily it can spin. The oval ball relies on a long spin time to maintain its various curving flight paths and it needs to be dense enough to achieve them but without feeling heavy off the club. Its overall shape, how thin or fat it is and whether the ends are rounded or pointed, determines how easily it slips through the air and therefore how quickly it spins.

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