As said above deppending on the feild anywhere from just a hopper too a hopper and 4 pods.
I would take more than 4 on but I have only once used my 4th one and so I don't see the need to take on any more.
I understand the no balls in hopper, since if your ging to dive into a bunker the last thing you want is to get back up to having what looks like a milkshake inside your hopper
. But I always slide on my knees/legs/side, never front ouch
Graham (Mini G)