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When do balls start to make a difference for newer golf players


JaapB
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I'm a new player using the cheaper balls, my club use mostly top flite xl balls which are the cheapest at my club.

Currently I'm around hcp 32 and wonder at what point should i look for a better ball.

Should i just try some other balls or shouldn't i worry about different balls as it wouldn't make that much difference for me as a player.

Hope some people can give me some advice about this subject.

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I think it's more about finding one you like, and then using it consistently. Then you know what to expect from the ball feel/performance wise.
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Hey Jaap, I just started too and I had the same dilemma. I ended up switching from Wilson HyperTi's to Noodles about a month ago simply because I noticed a favorable difference. Before then when I found a nice ball in the trees and I hit it I didn't notice a difference that I felt would really affect me. A month ago I switched to noodles because I felt the difference--they were more responsive, softer and more fun to hit.

Plus Noodles aren't that expensive so I'm not upset if I lose a few So I guess my advice is get a new ball when you notice a difference that benefits your game.

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Originally Posted by irishmike27

I think it's more about finding one you like, and then using it consistently. Then you know what to expect from the ball feel/performance wise.

Even a 32 can get a better sense of feel on the greens using the same ball all the time. You may be a bit early in your journey to notice the difference in spin and even distance, but you might notice differences off your putter.

Russ - Student of the Moe Norman swing as taught by the pros at - http://moenormangolf.com

Titleist 910 D3 8.5* w/ Project X shaft/ Titleist 910F 15* w/ Project X shaft

Cobra Baffler 20* & 23* hybrids with Accra hybrid shafts

Mizuno MP-53 irons 5Iron-PW AeroTech i95 shafts stiff and soft stepped once/Mizuno MP T-11 50.6/56.10/MP T10 60*

Seemore PCB putter with SuperStroke 3.0

Srixon 2012 Z-Star yellow balls/ Iomic Sticky 2.3, X-Evolution grips/Titleist Lightweight Cart Bag---

extra/alternate clubs: Mizunos JPX-800 Pro 5-GW with Project X 5.0 soft-stepped shafts

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I've been there before and experimented a lot with all kinds of balls.    IMO, you won't need "good" balls until you are already playing bogie golf, and start thinking about shaping shots.   But that does not mean you should play with any cheap balls - some can be really bad even for beginners.   New Top Flite balls are ok at your level.  As you inch toward playing bogey golf, a couple of affordable (not the cheapest) balls I suggest are Pinnacle Gold, Bridgestone E6, Srixon Q-Star, Titleist SoLo.

RiCK

(Play it again, Sam)

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Originally Posted by rustyredcab

Even a 32 can get a better sense of feel on the greens using the same ball all the time. You may be a bit early in your journey to notice the difference in spin and even distance, but you might notice differences off your putter.

True.  In the older days, cheap golf balls were rock hard and they had such a bad feedback for all kind of shots, including putting.   These days though, all the name brand cheap balls are fairly decent for beginners.   Golf ball tech has improved quite a bit to take a lot of guess work out of the beginners picking their favorite ball.

RiCK

(Play it again, Sam)

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Originally Posted by TheLawFirm

Plus Noodles aren't that expensive so I'm not upset if I lose a few  So I guess my advice is get a new ball when you notice a difference that benefits your game.

Noodles Long & Soft ball is another good one for beginners.

RiCK

(Play it again, Sam)

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Thanks for all the comments, I see a lot of players at the golfclub use pinnacle gold so maybe i try those in the upcoming weeks.

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Pinnacles are pretty firm/clicky on the greens. If you want to try something that will feel softer off your putter, give the Noodle a try.

Russ - Student of the Moe Norman swing as taught by the pros at - http://moenormangolf.com

Titleist 910 D3 8.5* w/ Project X shaft/ Titleist 910F 15* w/ Project X shaft

Cobra Baffler 20* & 23* hybrids with Accra hybrid shafts

Mizuno MP-53 irons 5Iron-PW AeroTech i95 shafts stiff and soft stepped once/Mizuno MP T-11 50.6/56.10/MP T10 60*

Seemore PCB putter with SuperStroke 3.0

Srixon 2012 Z-Star yellow balls/ Iomic Sticky 2.3, X-Evolution grips/Titleist Lightweight Cart Bag---

extra/alternate clubs: Mizunos JPX-800 Pro 5-GW with Project X 5.0 soft-stepped shafts

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was at Academy sports today and picked up 2 18 coount boxes of redo balls. reconditioned. i got one box of Callaway and one box of Titelist. there is a mix of each in each box. think they were $10 a box for 18

for a beginner i think i can afford to loose them and will at least give me some decent balls to play with also.

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Once you start getting a feel for chipping/putting. Go from Pro V1's to low end Top Flite's and you'll hate life.

Ryan M
 
The Internet Adjustment Formula:
IAD = ( [ADD] * .96 + [EPS] * [1/.12] ) / (1.15)
 
IAD = Internet Adjusted Distance (in yards)
ADD = Actual Driver Distance (in yards)
EPS = E-Penis Size (in inches)
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Too true. It took me only a year to realise the differences between golf balls. Now I won't really hit anything besides my regular bridgestones or titleist simply because of the feel...

:titleist: 913 D2 w/ Oban Kiyoshi Purple :ping: G25 3 Wood w/ Graphite Design Tour AD-DJ6 :titleist: 913H 21* w/ Diamana Blue :ping: G25 4 - PW :vokey: SM4 Oil Can - 52, 56, 60 :cameron: Studio Select Newport 2 :golflogix: :bushnell: Tour V3

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IMO, until you get below a 10 handicap, the ball doesnt matter.  The ball starts to matter when you are able to hit straight shots to a very specific distance, where you want the spin to make the ball hit the green and stop within a few feet.

I always kind of laugh whenever I hear a 20+ handicap say that they couldnt play anything but a Pro V1.

Whats in my :sunmountain: C-130 cart bag?

Woods: :mizuno: JPX 850 9.5*, :mizuno: JPX 850 15*, :mizuno: JPX-850 19*, :mizuno: JPX Fli-Hi #4, :mizuno: JPX 800 Pro 5-PW, :mizuno: MP T-4 50-06, 54-09 58-10, :cleveland: Smart Square Blade and :bridgestone: B330-S

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Originally Posted by GaijinGolfer

I always kind of laugh whenever I hear a 20+ handicap say that they couldnt play anything but a Pro V1.

Fully agree.   In fact, Pro V1 ball will hurt players with 20+ handicap.  They will see more balls spinning off of greens and fairways.

RiCK

(Play it again, Sam)

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I always kind of laugh whenever I hear a 20+ handicap say that they couldnt play anything but a Pro V1.

I have to disagree with that... how would you know considering you're a 20+ handicap? No offense. I'm not a 10 handicap and I can differentiate what certain golf balls do or don't do. The ball does matter to me when I notice more greenside spin or distance...

:titleist: 913 D2 w/ Oban Kiyoshi Purple :ping: G25 3 Wood w/ Graphite Design Tour AD-DJ6 :titleist: 913H 21* w/ Diamana Blue :ping: G25 4 - PW :vokey: SM4 Oil Can - 52, 56, 60 :cameron: Studio Select Newport 2 :golflogix: :bushnell: Tour V3

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I don't have 10 handicap (mine is 13) but I have to use certain balls (low trajectory, less spin, high compression).   I also take different type of ball depending on what type of course I play.   I'd bring distance golf balls on longer course and softer ones on hard surface course, etc..   If there is a strong wind, I will use lower trajectory balls.

RiCK

(Play it again, Sam)

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32.0 index is still a long way from a "20+" handicap. Most players I now over 30 handicap have yet to develop enough consistent ball striking to tell the small differences in spin around the greens between balls within the same class. However, I stand by my assertion that even the 30 handicap player can feel differences off their putter. Most 30+ players will also benefit from lower compression. There are lots of cheap low swing speed soft feeling balls. Srixon Soft Feel is another option not yet mentioned and they are affordable. (I play them when the temps are below 55).

Pick a ball you like to putt.

Russ - Student of the Moe Norman swing as taught by the pros at - http://moenormangolf.com

Titleist 910 D3 8.5* w/ Project X shaft/ Titleist 910F 15* w/ Project X shaft

Cobra Baffler 20* & 23* hybrids with Accra hybrid shafts

Mizuno MP-53 irons 5Iron-PW AeroTech i95 shafts stiff and soft stepped once/Mizuno MP T-11 50.6/56.10/MP T10 60*

Seemore PCB putter with SuperStroke 3.0

Srixon 2012 Z-Star yellow balls/ Iomic Sticky 2.3, X-Evolution grips/Titleist Lightweight Cart Bag---

extra/alternate clubs: Mizunos JPX-800 Pro 5-GW with Project X 5.0 soft-stepped shafts

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I played with Noodles quite a bit and could tell a difference in the softness. Good for beginners like me. There was a great thread for a guy who went from the 130s to 80s and how he got there. One of his steps was to use the same ball every time. Perhaps when I get much better, I will be able to see a significant difference in types. For now, I am content with getting used to the same ball every round. Takes any second guessing on the feel, spin etc and forces me to just work on my swing. I am playing Nike Crush. The only reason is that is the ball he used in the post I mentioned above and I can find them very easily under $20/dozen.
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