Golf Ball Selection

jmr · November 10, 2009

Currently I use whatever ball I can get my hands on.. I have a big bucket of balls I pick up on the course and before heading out for a round will try and pick the "best" balls I have (titleist's, callaway, nike) they are never the same style however....

I always here a guy I play with say (totally Illegal BTW) well I drive w/ such and such ball but have to put with a pro V1. He likes the feel of the pro V1 on the putting surface.

Does playing with the same ball all the time have any benefits or is it just hype??

**chilly** · November 10, 2009

I'm not consistent enough to pretend that a ball will make me a better player by any large measure. That said, as I play more, I'm noticing that the amount of spin around the greens needs to be consistent. I have done the golf ball "grab bag" before and it can be a little detrimental around the greens if you're used to a ball that spins/doesn't spin and you grab a ball that acts quite different.

**Danattherock** · November 10, 2009

Of course it matters. Perhaps no where more importantly than on the putting green. I suggest trying some affordable balls perhaps, but get a dozen and play with them. If you like feel and touch, and a great putting ball, give the Srixon Soft Feel a try. Awesome ball for $20/dozen. Really on the cheap, find some Precept Laddie's. I found some on Amazon a few months back for under $8/dozen (brand new). They are a softer ball and very underestimated in my opinion. Golf Warehouse, Edwin Watts, etc.. will always have some balls on sale at their websites. Shop around and get a good deal on some balls.

http://www.tgw.com/customer/category...EGORY_ID/10978

In Mass, eh? I have been working on the cape for three years. Up here 9 months out of the year. Cold winter golf up here man:)

**lumpuckeroo** · November 10, 2009

Currently I use whatever ball I can get my hands on.. I have a big bucket of balls I pick up on the course and before heading out for a round will try and pick the "best" balls I have (titleist's, callaway, nike) they are never the same style however....

I think it matters, golf has so many variables as is, that playing with the same ball is one way to eliminate one of the variables without much effort.

**kfowler** · November 10, 2009

Huge difference. Take a Pinnacle Gold Lond Distance and compare it to a Pro V1. On the green and off the team. The sound and feel are totally different. Even at your handicap, you should be able to tell the difference. There is no right or wrong answer here. Play the one that feels best to you.

There are some great balls under $20. I would encourage you to stick with one for a couple of rounds.

jmr · November 10, 2009

Thanks for all the informative reply's, I have felt the difference off the tee with balls like top flight XL 2000's vs. some of the callaway and nike balls. The top flight's feel very hard. And from what I've been reading ball deflection is very important in imparting spin and creating more distance.

I think you guys are right and I will have to select a ball that is priced right and plays well. Again I have never really put much though into it but if the ball released from the putter differently from ball to ball how am I suposed to judge putting distance and power properly. The more I put it together I realize my putting is much more consistent days that I'm not loosing balls and switching em up.. I now feel due to the using different hardness balls my putting distance will always vary even w/ the same swing.

One site I've been directed towards is www.lostgolfballs.com , they have great deals on used balls. 100 AAAA ProV1's for $1.50 a ball.. not too bad.

Danattherock:
It does stink loosing 5+ months of golf due winter.. I played this past sunday.. 65 degrees in the first week of november it was a blessing. Actually shot the best round of golf in my life (46). Tough to put the clubs away after a nice 9 like that.

skagen · November 10, 2009

the old school e6+ is on sale for 15 bucks a dozen. Great ball, at least when I play them. The ProVs will reduce your distance off irons if you swing slower (driver <95). The Wilson Staff Fifty and Zip are pretty good balls too. THe most important thing is to not keep switching balls, choose one for the season and stick with it for consistency purposes.

**James_Black** · November 10, 2009

I swap around the golf balls I play.(If I have them)
I use a pro V1 on par 3's
anything really on par 4's
and a pinnacle gold distance on par 5's

**plugged** · November 10, 2009

As someone that was at a 30HC for years and only recently have dropped down into the 80's, I don't think it matters a bit of difference unless you are a 20HC or less. The idea that it does matter assumes that you can hit a ball consistently. If you literally have no idea when you swing what in the world the ball is going to do, then the ball you are hitting will have such an insignificant impact on your score that it doesn't matter if it is a Titleist or Top Flight.

And, BTW, I have tried this on the course, both with own game a couple of years ago, and with a friend who actually played worse than me. My friend used to play new Callaways all the time. Myself, I have over 1,000 like-new balls of every variety, brand, and model you can possibly imagine. For both of us, there was absolutely no difference between hitting random balls and a "premium" ball. I still have a long ways to go in my game, but I am fairly consistent with my shots these days and routinely score in the mid- to high-80's. For the first time in my life I can tell the difference between the quality of ball I am playing.

Don't waste your money on premium golf balls. Work on your swing and that is how you will improve.

**sean_miller** · November 10, 2009

As someone that was at a 30HC for years and only recently have dropped down into the 80's, I don't think it matters a bit of difference unless you are a 20HC or less.

Bingo!! I wouldn't suggest anyone should hit old rock hard garbage balls on full shots (e.g. old Maxfli DDH) but that's just to preserve the clubs and the joints. As long as you're not switch from shot to shot, any 1/2 decent player can adjust to a lesser ball within a couple holes. IF people had to use a ProV1 to hit a good shot, how the heck did Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Greg Norman, Nick Price, etcetera, hit so many good shots before they introduced the ProV1?

The couple years I played at single digit, you know what ball I used? MacGregor Tourney - they were middle of the pack but really cheap so I bought a truckload.

**kfowler** · November 11, 2009

As someone that was at a 30HC for years and only recently have dropped down into the 80's, I don't think it matters a bit of difference unless you are a 20HC or less. The idea that it does matter assumes that you can hit a ball consistently. If you literally have no idea when you swing what in the world the ball is going to do, then the ball you are hitting will have such an insignificant impact on your score that it doesn't matter if it is a Titleist or Top Flight.

But hitting the ball with your driver or iron is only one part of the game. The ball can make a tremendous impact around the green. And I'm not just talking about chipping. There's a huge difference in feel coming off the putter. Which ball is right is up to your personal preference.

**Danattherock** · November 11, 2009

PUTTING, you know, about half the strokes on your scorecard...

This is reason enough for hitting the same ball each time you play. When I try out a new ball, I am putting with it first. If I like the way it putts, then I consider looking over the other numerous qualities of said ball. As of late, I have fell in love with Srixon Z-stars. I also like the Srixon soft feel and Precept Laddie X in the cheaper sections. But don't for a second overlook the importance of the ball on the putting green. Your sense of feel and having the same ball is crucial. To putt a Pinnacle rock one day, then a Topflite XL2000, then a Maxfli Noodle, then a .... is an exercise in frugality. Get some balls you can afford and play with them. Many to choose from, I prefer the softer balls myself for feel/spin with wedges and as mentioned the feel on the greens.

As for playing in Mass, man, what a difference. Out here on the island it gets windy too. But the thing I can't get past is how short the days are. I went out yesterday and hit some balls at the range and wanted to putt some afterwards. Got to the range at 4 pm and 35 minutes later I couldn't see my 5 iron land. No putting was done. This time of year a very cloudy day equals some very short days. Snow is not a huge problem here on the cape, but wind, wind, wind, and short dreary days are the norm in winter. Oh, how I do miss North Carolina as it pertains to golf in winter. Ha ha...

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