How do you select "your" golf ball?

While I don't have tons of golfing experience, (just over a year now) I like trying different balls.  When I first started I bought some cheapo Ram balls, and I liked them.  They were very durable and I got decent distance, and my friends that golf like them as well.  I also have some (again, cheap) Top Flite XLs.  Didn't like them any more or less.  Then I found a Callaway ball and I loved it.  So far Callaways are my favorite.  I also was given a box of Titleist DT Solos which I enjoyed.  I think I like seeing how different balls react.  I'm sure with more experience I'll settle on one brand, but for now I mix them up. 

Golf balls like the DT SoLo have covers made with Surlyn (sometimes called ionomer, a non-brand name), a firm material. Surlyn golf balls don't spin as much, are much cheaper, and typically go farther. DT SoLos are some of the cheapest golf balls you can buy (but if you're so afraid of losing golf balls, that's perfectly fine).

More expensive golf balls (ProV1s, B330s, really anything over $35) have covers made with urethane, a softer material that scuffs much easier, doesn't go quite as far, but spins more. Pros use these golf balls because they need the spin around the green, the golf balls feel softer, and when you already can hit it 300 yards on command, an extra few yards isn't worth the loss of spin.

For me, I have to find a ball that putts good. One that I like the feel off the putter, starts rolling right off the club face and don't skid. From there I guess the next thing I look for is distance off the driver. Right now I'm playing the Srixon Z-Star.

Ill echo this. A high handicap golfer will suffer using a premium balkl. First, they'lkl produce way too much spin off the tee, causing major problems. Sidespin off the tee will kill your drives, and you will just exxaggerate your curerent problems. Second, most high handicaps cannot produce backspin around the green in sufficient quantities to actually benefit from a premium ball like the penta, prov1, 20xi, etc, etc.

 

Do however, buy yourself a sleeve of premium balls for when you are practicing on the practice green. Etiquette, from what i've seen, is that you not drop more than three balls to practice with on the green. Practice lots of chipping, learn to make those balls spin, backup, and stop. It may take a long time, but they should last a long time, and you will know when you are doing things right.

I think some of it depends on where you live. Being in Washington state, for almost 6 months a year any decent 2 piece ball will do as it's in the low 50's at best and pretty soft. There are a lot of less than $1 per balls options, but I like TF D2 Feels. I have heard good things about Wilson's offerings at this price level.

When warmer temps begin to arrive, I have really come to like TF Gamers over the last couple of years. Picked up 5 dz at $10 per earlier this year which makes it even better since it's a great ball at $20 per dz. When fast and firm conditions finally arrive, I still have a 5 dz stash of TM Reds from the wall mart close out of a few years ago.

One thing I noticed 4 years ago when getting back into golf and even more so today, there are a lot of good balls out there without paying a ton. My goal this year was to play all year and average $1 a ball or less.

Since I've been focusing and practicing on my short game (150 yards and in), I look for a ball with good bite. I tried some Nike Vapor Black ($25-30 per dozen) and I liked them pretty well. Since $$$ is tight, a local pawn shop sells good condition used balls. A dozen Pro V 1 or 2's costs $15. I'm still at the stage of my game where I might loose one or 2 a round so I don't buy real expensive balls. If I where to play in a tournament I would probably go with the Nike Vapors again. IMO very good mid-range ball...I've played with guys who are "ball snobs" and after seeing them hit I wonder. I bought some balls once and after my round tried to return them. I told the guy, "these won't go in the cup..."

Yes, it won't slice/hook quite as much. The DT SoLos are some of my favorite "cheap" balls, they seem to me to be some of the more durable.

Some others to consider include are the Bridgestone "e" series (e5, e6, e7), TaylorMade RocketBallz, Nike Crush, and theTop Flite Gamer (which is widely considered the best dozen golf balls you can get for $20).

I got a ball fitting a couple of years back, and use that along with a Golf Digest grid which compares golf balls.

 

For quite awhile I have played a mid-spin, mid-trajectory golf ball. Last three years it has been the TopFlite Gamer.v2.

I select golf balls by playing them.

 

I really like the Pro V1 balls but I don't like the price tag.  I have recently been playing the Noodle Long & Soft balls ($15 per dozen).  They don't feel like rocks and actually stay on the greens.  Some of the even cheaper balls I have tried (example being Pinnacle) were really hard to keep on the green because they don't spin.  They felt like shit coming off my clubs too.  You can definitely tell the difference when playing nice balls.

 

I have never had an issue with accuracy off the tees with higher spin balls like some claim.  I like to be able to work my balls left or right anyway so spin is essential.  If you have a swing flaw that is putting side spin on your ball unintentionally, i'm sure a high spin ball would do more good than bad for you.

 

In your case, OP, if you have a swing speed in the low 80s you will definitely benefit from a softer ball in my opinion.  There are plenty of them out there to choose from.  My swing speed is over 100 and I still like the 'Long & Soft' balls that I have been using.

ive switched over to yellow balls and really digging the Titleist dt solo, NXT tour, and Srixon tri speed. my average swing speed is 95 mph. they dont go crazy with side spin unless i made a horrible swing and they have decent stopping power hitting into greens. the biggest thing for me is how they feel hitting off my irons. ive hit balls that felt like a mishit even when i hit them dead center of the clubface. i love hitting iron shots and feeling feedback from the club on my irons. hitting a ball dead flush and it feeling like u didnt even hit a ball at all is a great feeling!

I narrowed it down to 2 piece balls and trial and error from there.

 

Ended up at the bridgestone E5.

When I started back into gold 3 years ago I played with Nike PD Softs.  I was not hitting the ball with alot of swing speed because I was concentrating on my technique.  As my game got better I moved to the Nike Crush which is designed for higher swing speeds.  This year I have moved to the Nike Vapor Black which I love.  It has some spin but not as much as a premium ball. 

I tried these too and really like them

I found the Nike Crush to be one of the worst golf balls I have ever hit.

I had the same confising dilema a coule of years back, I used to play anything, then one day I was playing in an inter-club match and the guy I way playing with asked why I didn't play Pro V's. I said I didn't know and never really thought about it.

A few days later I grabbed some balls out of my shag bag and went out to practice chipping, after a while I started to notice how some balls stopped a bit quicker on the green, and some rolled out more. So now, if I'm playing on a course where the greens are a little slower than I'm used to I'll play a DT Solo or NXT, if the greens are a a bit quicker I'll play the Pro V1 so it stops a little quicker.

My choice as well.  The Gamer V2 has a relatively high spin rate, adequate distance, and a really low price point for a 3-piece ball.  Don't let the TopFlite name turn you off to what's the best bargain that I know.