Does it really matter what type of ball a slow swing speed high handicapper hits?

A recommended ball for a slow swing speed is the Bridgestone e6.. but how much of a difference would playing a lets say pro v have on a score.  Do these anti slice or low compression balls really make a difference?  I feel better when playing a name brand ball rather than a top flite or pinnace, so it seems i would be doing better hitting a ball i like.  (btw i dont go out and buy brand new expensive golf balls, i find them or buy used ones)

Do NOT buy into the bridgestone marketing scheme.

It doesnt matter what ball you play - just stick with one for consistency. (I do not consider used or found balls to be consistent - you have no idea why their previous owner disowned them)

Actually it does. If you have a slow swing speed and hit a high compression golf ball you'll loose distance because your lowering the COR interaction with the golf club.

Now that I am in my 60's, and my swing speed has slowed considerably, my golf ball of preference is still the Titleist Pro V1. I have played balls like the Bridgestone e6, Callaway Diablo, and Titleist DT Solo, balls that are for slower swing speeds, but notice little distance variation from those and the Pro V1.  The reason I like the Pro V1 is basically because of the feel at impact.

The loss is minimal at best. What is 5 yards lost on a 200 yard drive?

Those two balls you listed will make a difference based on your swing speed, and type of game you play.  E6 has mid to high trajectory, goes straight, have less spin (not good if you want to shape shots).   Pro V1 has low trajectory, has higher spin rate, will behave better around green for double the price of E6.  It is probably not a good comparison.

You should have compared B6 with Titleist SOLO.   Most mid to high handicappers will notice very little difference between the two in terms of scoring.   If they tell you otherwise, don't believe it.

Ball Choice doesn't matter for weekend/AM golfers from the tee with driver........don't buy into the BS.  The main difference you will see is how the ball reacts on the green after a crisp iron approach providing you make solid iron contact. (the big if).....because most golfers rarely achieve pure contact!

I've been playing 20+yrs and carry a handicap lower than most, and I don't think ball model is a big deal from the tee.  If I make a good swing....ball go far.  I make a bad swing...ball don't go far!  LOL  Pretty simple.... I suppose if I had the perfect ball mated for my swing and hit it perfect....that perfect ball might go further, but how often do we achieve this to really know which ball goes further?....or did I just make a better swing?   99% of our distance loss is due to bad form...not the ball.

How a ball reacts on approaches to the green after a crisp shot is different which is why I prefer a performance spin ball.  I don't care which brand.  I don't want the rocks....the line is blurring because even the rocks spin more and have softer covers than they used to have.

Yeah, if you can screw up with one ball, you can screw up with another.   The scoring difference won't be noticeable.    But you no longer can blame the ball, eh?   Golf balls these days come a long way and different brand balls at similar price range resemble each other.   Even a golf ball testing expert admitted that (for distance) there is only about 5 yard difference among vast majority of golf balls.  Posters story about comparable ball (e.g, Titleist's best vs Bridgestone's best, Taylormade's lower swing speed ball vs that of Nike's) going 10 yards longer is an illusion.

Most people vary in distance from tee-shot to tee-shot by 30-50yds depending on how well they hit it.  How on earth can they say with a straight face..... .>>>>>>IE...I hit the prov1X further than the Prov1.....LOL  People who say this.................are full of crap!! (unless you are a tour pro)

I suspect even many of them don't really know....except they opt for the X version because it's a little more forgiving on approach shots.  that may even be BS......can they really tell the difference between the 1x and the x?  I'm not so sure.... pro's need to endorse each model to sell it.  I'm sure they'd  be just fine with either ball...but they pick 1 for marketing reasons.

I don't pretend to know anything serious about golf, but as a low swing speed (200 yard drives) high handicapper, here is my personal experience. I notice that the top flights feel like rocks when I hit them, and I lose them frequently. The noodle long and soft, curve into the woods with distressing regularity. I use a Precept Lady IQ+, and I can play 9 holes without losing a ball and I get a lot of nice drives (for me, mr low swing speed high handicapper) and I feel bad when I do slice one into the woods.. I don't seem to be able to find them in stores or on-line anymore though, so I just bought a new box of the Bridgestone e6s. I will update this thread after I have played a round or two with them.

I think when a player reaches a certain level of skill, like the single digit handicappers here, the game improvement part of golf equipment becomes less important and they might lose sight of the reasons for them.

My plan is performance  based.  Now i'm about H'cap 20 and will play any decent ball, mostly found. No cracked, stained, ugly, etc. No need for me to buy  balls now. When i get to H'cap say, 18, then i will treat myself to a box of ?>??. When i get to H'cap 15 will be even more selective based on what i have learned over the previous year. I agree that's it's all (99%) branding & marketing. I'm in Asia and i see many balls never encountered in USA. When i strike it right, ball performs. Any ball.

" When i strike it right, ball performs. "

Correct, I wish I struck it right every time though.

In my opinion, the only advantage a better ball gives a high handicapper is a mental one (which is actually very powerful).  I know I feel better with a pretty white Titleist sitting on my tee compared to my scuffed up pinnacles .

I agree with this. For the vast majority of high cappers there is very little benefit to using one brand/model versus another but there IS a benefit to playing the same ball all season because you will learn how that particular ball reacts to chips, pitches and putts. Ball A may roll out 10% less than ball B with the exact same swing, if you go through 2-3 balls in a round and they all react totally different on and around the greens you will never be able to build any confidence on these shots because you are always guessing.

Such a controversial topic.

If you roll the ball around the greens, just use whatever lower price ball fits your fancy - E6, E7, TM, Nike, Cally, etc. I leave out Titleist because their name brand is overpriced.

If you have enough skill to loft the ball around the greens and want spin, you might try the RBZ Urethane or Cally HEX Chrome (mid-priced urethane cover balls).

A lot of it seems to be personal preference which lends to confidence which lends to better ball striking......BUT....

I play either the Hex Chrome + or Pro V1x.  Hex Chrome + if I am thinking enough in advance to get them before I run low.  Pro V if I need to buy a sleeve at the course(most courses I play don't have the Chrome +).  Since going to these balls I've seen my HC drop about 2-3 points because my greenside control is sooooo much better.

Today it was 44* at our 0800 tee time.  Chrome + felt like a rock for the first time since I've been hitting them, but this was coolest weather yet.  I was lucky to get a 230yrd drive(granted it was wet and soft and also a heavy dew with little roll out).

After 9 holes I switched to an e6 I've left in my bag.  Bang!  Nice feel on the drive and distance seemed to jump back to the 250yrd zone.  Felt soooo much softer.  BUT....greenside became a chore as I was getting so much extra run out with almost no spin.  It was basically a wash between front and back scores.

It seems I need to look for a low compression high speed cool weather ball......or stop these damn early tee times in the 40s and deer hunt.

Try the HEX Chrome in colder weather

Well, I tried the Bridgestone e6s today and didn't lose one until the tee shot off of #12.  Then out of curiosity, I tried my squireliest ball, the Noodle Long & Soft. I never lost it for the rest of the the round so I guess it wasn't the ball. For giggles and since I was alone out there on the 18th, I hit from the back tees and tried all three, the Noodle, a Top Flight XL, and the e6. I hit the e6 noticeably longer but I am not a consistent ball striker, so that doesn't mean much.

That being said, I liked the e6, I felt I hit it further, and straighter. Maybe it is just a placebo effect, but I think I am going to stick with them. I hear what people say about hitting the same ball, and I think they are probably right.  When I start generating some back spin and notice the ball biting on the green, it will be time to upgrade, but right now hitting a green is just frustrating because it means it is going to just roll off, I don't think a Pro V1 would help that for me yet.