A Better Golf Ball

[RetiredOldMan]

Until recently, I played golf balls that I found, including X-Out Balls, and some had minor cuts or scuff marks on them. 

I managed to drop my handicap under 20 and now find myself liking new golf balls and golf balls that are in good to excellent condition. 

I used to hit Callaways, soft golf balls and then bought a dozen X-Out Titleist to play in a Senior's tournament and from there moved up to a Titleist 80% compression golf ball. 

However, being a senior citizen, 73 years old, I actually like a Wilson/Staff 50% compression golf balls. It is very soft, comes off of the club face nice and feels comfortable when I hit it. 

However, with a handicap of 17.9 and trying to get it down to a 10 handicap, I find that I need to make sure that my ball is in good to excellent condition so I don't inadvertently wind up in the rough. My partner (8 handicap) says it is in the rough for a reason.  Maybe a player hit it there or maybe the ball got out of round or balance and went into the rough. Either way, if you are serious about lowering your handicap and want to have a better golf score, then you need to pay attention to your golf ball. 

We spend hundreds of dollar, maybe even over a thousand, for a set of golf clubs, several hundred for a pair of shoes and then try and shoot excellent golf with a crappy golf ball. We never blame the ball, use old beat up balls for our water shots and then get disgusted when it goes into the lake or water hazard.

Then I have friends who walk the golf course and bring me golf balls and I feel obligated to take them. But when I play on a nice, well kept, green golf course, I just cringe when I see golfers scrounge for tees and use an old golf ball from the rough they found three courses ago. 

I am an instrument rated private pilot. If I used old, out of date instruments, to fly in bad weather, I would very quickly get myself in a serious condition I could not recover from, and even lose my life. 

When I play golf, how can I justify the skimping of using cheap, free, golf balls only to wind up in the rough with a condition I cannot recover from? (I know, I know) (Just having fun). 

So now, I play with "Good to Excellent" golf balls. Come Hell or High Water, the 10 handicap will become a reality in 2020!

Anyone else feel this way? 

 

Retired Old Man

P.S.> It s cold, 38*, and rainy today. I can't get outside to the golf course. 😞 

[djake]

I can relate to what you are saying.  I am looking to gain every edge I can in golf, when i am healthy enough to play. The golf ball is one area that can make a significant difference.  

One of my friends has gone from being a recreational let's get together and waste an afternoon golfing to now he is getting serious about his game.  Lessons, joined a Country Club, in a couple leagues, getting a new set of clubs, has a GHIN - but - he still plays pond balls.  I told him he is losing 20 yards off the tee with those balls even more if they have been soaking for a long time.  I gave him some new golf balls and he couldn't believe the differance, still plays pond balls though 🙂

I get a chuckle out of him and his pond balls, good friend.

So yes, i enjoy hitting new golf balls and i stay with pretty much the same couple brands.  

 

[RetiredOldMan]

I forgot to mention that recently I bought a dozen X'd-Out Titleist at Walmart for $19.99.

They played fairly well but my partner gave me a bad time about the balls. ( Teasing me )

Well, we compared the balls and mine actually felt heavier and consistently fell short of his new Titleist 100% compression balls. 

He claimed that even though they were sold with the intention of being equal to new balls, they were not. 

So, I use Titleist soft with red numbers or a Callaway or some good quality ball. (Pinnacle, Noodle, Nike)

A cheap ball that I really like is a Wilson-Staff. I don't know, I just seem to like them. (50% compression) 

My Dad, was Texas State Champion one year back in the 50's (Left Handed) and he played with a cheap Woolworth golf ball. He and Ben Hogan were golfing buddies. 

Also, on a side note; Do any of you "Old Timers" remember when a Titleist ball was so soft that the heavy hitters would crease the ball with an iron because they didn't catch it just right? 

When I was playing back in the 60's and 70's I would play with a "Solid State Golf Ball." One cold morning I was playing Patty Jewett golf course in Colorado Springs and when my partner hit the "Solid State Golf Ball" it shattered into pieces. 😄 

It was so cold that we had to play with yellow golf balls and hit around the patches of snow that had not melted yet. On the 18th hole, the lake would still be frozen over and you could hit your driver, land on the ice from the frozen over lake, and if you were lucky, roll onto the green. 

Some of you fellow golfers may think I am "full of it", but I don't care. Everything I just wrote actually took place. Enjoy the story  telling and head for the next post. (Or feel free to share your golf ball story) 

Retired Old Man

[Piz]

My advice:  find something you like and stick with it until they stop making them.  Then repeat the process.

[RetiredOldMan]

4 minutes ago, Piz said:

My advice:  find something you like and stick with it until they stop making them.  Then repeat the process.

The trouble is I like several of them (golf balls) and always think that some new super duper ball is going to magically lower my handicap. 

When, in reality, it is a matter of discipline (addressing the ball, lining up correctly, relaxing ) before I hit the ball and a combination of being focused with my game and still play and have fun.

I long for the day (have come close but not totally) when I can play 18 holes and not have one hole that blows my game. I have accomplished the feat of playing 18 holes and not losing a ball. 

Anyway, thanks for your advice. I think you may have helped me a lot. 

Retired Old Man 

[nicolas wieder]

its all feel. if it feels good use it. its not more complicaed than that.

[Missouri Swede]

5 hours ago, RetiredOldMan said:

Also, on a side note; Do any of you "Old Timers" remember when a Titleist ball was so soft that the heavy hitters would crease the ball with an iron because they didn't catch it just right? 

 

[CarlSpackler]

5 hours ago, RetiredOldMan said:

Also, on a side note; Do any of you "Old Timers" remember when a Titleist ball was so soft that the heavy hitters would crease the ball with an iron because they didn't catch it just right? 

I grew up making golf balls smile. 

[billchao]

The ball is the reason we end up in the rough or a penalty area? Is this a serious topic?

[cooke119]

I always use new golf balls, never even pick up a ball on the course that someone lost. However, at my age, 68 years old and retired, I don't buy expensive balls, I usually buy the Kirkland three piece balls through Costco, I like them. I have no idea what compression they are, don't know if I would even feel the difference.

[RetiredOldMan]

3 hours ago, billchao said:

The ball is the reason we end up in the rough or a penalty area? Is this a serious topic?

No, of course not, but a good quality and well conditioned golf ball will help you play better golf.

If we are going to track speed off the club face and spin revolutions, it makes sense to have a golf ball that can keep itself within the proper parameters. 

Retired Old Man 

[Missouri Swede]

2 hours ago, RetiredOldMan said:

No, of course not, but a good quality and well conditioned golf ball will help you play better golf.

“Previously enjoyed”?  “Broken in”?

[RetiredOldMan]

My golf partner won't even play with a golf ball that has a scruff mark on it. 

I am not so picky. I will play with a used ball as long as it appears to be in good condition and has a good bounce to it.

I do not like colored balls. for some reason, I have a hard time seeing them and I seem to lose them frequently. 

The old "White" ball seems to work the best for me. 

Retired Old Man

[Buckeyebowman]

On 5/12/2020 at 4:47 PM, RetiredOldMan said:

 

Also, on a side note; Do any of you "Old Timers" remember when a Titleist ball was so soft that the heavy hitters would crease the ball with an iron because they didn't catch it just right?  

Retired Old Man

It wasn't just the Titleists. I've played this game for 50+ years. Used to play lots of Spalding "Dots", and "Dunlop" Maxflis. You could smile up any ball with a balata cover if you caught it thin with an iron. I really used to hate that! 

Nowadays, the only way I'll play a found ball is if it looks pretty new and in good condition. It's amazing how many ProV-1's I find. No doubt they sell a lot of them. Last year I found a Taylor Made TP5. Looked brand new, and holy cow what a great feeling ball! Played it the rest of that round and more, until I pounded it into the woods! 

My problem with some golf balls is what they cost. I liken golf balls to shoes. The ones I really like all seem to cost more than I care to spend! So, I am forced to compromise. 

[NZ Golfer]

I buy pretty much all of my balls through these guys at present >> not so bad when I smash several into the never-neverland

Premium Used Golf Balls - Lostgolfballs.com

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