What kind of ball should I use

[crawf061]

I'm kind of in a tough position as far as golf balls go. Earlier this year I was playing the Nike One Platinum and I was really enjoying it. However, the +$40/dozen was really starting to take a toll on my golf budget, so I decided I would move back to the balls that I used to play all the time, the Nike PD Soft at $15/dozen.

There are two things I noticed with this change. The first one was obvious: the PD Soft is very difficult to spin, so my play around the greens is much more of a struggle. I have a hard time gaging how far the ball is going to roll out.

The second thing I noticed is what bothers me. Switching to the cheaper ball gives me between 20 and 30 yards more with my driver and 10-15 more with my irons. I was expecting it to fly a little bit farther, but that was pretty shocking.

Tomorrow I am in a tournament at a very short course. It is 5801 yards from the tips (68.1/128). There are three par 4s that are 309 yards or less. There are three par 5s that are all 541 yards or less.

I know that I can get around the course in regulation with the Nike One. However, I'm just wondering if it would be worth losing some touch around the greens to try to reach the shorter holes under regulation.

Thoughts? I'm going to buy some golf balls this evening and I'm willing to pay the price for the Nike Ones. (I would prefer to not go to a different manufacturer before tomorrow)

[DJYoshi]

i say..once you find a ball that you're comfortable with that truly compliments your game...don't switch... like last year i tried both the one plats for 2007 and 2006. i bought up all the 2006's b/c i liked them more.... this year i tried the 2008 one plats and i'm not going to use another ball the rest of the season... have you tried the previous years? some qualities you might like more than current years.

[crawf061]

Yeah, I've tried the 07s and 08s. I have to say that I like the 08s better, but I'm not really able to compare my distances with the two.

I'm starting to lean more towards getting some more Nike Ones this evening. I think the confidence with the ball around the green would outweigh the confidence of extra distance. Since it is such a short course I'm not going to have to worry about hitting it long, if I'm not going for the green under regulation. My longest approach is going to be about 190 downhill (on a par 3), so I can handle playing the shorter ball.

[bogeyhitter25]

Honestly, I'm in love with the Nike Juices because I never ever lose them. But that's just me.

[Jaybone]

Can you find any Nike Platinum X Out's anywhere? I picked up a couple dozen Pro V1 Xouts at Dick's this winter. They sell for $29.99,had a sale price of $24.99 had a couple of coupons for $10off$25,so I would pick up some tee's and be out the door with the balls for $15. They look great and perfect to me. Better then going back to a ball you don't really like.

[crawf061]

Just a reply to let ya'll know my decision and how it worked out for me.

I went back the Nike One Platinums (2008) and I could not have been more pleased. When I got to the course I learned that my flight was going to be playing from the second set of tees instead of the tips. This meant the short course just got a ton shorter.

I drove the first green with my 3 wood and two-putted for birdie. The second hole was a par 5, that I had a 7 iron into the green on my second shot (I pushed it way right, left my 3rd on the fringe, and then skulled my fourth... right into the flagstick and then the bottom of the cup!). Unfortunately the birdie-birdie start was negated by the triple bogey on the 4th. I did manage to drive the 14th, a 252 yard uphill par 4, and made a very short eagle putt (my very first one). Then the next hole I drove the ball into the rough just to the right of the green. Got up and down for the birdie there. Once again though, the eagle-birdie run was short-lived as I triple-bogeyed the 16th hole .

All in all though, I think the decision to go with the Nike One was great, and I had a blast with the round. It was an emotional roller coaster and I loved it.

[Pinseeker81]

I had been playing the Nike PD line of balls till this weekend, I decided to give the Platinum a try. I was looking for something with more spin around the greens, and boy was I pleased. With the PD's my pitches went, "hop hop rooooooooooooooll off the green, chip". With the Platinum they went, "hop hop stop". I don't think I had a pitch roll out more than 6'.

Till yesterday I thought the high spin ball stuff might have been exagerated, but I'm a true believer now, lol.

[hawkeye]

white and round

[JYB]

If you like Nike's, try getting some Bridgestone 330s. Similar ball in my experience...

[golf_junkie27]

Would you ever consider purchasing high quality used Nike Platinum One balls? If so, they're all over the 'net. You can get them as cheap as $15, a dozen.

[beung]

Have you tried Pro-V1(x)?

They are similar in price, distance, feel and spin but because everyone plays them you are likely to find alot more that are re-usable then just about any other ball expect maybe Callaway....especially if you belong to a course.

Or you might want to try the NXT-tour, multi layer ball but doesn't have as much spin as the Pro-V line, but much cheaper.