I'm playing the wrong ball

[Teedub7]

I am 15 and i am finally getting good after years of lessons and i am playing the wrong golf ball. I hit my drives fine, and the ball rolls fine, but once i hit my approach to the green i see poor results. I hit the ball, it hits the green, and with no matter what club it rolls like a foot and doesnt leave a ball mark. I asked the pro about it and he said i need a harder ball, and since i like the nike one series, i asked if i could hit the blacks, and he said thats too hard. I dont know if i agree with him. I want your guys opinion about harder golf balls, i dont know which Taylormade ball to play or which Callaway one, but i heard great things about the Pro V1X but i have played that ball before and it was okay.

I hit a driver about 245 and my swing speed is above 110 MPH. My three wood goes 230 and the swing speed is 96 MPH. My natural swing is a soft fade, but i hit the ball straight and can draw it when i need to. Could you recomend a ball for me to try, they have trial packs of 2 in the pro shop that i can get.

[bogeyhitter25]

I'm sorry dude. I can't really help you out with this one. I've hit Nike One Blacks, and I'm in love with them, but I'm a completely different person. Your best bet would be to go to a golf store and test balls out on a screen. Other than that, I'm not quite sure.

[srjorion]

I suggest just trying different sleeves as you play. It's tought to recommend a ball on a web forum. Everyone has their personal favorite.

For me, and my handicap is close to yours, I play well with the Titleist NXT Extremes. I can't tell much difference between the Tours and Extremes to justify using the more expensive ones.

Since you are 15, unless your parents are rich and throw a lot of money your way, I would recommend going for a mid range ball.

Good luck in your search. Find something you are comfortable with and trust it!!!!

[golf_junkie27]

Tee,

The first question to you is what are you looking for the ball to do? Just because the ball is not leaving a ball mark does not mean it is not the right ball. There are many factors to leaving a ball mark like flight trajectory and condition of the green.

You should take a look at a previous Golf Magazine issue reviewed about 50 golf balls. Based upon the specs of the ball, you can then choose what works best for you. You should, though, decide what you're looking for the ball to do, first.

[Teedub7]

i guess i want the ball to release, and i have to pay for all my own equipment, and i spend the money that i make from caddying for my golf stuff. Secondly, i think im gonna try the blacks despite the pro saying they are too hard for me. thanks for the advice, i think i need to try those trial balls and then go to a ball fitting or something.

[odstore]

If you swing 110+ you should be able to compress the nike blacks without a problem so I don't know why they would be "too hard." On a side note, you swing 110+ at 15? And how do you only hit your driver 245?

[michaeljames92]

If you swing 110+ you should be able to compress the nike blacks without a problem so I don't know why they would be "too hard." On a side note, you swing 110+ at 15? And how do you only hit your driver 245?

isn't the whole idea when hitting a green is for it not to release? millions of golfers around the world use pro v1's to get this spin and you don't want it? i'd say use your gift.

[Stacey_E]

Yeah check the Feb.2008 Golf Magazine issue. I'm suprised at how few people have read this issue. You use the ball you choose on every single shot. This read isn't the be all end all, but I know it will narrow your selection down to 3 or 4 balls. BTW I WISH i had this problem.....realeasing a foot.

[Teedub7]

yeah but i dont want this to happen with the ball, i can understand why you guys want the ball to just stick to the green, but im carrying it and this is leaving me many many many long putts, when i used to be able to roll the ball closer to the hole. Thanks for the advice, but i didnt get an issue of golf magazine in feburary 2008, my subscription started in march. Is there a link you could show me. And the reason i swing 110+ and hit it on 245 is cause im playing the wrong ball.

[Cody]

And the reason i swing 110+ and hit it on 245 is cause im playing the wrong ball.

I find that to be a little ridiculous...my father and his friends play whatever ball they find and they all consistently drive it 300 yards...

[golf_junkie27]

I find that to be a little ridiculous...my father and his friends play whatever ball they find and they all consistently drive it 300 yards...

That could very well be the case. I saw Anthony Anderson swing his driver 115MPH and the ball went 250 yards. If he's using a high spinning ball and not making pure contact, he won't get max distance.

[Stacey_E]

I swing about 92-95 and go 240. Can I ask what the height on your drives are. Do they seem higher than the other guys you play with?

[m11]

And the reason i swing 110+ and hit it on 245 is cause im playing the wrong ball.

that kind of swing speed will get you pretty close to the 300 mark. Changing your ball wont add 50 yards to your drives.

[Teedub7]

I find that to be a little ridiculous...my father and his friends play whatever ball they find and they all consistently drive it 300 yards...

this is very dumb, if this was true the pros would use any kind of ball they could find not a Pro V or an expensive ball. And do you even know how far 300 yards is? I highly doubt your dad and his friends consistently hit it over 300 yards, theres guys on tour who dont hit it that far. The farthest driver on the PGA Tour is J.B. Holmes and he hits is like 320. To answer the other question about my ball flight, the ball flight is a good trajectory, but i dont get the roll that the other golfers in my group do. I hit irons and wedges significantly farther, for example i hit a 5 from 200 yards and they hit a 3 iron. And from 100 yards i hit a 56 and they hit 52. I get one huge kick and then the ball checks up, almost like an iron should.

[Stacey_E]

Well you may be a canidate for X flex shafts or higher kick shafts. Sounds like your spinning the ball pretty hard. The i10s probably have a low center of gravity which adds to spin. I'd check my ball speed too and not just my clubhead speed. If you are center of the face on a 110 MPH driver the ball speed should be about 165 MPH. If your not hitting center, maybe try a shorter shaft. I gained on average (average of all my drives good and bad) 15-20 yards by going to a 44" shaft. Just some ideas.

[Teedub7]

I hit on a monitor and it said S flex was enough and thanks for the ideas.

[Cody]

this is very dumb, if this was true the pros would use any kind of ball they could find not a Pro V or an expensive ball. And do you even know how far 300 yards is? I highly doubt your dad and his friends consistently hit it over 300 yards, theres guys on tour who dont hit it that far. The farthest driver on the PGA Tour is J.B. Holmes and he hits is like 320.

Sorry captain golf god, no need for insults.

They do consistently drive it 300 yards, and they are all younger and in alot better shape than pros, hence longer drives but worse short game. Come off a little strong there for a young guy. I find it hard to believe that you have 112 MPH driver swing speed at 15, but i don't go around calling you stupid and dumb.

[Teedub7]

alright i guess i do owe cody an apology, im just so frustrated about my game right now, this distance loss and spin problem is making my scores go up. And to clear up the 112 MPH swing speed, this is true, infact ive slowed it down since last season when i was swining out of control.

Cody sorry for sounding like a little punk, i should have believed you.

Ok back to the original post, i forgot to add that my spin rate with a 3 wood was over 2300 rpm, which i no is extremely high. And the 245 number is the average drive, ive hit a couple this week that have gone 290. But its never consistant, and thats with a harder golf ball than the platinums that i currently play. I apprecitate everyone helping out, and i hope that all your advice helps me out.