Need help choosing a ball

[JCDot33]

I am sure this question has been discussed so much people don't want to talk about it anymore ... but really, I would like to get some ideas what you guys might think.

Currently I am playing the Callaway Warbird. I am a 14-ish handicap and I have a swing speed of about 105 m.p.h. I also tend to hit a slight fade ...

I am happy with the Warbird, I like it, but is there something I might be happier with ... cost is a factor ... I really can't validate the Titleist $45 a dozen tag ... but $15 - $30 doesn't really both me.

Thanks for any input you might have ...

~ Dot

[golf_junkie27]

Dot,

What are you looking to do? Do you want a high spinning ball? A ball that carries longer? A two-piece ball, three-piece?

[Wazzu8]

Distance:
Top Flite Freak
Callaway HX Hot
NXT Extreme

Spin:
Top Flite Gamer
HX Hot Bite
NXT tour

[TinCupTampa]

If you like the Warbird... You will like the Big Bertha and HX Hot for alot of the same reasons... you will gain more greenside control with these as well.

[Dub]

Give a dozen E5+ balls a try and see what you think.

[907golfer12]

Check out the Taylormade Burner and Burner TP $20 and $25 respectively. They are great for distance, and the TP spins quite well.

[Jaybone]

You could even go with the Pro V1's or Pro V1X's Xouts. Dick's sells then for $30 and there are lots of store coupons out there to make them even cheaper.

[GaijinGolfer]

Id go with any of the mid-range balls that go for $25-$35 a dozen. They will spin a little more than your Warbirds and should give you a little more control on the green.

[JCDot33]

Dot,

That's a good question ... I guess, well, I'm not sure, maybe a little more spin ... maybe a little more distance ...

I think this is more of a, "this is what I am using, what I like, but am I missing out on something" type question ... Just looking for other's input really.

[golf_junkie27]

A ball with a little more distance and a little more spin is the Titleist DT Carry. You will get better greens control on approach shots as they tend to land and stop with very little run. They also roll nicely on putts. They're $20-$22 a dozen.

A second ball that may interest you is an old Nike: TW Accuracy. You can find these on ebay for as little as $10 a dozen. This ball has good but not crazy spin and you'll get good distance. Again, they roll nicely on putts and check up well on short and greenside shots.

[PipePro]

My Driver swing speed is the same as yours and I went to the Bridgestone fitting at my local range. I have played Titleist for close to 30 years last few using ProV's.
It was recommended that I try the Bridgestone E5+ (called the poor mans ProV) I was ecstatic when I hit them. Launch angle improved spin rate was good, feel was gr8. Seemless technology so no matter how it sits the distance the ball carries is the same (when I make good contact lol). So after using the free 3 pack I went out and bought my first dozen. WOW!!! $25.99 Woohoo
I strongly recommend them.

[BOMBINTHEDRIVER]

Try the E5/E6 (+), NXT Tour, HX Hot Bite, HX Hot, Nike Juice.

[keb]

The only ball which I buy is the Wilson Staff Zip. Reasonably priced, soft around green and good distance off the tee. They are somewhat under the radar even with gold rating by Golf Digest.

[BOMBINTHEDRIVER]

The only ball which I buy is the Wilson Staff Zip. Reasonably priced, soft around green and good distance off the tee. They are somewhat under the radar even with gold rating by Golf Digest.

Agreed. Those are very nice for the little price tag.

[Wisconsin Golfer]

If you want distance, the FREAK is very long. FREAK'N LONG, if you I may be blunt. HAHA. Seriously they are awesome.

[yeis20]

Pure distance? Noodle + if you can hit it straight
Best ball for the money? Top Flite Gamer - try it... it plays BETTER then ANY $25-30 box. ($18 at most stores currently)

[NBGC]

Very hard question to answer.

As many have already said, any of the premium $20-30 Bridgestone, Callaway, Titelist, Nike's will work. Best thing to do to find out what you're missing or what ball favors your game atm is trying them out.

I received 2 sleeves of the Callaway Tour iX's like everyone else, and absolutely hated them. Didn't like the way they putted, sounded, etc. But as I've been using them to get rid of them lol, I'm really starting to come around. They're pretty straight off drives, more so than the V1's and about the same as the V1x's, have a ton of spin on the greens. Only downside is they scuff and cut alot more tho...possibly due to me switching wedges tho, but I went from the SM Vokey's to the MP-R Mizzy's...wouldn't think the mizzy's tear them up worse than the Sm's but who know's.

Anyways, what I'm trying to say is try a sleeve of each of the balls recommended and decide which feels the best for YOU and your game. The V1's and equiv are fantastic for approach, short par 3's, and greenside, but if your full swing isn't there you're gonna have alot of ball's left and right off the tee's. Go with a ball with enough spin you can control, don't worry about the distance. All these balls are within 10yds on well struck drives. Greenside control > 10yd's.

[JCDot33]

OK, so yesterday I went out and bought sleeves of BridgeStone E5+, Callaway HX Hot, TaylorMade Red, Black and TPBurner and I was given (a FREEBEE from the store) Wilson Staff (someting or other) so the resuts are ...

Bridgestone E5+ felt like hitting a rock off the tee, sounded horrible too ...
The Wilson Staff was ... for a lack of a better description, stiff (didn't feel like I was actually compressing anything)
The HX Hot was longer, but didn't stop on the green really well ...
The TaylorMade Red was soft off the tee, but felt really good around the green.
The TaylorMade BLACK was softer off the tee (about 5 yards shorter than the WarBird) but had great controll around the green ...

The TM TPBurner was as good as the black, and half the cost ... Think I will be working with TPburners for a while ... then maybe when the finances get better I will be playing the Black (I will, however, keep a dozen of the WarBirds around, Just In Case ... )