will a certain golf ball really help?

[prutkows]

there are tons of different balls on the market and i was wondering if it would really make a difference for someone like me. i'm a fairly consistant ball striker but occasionally i'll catch it out near the toe of the club. generally i score in the high 70's to low 80's. i dont know if it helps but i'll list some of my yardages below. carry distances, of course. i recently picked up a laser distance finder thing, and these arent overestimates as far as i know.

pw: 110
7i: 155
5i: 180
3w: 225
driver: 260

[ragontona]

there are tons of different balls on the market and i was wondering if it would really make a difference for someone like me. i'm a fairly consistant ball striker but occasionally i'll catch it out near the toe of the club. generally i score in the high 70's to low 80's. i dont know if it helps but i'll list some of my yardages below. carry distances, of course. i recently picked up a laser distance finder thing, and these arent overestimates as far as i know.

I don't understand the question. What exactly are you looking for? To hit it farther? To spin it more? To raise or lower your trajectory? Do you want a softer feeling ball? Something a little more firm?

These are the types of characteristics that different balls provide. If you narrowed down what exactly it is you're looking for, then we might be able to provide some recommendations.

[prutkows]

I don't understand the question. What exactly are you looking for? To hit it farther? To spin it more? To raise or lower your trajectory? Do you want a softer feeling ball? Something a little more firm?

ah im sorry, i forgot to add in that im mostly looking to get a higher spin rate on approach shots.

[SuaSponteMn]

I'm currenly playing the Callaway HX Tour, it seems extremely long and it's got plenty of spin with the short irons and wedges. Feels really soft on the putter, the only problem I've had with it was the cover getting torn up. I did my own little ball test to see if there was something out there that would work better since I was tired of paying 40.00 and having the balls get all chopped up. My results were:

ProV1 = felt similar to the HX Tour everywhere but on the tee where it was shorter for me. The cover got cut within 3 holes.

ProV1x = much firmer and long off the tee, although I didn't like the feel off the irons; pretty sure I don't swing hard enough for this one. Cover got cut as well.

Taylormade TP Red = firmer than the Prov1, softer than the ProV1x, long off the tee and felt nice on the irons. Putter felt soft on this one too, I'd say I liked this ball almost as much as the HX Tour. This one got cut though too.

The end result for me was that I cut all the covers up pretty well within 9 holes and the Callaway was a few bucks cheaper than anything else, so I'm sticking with it.

Just my thoughts on balls...
-Mike

[Rafcin]

any of the top balls IMHO are way too close to each other to see a HUGE difference with our "not-so-consistant" swings. I've seen prov1x spin 5 yds back after a wedge shot, I also seen prov1 hop couple times before stoping
For me in ball selection there are only two factors : price + feel off the putter.

[SuaSponteMn]

any of the top balls IMHO are way too close to each other to see a HUGE difference with our "not-so-consistant" swings.

I agree completely. Although the one thing I would take out of my rambling post was related to the ProV1x and I'll elaborate a little on that. When I say I didn't like how it felt on my irons, it almost felt clunky (for lack of a better word). After describing that feel to my peers, I was advised that it was more than likely due to my swing speed being too slow to compress this ball with anything other than my driver, which is where I really enjoyed the ball.

IMO, the ball discussion can turn into a Ford vs Chevy discussion really quickly so I'll stop now. But seriously, if someone is looking to try something new, that TP ball was pretty impressive, I hope they can keep that line going. OK, I'll really stop now

[ragontona]

The Maxfli BlackMax is a pretty durable ball that feels pretty good off the putter, and can be had for under $30 at pretty much every online retailer...

[ttee9]

After describing that feel to my peers, I was advised that it was more than likely due to my swing speed being too slow to compress this ball with anything other than my driver, which is where I really enjoyed the ball.

... I appreciate your honesty ..

The average swing speed across the board is in and around 85/90mph .. but most players think 100+ ... in the meantime, they're out losing their $40 balls all day long .l.o.l. You're like a breath of fresh air ....

[SuaSponteMn]

The Maxfli BlackMax is a pretty durable ball that feels pretty good off the putter, and can be had for under $30 at pretty much every online retailer...

In reading the review of the new TP series from Taylormade on this site, I was under the impression the BlackMax might have been the starting point for that ball, if that's true and they're fairly similar, it might be worth checking out... Thanks!

(Although I really do love the HX Tour, wish it was just a hair more durable.)

... I appreciate your honesty ..

Thanks for the compliment, it's nice to feel welcome here. I’m pretty humble on the golf course, I know my skills are lacking in more than a few spots. The only thing an ego did for my game was add strokes; at age 32 I'm older and wiser now. Youth and exuberance is no match for old age and trechary.

[DDBowdoin]

personally I feel as if certain balls definately impact my game, such as the ProV1X and HX Tour are some of my favorites...

so the basic answer is yes, then what needs to be considered is the quality of your golf course... there are courses here where I can spin scoring irons and wedges back and courses where the same club, swing and ball will run...

[iacas]

In reading the review of the new TP series from Taylormade on this site, I was under the impression the BlackMax might have been the starting point for that ball, if that's true and they're fairly similar, it might be worth checking out... Thanks!

It was, though the dimple pattern is different, as are a few other things. The dimple pattern is the big thing: the BlackMax, as I said in the review, tended to fall out of the sky in the third stage of flight. That's why Daly likes it so much - he hits the ball with so much spin he gets a good soft landing. But very few others liked the "wounded duck" stage.

A lot of changes were made between the BlackMAX to the TP balls, but the largest of those was the dimple pattern - the aerodynamics - I believe.

[InTheTwenties]

I have not noticed much of a difference in ball differnce for different brands and types of balls. I usually play the nike power distance super soft golf ball, because consumer reports stated that it was driven the furthest, and was preferred by pga pros via a blind test.

The balls that I find on the course, I clean up and mark with my initials, and in those found balls I have not sensed a differences.

However, the lady balls, that I find have a heavier feel when struck, in my opinion, and when I'm having a bad day, I use it for a couple of holes to get some feedback.

[SubPar]

You have to experiment to find a ball that suits your game. I switched to the Callaway HX Tour and picked up some yardage off the tee and it spins enough to feel good close to the green. I can hit the HX Hot longer but it offers less control. The ProV1 offers lots of spin and control around the greens, but is not long enough for my swing. Too much spin is a bad thing unless you hit the ball very squarely every time. You have to find a balance between raw distance and spin.

Invest in a few sleeves of decent mid to high compression, two or three piece balls and play them to see what works for you.

[warbirdlover]

I've spent the summer testing every different ball I could get my hands on. Other then the premium balls (all are extemely good) here are my favorites..

Bridgestone E5 (E6 is almost as good)
Callaway HX Hot (very long off the driver)
Callaway HX Red or Blue
Maxfli Redmax
Titleist NXT Tour (does everything good, nothing exceptional)
Pinnacle Exception (I can make this work okay)
Longest Noodle (they ruined it), use the older "long and soft"

Haven't tried the Srixon's, Nike Ignite or One, or TaylorMade balls

Everything else (Top Flight, most Nike's) go in the "water ball" pouch of my bag

[warbirdlover]

Just played a full nine with a Callaway HX Tour (new). It's my new ball and I don't care what it costs. If I could have putted better (very slow greens and was just short or just left or just right by an inch) I might have got par. Had three par fours I almost drove and all drives straight down the middle. Irons were sweet. I'm now a believer in the premium balls. Oh, and the ball looks brand new after 9 holes. No problems in that regard.

[SubPar]

Just played a full nine with a Callaway HX Tour (new). It's my new ball and I don't care what it costs..

The HX Tour is a great ball. It strikes the pefect balance between distance off the tee and control around the greens. Michael Campbell and Phil play it, so it can perform at that level as well.

One of the first things I noticed when I switched to it from the ProV1 is that a cross wind does not push the HX Tour around. Even in a stiff cross breeze, I had to learn to play it right at the target. But if I shape the shot off the clubface, it spins enough to bend it. I tend to play balls longer than I should, and the HX Tour continues to look good after it begins to decline in performance. But even when they get scuffed up a bit they are still playable. I played nine holes with one yesterday that is well ready for retirement and finished -1.

[rembrandt]

There are actually only two things that concern me and that is distance off the tee and ability to stop on the greens. I just bought a new box of HX Hot Callaway balls and I'm looking forward to seeing how they do. I've been hitting Top Flight and Titleist So/los but the so/los are a might too springy to me. Don't know any other words to explain those balls.