Jump to content
IGNORED

Another question -- yellow balls


RC
Note: This thread is 5073 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

As an former tennis player, I can tell you the switch to yellow balls did not initially sit well with many higher level players. It was apparently better for TV and spectators, and a bit strange for the players -- at first. But then over time, yellow tennis balls proved their usefulness and today I doubt many would want to return to the white ball of the past.

In golf, yellow balls have been around for ages... on some driving ranges. Now there are yellow balls on the tour, we have high performance yellow balls. I suppose they really are easier to see and that is good. Heck, there are also orange and pink balls, translucent balls, and who knows what. However, I have a feeling that in the future, the yellow ball just might become the standard. What do you guys think?

RC

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I don't understand what a yellow ball does that a white one can't. It isn't like the ball is moving.

All I can think of is finding your balls bu wouldn't a white ball be easier to spot (in green grass) than a yellow one?
.: SQ Tour Carry | SQ MachSpeed 9.5˚ Driver | SQ MachSpeed Irons | To Be Continued...
Link to comment
Share on other sites


I think it has about the same chance of becoming the "standard" as the yellow shirt to replace the de-facto standard white shirt in golf. But who knows, one can say the same thing when yellow tennis balls were introduced.
Link to comment
Share on other sites


A white ball doesn't stand out as easily as one might think. It's very easy to confuse with any sort of curled feather (Got geese on a fairway? Have fun finding your ball.) or sunlight reflection. I can't count the number of times after a drive down a fairway the sun has been at a perfect angle relative to the fairway and caused every flat surface to reflect light. All you can see from 50ft back are specks of white.

I've had this thought too, but although white is sometimes not the best color, I think that finding a yellow ball in the rough surrounded by slightly dead grass or leaves would be hard. Harder than finding a white ball.

I think a yellow ball might be easier to find, on average, on a fairway, but once you leave the short cut I'd prefer to have a white over a yellow. Of course, the better you are the less that matters.

My wife plays pink/purple and they're fairly easy to find, obviously. Not enough to make me use those colors, but enough to show that color definitely does matter.

"Golf is an entire game built around making something that is naturally easy - putting a ball into a hole - as difficult as possible." - Scott Adams

Mid-priced ball reviews: Top Flight Gamer v2 | Bridgestone e5 ('10) | Titleist NXT Tour ('10) | Taylormade Burner TP LDP | Taylormade TP Black | Taylormade Burner Tour | Srixon Q-Star ('12)

Link to comment
Share on other sites


The color yellow will keep your attention on an object longer than on a white object, this is the reason they make yellow golf balls, and on the plus side they are a bit easier to find for most people
Link to comment
Share on other sites


The balls that some of my partners play might as well be yellow. I'm a purist. Stay with white!

Tools of my game:
Burner 09' Driver 10.5 Reg flex
5-pw G10's/ plus Taylormade R7 4 iron
Burner 08' 4 Hybrid
A70S 3 Hybrid Burner 09' 3 wood "Zing" SW 56 degree Fastback Laser range finder / plus Skycaddie SG5...also a great ball retriever!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I don't understand what a yellow ball does that a white one can't. It isn't like the ball is moving.

If the ball never moves, then you're doing something very wrong.

Yellow balls are much easier to see. They are easier to track in flight, then to spot on the ground. Some ultra bright red or something might stand out better, but yellow is good for now.
Link to comment
Share on other sites


Nothing more frustrating than KNOWING the area where your ball went, and then spending 20 minutes trying to find it.

In the bag:

Driver- SQ Dymo2 Str8-fit 10.5 Regular Flex
3 wood- NDS
Irons- FP with an A3 Idea 8 ironWedge- 60* Lob wedgePutter- FX3 (but looking to add a Scotty Cameron sometime this season)

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Nothing more frustrating than KNOWING the area where your ball went, and then spending 20 minutes trying to find it.

Other than 3 putts, losing a ball is the WORST moment in a round for me. It used to not bother me much but I never realized what a waste it is, not to mention the penalty.

Callaway Org14 Sport w/ Clicgear Cart:

Callaway X 460 9* - Callaway X 15* - TaylorMade 19*/21* Hybrid - Callaway Diablo Forged 4-PW - Titleist 50/56/60 - Rife Cayman Brac - Bridgestone xFIXx/B330-RX - TRUE Linkswear Supporter!

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Other than 3 putts, losing a ball is the WORST moment in a round for me. It used to not bother me much but I never realized what a waste it is, not to mention the penalty.

And the annoying part is oftentimes that its not your fault that you lost it. Its most frustrating when you have to take a penalty because the course was negligent in getting rid of the crazy weeds that all happen to be white.

In the bag:

Driver- SQ Dymo2 Str8-fit 10.5 Regular Flex
3 wood- NDS
Irons- FP with an A3 Idea 8 ironWedge- 60* Lob wedgePutter- FX3 (but looking to add a Scotty Cameron sometime this season)

Link to comment
Share on other sites


The balls that some of my partners play might as well be yellow. I'm a purist. Stay with white!

That is pretty funny. A purist playing GI irons, hybrids, and using a range finder/gps.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I guess I"m a bit of a purist as well, but I have used a yellow ball. We sometimes have areas of the course that may have snow on them, and anyone who's looked for white ball in the snow can tall you it's not that easy

Will Tour players start using a yellow ball, I doubt it... but I guess the same could be said for the tennis players way back when...

Will I start playing a yellow ball, hell will probably need to freeze over first... oh wait, that already happend... The Eagles started touring again

Cheers, Allan

In my Ping Hoofer II bag: Titleist 975J | Callaway Big Bertha 3 Wood S2H2 | Mizuno Fli-Hi 18˚ Hybrid | Mizuno MP-33 3-PW | Cleveland Tour Action 900 54/60 | Ping Anser II BeCu | Titleist ProV1

My Playground: Northview G&CC

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I think it's less likely the tour players will start using yellow balls, and I don't think the tennis experience is so relevant any more. First of all, in tennis you have to share the ball with your opponent, so it's sensible for the tournament to specify what ball everyone uses. In golf, it's a piece of personal equipment. Second, while perhaps the TV market would be an incentive to use a ball that's easier to see, technology has developed so far since tennis balls turned yellow that it's really not an issue. In HD, you can see the balls fine, and if they really want them to be a different color for contrast, they could do like hockey did and highlight them in the broadcast stream. Yes, I know that was a pretty unpopular thing, but as the NFL has shown with its first down and scrimmage markers, they can do the job a lot less intrusively now. If they want a white ball to look yellow on-screen, it can be done digitally.

I'm personally sort of intrigued by the thought. However, I wouldn't try it on my home course because about three of the holes abut the edges of the driving range and are peppered with mostly yellow range balls. It's hard enough to find a white one among the 10% that are white. If it were looking for a yellow one among the 90% that are yellow, it'd be a huge headache. I might go for a bright red one, it'd remind me of minigolf, and that might improve my putting... but I guess I might think it was Christmas and go start buying myself golf clubs.

In the bag:
FT-iQ 10° driver, FT 21° neutral 3H
T-Zoid Forged 15° 3W, MX-23 4-PW
Harmonized 52° GW, Tom Watson 56° SW, X-Forged Vintage 60° LW
White Hot XG #1 Putter, 33"

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I was an old die-hard when it came to tennis balls, and was one of the last to change. What happened was the shops quit stocking white balls as well.

There already has been a yellow ball played on tour, maybe more than one. I always liked white golf balls and tended to giggle about some guy hitting a pink ball he may have found. I've not sure anymore. If they truly are easier to see, then some day I might be playing a yellow ball. It is not a big deal to me.

RC

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites


If they made a red or Orange i would be the first one to switch.

WITB:

  • Driver: Titleist TSR3 8.0 A3, Badazz 60g S
  • Hybrid: Cobra Baffler 17*
  • Irons: T200 P-4
  • Wedges: Callaway X Forged 48*,56*,60*
  • Putter: Ping Anser Milled 
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

I'm a fan of the Z-Star Tour Yellow and have put those in play a couple times already this season. I'm not sold on the fact that they are easier to find on the ground, but I enjoy playing with them just to change things up.

I have noticed that they are easier to see in the air during twilight rounds.
Driver: Adams 9032LS 9.5* - 45" - Aldila RIP Alpha 60S
3 Wood: Adams FAST 10 15* - 43" - Aldila Wasabi 70S
2-Iron: Mizuno Fli-Hi 18* - DGS300 
Irons: Mizuno MP-68 3-PW - DGS300
Wedges: Mizuno MPT-11 54* and 60*Putter: PING Redwood Anser Black Nickel 340g, 34"Ball: Titleist ProV1Bag: Mizuno...
Link to comment
Share on other sites


I have heard that people love the yellow balls, and it is getting some really go publicity fr Srixon who already makes some very good balls. One of the reasons it is easy to see them is because they contrast more off of the sky. Not sure about why they are better in the grass, but certainly they are easy to see on TV.

In my bag:

Driver: Titleist TSi3 | 15º 3-Wood: Ping G410 | 17º 2-Hybrid: Ping G410 | 19º 3-Iron: TaylorMade GAPR Lo |4-PW Irons: Nike VR Pro Combo | 54º SW, 60º LW: Titleist Vokey SM8 | Putter: Odyssey Toulon Las Vegas H7

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

They will truly become popular whenever Titleist makes a colored ProV1/V1x, as they are by far the most popular ball amongst pros and amateurs alike despite their price tag. And if interest in the first colored urethane/multilayer Srixon Z-star (played on tour by Tim Clark) builds, i'd almost guarantee that Titleist and others would follow suit.

I'm personally nostalgic for orange ones, as those were always my favorites when i first started playing about 30 years ago...i think i liked orange Prostaff balls if i recall (although in middle school played whatever i could scrounge up!)

Driver: Cleveland Classic 270, 10.5*
Fairway Woods: Adams Speedline LP (3 & 5)
Hybrids: Wilson Staff Fybrids 21*, 24*, UST V2 stiff
Irons: Callaway X-20 Tour, 5-PW, Rifle Project-X (flighted) 6.0
Wedges: Cleveland CG15 DSG 52* & 58* +/- 56* Niblick

Putter: Yes! Amy

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Note: This thread is 5073 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    TourStriker PlaneMate
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-15%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope.
  • Popular Now

  • Posts

    • Wordle 1,013 2/6 🟨⬜⬜🟨🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Thought I was gonna be a big shot today...  🙂    Nice Job!
    • Cool here's my tweak, "If a player’s ball lies in the general area and there is interference from exposed tree roots or exposed rocks that are in the fairway or 1 club length from the fairway the tree roots and exposed rocks are treated as ground under repair. The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1b.[But relief is not allowed if the tree roots only interfere with the player’s stance.]
    • I would never do the extended warranty on the $50 slow cooker.  I also routinely reject the extended service plans on those toys we buy for the grand-kids.  I do consider them on higher cost items and will be more likely to get one if the product has a lot of "Electronic Tech" that is often the problem longer-term.  I also consider my intended length of ownership & usage.  If my thought is it would get replaced in 2-3 years then why bother but if I hope to use it for 10 years then more likely to get the extension. I did buy out a lease about a year ago.  Just prior to the lease end date the tablet locked up and would not function.  I got it repaired under the initial warranty and would not have bought it out if they had not been able to fix it since IMO once electronic issues start in a car they can be hard to track down & fix.  They did fix it but when I bought out the lease I paid up for the extended warranty the would cover electronic failures because my intent is to keep that car for another 8-10 years and I just do not trust the electronics to last.  Last week the touch screen went black and was unresponsive.  It reset on the 2nd time I restarted the car but that is exactly how the last malfunction started.  I fully expect to have a claim on that on repair under the extended warranty.  I do not recall the exact cost to fix last time since I did not pay it but I think it was @ $700-$800 and I suspect that will be higher next time.
    • Have you looked at Model Local Rule F-9 Relief from Tree Roots in or Close to Fairway?  You could extend this to cover exposed rocks.  The rule is recommended to be used only for areas relatively near the fairway, a player who hits a shot 20 yards in the woods doesn't really deserve relief.   Players can always take Unplayable Ball relief, they're not required to play it from a rock or a root.  Of course, they hate to take the penalty stroke too.
    • I agree with @klineka, you're clearly doing something right.  Its always going to be a bit of a guessing game if you don't have any scoring history.  On the other hand, understanding that it takes only 54 holes to establish an actual handicap, and they have about 6 weeks in which to play and post enough scores, I don't think its at all unreasonable to require them to have an official handicap before they become eligible for prizes.  I don't know how you structure the fees for the series of competitions, but if its possible they'll play with the group without being eligible for prizes, you could consider a way to let them do that without contributing to the prize pool.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

The popup will be closed in 10 seconds...