how much does ball matter?

[zeg]

That means you are stating that Balls are!

Compared to the variation between the cars mentioned above, they damn well do perform the same. For the car comparison to be remotely applicable you'd be arguing that one of the balls drives a good 200 yards further than the other, just based on its construction. If you really want to play the analogies, comparing the balls to tires might be a better fit, but it's still a weak comparison and ultimately pointless.

The ball has a small effect on the game. If you're good enough that you have every other variable controlled very, very well, it can be important. For most of us, I'm pretty confident saying that any effect it may have is more psychological than real.

[etlreams]

I've never seen a 13 handicapper shoot even par on a par 3 course. How wild are you off the tee to not be scratch?

75% of the rounds I play are at a little executive 9 hole course I love. I shoot par there because I am completely comfortbale and at ease there, know every inch of the course and, for other reason I don't really know why, just flat out play better there than anywhere else. Put me on any other par 29 course and I'll shoot mid-high 30s. On an 18-hole course, I'm mid-high 80s, low 90s

[max power]

75% of the rounds I play are at a little executive 9 hole course I love. I shoot par there because I am completely comfortbale and at ease there, know every inch of the course and, for other reason I don't really know why, just flat out play better there than anywhere else. Put me on any other par 29 course and I'll shoot mid-high 30s. On an 18-hole course, I'm mid-high 80s, low 90s

That's kind of cool that you know a course that well. I like playing somewhere different every once in a while, but I also appreciate the experience of getting to know every nook and cranny of a course-which way the greens break, the exact bend in the fairways, when and when not to go for certain shots, etc.