Still think the golf ball is important?

[James_Black]

I shot a 82 (par 69) yesterday with a 1-piece srixon range ball in a competition (the organizors said I could play with it). I had never played the course before either.

It just shows you don't need a premium ball to shoot a good score.
Golf ball brands are all hype, us hackers won't find much of a difference in our scores.

[GolfBear]

The ball is important from a personal preference perspective. If you're more comfortable and believe in a certain ball you're likely to play better with it.

The same argument is true for clubs. Those expensive Cobra irons and driver you carry don't hit the ball better or straighter than a set of 1970 Chi Chi blades. Golf is a game of physics, the the face is square and moving at 100mph it doesn't matter if it's a AP-2 or a garden tool.

[dbuck]

I pretty much agree, being a self proclaimed hacker.

I can tell the difference around the green between an old Top Rock and a Titleist NXT Tour, but I can't tell much difference between the NXT and the Noodle Practice I usually use that are 14.99 for 2 dozen. I have at times also played with OP balls (other peoples balls I picked up in the woods) and especially tee to green, I doubt if it would make 2 shots per round difference.

[enis750]

im a firm beleiver in equipment can and will make you a better player....to some extent
I was using the Srixon Trispeed balls all year until today
I switched to a TM Black LDP today and it did make a difference - where the Trispeed would have rolled out, this ball checked right up

same w irons etc....

I had some blades that i thought i had game for....turns out i didnt
went back to a combo set of conforming Titleist 735.cm's and i can hit a 4 and 5i again - and have HUGE confidence w them

obviously lessons and practice will too improve your game, but having the properly fitted equipment that suits your game and swing, will make a world of difference

[Kieran123]

I shot a 82 (par 69) yesterday with a 1-piece srixon range ball in a competition (the organizors said I could play with it). I had never played the course before either.

This doesn't prove anything.

What if you had played with a Pro V1 or a One Tour and shot a 79 or 80?

[James_Black]

This doesn't prove anything.

I probably would have, it was a tight course so i'd be less accurate off the tee with a premium golf ball

[jamo]

To answer the question posed in the title: yup.

[double_j]

The ball is more about confidence than anything else for me. The harder balls just don't have the same feel off the clubface.

That said, it is nice to know that the ball will check or spin when I want it to. I'm sure I could adjust to a ball with more run out but it would cost me a stroke or two until I'm able to make the change.

[TN94z]

I probably would have, it was a tight course so i'd be less accurate off the tee with a premium golf ball

So you are saying that the premium ball would cause you to be less accurate off the tee? But in the first thread, you said that hackers wouldn't see a difference in scores using a premium ball. I agree that you can score well with cheap balls, but I also believe that the premium balls are premium for a reason. You probably scored better because the ball had less spin which helps out on your mis-hits. A hacker with a bad slice will only enhance that slice using a ProV over a top flite XL2000, IMO I personally like to be able to have a "consistent" spin rate and be able to stop the ball by the hole rather than hit it short and let it run up to the hole. Either way is fine. It is just a personal preference I guess.

[Leftygolfer]

Yes I still do. Around the green I play for and can spin the ball consistantly. Does it ever check up earlier than I'd like. Sure, but I didn't execute the shot the way I intended or I miss read the lie/shot.

Also, I found and played the new penta TP ball. It is right there if not better than the pro v1 or v1x. It has an amazing feel. I'd have a hard time not buying them if I ever actually bought balls (I hunt and find every ball I play).

[WUTiger]

May I suggest it's more a matter of playing the same type of ball to get the feel. For years I've liked the midspin balls: decent stopping power on the green, more forgiving on mishits than highspin balls, can defeat false fronts with slight draw, and more affordable.

Several years ago in Oklahoma, I played two courses regularly:
* One was shorter and tighter, had lots of trees - I played a midspin ball.
* Two was longer, more wide open, had less elevation change - I played a distance ball.

Now, I pretty well play midspin all the time. Biggest factor is consistent feel and action on short game.

[delav]

I don't know if a +13 with a range ball is really worth drawing such grand conclusions over.

[James_Black]

I don't know if a +13 with a range ball is really worth drawing such grand conclusions over.

Do you want to do a review?

You'd be a better test subject.

[Stretch]

Apropos of nothing much, we have those same Srixon range balls at the club here and I used them every day in the short game practice area while waiting for my shag bag of Z-STARS to come through customs with the rest of our stuff. They're really not that bad around the green.

[etlreams]

I don't know if a +13 with a range ball is really worth drawing such grand conclusions over.

WOW! That's just all I think I can say on that.

I'm also a 13, so I guess my contribution to the discussion should be taken as such... but here goes. I agree with the sentiment that the impact of the ball (and equipment in general) is pyschological. I've spent a lot of time trying to figure out if I should play a high spin, low spin, low/high compression, distance, etc. ball for my game. They do have an impact. High spin gives me good greeside control, and gets me in to trouble off the driver, sure. But I don't think the spin of a ball is THAT great of a difference maker. I know I'm not good enough to consitantly realize the benefits, and take advantage of, spin on a ball. What I have been focusing on recently is the difference in balls and how they feel off the putter. I find a HUGE difference here. I've really been focusing on putting lately, so perhaps I'm more atune to it.... but lately I'm coming to the conclusion that being confident in the roll and feel of the ball on the green is more important factor in a golf ball.

[golfro]

WOW! That's just all I think I can say on that.

Great point. we spend a lot of time talking about balls and how they spin and check and what not...but not enough time thinking about how they roll and feel off the putter. Very important factor in choosing a ball.

Perhaps I can put the subject matter at somewhat of a rest. I've played a local 9 hole par 3 course with a range ball, a prov1, prov1x, bridgestone e6, and Taylormade TP Red. I found that on a well hit shot, all balls, including the range ball, came to a stop or even rolled back some. Of course I did find it easier to control with say a Prov1 than a range ball...as the range ball had some inconsistencies, but nothing unexpected enough to lose a stroke on a hole. Conclusion is that I have more confidence playing a ball like ProV1 or my recent favorite Bridgestone E6. I know what to expect. I know that on a well hit shot, the ball WILL check so I can cross that worry off my list and just worry about my swing. I think this added benefit is a major factor.

[jamo]

The thing with golf balls is it doesn't have to be $45 to fit you, it just needs to fit you. If a low spin ball fits your game, it fits your game. For some people it doesn't. Different balls are, well, different. Harder, cheaper golf balls go higher, straighter, and longer off the driver, but also off of the PW, the 7 iron, and the 4 iron. Harder balls also go farther when you hit a pitch shot. That's not necessarily worse, just different.

[sean_miller]

Apropos of nothing much, we have those same Srixon range balls at the club here and I used them every day in the short game practice area while waiting for my shag bag of Z-STARS to come through customs with the rest of our stuff. They're really not that bad around the green.

I played a few rounds at our local pitch and putt (longest hole 85 yards - very small and hard greens) with 5 balls off the tee (36 holes - 4 rounds - it was a slow day there). I used a Wilson Staff C:25, Titleist ProV1, Wilson Eco Core, Srixon Trispeed, and a Srixon range ball. My goal was to see if ball choice mattered from 80 yards in. I also wanted to see if the limited flight range balls were just limited for long irons and woods, or if they were shorter around the green as well. The were pin high as often as any other ball, so for me they're just shorter with long irons and woods. I could maybe shoot the same score with a range ball, but I'd have to do some math while standing on the tee. The range ball had as much spin as any of them, and I was actually hitting the ball fairly consistent that day. Regarding which of the better balls was the "best", I was comfortable with all of them, but for the long game I already know Wilson is the ball for me - either the Staff C:25 or the Eco Core depending on the day.