Ball Spin and Handicap

[juanrjackson]

I'm running low on golf balls & need to buy some more. I currently play TF Gamers v1. I'm a bogey golfer & am wondering if more expensive balls will really help my game much. I'd say my short game is avg.

From anyone that switched to a higher spin/more expensive ball...did you notice your scores went down?

Any advice or recommendation on ball selection? Anyone play TM TP Blacks or Bridgestone 330RX?

Thanks!

[Mattplusness]

I think something about having a "good ball" builds confidence, and that is a lot of this game.

My $.02 anyway

[juanrjackson]

I mean "Ball Spin" in the title....not "Ball Speed".

[juanrjackson]

  Mattplusness said:

I think something about having a "good ball" builds confidence, and that is a lot of this game.

Do you notice your score goes down when you play a better ball?

[jc650]

I play 1 course with really narrow greens and they sure help me around the green and from 150 in. I had a sand wedge from about 80 yards the other day with my yellow z star , 1 bounce and stopped about 1 foot from the hole. Like I said, the greens are narrow and fast and im sure a distance ball would have gone right off or all the way to the back.

[wrx_junki]

I believe TopFlite Gamers v1 isn't hurting your game. Moving to higher spin ball may lower or raise your scores. You probably have gotten used to how they play and have adjusted accordingly. I use Pro V1's for the most part since I get them cheap but if I didn't I'd play something more affordable like a Laddie X. I'd most likely shoot about the same regardless of what ball I'm using. As long as the ball feels good when it comes off the putter and wedge, I usually don't mind what it is.

[pup]

  Mattplusness said:

I think something about having a "good ball" builds confidence, and that is a lot of this game.

Agreed. It's all in the confidence. I am partial to a Callaway HX Hot, but I have played several other balls and do as well on the scorecard. Some people might be able to tell a difference in feel, spin, etc., but I would be willing to bet that I could hit several different brands in a blank ball test, and I wouldn't be able to tell what I was hitting. Placebo effect I guess.

[Fourputt]

  Mattplusness said:

I think something about having a "good ball" builds confidence, and that is a lot of this game.

From a player who uses Warbirds??? I think the OP was talking about using premium balls like Pro V, etc. The Warbird is a good ball for it's level, but it is still an entry level ball, at an entry level price.

I think that using too much ball for your game can actually hurt you. But more important is to stay consistent. Switching from a Warbird to a Tour ball and back will do little except create inconsistency in your short game. Find a ball that feels good and fits your wallet and your current game, then stick with it for a long enough period to reeally learn how it reacts to different shots. Then if you want to experiment, do it in the practice area and see what the differences are between the balls. I've recently switched back from a Penta/Pro V1 to a Bridgestone E6, and I'm actually playing more consistently with the E6. And this from a guy who has played premium balls almost exclusively for more than 20 years, since the days of the Titleist Tour Balata, when all of the "good" balls had wound innards with balata covers.

[Arsenal8807]

I think that a better ball will help you out if you are starting to strike the ball well enough and a little more consistently. Once I started playing better, I went from the Power Distance Soft to the NXT Tour and I love the switch. I can control this ball more and on the greens they handle a lot better than the Nike ball. My handicap has been going down now that I am shooting in the 80's A LOT more!

[WUTiger]

I have played a midspin ball for years. Part of the reason is expense: If I got to a single-digit HDCP and was playing regularly in amateur tournaments, I might consider it.

Right now, I doubt the extra cost would help my score that much. For one thing, I play chip and run a lot more than most people, so I don't want too much bite. Also, midspin balls hit into a green with a little draw will release forward, a good way to beat false fronts.

[PlacidCasual]

I think unless you're really good, a ball isn't going to do much for you. I suck, but I find I really concentrate on my routine more, and as a result play better, when I play a decent ball. I'm not good enough for a ball to actually make a difference... I'm just going to be more careful when I know I'm hitting 4 bucks into the OB rather than hitting 50c.

With that said, I'm a much better Golfer with Pentas and Bridgestone 330s.

[andef]

My game has improved since I've started playing a premium ball. Is it because of the premium balls I've used? Not completely. My swing and every part of my game has improved but my short game, which has always been the best part of my game, has seen the benefits of playing a high spin ball. If I want to fire at a flag at the back of the green, I know I can land it pin high and stop it. If I want to fire at a tight pin, I know the ball will stop and not roll into any trouble. I can play high shots with the confidence that they'll check up and hit spinning chips while still hit chip and runs when I need to.
Does that mean your game will improve from playing them? It depends on your game. But trying out a sleeve or a dozen and then deciding if you like them or not won't hurt you or your wallet too much.

[DavidFehertysBike]

unless you're consistent enough to hit a 100 yard shot inside 15 feet 8 out of 10 times, it really doesn't matter what type of ball you use. Unless its a complete rock or something you should be ok with anything you find out there. I didn't start actually buying premium balls until i was a 6 or 7 handicap.

[WUTiger]

  DavidFehertysBike said:

unless you're consistent enough to hit a 100 yard shot inside 15 feet 8 out of 10 times, it really doesn't matter what type of ball you use. ...

I would suggest it helps to use the same ball, or same type of ball, on a regular basis. I seem to notice it most on chip and pitch shots, and putting.

[DavidFehertysBike]

  WUTiger said:

I would suggest it helps to use the same ball, or same type of ball, on a regular basis. I seem to notice it most on chip and pitch shots, and putting.

It helps some, but i don't think its critical.

[juanrjackson]

  DavidFehertysBike said:

unless you're consistent enough to hit a 100 yard shot inside 15 feet 8 out of 10 times, it really doesn't matter what type of ball you use. Unless its a complete rock or something you should be ok with anything you find out there. I didn't start actually buying premium balls until i was a 6 or 7 handicap.

I agree. A better ball will not help my swing but like WUTiger said....using a the same or similar ball should help with consistency on the short game.

[rdwoody]

After I played one certain ball for a while and was doing very well with it, I decided I wanted a higher spin ball. So I bought some higher spin balls and there was good news and bad news. The good news is that I had marginally better spin and control around the green, which is a good thing. However, the bad news is that with a higher spin ball, my draws and fades off the tee turned into hooks and slices and my scores went way up. By "way up" I mean like 15-18 strokes per round. I went back to the other ball and noticed it was the ball causing the change and not my swing becoming worse all of a sudden.

[juanrjackson]

  rdwoody said:

After I played one certain ball for a while and was doing very well with it, I decided I wanted a higher spin ball. So I bought some higher spin balls and there was good news and bad news. The good news is that I had marginally better spin and control around the green, which is a good thing. However, the bad news is that with a higher spin ball, my draws and fades off the tee turned into hooks and slices and my scores went way up. By "way up" I mean like 15-18 strokes per round. I went back to the other ball and noticed it was the ball causing the change and not my swing becoming worse all of a sudden.

15+ strokes per round. That is a big difference!