What else can be done to tweak ball performance?

[shortgame85]

With all the talk about changing the rules regarding grooves, as well as the talk about having one standard for balls for pros and another standard for the rest of us ( as well as the talk about whether or not to roll back the distance possible on balls for everyone ), and with new balls introduced each year promising yet another couple of yards of distance ( with or without additional spin ), my question is what is left for the ball manufacturers? I mean, have they stretched the limits of ball performance, as the manufacturers of drivers have done with their 5x5, high MOI clubs, or is there more performance the manufacturers can still squeeze out before they hit the limits imposed on them by the ruling bodies? And is such a question even relevant to any but the very elite golfers? I'm not refering to the difference in feel and performance between an inexpensive ball such as a Top Flite and its more well to do brethern in the ProV1 or even NXT categories. I mean, is there THAT much more that ball makers can do to improve on what we've already got?

[iacas]

  shortgame85 said:

With all the talk about changing the rules regarding grooves, as well as the talk about having one standard for balls for pros and another standard for the rest of us ( as well as the talk about whether or not to roll back the distance possible on balls for everyone ), and with new balls introduced each year promising yet another couple of yards of distance ( with or without additional spin ), my question is what is left for the ball manufacturers? I mean, have they stretched the limits of ball performance, as the manufacturers of drivers have done with their 5x5, high MOI clubs, or is there more performance the manufacturers can still squeeze out before they hit the limits imposed on them by the ruling bodies? And is such a question even relevant to any but the very elite golfers? I'm not refering to the difference in feel and performance between an inexpensive ball such as a Top Flite and its more well to do brethern in the ProV1 or even NXT categories. I mean, is there

I have one question for you: did you listen to the podcast in which we interviewed the Titleist VP of golf balls, and asked him this very question?

Summary of his answer: the golf ball goes about as far as it can legally and physically (as in: the laws of physics) go, but customization of balls to players is not even halfway to being fully optimal.

[shortgame85]

  iacas said:

I have one question for you: did you listen to the podcast in which we interviewed the Titleist VP of golf balls, and asked him this very question?

The answer to your question is this: I'm sure you must know that I did not listen to the podcast. If I had, I would not have asked such an obviously redundant question. Actually, I'm a little embarrassed to say that I've never listened to any podcast. I guess part of the reason for that fact is a time issue, and also because I've not learned how to access the podcasts, which I'm sure are easy to do. Nonetheless, thanks for your response. Did the Titleist VP explain or elaborate on what he meant by customization?

[iacas]

  shortgame85 said:

I guess part of the reason for that fact is a time issue, and also because I've not learned how to access the podcasts, which I'm sure are easy to do.

Here's the link to that particular podcast:

http://thesandtrap.com/columns/podca...lk_episode_054 There are a number of ways to listen. If you have iTunes installed, click this link and subscribe. If you just want to download the file itself, click this link to do so. There's really no reason not to have iTunes installed, even if you never plan to use the free store. The easy podcast management it provides is worth the price (free) even if you don't use any other features.

  shortgame85 said:

Did the Titleist VP explain or elaborate on what he meant by customization?

Listen and see for yourself. I say that not to be rude, but because I don't remember exactly.

[shortgame85]

  iacas said:

Listen and see for yourself. I say that not to be rude, but because I don't remember exactly.

OK, I'll give it a try. I'm just technically under educated, a fault I can blame on no one but myself.

In the meantime, I do have another question which may also be addressed in the podcast and, if it is, I can only say that I won't be able to listen to it until later today. Anyway, here's the question: I've heard that slower swing speed players ( like me ) benefit more from a low compression ball such as the DT Solo, Maxfli Fire, or even the NXT, etc., and that balls such as the ProV1 and ProV1x benefit higherer swing speed players. I've read that, according to TaylorMade, their new premium balls, designed to compete with the ProV1s, can benefit those with a variety of swing speeds. That seems contradictory to that which Titleist and others say about that level of ball. Is that information from TaylorMade just propaganda designed to sell more premium balls until they can come out with their version of the mid-level NXT? Can you shed some light on this seeming contradiction? I have been clocked swinging my driver at about 86mph, which I understand is considered slow.

[iacas]

  shortgame85 said:

Anyway, here's the question: I've heard that slower swing speed players ( like me ) benefit more from a low compression ball such as the DT Solo, Maxfli Fire, or even the NXT, etc., and that balls such as the ProV1 and ProV1x benefit higherer swing speed players. I've read that, according to TaylorMade, their new premium balls, designed to compete with the ProV1s, can benefit those with a variety of swing speeds. That seems contradictory to that which Titleist and others say about that level of ball.

This is answered in the podcast as well.

Titleist doesn't say that players with lower swing speeds should play the DT Solo. They simply have balls at different price points. If you're really bad, spend less. Titleist believes that a proper ball fitting begins with the short game - putting, chipping, pitching, etc. Thus, if the Pro V1 or Pro V1x have the short game characteristics you need, that's probably more important for your scoring and enjoyment of the game than gaining the extra five or ten yards you might get off the tee with one of the cheaper balls.

  shortgame85 said:

Is that information from TaylorMade just propaganda designed to sell more premium balls until they can come out with their version of the mid-level NXT? Can you shed some light on this seeming contradiction? I have been clocked swinging my driver at about 86mph, which I understand is considered slow.

It's not propaganda per se, they're just phrasing what all top-tier ball makers feel: that the best ball for you is the one that best blends the short game feel and control you want/need with distance. If you have even a reasonably consistent short game, you'll probably appreciate what the V1/V1x can do for you around the greens. If you blade or chunk every chip and can't putt worth a damn, spend less and get a little extra distance with the NXT Tour or something.

[shortgame85]

Thank you or your considered response. Your answer regarding choosing a ball that fits the shortgame best makes great sense to me. It seems to me that the more I work on my short game, the lower I score. The shortgame certainly involves more "feel" than any other part of the game. It stands to reason that a ball like the ProV1 offers one a great deal more response on and around the green than a DT Solo. It also makes sense to give up a few yards off the tee to gain something around the green. After all, that's where the scoring takes place.