Golf Balls

[GolfGhost]

What is the real difference in golf balls?  Are Titleists really better than TaylorMade?  Or are golf balls pretty much the same?

And, being a beginning golfer is there any brand I should favor or avoid?

[tristanhilton85]

I would not say that one brand is better than another... basically balls fall into different categories (distance, premium/tour, etc.) and each manufacturer makes a ball in each category. For instance, take premium balls; Titleist has the Pro V1 series, Srixon the Z-Stars, Nike the 20XI, Callaway the HEX Black, TaylorMade the Penta TP5, etc. All of those balls are comparable to each other... on the next level down Titleist has the NXT Tour, Callaway the HEX Chrome, Srixon the Q-Star, etc. and those balls would be comparable. It really wouldn't be fair to compare the NXT Tour (Titleist's mid level ball) to the Srixon Z-Star (a premium ball). A lot of what determines what category a ball falls into is how many layers it has (basic distance balls are usually 2 piece while premium balls have 3, 4, and even 5 layers now) and the cover (premium balls tend to have softer covers made from urethane, but they are less durable).

As a beginner you shouldn't so much avoid/favor certain brands of balls but rather categories. Depending on your level and abilities, you'd want to look at what many refer to as distance balls or up to mid level balls... at your level there is no reason to shell out the kind of money you have to pay to get premium level balls and on top of that those balls spin a lot which can hurt you if you don't know how to control it. A great place to start if you are beginning is with the Top-Flite D2 series... they are a really good ball for the money. As you progress and get better you can move up to the Gamer V2 that Top-Flite has and you'll get a little more spin out if it.

[BuckeyeNut]

Originally Posted by GolfGhost

What is the real difference in golf balls?  Are Titleists really better than TaylorMade?  Or are golf balls pretty much the same?

And, being a beginning golfer is there any brand I should favor or avoid?

Golf balls are lumped into 3 tiers:

3: Pinnacles, Top Flite XL type balls........cheap balls.  They spin less and are ideal for beginners.

2: Budget Performance........Titleist NXT and others..........offers modest performance at a mid-price point.

1: Tour level balls.......the ProV1, etc, etc....

Brand doesn't really matter.......you need to decide on a tier based on what you want to spend and how well you play.  For a beginner......any cheap ball will do.  As a beginner, buying balls used online isn't such a bad idea.   I don't recommend performance balls for beginners.....because they spin more.......slices and hooks are bigger.  Plus.....the only way to take advantage of the performance is with pure/crisp contact on approaches into greens.....(something beginners don't do)

[GaijinGolfer]

Different brands do have a different sound at impact, which may make you like one brand more than another.  Personally, I like a golf ball that makes a nice, "WHACK" sound at impact, so I prefer Titleists and Bridgestones.  Other balls, like Callaways, just make a little click sound, which is why I dont care for them.

When people talk about, "feel" much of what they are talking about is sound, so the ball can make a difference.  If you are just starting out, then by all means buy whatever is cheap.  When I first started playing in the late '90s, I used to play Titleist X-Outs and this balls that were made under the, "Cougar" brandname.  I used to lose a lot of balls, so I bought what was cheap.

Now that Im better and done lose as many balls, I play something that is more expensive and performs better (spins more).

[BuckeyeNut]

Not to get too far off topic, but where do you usually play around Columbus?   I don't live in the area now, but it's my home stomping grounds.  I've definitely logged some rounds around that town................Your profile says your are an auto worker?.....you work for Honda?  which means you primarily play in the NW corner of the city?  that's the Darby Creek/Mill Creek end of town.........

[GaijinGolfer]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeNut

Not to get too far off topic, but where do you usually play around Columbus?   I don't live in the area now, but it's my home stomping grounds.  I've definitely logged some rounds around that town................Your profile says your are an auto worker?.....you work for Honda?  which means you primarily play in the NW corner of the city?  that's the Darby Creek/Mill Creek end of town.........

I mostly play the city courses: Walnut Hill and Champions.  I live in the eastern part of Columbus now, in the New Albany area.  You are right about me working at Honda though.  Its a great job.

[BuckeyeNut]

Originally Posted by TitleistWI

I mostly play the city courses: Walnut Hill and Champions.  I live in the eastern part of Columbus now, in the New Albany area.  You are right about me working at Honda though.  Its a great job.

I've definitely been around those parts...............

I've played both courses many times........many years ago.  I lived in Pickerington before I moved away.  I remember playing Walnut Hill for free in the winter when nobody showed up to open the "shack" to accept money when I was a golfing noob.......LOL  (early 1990s) ....the pro shop consisted of a 15'-15' shack...........that 9 hole muny was once an 18  country club prior to about 1974.......the LPGA has played there before.  The likes of Kathy Whithorth have walked those grounds.....I always thought it was a shame what that course has become.....at least it's still open as a 9 hole course.

Champions is a great layout..........When I played it in the 1990s, it still played like the Winding Hollow private country club it once was.........I don't know what it is now, but it was pretty good back in the day.  I also played Turnberry a lot...........it was close to my home.  That course was always fun..

I also had a soft spot for Blacklick Gold.............it was always the best value around. I used to show up there as a single and put my name on the list...(way back when)