What Ball is Best?

[Wayne1]

I need more distance off the tee. My swing speed is at consistent 88 to 90. I can still work the ball left or right and get the spin I need around the greens. I am willing to give some of this up for more distance. Off the tee I'm only getting around 210 yards total. I'm driving with an Adams Speedline 10.5 degree loft. Any suggestions?

[David in FL]

I need more distance off the tee. My swing speed is at consistent 88 to 90. I can still work the ball left or right and get the spin I need around the greens. I am willing to give some of this up for more distance. Off the tee I'm only getting around 210 yards total. I'm driving with an Adams Speedline 10.5 degree loft. Any suggestions?

What ball are you using now? Is there a physical limitation that prevents you from obtaining a higher driver swing speed? How long have you been playing, and have you spent any time with a qualified teacher? I would think that increasing your driver swing speed would be a better way to add distance, rather than just changing your ball.....

[Wayne1]

Being 64 yrs.old, 5'7'' and 135 lbs. are my limitations. lol. I have been playing a Pro v1  mainly because I have a pretty good short game. Yes I have been fitted to my clubs and swing speed tested with several drivers. The Adams was the best of all. Maybe I'm just getting to old.

[David in FL]

[VIDEO][/VIDEO]Got it....that's why I asked! :-) There are a bunch of lower spin distance balls out there that should help. Titleist Velocity and Bridgestone e7 come to mind. The Top Flight Gamer is said to have better distance than the Pro V1 while still maintaining decent feel and spin around the green. It might also be worthwhile to get back on a launch monitor to see if a little more loft or a shaft with a little lower kick point might improve your carry and overall distance. When all else fails remember, age and treachery beats youth and exuberance very time! ;-)

[Wayne1]

Thanks for the help! I'll give those a try. I have used the old age and treachery business with my youngest son for some time now. He is a long ball hitter and I always tell him the most important shot in golf is always the next one!

[GaijinGolfer]

The gains you will experience from a, "distance" ball are minimal.  Golf Digest ran an article on it a couple years ago and claimed that you will only gain about 5 yards with distance balls.

[WUTiger]

As David said, get on a launch monitor and see what shaft + head + ball combo works best for you. Depending on how your hands load during the swing, and extra degree or two of loft might help out. Lower-flight drives don't always carry as far as higher shots.

If you're really dedicated to the game, you might get a Titleist Performance Institute swing analysis: A golf pro looks at your swing, and an athletic trainer takes multiple mobility and flexibility measurements of you. The trainer then gives you a workout routine to improve your swing motion. For details, see http://www.mytpi.com/

[Wardy]

Maybe you're looking at the wrong factor.

If everything else is working well, but the driver is short, then maybe you need a upgraded driver / different loft? Possibly tee'ing the ball up too high as well

[dbuck]

Try a sleeve of Bridgestone 330 RX and let us know what you think.

[Wayne1]

Thanks everyone for all the help. I was able to locate a teaching pro close by. He said he could work it out in a couple visits. He watched me hit several shots this morning and said my mechanics are still good. He thinks it's still more of an equipment issue.

Thanks again everyone!!!

[PirateJim]

If you do not wish to resort to trechery, a good short game is easier to hang on to as the years go by. My father showed me that years ago. Now pushing sixty and with a fresh interest in golf I am counting on that for the next decades. You drive for show, but you putt (and pitch and chip) for the dough.