As a Beginner - Does the Ball Really Matter?

[Big Don]

On the basis that you are probably still losing quite a few (like me!) I'd go for a reasonable mid price ball. Titleist NXT, Maxfli Noodle, Srixon AD333, Pinnacle Exception or something similar probably about right.

[mkoreiwo]

"as a beginner".... That's the important operative here. Starting out, just buy affordable balls, since my guess is you will lose your share. And just the help out, but the same kind, to maintain consistency of the feel.

When you start making good, consistent contact, then you might want to experiment with different balls. You will feel a difference. Your swing speed will contribute to how the balls feel, and you should eventually settle on one that matches your swing.

So as a beginner, I'd go with a cheaper ball Bridgestone e5, e6, Nike Juice might be good.... If you can't tell the difference, by the cheapest ball you can stand to hit. YMMV

[BaronV]

Anyone have a review of the Nike Soft balls that sell for like 24 for $25 at Target? I found one last week but haven’t tried it out yet, is it in the same range as the Power Distance balls?

[KiawahConnor]

you just started playing and are already playing at a 5.1 hdcp?

[iacas]

Originally Posted by KiawahConnor

you just started playing and are already playing at a 5.1 hdcp?

Please note the dates on threads you wish to revive. :)

[Joe Sandbagger]

I think whether the ball makes a difference depends on what you're expecting from the game. If you are just out having fun with your buds I don't think its a big deal if your ball doesn't match your swing speed or how much spin it does or does not deliver. Have fun, hit a ball, grab a beer, rinse and repeat. But if you are expecting to go out and find ways to make an improvement each round, yes, you need to match your ball to your game.

[Danattherock]

Get the Noodle or Precept Laddie X.

Both are super cheap for quality balls, soft, long off the tee, putt great, etc..

Most less expensive balls are hard. Most players prefer softer balls to the cheap rocks made for distance.

Soft premium balls that provide lots of spin are expensive.

As a newer player, spin is less of an issue since your swing won't likely create much anyway.

Seems the Laddie's are two dozen for $19.99 and the Noodles are 36 balls for $30 or so.

Check Golfsmith and The Golf Warehouse.

Great balls.

-Dan

[GaijinGolfer]

As a beginner, honestly, Id say that youd be better off to buy the cheapest ball you can find, especially if you fight a slice/hook and tend to lose a lot of balls.  That way, you wont care if you lose any and will focus on making the shot instead of, "dont lose another ball because theyre expensive."

[Socrates]

Fact is, the worse you are, the more getting fitted will help you. Whether it be for a ball or a club, the worse you are, the more you can benefit from a proper fitting.

Think about it like this, if I gave a bad player top of the line stuff, would their score improve greatly? Now, if I gave a pro, beginner unfitted stuff, do you think their game would suffer greatly? The answer to both is obviously no. However, if a bad player gets fitted, their striking improves, distance improves, scores improve etc... for the latter, a pro is a pro. Hogan played with 50 year old technology, many pros could play those same clubs today and play almost as well as they do now. My take is that pros don't "need" fitting as much as someone who can't hit the ball consistently.

[Zeph]

No, I don't think it matters a whole lof if you are duffing a Rock Flite or a Pro V1. I'd make a point that you should play the same ball all the time, but from my own experience, it makes very little difference. My best advice is to buy a bunch of balls from eBay for a nice price. I bought around 100 Bridgestone E5/E6 a couple of years ago and still got lots of them. I can play just as well with a E6 as a V1x, but I prefer the latter when it comes to the short game and putting. I believe playing the right clubs can make a difference for a beginner, but not which ball you are hitting, no. Buy a bunch of cheap to mid range balls off eBay. No need for the expensive ones. Of course, if you got the money and don't care, play whatever you want. ;-)

[sportsnut]

As most of the replies suggest, buy a ball, preferrably new, that wont break the bank or make you crazy if you hit it into the woods or water. noodles are good, laddies are rated highly by most people and wilson staff 50/50 or d:25s can all be bought very reasonalbly and will service you well. in my opinion once you start to get consistent and dont lose many jump to the topflite gamer v2 or srixon ad333 balls.