Golf ball change

[HawkNballs]

I've played e6 balls for the last several years, mainly to decrease side spin off the tee. If I'm going to pull hook the ball, NASA couldn't even make a ball that keeps it in the fairway. ;) I tried using some Pro V 1s. I was shocked that they felt hard as a rock! I thought a high spin ball would be super soft. Are e6s just super soft or are Pro Vs really hard?

[shanksalot]

Many of today's balls are very soft and when you play a "normal" ball it feels harder. My experience with the  Pro V1 is that it is not hard. When I play the soft golf balls most feel like marshmallows though.

[HawkNballs]

I guess I'm just used to the extra soft e6s. It's weird, cause the Pro V1 actually feels lighter in weight too. I'm sure it's not. The ball even feels rock hard when I putt. This will take some getting used to!

[Pretzel]

I used to play the e6 and it always felt like a marshmallow to me. I actually spun the ball more with the e6 than the ProV1 though.

[HawkNballs]

I used to play the e6 and it always felt like a marshmallow to me. I actually spun the ball more with the e6 than the ProV1 though.

That's strange. e6 is supposed to be a low spin ball. Did you notice a distance change between the two?

[JazzFatCat]

E6 is one of the lowest compression balls you can get.

Here's a chart comparing the compression of balls. It's a bit out of date and for some reason all the balls made by a company aren't completely grouped together but it will give you a rough idea of how balls compare in compression.

http://www.golfballselector.com/pdf/GBS_CompressionHardness_Test_010810_v5.10.pdf

[HawkNballs]

E6 is one of the lowest compression balls you can get. Here's a chart comparing the compression of balls. It's a bit out of date and for some reason all the balls made by a company aren't completely grouped together but it will give you a rough idea of how balls compare in compression. [URL=http://www.golfballselector.com/pdf/GBS_CompressionHardness_Test_010810_v5.10.pdf]http://www.golfballselector.com/pdf/GBS_CompressionHardness_Test_010810_v5.10.pdf[/URL]

Thanks for the info, but I have no idea what those numbers mean. If my driver swing speed is 110... the Pro V1 should provide more distance? Maybe I should go get fitted for a ball.

[Pretzel]

That's strange. e6 is supposed to be a low spin ball. Did you notice a distance change between the two?

Yeah, I hit the ProV1 further, especially with the irons, because the ball stopped ballooning on me. My short irons and wedges went sky high with the e6. Interestingly enough, I've tested the B330 and it feels softer than the ProV1x to me so Bridgestone may like to make their balls softer, but that could be just me.

[HawkNballs]

Yeah, I hit the ProV1 further, especially with the irons, because the ball stopped ballooning on me. My short irons and wedges went sky high with the e6. Interestingly enough, I've tested the B330 and it feels softer than the ProV1x to me so Bridgestone may like to make their balls softer, but that could be just me.

I'm confused. (Usually am) I would think a high spin ball would go higher. I will play the Pro V1s tomorrow and see if I notice a difference. Thanks for the info!

[saevel25]

I'm confused. (Usually am) I would think a high spin ball would go higher. I will play the Pro V1s tomorrow and see if I notice a difference.

Thanks for the info!

Depends on the ball and the golfer.

These can change from player to player but in general terms,

Premium golf balls (w/ Urethane covers) will spin slightly more off drivers and spin way more off wedge shots

Non Premium golf balls (no Urethane cover) have a wide range of spin on wedges. Some can come close to premium golf balls, but some will be way less.

Basically it is up to you the price point you want. If you want that softer feel, better spin rates on the wedges you are going to have to look at golf balls with Urethane covers. If not then you will have to look for a non-premium ball that performs close. There are usually 2-3 models a year that get close.

[Pretzel]

I'm confused. (Usually am) I would think a high spin ball would go higher. I will play the Pro V1s tomorrow and see if I notice a difference.

Thanks for the info!

I found the e6 to spin more than the ProV1x for me, at least with irons and off the tee. The higher spin ball, in this case, did go higher.

[HawkNballs]

Pro V1X is lower spin than Pro V1s, right?

[saevel25]

Pro V1X is lower spin than Pro V1s, right?

In terms of being hit from a robot machine, yes.

In terms of a person's golf game, a strong maybe.

Also, if someone is seeing a ball going higher, that does not mean it spins more. Harder golf golfs (non-Urethane cover) can slid up the face more and launch higher because they are in reality hitting higher on the clubface. Heck, even between premium golf balls, you can see 2-3 degrees of launch angle difference between golf balls.

[acerimusdux]

Pro V1X is lower spin than Pro V1s, right?

Yes, but only because it has an additional layer. Otherwise, the higher compression ball would tend to spin more (for most golfers).

This is really dependent on swing speed, though. You guys with high swing speeds are probably over-compressing the softer cored balls, at which point they maybe do end up spinning more. I think what happens is that at your swing speed, the Pro V1 is probably compressing just as much as the E6, but the E6 gets fully compressed sooner, and then additional club velocity at that point starts to add more spin. If you have this problem with the E6, I would imagine it might be even worse with a 2-piece ball like the Duo or Supersoft.

In general though, a soft cover (urethane) means more spin around the greens. But a soft center means less spin, until you get to the point where there is a compression mismatch with your swing.

I'm not 100% sure what really happens with a compression mismatch, though. I've seen some say that you lose distance from too little spin. But I've more often seen people describe ballooning, which really suggests too much spin. So I think it's the latter.

[HawkNballs]

Thanks, guys! This is pretty interesting stuff. I will at least play 9 holes with the Pro V1s today and see if I notice anything significant. If my buddy and I are playing by ourselves, I might even hit a couple side by side drives. I'm hoping there is not much difference, so I don't have to sell a kidney to buy the expensive balls. ;)

[dbuck]

You should also give the B330 and B330s a try as well. You may find you like them better, and they are typically available around $8-10 less per dozen than ProV1's. I like ProV's just fine and obviously so do millions of others, but I actually like the B330 a little better.

On the other hand, I have always liked the Titleist lower priced balls better, i.e. SoLos and NXT's vs the E-series.

[newtogolf]

You should also give the B330 and B330s a try as well. You may find you like them better, and they are typically available around $8-10 less per dozen than ProV1's. I like ProV's just fine and obviously so do millions of others, but I actually like the B330 a little better.

On the other hand, I have always liked the Titleist lower priced balls better, i.e. SoLos and NXT's vs the E-series.

I've been told by a reliable source that Bridgestone has dropped the price on all of their premium balls by $10 for this year which makes them an even better deal as they are selling online for $30.

[Valleygolfer]

E6 is one of the lowest compression balls you can get.

Here's a chart comparing the compression of balls. It's a bit out of date and for some reason all the balls made by a company aren't completely grouped together but it will give you a rough idea of how balls compare in compression.

http://www.golfballselector.com/pdf/GBS_CompressionHardness_Test_010810_v5.10.pdf

This explains why those old Taylormade TP Blacks felt like bricks...