Sorry, but a bit of help with the golf ball minefield please (2015)?

[ChrisWev]

Sorry for another golf ball thread but I've looked at the others and they're either not current or not suited to what I'm looking for (if it's out there).

I'm looking to switch golf ball from the Bridgestone e7. That has served it's purpose of eliminating slice and hook etc but now I want something that will spin more around the greens and feel a bit softer. The e7 has helped me get me from 40 HCP to about 17 by keeping me in play (mostly), although I'm sure I'll be in the 12-15 range by the end of summer. I'm not that fussed on losing a bit of distance as I've gained that over the last few months and there's more to come I think.

I'm going to switch my irons (5i to PW), get some Cleveland wedges (RTX 588 2.0 in 50-10, 54 or 56-14, a 60-10 and a 64-8. I plan to re-do my distances for full/ 3/4 and and half etc, as well as getting my distances dialled in with the shorter game. Key to this is I want to be playing the same ball for a while (as re-evaluating distance and stopping power takes a lot of time to do) so I need a common and current golf ball model, that is available in the UK (most US are the same).

Basically what I'm looking for (in order of priority, I know it's unlikely to tick all boxes etc):

Current and common model golf ball, that won't be discontinued any time soon

Preferably 3 or 4 piece (as these seem to be better at various aspects, from what I've read)

Not too pricey (forget Pro V'1's or Z-stars as I still loose a few), mid range is fine.

My driver S/S is about 103-105 at the minute but I aim to increase that

Good stopping power on greens

Softer feel

Low driver back spin

Less side spin

Distance

I've thought about a golf ball fitting (and will probably try that anyway) but would be slightly reserved about taking just one persons opinion. I've just bought a SkyTrak and will give some of them a test to see what data that throws up, but I understand it's not going to be as accurate as a GC2 and I'm not a robot.

Any advice would be very much appreciated. It's a nightmare looking through each manufacturers sites as they pretty much all say they're good at everything (which is pretty much impossible). I'd love to see some robot testing numbers on all of the various balls!

[JazzFatCat]

I've been using Srixon Q-Stars for the last 6 weeks and really like them: distance is good, compression isn't so low that they jump off the putter, pitches and chips feel good. I've never been able to put much spin on the ball so I always use trajectory to control roll out on chip/pitch shots. I have about a 98 MPH swing speed. $25 for 12 so I don't feel like a goof if I hit one in the water (I just bought a couple dozen used from knetgolf for $10/dozen but haven't gotten them yet).

http://golf-info-guide.com/golf-ball-tests-and-reviews/srixon-q-star-a-winner-in-every-way/

[ChrisWev]

I've been using Srixon Q-Stars for the last 6 weeks and really like them: distance is good, compression isn't so low that they jump off the putter, pitches and chips feel good. I've never been able to put much spin on the ball so I always use trajectory to control roll out on chip/pitch shots. I have about a 98 MPH swing speed. $25 for 12 so I don't feel like a goof if I hit one in the water (I just bought a couple dozen used from knetgolf for $10/dozen but haven't gotten them yet).

http://golf-info-guide.com/golf-ball-tests-and-reviews/srixon-q-star-a-winner-in-every-way/

Thanks for the response :)

I've started to put together a list and going to gradually narrow it down, that's on there. Think the Q-Star is the Normal two piece AD333, I've also go the AD333 tour on the list which is the three piece version but a little more pricey.

I play with a lot of wedges and will carry a 64 for the foreseeable future as I like loft myself (quite happily sacrifice my 4I for the 64), but would rather only use that when I need to (which is pretty often in all honesty), so ideally want the spin so I can check the ball with my new 60 which will be my "go to" wedge.

The good thing with the Srixons AD333's/ Z Stars and Bridgestones 5,6 and 7 is they're very common so I can get "Pearl Grade" lake balls very cheap locally, which are immaculate. Same with titelist NXT tour and NXT tour S which are also on my list.

[ChrisWev]

I've found a fair bit of robot data but not much current for this year, but I do have this from 2013 which is very handy:

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/838872-2013-hot-list-balls-spin-rate-chart/

In the mid range these look good:

NXT Tour-S

Hex Chrome

Hex Chrome+

E5

Rocketballz Urethrane

On another note it really goes to show how much better the top line balls are....

[WUTiger]

For what you're talking about, consider these:

• Callaway Supersoft - $21 a dozen
• TaylorMade Project (a) - $33 a dozen

if you want to get a ball-by-ball comparisons, try this PDF from USGA on Conforming Golf Balls: http://www.usga.org/ConformingGolfBall/gball_list.pdf

It not only tells which balls are legal, but also rates the balls in four categories:

• Color variety
• Composition (number of layers)
• Spin ratings (driver and irons)
• Number of dimples

Now that you have this info, we expect you to be shooting in the low 80s by August!

[ChrisWev]

For what you're talking about, consider these:

Callaway Supersoft - $21 a dozen

TaylorMade Project (a) - $33 a dozen

if you want to get a ball-by-ball comparisons, try this PDF from USGA on Conforming Golf Balls: http://www.usga.org/ConformingGolfBall/gball_list.pdf

It not only tells which balls are legal, but also rates the balls in four categories:

Color variety

Composition (number of layers)

Spin ratings (driver and irons)

Number of dimples

Now that you have this info, we expect you to be shooting in the low 80s by August!

That's excellent, cheers :)

I think the ball change will knock a couple of shots off, along with some putting work, I'll get there, it's just a case of when. August might be pushing it mind :)

I'm going to change to using my game balls to practise with also as it's probably not helping me much using the ones I find, which can be anything from range balls, rocks, Pro V1's and balls with no dimples

[iacas]

Good stopping power on greens

Low driver back spin

Less side spin

Note that "spin is spin." There's no such thing as "side spin" - the ball just spins around one axis. If it's gonna spin more for "stopping power" it's gonna tend to have more "side spin."

[mvmac]

I'd recommend the Snell My Tour Ball or the Get Sum ball.

http://thesandtrap.com/b/balls/snell_my_tour_ball_review

http://snellgolf.com/

[Mr. Desmond]

I'd recommend the Snell My Tour Ball or the Get Sum ball.

http://thesandtrap.com/b/balls/snell_my_tour_ball_review

http://snellgolf.com/

What this smart guy said ^^^^^

And this is the last weekend for buy 4 dz and get the 5th dz free.

For the MyTourBall, that works out to about $2.15/per ball for a ProV1/V1x/Premium type ball.

[Chris08527]

try the top flite gamer TOUR, it is a 3 piece ball with a urethane cover about 30$ for 2 dozen, i bet you like them . . .

[Golfingdad]

I'd recommend the Snell My Tour Ball or the Get Sum ball.  [URL=http://thesandtrap.com/b/balls/snell_my_tour_ball_review]http://thesandtrap.com/b/balls/snell_my_tour_ball_review[/URL] [URL=http://snellgolf.com/]http://snellgolf.com/[/URL]

[quote name="Mr. Desmond" url="/t/82995/sorry-but-a-bit-of-help-with-the-golf-ball-minefield-please-2015#post_1163760"] What this smart guy said ^^^^^ And this is the last weekend for buy 4 dz and get the 5th dz free. For the MyTourBall, that works out to about $2.15/per ball for a ProV1/V1x/Premium type ball. [/quote]Yup. Long story short of you don't know yet: Snell is the guy who basically invented the prov1 (among dozens of other premium balls) and now he's got his own startup with a ball on par with prov1 for $30 a dozen. Throw in the deal Des mentioned and it's a steal!

[JazzFatCat]

I would imagine the currency exchange and shipping costs for Snell balls to the UK would make them unattractive? I haven't done the math. In Canada you also have to factor in the "Goods and Services" tax so the cost savings quickly disappear for online USA balls. I am guessing there is some equivalent tax in the UK.

[acerimusdux]

For what you want, multilayer ball with spin and stopping power on greens, you are pretty much looking at "Tour" balls. I don't know about UK prices, but TM Project (a), Snell My Tour, Wilson FG Tour, and Bridgestone 330 all seem to be available in the $30-$35 range.

[Mr. Desmond]

Whoops, I see you are in the UK...

In the USA, the Callaway Speed Regime Balls are now reduced in price - saw them @ $35, so they may be reduced now in the UK. The Callaway Chrome Soft gets great reviews.

Here, the TM Tour Lethal is reduced.

The Project (a), RBZ Urethane are a 3 piece that are similar -- the spin on partial or delicate shots is below tour ball spin.

Bridgestone makes a variety based on swing speed. At your speed, the B-330 S is the suggested ball.

[ChrisWev]

Note that "spin is spin." There's no such thing as "side spin" - the ball just spins around one axis. If it's gonna spin more for "stopping power" it's gonna tend to have more "side spin."

Of course there is, all spin axis is is a combination of the two and is why GC2 HMT lists figures for back spin and side spin and a figure for the combined "spin axis".

I know what you mean though, but some balls list eliminating side spin on all shots, reduce back spin on long shots but maintaining back spin on wedges and around greens, which I find hard to believe. Surely has to be give and take to a degree?

Spin access is the somewhat middle ground of the ratio between backspin and side-spin, which tilts the axis through a complex calculation (which I don't know), the ball manufactures won't list anything to do with spin axis on their sites as most won't understand it.

[ChrisWev]

Thanks but that's not going to be common in the UK unfortunately, the numbers do look good though

I'd recommend the Snell My Tour Ball or the Get Sum ball.

http://thesandtrap.com/b/balls/snell_my_tour_ball_review

http://snellgolf.com/

Thanks but they are not going to be common in the UK unfortunately, the numbers do look good though

[ChrisWev]

try the top flite gamer TOUR, it is a 3 piece ball with a urethane cover about 30$ for 2 dozen, i bet you like them . . .

I liked the sound of this, it gets mentioned a lot but you just don't get Top Flight golf balls in the UK any more. The only ones you see are practise balls or battered range balls.

[ChrisWev]

Thanks for the other comments, I won't quote them all but yeah with shipping the gamers would be pricey and not worth it.

The snell ball looks very good, but as always in the UK we get restricted amounts of items at higher costs :(

The TM Project (a) looks good, along with the Brigestone B330-S, B5, Chrome Soft and NXT Tour S, I've also seen a deal on Z-Star XV's too