Dialing Back the Ball

[Fourputt]

I voted yes, but I've never been the sort of golfer who was only satisfied with being the longest hitter.  I'd love to see a modern ball with the playing characteristics of the wound Titleist Tour 100 balata that I played back in 1990.  I doubt that it would play as long as modern balls, it certainly wouldn't have the anti-spin friendliness of the modern ball, but it made up for that in short game adaptability.

I'm not that long a driver now, so losing some distance would certainly not be helpful, but that's what shorter tees are for.

[ccotenj]

I voted yes, but I've never been the sort of golfer who was only satisfied with being the longest hitter.  I'd love to see a modern ball with the playing characteristics of the wound Titleist Tour 100 balata that I played back in 1990.  I doubt that it would play as long as modern balls, it certainly wouldn't have the anti-spin friendliness of the modern ball, but it made up for that in short game adaptability.

I'm not that long a driver now, so losing some distance would certainly not be helpful, but that's what shorter tees are for.

i REALLY miss the feel of the old-school wound balata ball...   man, it felt so good coming off the clubface when you hit it square...

[Fourputt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fourputt

I voted yes, but I've never been the sort of golfer who was only satisfied with being the longest hitter.  I'd love to see a modern ball with the playing characteristics of the wound Titleist Tour 100 balata that I played back in 1990.  I doubt that it would play as long as modern balls, it certainly wouldn't have the anti-spin friendliness of the modern ball, but it made up for that in short game adaptability.

I'm not that long a driver now, so losing some distance would certainly not be helpful, but that's what shorter tees are for.

i REALLY miss the feel of the old-school wound balata ball...   man, it felt so good coming off the clubface when you hit it square...

Yep.  If it felt like you just swung at a cotton ball, you knew that you hit it dead center.  But if you didn't hit it well enough to compress it, that Tour 100 felt like a rock.

[Dave2512]

I see them on eBay all the time, expensive but readily available. I found a few last year. After a few shots the nostalgia wore off. Though I don't remember what it was like back in the day. The last time I played golf with balls like that was a long long time ago.

[iacas]

I would favor a Conditions of Competition ball for better players.

If pros and competition amateurs played a ball that went 10% shorter, this would preserve a lot of the classic courses for major tournaments.

Like what?

Oakmont? The Old Course? Marion? No, can't be those courses…

Guess what? Guys swing faster these days. The golf ball is still limited by the same standards as years ago.