Do you play a "winter ball"?

[Hardspoon]

I never even thought of this, until someone mentioned to me their "winter ball".  I play the same ball year-round.  Sure, I lose a couple more when there are leaves on the ground, but not enough to make it worth the switch.  And I already play a high-visibility color, so no need to switch for leaf-related reasons.

Edited September 16, 2017 by Hardspoon

[phillyk]

I play the same ball, mostly for spin reasons.  Off the tee doesn't bother me to use a rock.  But around the greens, it annoys me when I'm not getting the spin/control that I want.  Distance changes anyway with temperature, so that doesn't bother me so much.

[caniac6]

Sometimes, I will switch to a colored ball when the Bermuda goes dormant. I usually play early, and the colored balls are easier to see when the angle of the sun gets low, and the grass loses it's color.

Edited September 16, 2017 by caniac6
spelling

[1badbadger]

There are a lot of players who switch to a different ball in cold weather conditions.  I used to get this question multiple times each day in the fall.  Most guys are wanting a lower compression ball.  I'm an advocate of playing the same ball year 'round.  If a ball fits you properly, it will fit you in all conditions.  

Changing to a different color in the same model due to leaves or for visibility reasons is fine...same ball/different color.

[Lihu]

1 minute ago, 1badbadger said:

There are a lot of players who switch to a different ball in cold weather conditions.  I used to get this question multiple times each day in the fall.  Most guys are wanting a lower compression ball.  I'm an advocate of playing the same ball year 'round.  If a ball fits you properly, it will fit you in all conditions.  

This is very interesting. I've actually seen this to be the case with premium balls, but I've also noticed that range balls and other 2 piece balls might not behave the same at different temperatures?

Haven't tested that recently, but FriedEggs did:

Seems like 5 yards on a drive, or only about 1.8% variation!

[Patch]

I play the same ball year around. I will store them, and carry them differently in colder conditions. I might even rotate through 5 or 6 balls during a round. Other than these 3 scenarios, I just use different clubs as playing conditions dictate. Usually more fairway woods. 

[CarlSpackler]

Play the same ball all year. 

[Buckeyebowman]

I don't know if it's more about the distance or the feel. FWIW I don't like slapping around a ball that feels like a rock! The shock that goes into my hands doesn't feel good. I like a "softer" ball when it's cold out.

[MarvChamp]

1 hour ago, Buckeyebowman said:

I like a "softer" ball when it's cold out.

I do too. But then I play a soft ball year-round, and we never play in really cold weather anyway. -Marv

[1badbadger]

4 hours ago, Lihu said:

This is very interesting. I've actually seen this to be the case with premium balls, but I've also noticed that range balls and other 2 piece balls might not behave the same at different temperatures?

Haven't tested that recently, but FriedEggs did:

Seems like 5 yards on a drive, or only about 1.8% variation!

Basically, as the temperature gets colder, golf balls can harden and lose restitution which affects how far the ball will carry.  Different models will react differently depending on the materials used in their manufacture.  Wound balata balls were the most sensitive to temperature change, but the modern solid-core balls aren't affected nearly as much.  The different resins and polymers used today are not as "temperature dependent" as the natural rubber used in balata balls.

[billchao]

I switch. Don't need the extra spin when the greens are softer and losing balls under leaves doesn't cost as much.

Actually it's rained so much this summer I probably could have played a 2-piece ball most of the year.

[RickPro]

in the cold i use a low compression golf ball. or keep my regular balls in my pocket to keep it warm and switch every hole. I have those 5 hour hand warmer things that you shake and they stay warm. I keep my ball in my pocket with the hand warmer.

[billchao]

12 minutes ago, RickPro said:

in the cold i use a low compression golf ball. or keep my regular balls in my pocket to keep it warm and switch every hole. I have those 5 hour hand warmer things that you shake and they stay warm. I keep my ball in my pocket with the hand warmer.

Just FYI, using artificial devices to warm your golf balls during the round is a breach of rule 14-3.

[RickPro]

10 minutes ago, billchao said:

Just FYI, using artificial devices to warm your golf balls during the round is a breach of rule 14-3.

that's right, just keep your balls with your balls.

[Buckeyebowman]

22 hours ago, MarvChamp said:

I do too. But then I play a soft ball year-round, and we never play in really cold weather anyway. -Marv

I do the same thing. The Precept Laddies I like in the cooler weather work just fine in the warm weather as well. They spin enough to hold a green unless it Tour hard, and they fly really well.

21 hours ago, 1badbadger said:

Basically, as the temperature gets colder, golf balls can harden and lose restitution which affects how far the ball will carry.  Different models will react differently depending on the materials used in their manufacture.  Wound balata balls were the most sensitive to temperature change, but the modern solid-core balls aren't affected nearly as much.  The different resins and polymers used today are not as "temperature dependent" as the natural rubber used in balata balls.

I've noticed the same thing, though some people (on this forum) told me I was nuts! Back in the day, when I could play a little bit, I LOVED the Titleist Tour Balata Blacks! The (supposedly) 100 compression ones.  But, I only loved them at temps above 85F. And the hotter the better! They would take off like rockets and still hold the firmest greens.

Technology has come a long way, and it's very possible to find a ball perfectly designed for the game you play!

[djake]

I start out with one of my favorite balls until "IT" eats the thing or one the bazillion leaves decide to wrap my ball up as a nice gift for someone to discover.  After that happens I go to my collection of older balls. 

Does anyone think the brightly colored golf balls are easier to spot in the fall?  I am 50/50 on this but can be persuaded if enough people think they are easier to see.

[Denny Bang Bang]

I use the same ball and rotate them in my pocket each hole to keep them warm.

Dean Snell answered a similar question to this on his website as well.  He also stated a multi layer ball will perform better in the cold.

38 minutes ago, djake said:

Does anyone think the brightly colored golf balls are easier to spot in the fall?  I am 50/50 on this but can be persuaded if enough people think they are easier to see.

I guess it depends on the color of the leaves haha 

Edited September 18, 2017 by Denny Bang Bang

[billchao]

34 minutes ago, djake said:

Does anyone think the brightly colored golf balls are easier to spot in the fall?  I am 50/50 on this but can be persuaded if enough people think they are easier to see.

They are not. Maybe the fluorescent green, I haven't played those so I don't know. It's actually harder to pick yellow, red, orange, and pink balls from leaves.