NJpatbee

Definitely the Masters - Good coverage, new season beginning, great time of year and tradition. Favorite non-major - the Phoenix Open (recently called the Waste Management Open until another sponsor takes over).

I am an 18 HCP and when I someday shoot below an 84 I want to do it playing golf. I honestly don't care if dumbed down golf courses are built, but it will not be golf. People can do whatever they like such as play miniature golf or pitch and putt and if they have a good time everyone is happy. But I cannot imagine any full length golf course making a serious attempt to change the game that is played on it and expect to survive financially. The biggest problem with golf popularity is $$ and time, of which many people have less than 1998.

I will give my answers from an 18 HCP point of view: 1. The golf ball can make a significant difference at all levels of play, especially if you are playing one not suited to your game. I occasionally have some control problems with the driver and will either slice or hook into severe trouble at least once/round. I also tend to fade the ball and with a ball with higher side spin off the driver I will wind up in the rough instead of the fairway. Many mid-high handicaps have similar problems and look for a ball with less spin off the driver. The ProV1 is a great ball for many golfers but I tend to get in trouble off the tee a bit more than some other balls - you should consider this if you have similar problems. At the same time, don't underestimate the high handicapper's need to hold the green on approach shots and control the ball with short chips and pitches. Also, at my level I am usually short with my approach shot and the ProV1 sticks like velcro which is a disadvantage - I like a few feet or roll but do not want the ball to roll like a marble off the green. There are a dozen balls available that keep me straight and have some good spin around the greens - Gamer Tour, RBZ U, Maxfli U3, etc. So if you have the typical problems of a high handicapper that I mentioned, the ProV1 is probably not the best for you. However, do not accept advice from better players to just play the cheapest ball available since it won't matter - experiment and understand your game. 2. I have only played the ProV1. 3. Titleist is without a doubt the gold standard for tour caliber golf balls even though others of similar quality such as the Lethal may be just as good. Tour players have a lot of $$ on the line and know that there is no ball better than the Titleist ProV1 for their game. I played the Titleist NXT Tour for quite a while and admit that the brand helped sell the ball. I did realize after a while that there were much better balls for my game around for less cost. So, the short answer is "yes", the ball can have a significant impact on all of games as far as equipment goes. And if you smoke your drives with great control why not try the ProV1? It may do wonders for your short game. Of course, a good swing is always the dominating factor. Have fun!

I bought one at the start of the 2013 season and it has held up fine. Performs as advertised.

I think most golfers will get more spin from a multi-layer urethene covered ball than a 2 piece surlyn or similar covered ball. I will go out on a limb and say that the ProV series have a much spin as any other similar ball if you want to judge by spin. However, as a fellow 18 HCP the ProV has more side spin than many other balls and for me this is the difference between being in the short cut or deep rough, which is a control issue. There are other offerings for mid-spin but straight and long off the tee balls. A couple of examples are the 2013 Gamer Tour, and Rocketballz Urethene. I have no idea of your game but I am usually a little short on my approaches and want a few feet of roll, but want the ball to hug the green enough not to roll off it. When I played with a ProV a 3 hybrid approach of 180 just stuck on the green and I though it was plugged. Just too much for me, but you may be different. Feel is subjective and I happen to like the somewhat softer feel of the Gamer Tour versus the ProV1.

I play usually as a single and whoever I am grouped with. I also play once or twice with my brother-in-law and a couple of times with my 8 year old grandson. I used to have a regular foursome for Sunday mornings but the group broke up for a variety of reasons. I do enjoy playing more with people I know than strangers, but it is not a show stopper. I just watch my etiquette, play from my set of tees, and enjoy some occasional conversation.

As an 18 HCP I spend the majority of my time working on my full swing since it is a prerequisite to a good round, which for me is in the high 80's. You seem to have a decent full swing and with 9 GIR and a few yards off the green for the remainder, it should not be too difficult to knock 5-6 strokes off your game. I would recommend taking the time to find a good short game facility with putting, chipping, pitching, and sand shots, and dedicate a full session (1-2) hours weekly until you get some confidence - and don't be afraid to start with a lesson strictly on the short game. I would also take a look at the golf ball you are playing - many people will tell you that you have no business playing a ball with a moderate amount of spin, which may not be true. I switched last year to a couple of lower priced urethene covered balls (Gamer Tour and RBZ U) and have had a ball watching my short pitches and chips hugging the green instead of rolling like a marble. Have fun and good luck.

At one time golf was for the wealthy and it still is, but not exclusively. In Northern NJ we have have some classic older and some extravagant new courses. To belong to a course like Baltusrol, Ridgewood, or Somerset takes money, connections, and the proper social status. There are some excellent public courses that have opened with several charging well over $100/round on weekends - that takes deep pockets also. However, there is some great golf to be had at $40-$60/round which is more affordable, but it is still not a poor man's pastime. Then there are some well-maintained county courses where a resident can play for $35 with a cart. And of course there are a few decent executive courses or out of the way courses where you can play for $15 - $25 on weekdays. My point is that most people in this State can afford some level of golf if they are so moved, and on a regular basis. Certainly not a poor man's sport, but it can be had at a modest price. The availability of used, excellent equipment on-line is another bonus today. I have no statistics but just my observation, but I would put forward that the typical golfer in the US is nowhere near wealthy, and many of them are top notch players.

As a mid/high handicapper myself, I will agree that spending $4/ball doesn't make sense. Also, the characteristics of a Prov1 or similar ball, including side spin and stopping on a dime on the green are of no help to me. There are however, a few great balls that are mid-spin and great around the green and long off the tee. In particular the Gamer Tour and RBZ Uretehene are examples of reasonably priced balls that meet that criteria. Since I am usually not long on an approach shot I want the ball to roll a few feet. But I do not want the ball to roll like a marble across the green into a bunker. The urethene covers have also saved me a lot of strokes from right off the green. So if by budget ball you mean a strictly distance ball, I disagree that most double digit handicaps should necessarily play that type of ball. I would recommend to other HCPers in my category to try some of the innovative urethene offerings from Top-Flite, Maxfli, Taylor Made, Wilson, and any others I may have missed.

New to the forum, 17-18 HCP, and I found the Gamer Tour to great for my game. For me, it was longer than the ProV series off the tee with much less side spin, but plenty of spin to hold the green on approach shots. It performed great from right off the green and made me a believer in urethene covers. For $25 list price, and for about the $30 the Rocketballz Urethene were great balls for 2013.