Advice on my balls...

[Teeshot]

Ha ha!
That got your attention- I am seeking a bit of advice on golf balls.
I'm sure as always, opinion will be divided so feel free to chip in.
Those who have read my posts will probably know I am fairly new to the game, and this is my conundrum...
What balls should I be buying, and why?
I must admit my usual arrangement has been buying 100 balls at a time, maybe paying £30-40 and they're usually TopFlites, Slazenger that sort of thing.
I recently broke 90 and am losing fewer balls and wondered what you thought I should buy?
For instance I fould these...

http://www.golfballs.co.uk/6-dozen-confidence-pure-gold-golf-balls.aspx

I have never heard of "Confidence" as a brand, but didn't think they'd be any worse than my current crop!

That said, I am hardly on the poverty line (as most who play this sport aren't) and wondered if I should up the anté to Taylormade, Nike, or even Srixon or Titleist?
Are these balls that much better?
Are Lake balls a no-no?
What got me to thinking on this subject was recently I went to find my ball and found a sparkly new Titleist Pro V next to it.
After looking around, and realising I was having one of those rare "Millionaires Rounds" (Course to meself type thing) I pocketed said ball and carried on my round.
Without realising, I T'd off the next hole and hit an absolute cracker! I then chipped on to the green, and sunk my putt (in 2 ) for par.
Coincidence?
Once I realised this was my "super ball" I kept it back for chipping/putting not wanting to lose it!

I know this was silly, and probably a case of not wanting to lose an expensive ball, but it got me to thinking if I pretend every ball was expensive, how many would I still lose and would it make me play better?

 

[Deleted member 1740]

Teeshot i've just swapped from hard balls topflites etc to soft balls srixon soft feel and ive seen a vast improvement in distance and control especially around the green.

I know a few people will argue the point of it doesn't matter to high h'cappers what ball you use.

I would buy a sleeve of a few different types to see what you like then once decided buy a few dozen or so.

 

[TonyN]

Depends what you want from a ball and how you play the game. The reason there are different types of balls because people want different results.

If you want to be long as possible then hard balls are probably best and providing you don't loose them they should last longer too as the cover won't cut up as much.

If it's feel of the faceand controlyour after, spinning checking and manipulating the ball then it's a softer one that should suit. I played ad333s last year because they were a greatmix of both and didn't cost the earth.

Now my game has progressed and I am looking fora ball I can play target golf with a softer ball is what need, especially for feel to my short game. I don't loose many now so I can justify buying a little more expensive.

I have never bought a brand new prov1 but have found loads. After comparing them against the srixonz-urs I beleive the prov1 is a better ball but still not sure it is worth the extra pennies sorry pounds.

It wouldn't harm to buy a few different make A grade balls of eBay and see what you get on best with.

 

[Macster]

Years ago when I was about a 19 H/C, I was joined one summer evening with a fella who was single figures.
On a couple of holes, my shots to greens bounced thru whilst his hit & held exactly as you'd want.
He asked if I was using 'wound' balls, to which I had absolutely no idea !!

After scrabbling around and finding one, I started to play with only these softer balls, and the difference was quite simply, for me, immense.

I only ever use ProV1's now, I think its important to know the feel of your Ball for a consistent strike and feel, and allowing you to know how the ball will react to your shot.

How can you expect to play well with something that has the consistency of a marble, and flies off the face of the club like a pebble ??

 

[Teeshot]

Thanks for the replies lads- Tony, I think I am wanting to go down the route you mention of softer- more feel.
I have found when trying to get on the green with say,a7/8/9/pw type iron my TopFlite's have a very tinny feel on contact compared with my one and only ProV- as an aside, what's the difference in ProV and ProV1!?

I will try some better balls next time I order- not new probably, but didn't I read a thread on this forum somewhere saying how poorly lake balls perform? There seems to be good deals at the moment on Lake balls that's all- wondered if anyone had the definitive on that one?
Obviously, a brand new ball will always be best, but how much does having been sat in the water affect the ball? (I doubt I could tell!)

 

[User 105]

teeshot, I'm in a similar position to you. I'm on the brink of breaking 90 and have started to keep the ball in play much more, so maybe loose a ball a round, if that.

I started out with Warbirds. Hard ball drove it well, but no feel round the green or putting.

I tried the HX Hot's. Bit softer, still drove it well and a bit better feel.

Then someone on here recommended the AD333's. I've been using them for the last 4-5 rounds and really like them. I have much more control and really like how the feel off the putter. And they are great value as well.

I'll probably end up using Pro V1's at some point when I have much better control closer to the green. But at the moment I don't think they are worth it, for me anyway.

 

[Cernunnos]

If you want super soft then Srixon Z Star is probably the ball

If you like that ProV1 you found then why not try something like an NXT Tour.

I rate Taylormade TP-Red, though hardly the softest ball out there, it does perform. But why not try Burner-TP

If you want lots of spin the irony is it can be found in something like WilsonStaff DX2 balls, hardly a premium ball, but feels soft enough, spins well, reasonable distsnce. Well very good infact. & putts nicely

Bridgestone have started producing a whole range of new balls. If I were to suggest a good ball to try I'd say the B330RX

Srixon soft feel are alright, but not that special, same as, Srixon AD333, Titleists PTS are ok, Taylormade burner, Bridgestone Treosoft etc. I recently tried some Treosoft, nowt special, but don't cost the earth.

Better trying something like Srixon Trispeed, great ball, but a bit expensive, you can now find Srixon Z-URS for the same or similar money.

Oh..! And don't bother with lake balls.

 

[medwayjon]

Wilson Staff DX2-Soft.

A top quality ball and almost as good as a proV1.

Cost me £14.99 a dozen when I buy them and I cant speak highly enough of them.

Good distance, plenty of feel around the greens, check nicely and roll nicely off the putter.

im going to buy a sleeve of Ad333's again. Have tried them before and found them to be rubbish, strange considering the love for them on here, I must be missing something so going to have another crack.

 

[TonyN]

Prov1 x is a harder ball with less compression and I think its designed to be a soft distance ball. It needs a faster swing than the prov1 to get it spinning as well. I think it's for club head speeds of 90mph+

 

[Cernunnos]

medwayjon: AD333 are ok, they are consistent. I'd be tempted to stay with the WilsonStaff DX2soft or similar from WilsonStaff.

If you want to try Srixon again, make sure you try Trispeed & ZURS, as with the ZStar coming out the ZURS will be on offer most places.

 

[Herbie]

I have to say that this ball issue is a personal choice thing in most cases, a psychological choice in others and sometimes a fashion choice with some.

To suggest there is no feel around the greens with one type of ball as compared to another simply means you only have a limited feel capability yourself .

All golf balls conform to rules and they are all in the shape of a ball funilly enough. If you have great feel and skill with a golf ball you should be able to adjust your feeling and method of play to suit the performance of a ball, this doesn't mean that any ball will give you personally the best results, like clubs, there is a ball out there that will suit your game the best.

The top market balls are great but they only really work for those with the skill to utilise the performance charactoristics to advantage.

If you have made your way successfully improving your game to breaking 90, you may improve with a more expensive ball but it may simply be because you are on the improvement curve anyway.


These comments do not mean that I suggest any ball will do, nor do I condem the expensive ball, I myself would use prov1s if I thought they would help get me back to a 6 h/c, but I am also happy to shoot regular mid to high 70s with run of the mill golf balls from the cheapo market place.
What I am trying to point out is that an expensive ball may not be the making of your golf, but if you feel good about it, you can afford it and you think it improves your game then be happy with your purchase.

As for the thing about keeping a ball back for chipping and putting , I assume you play one off the tee, then maybe an approach shot, then switch to this ball you like for chipping and putting? Not a good habbit to get into if you are someone who thinks feel is so important and secondly, if you do this in a comp you would be penalised as there are rules on changing balls during a round, also any round you play this way is a false score no matter how good you feel about it at the time. Not trying to upset you, just trying to help.

 

[mansell]

Wilson Staff DX2-Soft, love'em

 

[jeffc]

Dx2's every time AG got em on offer at £26 for two boxes.

 

[mattdeeks]

I've been using the old Callaway Warbird, however just brought myself some Taylormade Burners from American Golf.

It will be good to see how different they are. Anyone use them, not the TP ones?

 

[Cernunnos]

mattdeeks. The Standard Burner ball if not the softest will be softer than the old warbirds you've been using. will putt nicely. tbh even though I prefer the TP Burner & TP red, the standard burner plays perfectly alright, does everything reasonably well.

If you decide you like the Burner, do when it starts to get warmer try the TP-Burner, for the sake of an extra couple of quid is worth the punt.

I did notice however Callaway do have a new warbird ball out with the hex dimple now. They are suposed to be softer than the old variety. Not tried the new softer Warbird, but maybe worth a go too.

 

[TonyN]

Hnj not sure if your reply was aimed at my response but of course harder balls do have some feel about them they just don't give as much feedback as soft balls do IMO. If a hard ball had no feeling then you would be hitting fresh air. I simply meant, if it is feel your after, softer balls provide more of it. There is hardly any with a hard ball. And how does that mean I simply have limited feel capabilities my self?

Ask most pros why they play a soft ball, bet most answers involve feel round the greens!

 

[mattdeeks]

I saw the new Callaway Warbird Plus this morning but thought i would have a change to Taylormade Burner for a bit.

Will give give the TP Burner a crack in the summer, if we have one!!!!

 

[Junior]

As your still fairly new to the game, i wouldnt go shelling out loads of cash on Pro V's just yet.

Dont fall into the trap of buying lake balls, these shred up way to quickly. I'm with the people who suggested a decent two piece ball like Wilson Staff dx 2 soft or Srixon AD333.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Don't buy lake balls. These are varyig quality dependant on how long they were submerged and so one ball will play as new and another will be 10 yards shorter. Not a good way to get consistancy with your yardages.

I'm a fan of the AD33 and tend to use them in winter when it is wetter and my favourite premium balls (TP black and Cally Tour Ix) don't go so far. I think at your current standard, the 333 or any of the Wilson balls (also good quality) will do the job in terms of more spin without breaking the bank.

If you continue to progress why not but a sleeve of 3 Pro V or similar once the greens are firm in the summer and try them against your usualy ball of choice. It will at least let you see the difference on firmer greens and if money isn't an object may be a viable investment if you are losing only one ball (or maybe none) per round.

Finally, DO NOT use different balls on te same hole for driving, putting or approach shots. This is against the rules and will cost you a 2 shot penalty in stroke play or loss of hoe in a matchplay event (rule 15-2)

 

[datitleist]

anyone who thinks that they lose few balls and wants to play with premium balls should try the Bridgestone B-330 s. They perform exactly like the Pro v's and are a bit cheaper as well. But you will always have confidence when you hit a ball with the name "Titleist"