Are you really that good.....

[JustOne]

that you can play better with one certain ball type than another?

What sort of h/cap do you reckon would benefit from using (for example) a ProV1 over a Penta?

 

[Lump]

Yes. But not in-between the mid range balls and the premium balls.
There is very very little between a Srixon Trispeed and a Prov1x in terms of how they react.

 

[duncan mackie]

I think that this is the wrong question, or questions.

Do I beleive that certain characteristics of some balls will produce better results for certain players? Yes.
Would those players recognise them for what they are as characteristics - no. Would they feel (not ball feel) that the were benefitting from them - yes eg a Bridgestone e6 will slice less than a ProV1 for the same swing.

I think all players benefit from having a confidence in the ball they are playing, even if it is misplaced! To some degree this is reflected in feel but, as you know, this has also got translated into soft=high spin=control when the equation simply doesn't work that way any more (and not because of new ball flight laws!)

The only relevance to 'how good' is probably the ability to understand what's happening, and that it's happening consistently, in your ball striking to be able to match it to a ball's characteristics for any benefit.

The other element of 'how good' is probably honestly in assessing your true needs, and capabilities - high spin rates and the control they offer is counterproductive to someone who's not sure if their next shot will be a draw or a slice!

 

[fundy]

big difference between a mid range and a premium ball, not enough of a difference between the premium balls to make a big difference though I do have preferences

 

[RGDave]

that you can play better with one certain ball type than another?

What sort of h/cap do you reckon would benefit from using (for example) a ProV1 over a Penta?

No. If play better means score better, count me out. If play better means using a ball that goes higher or lower or spins a bit more or less, OR, I feel different about putting with then count me in.

I wouldn't know what the second question was asking.

 

[Foxholer]

Yep. I just have preferences - or at least prejudices.

Quite a few balls satisfy my criteria, but not AD333, Soft Feel, ProV1x. Hex Black is only Cally ball on my acceptable list - and jury is still out on that one too.

 

[Imurg]

I've always said, Callaway balls apart ( most are "clicky"), in a blind test I doubt many could tell the difference between the majority of premium balls - even a ProV1 and a ProV1x......
There's a noticable difference between premium and mid-range balls and another between the mid-range and the cheap, hard balls.

I'm not convinced that a ProV will slice that much more than a Top Flite...
Premium balls are designed to spin less when hit with the driver. I would guess that a ProV would spin about 500-1000 rpm more off the driver than a TopFlite.
This probably equates to no more than 5 yards.
OK, maybe the difference between the first cut and the bundu but

 

[FairwayDodger]

I think different types of ball react differently when they hit the green and feel different on the putter.

I think, at my level, I benefit from consistently using the same type of ball but that the actual type probably doesn't matter as long as I'm used to it.

 

[DaveM]

All I can really say is. That in my practise bag, I have a mix of balls. From Dunlop to ProV's. I find that both go about as far. Don't find one slices/hooks more than the other. Ok there is a big difference in the hight they fly. The premium balls tend to fly higher. Plus the short game is a major difference. The long game is not that different. Other than one feels like a rock.

I think as long as you only use one type of ball to play with and get use to it. It does not matter what you use.

 

[duncan mackie]

The premium balls tend to fly higher. Plus the short game is a major difference. The long game is not that different. Other than one feels like a rock.

interesting inferences here -

1. premium = inherently will feel softer
2. premium = fly higher (for some reason)

IMO the world has moved miles since premium = balata cover and cheap balls were just 'plastic coated concrete' and of course I exagerate to make a point.

There are balls across the price and performance range with both soft and hard feels - the latter no longer reflecting either spin rates or distance objectives any more.

 

[6inchcup]

from the tee box with a driver i find very little difference between a mid range ball and my high end preference (z star) it is on the greens i find a difference and how they react off my putter and lets face it this is where you score.

 

[Neddy]

from the tee box with a driver i find very little difference between a mid range ball and my high end preference (z star) it is on the greens i find a difference and how they react off my putter and lets face it this is where you score.

Pretty much agree with this.

I use mid range balls. The few times I've had a premium ball in my hand it's on and around the greens i have really noticed the difference.

Sadly I simply lose too many to justify using premium balls on a regular basis.

 

[SocketRocket]

I think a premium ball like a Pro V 1 will create better performance for players of any ability. It is not true that they will slice more from a driver, they are designed to create less spin off the driver and more off shorter clubs. Rock hard golf balls are no ones friend on the course.

 

[Crow]

With full shots off the tee or fairway (or more commonly the rough) I don't notice a huge a mount of difference between balls.

On putts there might be a slightly different feel but I find the end result is pretty much the same.

The one area I do notice a difference is when chipping around the green. I prefer a more running chip with not much spin and for that reason I can't get on with Pro V1s and the like.

My preferred ball is the AD333 as I find this has a good feel and takes the right amount of spin for my game on those shorter shots.

 

[RGDave]

I'm not convinced that a ProV will slice that much more than a Top Flite...
Premium balls are designed to spin less when hit with the driver. I would guess that a ProV would spin about 500-1000 rpm more off the driver than a TopFlite.

Maybe. But what about off another club?

I've used top balls and I certainly find them less straight.

 

[JustOne]

My only question regarding 'lower quality balls' would be whether or not they have the same 'balance' as a premium ball.... not that I know what the standard of balance is for a premium ball

would a premium ball likely roll 'more true' on a green than a cheap ball that might run like a crown green bowl and actually have some kind of imbalance/weight bias?

 

[RGDave]

If I can be a total anorak.....my understanding is that very few balls are 100% perfect.

I'd imagine the pricier ones might be better..... (??)

You can "balance" a ball, I've even tried it just for fun.

I found some really dodgy ones, and they were not decent fresh-out-the-box W/S or Srixons....

 

[duncan mackie]

would a premium ball likely roll 'more true' on a green than a cheap ball that might run like a crown green bowl and actually have some kind of imbalance/weight bias?

not today, the manufacturng process doesn't incorporate elements that are likely to create such discrepencies.

Once upon a time the issue of windings, centering those as well as their integrity, and even issues with the manufacturing tollerances of the cover and it's materials, all contirbuted to such risks - and required continous quality controls (and produced XXX outs!)

The main differences to premium bals today are material costs and marketing - there's also a lot in the price point positioning! The obvious example of this would be both the relative pricing of the NXT and the Pinnacle Gold Precision by Ac - same ball.

The only unbalanced balls I have found have had broken layers when cut open on a bandsaw for examination !

edit - when I consider 'cheap' I am still in the major manufacturers balls; not cheap cheap such as Black Diamond!!!

 

[MashieNiblick]

At my level I would say that although I might prefer a premium ball in terms of "feel" on the green or perceived greater control on short shots I doubt that my score would be affected if in fact I played with any reasonably decent ball.

For example, I would doubt that it would make any material difference whichever ball in the Titleist range, from Velocity to ProV1/1x I used, because I am not really good enough to make the most of the differences to such an extent that my score will be affected.

 

[kid2]

Hit the exact same shot if one can with a premium ball and a mid ranged ball and a cheap ball say from 20 yards from the centre of the green with a wedge and ill bet people will see the difference in how aggressive you can be with the top end ball...

Now ok you can argue that playing the same ball long enough will get you used to the way it reacts but for me even though im still learning how aggressive i can be with the good balls i just cant see how you would have the same level of control inside 60 or 70 yards with a cheaper ball as opposed to a tour ball...

Now off the tee on longer holes with the woods i could definitely feel the difference and maybe even see the difference with a cheap ball but i think i would find it hard to distinguish between the 2 unless your comparing a ProV1 or Z-Star to a dunlop....
In which case its apples against oranges in my opinion.