Ball recommendations & an Intro

[Aztecs27]

As you can see, I'm a newb here, but It's been great reading some of the posts over the last couple of days. Thought I'd take advantage of using some of the massive amounts of collective knowledge that's floating around the board!

I have been playing since I was 8 years old (26 now) and managed to get down to mid-teens handicap (but mainly floating around 18) before stopping playing for a few (5ish) years and now this years Masters has given me the bug again, so since then, all I've been doing is playing, buying new clubs and trying to work on my game.

I took a trip down to American Golf and picked up a Nike SV 58 lob wedge and an SQ Dymo 9.5 driver (stiff) with my birthday loot. I'm totally happy with my irons that I've had for 12 years. Their Lynx Black Cats and having played Lynx for as long as I remember, I love them. (stiff steel shafts). I also picked up some Callaway Diablo balls on the recommendation of the chap in the shop. (The Pro V1's were a bit out of my price range).

Anyway, since starting up again, I've been told by numerous people that "I swing like a single figured handicapper" and that I just need to get the practice in to get some continuity back in my swing. So my aim is to get shooting down to a 10 handicap without the aid of lessons. Partly because I can't afford them!

Now we have that out of the way, I have a question about balls and check/spin. The Diablo's that I bought are great soft feeling balls, but I find I don't get alot of check with them, despite my Nike SV having grooves as deep as some oceans . Is it the balls that I'm using and should I try some different ones, or is it more likely to be a technique problem on my part?

Any help greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

 

[RGDave]

Welcome Aztecs.

I bought a dozen Callaway diablo balls and liked them from day one. They are not a very spinny ball around the greens and certainly no good (for me) for the next few months.

In the past year I have been mostly using diablos, dx2s, srixon green, AD333s, and various Titleist distance balls.
Despite my opinions on here about this and that, I think they are all superb balls. For the time being I'm taking the middle road with some old Wilson Staff Px3s, hardly a ProV or Z-star but good enough for me. They will run out soon and then I guess I will try the new Dx3 balls. I always have some ProVs and Z-stars in my ball box just in case we have a barbecue summer.

Most modern balls are excellent. Modern wedges are fabulous, but you won't get much action with distance balls unless you have a really solid and fast (?!) downward (divot) strike. I saw a kid get crazy spin with a pinnacle gold off a W/S wedge the other day; I guess some players just have it....I don't.

 

[pokerjoke]

Re: Ball recommendations & an Intro

Welcome,there are lots of balls on the market that spin but you wont get spin until your hitting the ball sweet as a nut.

 

[patricks148]

what is it about everyone wanting to spin the ball.It makes no difference if you spin it or not, its all about the score.
I use any soft ish ball, pro v, Srixon zstar, TM tp red
only starting to get check on the ball now playing off 10.

 

[Aztecs27]

what is it about everyone wanting to spin the ball.It makes no difference if you spin it or not, its all about the score.
I use any soft ish ball, pro v, Srixon zstar, TM tp red
only starting to get check on the ball now playing off 10.

I see what you're saying, but my score would greatly improve if I could get the ball to check when pitching around the green. Which is why I asked if there are types of balls that aid this. Like I said, I've not really played or been around golf in over 6 years so I have no idea of the latest equipment that's available.

In all honesty, I don't need to have the ball spin from mid iron shots into the green. I get enough height on my shots that it doesn't affect my game and I'm not of a good enough standard to control the spin and guide the ball towards the hole. It's just around the green. I feel like I'm striking the ball better than I ever have and feel comfortable with my draw/fade control. I've shot 5 over and 7 over the last couple of nights playing 9 holes which is alot better than anything I would have scored 6 years ago and 4 shots of the 7 over came from a par three where my ball was plugged in the front face of a bunker and it took me three shots to get out and my game is feeling more consistent than it ever has. So I feel like if I can get a bit more control on my short game, I could be shooting at a low handicap within a year.

 

[RGDave]

I see what you're saying, but my score would greatly improve if I could get the ball to check when pitching around the green.

Everyone is after the super-pitch-and-stop these days. The only time it is really needed is when pitching over something and not having a lot of green to work with. In those instances, I just do my best and not worry too much.
I would say get down the club on your own sometime, drop a few balls in the sort of places you feel are letting you down and try a couple of different balls.
I think what everyone would like is to be able to play the high tariff shot with balls that forgive their technique. I can flip a ball up (almost flop style) with a 56 or 60, but I don't very often and sometimes the lie is just not right.

Work on some shots, try some balls, decide which suits you.

I've been practising with a LW recently and have managed to slide the club under enough (with the right lie) to get even distance balls to sit like a cracked egg....only time will tell if I start considering this in a medal off less than fluffy lies.

 

[Robobum]

........Anyway, since starting up again, I've been told by numerous people that "I swing like a single figured handicapper" ........

How do single figure players swing it??

I swing it short and loopy off of 4, I played a Welsh Senior international amateur off of 1 this year and he swings it cack handed!!! It's not a game of pretty pictures.

Any half decent ball will check around the green if you are striking it correctly, doesn't have to be a premium ball or anything. Never used a Diablo ball so know nothing about them, are they in the same bracket as NXTs?? If so you should be seeing them check (not ridiculous amounts of it) if hit correctly.

It may be down to your expectations, clubhead speed helps generate the spin and so short shorts limit the ability to do this.

 

[bigbiffa]

welcome m8, enjoy our forums! now, techical stuff.
as you are not prepared to spend on lessons, i would recommend a mid market ball( titliest nxt very good), but look at it this way, if you spend 20 on a dozen balls,and loose them all, then another 20 ...so on , and so on etc(i know it would take a while!)how about spending that 40 on a lesson to improve your all round game? this wasy you should get the technique improvement required to get the check/spin you desire!
I for one think lessons are brilliant,as when i started playing golf i had a 21 handicap, and am currently playing off 9. i have been having lessons with the same man over the past 5-6 yrs, and this has helped enormously.
another recommendation. club fitting.
i think along with lessons, this is one of the best ways to improve your game!
i bought new irons last year , got them fitted, and when they are on, they are on!!!
i will be going to get fitted for driver/3 wood very soon!
well m8, there are my opinions, but hey you take it or leave it, but whatever you choose....happy golfing

 

[slugger]

yet another cut bigbiffa... nice one my son!!!

what did you score this time?

 

[JustOne]

I can get a Srixon Z-star to spin back off a green whereas something like a Titleist NXT will stop dead, sometimes even roll on a few feet. The ball does play a considerable part... but it comes hand in hand with cost.

If you want to get check spin then you need to move the ball back in your stance a fraction and consider thumping the ball DOWN into the turf with your swing.... practice is the key to this shot... along with nice clean/sharp grooves

 

[slugger]

... along with nice clean/sharp grooves

very good point well made. i gave my wedges a good clean the other day before playing last night and the difference in control over the last time i used them was phenomenal. i had got lazy with cleaning my clubs since i got a locker at my club, so they weren't in the house reminding me they needed cleaning every time i looked at them...

 

[BrianDamage]

if you spend 20 on a dozen balls,and loose them all, then another 20 ...so on , and so on etc(i know it would take a while!)how about spending that 40 on a lesson to improve your all round game?

Regardless of how many lessons you have you're going to struggle to play a round without any balls.

 

[slugger]

spend an hour or so walking in and out of bushes and rough around your course and you'll probably find a fair few proV1s and other very spinny balls that so many players can't control off their drivers.

spend the money on lessons.

 

[Aztecs27]

Thanks for the replies Gents! In trying to reply to some of the comments;

I have no idea how single figure players swing the club, just what people have said. As you say, it's not like it's an exact science. Plus, no use swinging like single figures if you can't play to it, eh!

With regards to lessons, it's more a cost thing at the minute, and a bit personal thing to see how much I can improve without them. Also, since I've only just started playing again and I don't have the time or money to warrant membership at a local club I'm reluctant to spend it on lessons until I get myself set back in and playing regularly. Good analogy about the amount spent on balls vs. lessons though. Definitely something I'll consider.

I try to keep my clubs as clean as possible and tend to "spit and wire brush" them between shots if I can be bothered, I've been lazy recently.

Was actually thinking about getting my irons fitted, but hadn't looked into costs yet. They also need re-gripping.

Massive amounts of help here though, thanks for the warm welcome and advice thus far. I've definitely found somewhere to waste the hours at work instead of actually working!

Thanks again all!

 

[HRC99]

Welcome to the forum, mate! The more, the merrier.

I'd be tempted to pick a ball and stick with it, if possible. At least, you will get consistency and also, if you start to get spin, you'll know it's you, striking it well, rather than the ball.