Balls for the course and some ball related questions

[stu3y]

Can you physically tell the difference between a good brand ball and a cheaper brand ball? I've not been playing long, I was using some cheap Dunlop balls, I found a titelist pro v1 and played it. For some reason (don't know if it was just luck) it seemed to improve my game noticeably,so has made me wonder if branded balls play better even for high handicap players like my self? Also are new balls better than lake balls?

do balls have a life, after so many hits do they deteriorate in any way?

sorry if they are daft questions, jus really new to this sport and have loads of questions on my mind!

 

[Dando]

Get some decent new balls off that well known auction site.
lake balls can be a bad as cheap balls as you never know how long they've been exposed to the elements.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Balls are a very personal thing. As a newbie to the game I suggest you look at brands like Srixon, Nike and Bridgestone who make some excellent balls around the £15-18 a dozen mark. Look at AD333, Softfeel, e6 and such like. I wouldn't consider lake or refurbished balls, they are not for me but lots of people swear by them (or at them!)

 

[delc]

Golf balls do deteriorate with use, usually picking up fairly superficial scuff marks, but these will slightly effect their performance. Certainly throw away any balls that start behaving erratically in flight. Something like a Pro V1 will stop on the greens better than a cheap distance ball, but you have to decide if your golf is good enough to warrant the extra cost. Many mid-range balls perform almost as well, to the extent that an average player probably wouldn't notice the difference, but a good golfer would.

 

[stu3y]

i certainly wouldn't notice the difference then ha! but it definatley seemed to improve my game using the titelist over the dunlop!

what are the callaway supersoft balls like? ive seen them for about £15 per dozen in our local shop

 

[need_my_wedge]

Can you physically tell the difference between a good brand ball and a cheaper brand ball? I've not been playing long, I was using some cheap Dunlop balls, I found a titelist pro v1 and played it. For some reason (don't know if it was just luck) it seemed to improve my game noticeably,so has made me wonder if branded balls play better even for high handicap players like my self? Also are new balls better than lake balls?

do balls have a life, after so many hits do they deteriorate in any way?

sorry if they are daft questions, jus really new to this sport and have loads of questions on my mind!

For me, yes you can tell the difference, some can't. 2 piece balls have different characteristics to 3 piece, 4 piece and even 5 piece. Not everyone can make use of the differences though. Personally I wouldn't go with Dunlop balls, they're not as good as they used to be. As already mentioned, Srixon AD333, Bridegstone Softfeel, Wilson DX2 or Callaway Supersoft are all good entry balls.

 

[WWG]

Can you physically tell the difference between a good brand ball and a cheaper brand ball? I've not been playing long, I was using some cheap Dunlop balls, I found a titelist pro v1 and played it. For some reason (don't know if it was just luck) it seemed to improve my game noticeably,so has made me wonder if branded balls play better even for high handicap players like my self? Also are new balls better than lake balls?

do balls have a life, after so many hits do they deteriorate in any way?

sorry if they are daft questions, jus really new to this sport and have loads of questions on my mind!

Like you I haven't been playing long, but have done a lot of research on this. First of all, when you find a ball you get on with, stick with it, and use it all the time. This is especially important around the green, and putting. Buying a really good ball such as prov1 is almost as bad as buying cheap balls, when you are at the level we are. You will find a ball with a soft feel better to play with, and one that doesn't have a lot of side spin. Of course, buying a better quality brand will pay off, but balls that are suitable for high handicappers tend to be cheaper. By all means do your own research, but after looking into it myself, I found the best ball to be a Bridgestone e6. It is advertised as being the straightest hitting ball in the world, and experts who have put this to the test confirm it. You can buy pearl grade ones on ebay for about 70p/80p each. Now the bad news. Bridgestone are pulling out of the UK, so if you want any, buy them quickly. Alternatively, Nike PD soft are excellent, and even cheaper. As it happens, if you get hold of a Nike PD soft and like it, let me know because I have some pearl grade ones I will sell you very cheaply.