Balls

Lucifer MorningStar said:
There are a few things here that don’t make a lot of sense to me as to why you would be told to choose a premium ball and then to blindly stick with it based on non evidential advice.

1) So if your truth is you’ve no idea if the outcome would be different why not try another ball to see if you get better results!

2) if you know your ball striking isn’t consistent enough to put any results down to the ball, again why blindly stick with a premium as ultimately ball striking will give better compression which will make the premium ball work to its full potential on irons and drives etc! So again a mid range ball maybe better suited to your inconsistent ball striking to reduce poor shots/outcomes.

3) surely your memory is good enough to know which ball you’ve tee’d off with regardless if you change brand or ball type.

Lastly going back to the opening statement of “My game was changing so: choose one ball, develop your game using it, and stick with it” what was changing and why was a premium the immediate go to advice as you’ve mention inconsistency in ball striking last thing a good pro should advise is the most expensive ball is going to improve that! And also how do you know it was the right one to choose.

It all still seems a little fluffy in its reasoning. I’m not trying to call you out or put you down. I’m genuinely trying to understand as none of the points mentioned imo would point to the reason as to why a pro would advise “pick any premium ball and stick with it”
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1) I wouldn’t know whether it’s the ball or my strike
2) My pro knows and I do as he says - besides, my poorer shot outcomes are so poor they can have nothing to do with the ball
3) Was said in jest…it’s an age thing

Over the last 3 years I have been changing my swing path of 50yrs from strong in2out with very fast hands to out2in with much slower hands. It has been very difficult and I am still transitioning with huge inconsistency in my longer iron play yet to be ‘sorted’.

I chose to use Titleist ProV1 at the outset and my work on my short irons and driving has gone well, I’m pretty accurate and I know my distances - but tbh I don’t notice any difference when on occasion I play a premium TM, Bridgestone or Srixon. In general I just stick with the ProV1.

Note that I have said that I don’t notice any difference - that is not to say that there isn’t any - it’s just that any difference that there is doesn’t impact me in a significant way. I’ll add that I’m not in the slightest bit interested in collecting and analysing data about my shots, neither when playing nor when on the range.

This all might change once I’ve cracked my longer iron play…as might my thoughts on ball choice - but as my longer term objective in golf is to be able to play in the range 5-7 for hopefully the next ten years (all being well with body and mind) I am pretty sure I can crack that without bothering myself about which ball I use 👍
 
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Lucifer MorningStar said:
There are a few things here that don’t make a lot of sense to me as to why you would be told to choose a premium ball and then to blindly stick with it based on non evidential advice.

1) So if your truth is you’ve no idea if the outcome would be different why not try another ball to see if you get better results!

2) if you know your ball striking isn’t consistent enough to put any results down to the ball, again why blindly stick with a premium as ultimately ball striking will give better compression which will make the premium ball work to its full potential on irons and drives etc! So again a mid range ball maybe better suited to your inconsistent ball striking to reduce poor shots/outcomes.

3) surely your memory is good enough to know which ball you’ve tee’d off with regardless if you change brand or ball type.

Lastly going back to the opening statement of “My game was changing so: choose one ball, develop your game using it, and stick with it” what was changing and why was a premium the immediate go to advice as you’ve mention inconsistency in ball striking last thing a good pro should advise is the most expensive ball is going to improve that! And also how do you know it was the right one to choose.

It all still seems a little fluffy in its reasoning. I’m not trying to call you out or put you down. I’m genuinely trying to understand as none of the points mentioned imo would point to the reason as to why a pro would advise “pick any premium ball and stick with it”
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MGS have said this on their testing, but basically all soft 2-piece balls are shorter off the tee and have less spin than 3-piece balls - even the ones that say 'distance' on them. (Unless you're a high handicap senior with about 70mph swing speed.) So it makes sense to me if SILH didn't want to get bogged down in the details of comparing nuances between balls, his pro could have easily suggested just picking any premium one and stick with it. On the basis that they're all better for him than 2-piece balls, since he's a decent player.
 
Orikoru said:
MGS have said this on their testing, but basically all soft 2-piece balls are shorter off the tee and have less spin than 3-piece balls - even the ones that say 'distance' on them. (Unless you're a high handicap senior with about 70mph swing speed.) So it makes sense to me if SILH didn't want to get bogged down in the details of comparing nuances between balls, his pro could have easily suggested just picking any premium one and stick with it. On the basis that they're all better for him than 2-piece balls, since he's a decent player.
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Interesting that I normally flit between tru feel or pro vs depending on how I’m playing
 
Okay, just my 2cts: I thinks it's solid advice to stick with one ball. And, although I don't play a premium ball myself, if I was a single digit player I would pick a urethane cover ball that suites my needs and stick with that. The test results of Mygolfspy and Today's golfer show that urethane is the superior material to get the ball to stop on the green. Simple, no?


PS: I game the Titleist Trufeel because it works for me, I putt better with it and play a chip and run type short game, so check isn't that relevant to me - nor do I achieve much of it, even with premium balls.
 
Klimski said:
Okay, just my 2cts: I thinks it's solid advice to stick with one ball. And, although I don't play a premium ball myself, if I was a single digit player I would pick a urethane cover ball that suites my needs and stick with that. The test results of Mygolfspy and Today's golfer show that urethane is the superior material to get the ball to stop on the green. Simple, no?


PS: I game the Titleist Trufeel because it works for me, I putt better with it and play a chip and run type short game, so check isn't that relevant to me - nor do I achieve much of it, even with premium balls.
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My head just gets turned too easily. But I try really hard to make sure I stick to one ball for the whole 'season' / i.e. April until winter kicks in. Then I do my research at the end of the year to figure out what ball I'll be using for the following year's prime golf season. So this year I was using the Vice Pro Air from March until a couple of weeks ago. I still have a box of them left, but I wanted to try out the Triad to ensure I like it enough to make it my main ball next year. I'll finish the last box of Vice PAs over winter, or use as provisionals.

But yeah, it's only been the last two or three years that I've forced myself to stick to one through the summer at least. Before that my head was being turned by a new ball every couple of weeks.
 
Been having a little play around with this topic this morning at work. A few of us have put in our numbers to ChatGpt, Swing speed, Average driver distance, average 7 iron carry distance and handicap.

Top 4 picks that were recommended for my numbers and it’s reasoning were:

1) Mizuno RB Tour/Pro X - Why: (They suit players with medium→fast swing speeds who want a firmer, controllable flight and excellent wedge spin.)

2) Srixon Q-Star Tour
Why: (Urethane cover and a 3-piece design give very good greenside spin and a softer feel than pure distance balls, but at a markedly lower price than premium tour balls — great for an accurate 4-handicap who wants more bite on wedges.)

3) Wilson Staff Model golf ball, Why: (an excellent fit for your game, considering your swing speed driver distance and handicap, The Staff Model is a premium 4-piece urethane ball designed for players seeking high spin and control. It offers a soft feel making it suitable for skilled players like yourself)

4)Callaway Chrome Soft
Why: (Urethane feel, good short game performance a good alternative option based on your statistics and handicap)

Made for an interesting way to pass the morning. The only person who was recommended TP5, Pro V1 was the highest handicapper and that’s because he didn’t know his numbers so it was false data he input as he over exaggerates his swing speed and distances.

Yet despite its order of recommendation it caveated this as the end!

Which one I’d play if I were you​

If I were your handicap + swing speed:

I’d probably choose Srixon Q-Star Tour. It gives enough premium feel and control without the absolute top-tier cost, and I think your shots (especially approach / wedge) would benefit from that extra bite.

I’m currently playing the Chrome soft and do like it. But next year will be my first proper full season playing golf competitively again having only just started back up at the end of June this year. So I’ll be looking at what ball to put in the bag and keep in it. I’d never considered a Mizuno ball or the Q-Star before so may take a look at the numbers and reviews. But I’m certainly intrigued by the Wilson offerings as a cheaper alternative to the Chromesoft which I’ve enjoyed playing.
 
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Voyager EMH said:
Interesting.
What numbers did you put in for yourself?
Was anyone recommended a ball that is less than £30 a dozen?
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My numbers are:
Average swing speed 105mph
Average Driving Distance 260yds
Average 7 iron carry 165-170yds
Current HI is 4.0.

My numbers are all taken from Track
Man I use at a range I go to and are pretty much bang on average for my swing speed. I’m not the longest but not the shortest.

One of the lads who plays off 5.8 was recommended:
1: Wilson Duo
2: Callaway Supersoft
3: Wilson Triad
4: Titleist Tru feel

All those you can get around £30 or less. He currently plays a TP5 as a TM fanboy but said he’s going to give a sleeve of Duo a go this weekend.
 
Lucifer MorningStar said:
My numbers are:
Average swing speed 105mph
Average Driving Distance 260yds
Average 7 iron carry 165-170yds
Current HI is 4.0.

My numbers are all taken from Track
Man I use at a range I go to and are pretty much bang on average for my swing speed. I’m not the longest but not the shortest.

One of the lads who plays off 5.8 was recommended:
1: Wilson Duo
2: Callaway Supersoft
3: Wilson Triad
4: Titleist Tru feel

All those you can get around £30 or less. He currently plays a TP5 as a TM fanboy but said he’s going to give a sleeve of Duo a go this weekend.
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Really? I've always seen the Duo Soft as cannon-fodder for high handicappers, beginners and seniors. I'd be really surprised if he rates that ball if he normally plays TP5. Chalk and cheese.

I am not trusting these AI recommendations at all, they seem like nonsense based on very little to me.
 
Orikoru said:
Really? I've always seen the Duo Soft as cannon-fodder for high handicappers, beginners and seniors. I'd be really surprised if he rates that ball if he normally plays TP5. Chalk and cheese.

I am not trusting these AI recommendations at all, they seem like nonsense based on very little to me.
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Thank you. Your input has been added to our collective consciousness and will be used in our future responses.
 
Orikoru said:
Really? I've always seen the Duo Soft as cannon-fodder for high handicappers, beginners and seniors. I'd be really surprised if he rates that ball if he normally plays TP5. Chalk and cheese.

I am not trusting these AI recommendations at all, they seem like nonsense based on very little to me.
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Probably more accurate than some people's reasonings about why they play a certain ball though ;)
 
Orikoru said:
Really? I've always seen the Duo Soft as cannon-fodder for high handicappers, beginners and seniors. I'd be really surprised if he rates that ball if he normally plays TP5. Chalk and cheese.

I am not trusting these AI recommendations at all, they seem like nonsense based on very little to me.
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Like I said was a bit of fun to pass the morning. But when you consider it’s based on actual entered factual stats which were accurate and measured off trackman for us both, It’s AI it’s not going to be perfect but it’s a little more stat based than just pick a premium ball and stick with it so is it any worse advice 🤷🏼

He might think the Duo is absolutely crap but for a bit of fun doesn’t hurt to try 🤷

I would say based off the MGS trials and without trying them balls recommended for me it’s pretty accurate and food for thought for me at least.
 
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Slab said:
For the weekend should I play the super soft or the soft feel? Got a box of each at home. Decisions decisions :unsure:
View attachment 59469View attachment 59470

edit , just remembered I've got one of these in the bag too

View attachment 59471
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Are all yours actually green? Always struck me as an unusual colour choice to play on grass.


I'm currently playing the Triads in yellow. Makes them much quicker to find when I pull it onto the practice ground on the 8th and there's 20 other balls there.
 
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Orikoru said:
Are all yours actually green? Always struck me as an usual colour choice to play on grass.


I'm currently playing the Triads in yellow. Makes them much quicker to find when I pull it onto the practice ground on the 8th and there's 20 other balls there.
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Yeah all green, very very easy to spot in the air and weirdly also easy to see on the fairway too, dunno why it works like that but it does
 
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