Balls

[Cobra_Nut]

I'm a High Handicap, well no handicap at all, I'm using a 3 Wood off the tee & averaging about 260 & hitting alot of fairways & have not lost one ball to date, my problem is my approach & short game, its shocking, I know it could be a swing flaw, but i'm a using 2 piece balls of a mixed bag from the tee as I read they reduce hooks & slices from shots & it has proved so as I tried a Pro V1 & sliced the heck out of it. A playing partner suggested my balls may be great from the tee but way to hard for the short game, stupidly I didn't ask him what he would suggest, to which ball would fit inbetween keeping straight tee shots & improving around the green, waiting for your expert help guys, thanks.

 

[Aztecs27]

No one ball suits every person.

Sounds like you're using "distance" balls off the tee which are designed to help reduce spin to stay straight and hard hard as anything to help them go longer.

The trouble is, they bounce like rubber balls on the green.

The best bet is to try a handful of different balls to find out which suit you best.

If you tried a ProV and it didn't go to plan, I would steer clear of the expensive tour balls for now and maybe try something like a Srixon TriSpeed or one of the Bridgestone E series. Or a Titliest NXT?

Someone with more knowledge will be along shortly to offer better suggestions.

My only suggestion is to try a handful and see which feels and works best for you.

 

[Cobra_Nut]

Thanks, yes I am using distance balls & it is exactly as you say around the greens. I just did a Titleist online ball fitting & it recommends the Pro V1x, even with my limited knowledge that doesn't seem right.

 

[Aztecs27]

Thanks, yes I am using distance balls & it is exactly as you say around the greens. I just did a Titleist online ball fitting & it recommends the Pro V1x, even with my limited knowledge that doesn't seem right.

The myth about tour balls is that they're only for low handicappers.

This isn't strictly true.

Yes, the majority of high handicappers can't get on with them because they tend to (generally) have a slower swing speed than those who are more familiar with the game.

Balls like the ProV1, Srixon Z star and TM Penta TP are that you need to hit it hard enough (off the tee) to compress it enough to get the full benefit from it.

If you try using some ProV1's around the green, you'll probably find it improves your short game, but that's useless if you can't control them off the tee because you can't change balls mid-hole.

 

[AyrHead]

If you're hitting the ball straight off the tee with a 3 wood and averaging 260 yards you must have a good swing. Sounds to me that you may be lacking confidence in the short game area. Stay with your ball at the moment and practice hard on the weak areas of your game if after doing so and these parts of your game are not improving then maybe look at a different ball.

:Note - you said you didn't drive it well when changing to a Titleist Pro V: i would suggest that this is maybe more a mental thing. If you drive the ball (with a 3 wood) as well as you say, it shouldn't make any difference whether you tee up with a soft or hard ball.

Good luck - practice - and if you're driving is anything to go by you won't have a high h'cap too much longer.

 

[Cobra_Nut]

You could be right about it being a mental thing, like yesterday I hit within 30 yards of the green on a Par 4, then took a 7, stuck it in a bunker, got out but it went over the green, went over the green on the way back & then a 3 putt , just frustrating I can't take advantage of my driving & get on the green in 2 or 3 shots.

 

[GeordieAggro80]

Mate i believe all this ball crap is great marketing. Im no where near a good golfer but it makes absolutely zero difference to my game what ball i use. I normally use whatever i find on the hole previous

Tried everything from pro v to crappy donnay things and apart from range balls i cannot tell the difference at all. Also asked the pro and he agreed it was a load of balls until you are maybe a single figure player who can spin the ball etc.

I know others will disagree but i think its another case of great marketing by these ball companies.

 

[AyrHead]

Definitely sounds like it - nothing a bit of practice won't sort out.
Unfortunately Golf being Golf you'll sort out your short game and your long game will go to sh*t. It's the same for us all and thats the beauty of the game and on the odd occassion when everything comes together it keeps us coming back.

 

[BROOKIE]

Theres really no need to buy expensive balls to make your
short game improve,the srixon range are all great balls,Ive
been using the "soft feel" balls of late and they seem ok
especially @ 14 quid a dozen they're not gonna break the bank..

 

[Pull]

have a read through Clicky

Previous thread on balls!

 

[TriggerTech]

Ad333 - Solved!

 

[Khyle]

I agree with the above post, for the most part I play like you. I spent a year using Distance balls and whilst they were great off the Tee I had a habbit of ruining the rest of the hole.

As you say they just bounce off and over the green, and are very difficult to get them to just sit down where you put them unless using the most lofted of clubs.

The Srixon AD333 was perfect for me, kept straightish of the tee (I got a little extra slice but not much) and I got far more control around the greens. And best of all, they do not cost an absolute fortune like the V1's so I do not feel bitter when I stick one in the lake every other round

 

[jammag]

I had no end of trouble trying to find a ball to suit me I used to use any ball really, I then tried the pro v1 and it felt so nice putting with and felt good putting it onto the green and having faith that it will stop. I thought they were expensive, I tried some other brands such as the z star and the ad 333, dx2, dx3, warbirds but because of the feel on the green I didnt get on with them. So back to the pro v1 I went and I managed to find this site called acegolfballs.com now these are lake balls and you can get some nice ones on there at about half the price, also if you are only practicing and get on well with them titleist do the pro v1 with practice stamped on them for £20 a dozen.

But as others have said once you found a ball stick with it. Most balls will slice if you hit it badly and you may lose abit of distance but not much if you change to a softer type of ball.

 

[bignev]

Def the AD 333 good alround ball

 

[SatchFan]

I started off with the Pro V1 but like you I found them a bit curly off the tee so I switched to the Pro V1x and problem solved. For the short game they both feel great and spin a lot so you can get the ball to stop quickly on the green. Also have to agree with the other posts - the Srixon AD333 is a really good cheaper alternative and I tend to swap to this when my bottle goes on dangerous holes!

 

[Oddsocks]

Ad333 - Solved!

+1

 

[HomerJSimpson]

With the new Pro V's out now have a look around and I'm sure you'll find the now "old" version with some good deals on it. Similarly the new Z Stars are out meaning surplus supplies of the old ball need shifting at lower prices too

 

[Cobra_Nut]

Thanks for all the replies, I've had a dig through my bag of balls found & pulled out some AD333s, some ProV1xs & a few others mentioned, have to give them a test on the course & let you know how I get on.

 

[stevek1969]

srixon soft feels won't burst the bank or bridgestone rx one of the best balls out there