Golf ball spin is it more or less now?

[harpo_72]

I am completely confused, I used to get the ball to come back on full shots with a 7 iron or more. My mid to long were generally hop and stop or a bit of roll out. The balls I was using at this time were Callaway tour i or black, I now am using a hex chrome.
The question is has the amount of available spin reduced between 2003-5 to now ? Have we lost it due to the never ending search for longer drives?

 

[Imurg]

Hex Chrome doesn't spin as much as the other 2 as far as I'm aware.
You also have to look at the quality of strike, quality of the greens and quality of the fairway you're hitting from.
All these will affect the amount of spin.

 

[harpo_72]

Yes, I am assuming the quality of strike is the same )) the fairways are better, the greens should be better (laid at least) so I am expecting to have some control over the ball. Do you know of any ball will similar levels of spin, if the hex chrome is less ( which I agree with you on from my own findings!)

 

[duncan mackie]

between those balls there will be little difference, but any difference will be towards less spin.

yes, to the wider more general question - the evolution of the Tour ball has seen a reduction in spin rates over the range Titelest Tour Balata, Tour 90, Pro V1 -- 392, Pro V1 (there have been 4 subsequent of the Pro V1 that I'm aware off but, like the balls you mention, these later changes were nominal in this sense.

the distance changes over this period have also been huge

obviously there are differences across models as well - just tried to stick to a simple situation

I have the stats for the Titelest evolution spin and distance somewhere - if I can reference them I will add a link in a moment.

 

[Imurg]

Hex Black, ZStar, B330, ProV should all do a better job than the Chrome..

 

[harpo_72]

I used to play titleist balata 100s ( bit more durable than 90s, for some reason) they performed predictably, went to the titleist professional they were okay little less reactive but improved durability. Did not play anything new for a few years, then someone said try the Pro V that was huge off the tee offering up a change of distance by one club through the bag ( I was using the same irons). Reaction was better but they have got subsequently worse through iterations for me. Hence going to callaway which just has consistent spin allowing me to really get aggressive with irons in.

 

[harpo_72]

Hex black didn't do it for me , not sure what it was. Thinking of getting a sleeve of B330 RXS and the new nike RZN, the zstar felt a bit budget to me, more predictable than a pro v1, but still a distance ball - I will re-evaluate though!

 

[duncan mackie]

Hex black didn't do it for me , not sure what it was. Thinking of getting a sleeve of B330 RXS and the new nike RZN, the zstar felt a bit budget to me, more predictable than a pro v1, but still a distance ball - I will re-evaluate though!

you might find these interesting -

http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=102619

http://www.andrewricegolf.com/2011/08/evolution-of-a-golf-ball/

the latter for some statistical basis to the evolution, and the former because it was written around the time that the major changes had just happened!

B330RXS isn't going to make much difference over a Pro V1, to try something differtent I would sugest a Bridgestone e5

 

[patricks148]

Could it not be that you have been playing on soft greens the last few years and now they are hard?

 

[duncan mackie]

Could it not be that you have been playing on soft greens the last few years and now they are hard?

probably! ours had completely transformed in 2 weeks when I played yesterday, and haven't been this firm for 2 years! Add in the cut height (slightly high because of the conditions and lack of growth) which reduces the effect of the spin, and neither spin nor trajectory are giving drop and stop that many have been used to.

I was getting about 10 yds with a full PW from landing to stopping on a flat green - exactly the same shot/ball 2 weeks ago would be 1yd back...

 

[harpo_72]

Last Friday I had the pleasure of playing some very nice greens better than those that I used to get the ball to come back on, it was evident that on chips the ball would bite, but no reverse gear was applied ! I love seeing the ball come back ....

 

[harpo_72]

Good articles by the way, but I am inclined to agree that the older balls suffered some performance degradation. Does anyone make balatas any more?

 

[Alex1975]

you might find these interesting -

http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=102619

http://www.andrewricegolf.com/2011/08/evolution-of-a-golf-ball/

the latter for some statistical basis to the evolution, and the former because it was written around the time that the major changes had just happened!

B330RXS isn't going to make much difference over a Pro V1, to try something differtent I would sugest a Bridgestone e5

Stunningly interesting... Shocking really over what is not a very long time...

 

[duncan mackie]

Good articles by the way, but I am inclined to agree that the older balls suffered some performance degradation. Does anyone make balatas any more?

too expensive and no benefits - and the wound balls don't enable the manufacturers to fine tune in the same way either. I have a practice bag full of both, and boxes of unused 384 PTS wound balls...

I say no benefits because they can manufacture a soft spinning cover if there was a market for it but people want their ball to last more than 3 holes (assuming they want all that spin!)

 

[harpo_72]

Yes I suppose now its economics, the callaways did used scuff up but less than the pro vs. I like the stability of the callaways, I have mentioned on another thread I thought the e5 was a good ball but seem to move about a little bit. I suppose it has something to do with the dimple pattern.
Isn't it a nuisance when you like something they take it out of production nod replace it with something supposedly improved but it fails for you ( grumble grumble )

 

[Keeno]

you might find these interesting -

http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=102619

http://www.andrewricegolf.com/2011/08/evolution-of-a-golf-ball/

the latter for some statistical basis to the evolution, and the former because it was written around the time that the major changes had just happened!

B330RXS isn't going to make much difference over a Pro V1, to try something differtent I would sugest a Bridgestone e5

Duncan
Ive actually played the course featured in andrew rices article. Played 2 rounds on the south course on my honeymoon. We stayed with family who lived on the course. Amazing and the Mrs was happy enough to leave me to it.

Off topic I know but seeing it caught my eye. Amazing course, especially the condition

 

[USER1999]

Back in the day, you could knock shreds off th ball. Great big strings of it. Haven't done it for ages. Nike tour accuracy was the worst for his.
Haven't done it for ages.