How do you decide which ball?

[Bazep]

I've only ever thought in terms of hard or soft balls and avoided the soft as I just chew them up. But since getting back in to it there seems to be so much more to it now. How do you all decide what's best for you? Is it trial and error or do you genuinely get a ball fitting?

cheers

 

[drew83]

I've only ever thought in terms of hard or soft balls and avoided the soft as I just chew them up. But since getting back in to it there seems to be so much more to it now. How do you all decide what's best for you? Is it trial and error or do you genuinely get a ball fitting?

cheers

Mine was "I lose loads so want cheap"....then brother in law suggested I try his brand which I did & found the felt really nice off all clubs.

If he hadn't offered them up, I would have stuck with my original brand. Now I stick to that one.

As much as you can get fitted etc & get the best ball for your game, I think there is a lot to be said for how they feel & sound. So you may go against the fitting recommendation....

 

[Rooter]

try loads is my advice, you will get one you like for no logical reason, you just think its great!

Currently i have about 5 i like and would happily buy

NXT Tour S
AD333 Tour
Project (a)
Prov1
TM TP

 

[Dan2501]

Try a few see which ones you like. I just a dozen Callaway Chrome Soft's and love them!

 

[Hacker Khan]

I've only ever thought in terms of hard or soft balls and avoided the soft as I just chew them up. But since getting back in to it there seems to be so much more to it now. How do you all decide what's best for you? Is it trial and error or do you genuinely get a ball fitting?

cheers

Depends how much you want to spend really. And also how good you are as there is a strong argument that a high handicapper will not really get that much additional benefit/value out of playing a tour level ball than they will from one 15 quid cheaper a dozen. I currently like balls like TM Project A, Callaway Chrome Soft and AD 333 Tours as they seem to offer a good combination of most of the things the vast majority of amateurs will need (distance, feel, spin round the greens, durability), but you are not paying Pro V1 prices.

But there's always a deal to be had, Golf Depot had got some dodgy reviews if you go there in person, but they are usually the cheapest out there for balls and I've never had any issues ordering over tinternet. And other on line retailers are available. One of the major golf mags this month did a good review of all the current balls available, so mooch on down to WH Smiths and have a look at that.

 

[cliveb]

My view is that how well I hit the ball has a far greater influence on the outcome of the shot than what ball is in use. A while back I happened to have a few good rounds using ProV's that I had found, and so wondered whether I really should use a premium ball, but that turned out to be just a statistical blip. So nowadays I don't really care what ball I use. That said, AD333 seem to be more resilient to scuffing up than others, so that's what I buy.

 

[ScienceBoy]

A few ways really.

Buy a sleeve of 3 and try.
Buy a mixed bag off eBay
Pickup balls
Ball fitting
Marketing preference
Gifts/prizes
Budget

I've used all over my short time in golf.

Best way I have found is just hit as many as you can to identify if you want two piece, three or more construction

Then find a few brands in your budget.

Buy the one you like most and can afford.

 

[Bazep]

Cheers guys, guess I'll crack on with trying out a few different balls and see what I like. I think most of the balls in my bag are probs >10 years old so anything more recent will probably be a benefit.

 

[drew83]

I used to play with Dunlop DDH as they were cheap. Now moved to Srixon distance, as per my earlier post.

They feel very nice off all clubs, fly well etc. But it does rely on me swinging well....

For £8 a dozen in sports direct you can't go wrong.

 

[Paul77]

When I bought my clubs in AG they gave me Nike PD Soft balls free. I didn't like them at first after being a ProV user for years. Too expensive to keep that habit up and to be honest, I'm not that good to be using ProV. I bought a whole load of mixed grade B lake balls on Ebay to try out different brands. Most are Srixon AD333 and look nice and clean so I'll be using them for a bit.

 

[shortstuff]

I've only ever thought in terms of hard or soft balls and avoided the soft as I just chew them up. But since getting back in to it there seems to be so much more to it now. How do you all decide what's best for you? Is it trial and error or do you genuinely get a ball fitting?

cheers

Best method is to test a whole bunch with some chipping and putting. Normally one ball will just feel right, so go with this one. Forget spin numbers and testing with the driver etc. NB: you might need different balls for winter and summer though.

 

[palindromicbob]

I try loads and try to find a good price to feel balance. Something that doesn't explode from the putter, allows for some control around the green, doesn't require ear defenders while using a driver and costing <£25.

Currently like Wilson FG Tours as they are cheap (even cheaper if you can find blemish packs) and feel good from tee to green. Also quiet like the Dunlop DP1-V3 which I got for £16 using a discount code for Sports Direct. Would be very happy to stock up on them for that price but at RRP of £20 I usually try to get deal on other brands instead.

 

[GB72]

I have a few mid level balls that I like so generally just buy whatever is on offer. My game is not good enough to really make the most of a premium ball and so it is normally whichever of the manufacturers mid range offering is at a good price that I buy. If there are no good deals, I go back to Dunlop NZ9 V3s at a tenner a dozen or Wilson Staff DX2s which are normally to be found under £15.00.

Currently using the Briedgestone Extra Soft on a Direct Golf recommendation at £17 for 15 and have been so impressed that I am going to buy another box or 2 this week whilst the offer is still on.

 

[One Planer]

For me it's a combination of price and performance.

Good, long flight. Plenty of greenside control, less than £20/£25 per dozen = Callaway Hex Chrome+.

Would love to play the Pro V1 all the time but just far too expensive for 12 balls.

 

[duncan mackie]

Cheers guys, guess I'll crack on with trying out a few different balls and see what I like. I think most of the balls in my bag are probs >10 years old so anything more recent will probably be a benefit.

to a very great degree this is going to be true - there's more difference in the ball nowadays than between current balls (in terms of performance)

the difference between a ProV1 392 and a current ProV1 is night and day

soft isn't necessarily about the cover, or the core, or the mantle...but generally about the overall feel.

number of layers doesn't really impact on basic feel either.

ultimately matching the aerodynamics of the ball to your spin rates of long clubs will benefit - but until that point use which ever pick-ups you get to like!

 

[Foliage Finder]

Most balls in my bag are also over 10 years old, a mixed bag of Wilson Maxfli, Top Flite somethings and Dunlop stuff. I'm just using them all up before I break open my new ones. Got a couple of free pairs of Bridgestone e6's, a pair of TM TP and my dozen free Srixon Z Stars I got with my GM subscription.

Although I picked up a new looking Callaway Hex on Sat whilst searching in some rough, then on the next tee sent it 225yds with a 3H (mteam can verify this!). Felt like I gently stroked it off the tee, hardly felt a thing. A world of difference from what I'm using now! Feels like I'm hitting rocks at times in comparison.

 

[Bazep]

Just realised my driver's also over 10yo so should be a match made in heaven..

Still have some love for the pinnacle golds in my bag but maybe it's because they don't go far enough to get me in trouble.

Cheers chaps

 

[m9wst]

I have two main things i look for in a golf ball - sound/feel off the putter and chip shots, and durability. I bought a load of potential candidates, tried them and for the Z Star came out best, feels good with the putter, i like the spin it gives, and i can get a couple rounds of golf out of each ball providing i don't seriously blade a bunker shot.

 

[Thexindi]

I've only ever thought in terms of hard or soft balls and avoided the soft as I just chew them up. But since getting back in to it there seems to be so much more to it now. How do you all decide what's best for you? Is it trial and error or do you genuinely get a ball fitting?

cheers

There is lots of good balls now and alot of them decently priced especially if you dont buy them new.
Im using Srixon ad333 got a load of them basically new from eBay cant go wrong

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I tried loads over the years and use Pro V, Bridgestone (cheaper but as good as Pro V) and Z Stars. Can get the latter two makes pretty cheap most of the time. In the winter I use a mid-price ball (NXT AD333) as they stick better on the wet greens and give a bit more yardage. Simply done on trial and error