Mix n match ball selection?

granters

Q-School Graduate
Joined
May 28, 2010
Messages
952
www.theirvinegolfclub.co.uk
Leading on from the poll, do you generally use the same type of ball every round?

For me, i always use some sort of premium ball (not always brand new!). Even between these i've noticed fairly large differences in ball flights and spin rates. So i settled on the Penta P, as i get a great flight off the long irons, and i don't find it zips too much off the short irons, but still holds well on firm greens.

I like the prov too, as it's the law these days, but i find it slightly harder to control off the long clubs. I like to work the ball off the driver so i have some idea of what's going to happen and find the ProV "overworks" to some extent compared to the Penta.

However, on the odd occasion i've tried out an NXT tour or the AD300 (is that what it's called?). Again, ball flight completely different. For me, they balloon off everything and tend to straighten up when i don't want them to, which they are designed to do. And they obviously have less spin control off the short irons. So i have to significantly adapt my game to suit.

So, in my view, it's far more beneficial to to get comfortable on a TYPE of ball (not necessarily a brand), and stick with it. You can then concentrate on playing the shot and having a good idea what'll happen.

Switching back and forth will not do you any good.

Any thoughts?
 
I go one step further and only have one type of ball in my practice bag too. I figure if I am going to practice for hours on my short game it makes sence to use the same ball. I recently changed balls from the NXT extreme as I was struggling with feel off the putter and wedges. I bought a dozen good ones and around 30 used/marked lake balls for the practice bag.
 
I go one step further and only have one type of ball in my practice bag too. I figure if I am going to practice for hours on my short game it makes sence to use the same ball. I recently changed balls from the NXT extreme as I was struggling with feel off the putter and wedges. I bought a dozen good ones and around 30 used/marked lake balls for the practice bag.

Good point, that's exactly what i'm trying to get at. Obviously finances dictate to a certain degree but i see so many people reaching into their bag, playing whatever they pull out and struggling for consistancy
 
I also try to practice with the same ball as I play with, it does get tempting to play with the duffer I find in the rough when I'm hitting it badly though!?

On the ProV front I was dissuaded from buying some from a guy at DGUK after testing some irons. He said it would exaggerate the spin on off centre hits.

This was proved right when I sliced it double the width I had for months when playing one I found one night :o
 
I've been having the same quandary recently, I like the straight flight the "harder" balls give like the NXT range although recently bought a box of the Taylormade TP Burner which is supposed to be a 3 piece ball but felt quite firm in comparison to the more expensive ball - I did however have my best round off the tee with the driver ever finding the fairway with 14/14. The next round I switched to a ProV1x & whilst it felt great off the putter & was a lot easier to attack the pins I struggled for the same consistency off the tee.
In essence im back to the drawing board as I'm looking for a low spinning ball with the longer clubs but something that has plenty of bite around the greens - If such a thing exsits!
 
Have you tried the Burner Tour? It's a little bit softer but to me doesn't make too much difference, or at least won't until I get some new wedges. Current ones have the face of a frying pan!?
 
I try and keep the same brand throughout a round. At the moment I'm using up the last of my TM TP Black and Red and so try to use them throughout. I find if I switch from say a Z Star to a Cally then the feel especially off the putter is vastly different and their spin around the green isn't the same either
 
I was swithering about the burner tour but in the end I decided to try the TP version as it was a 3 piece as opposed to the tour's 2 piece - my thinking was simply that it may spin a little more around the greens.
 
Practice bag has a random selection of stuff I find round the course and generally gets dipped into in the winter.

Play with Wilson Staff DX2s at the moment - really going well for me. Also play Srixon AD333s on occasion - especially when local Nevada Bob's has a 3 for 2 offer.

Hate switching types of ball in a round - lose all confidence in short game.
 
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