New balls please

[TriggerTech]

Ok, so I'm finally gonna take the plunge and move away from the lake balls, purchased two dozen z stars for <£40, just to see if they make any difference, based on my handicap who knows.
I'm sure I'll cling onto them for dear life and will take my time in the rough!

Anyway got me think. Out of interest how long do you generally use a new ball for until you replace, obviously not including instances where you have to ! Just interested
Cheers

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I tend to use a brand new ball at the start of every competitive round. IF I still have it after that I'll use it for social games until it either disappears never to be found or looks too scuffed when I'll consign it to the practice bag

If you want to look at some other good deals on balls and maybe not just premium end balls this lot do some good offers

http://www.best4balls.com/

 

[Lump]

Pretty much the same as homer. New one for comps or if just a knock around play a used ball until it becomes too scuffed.

 

[Alex1975]

Keep my balls till I lose them...

Out of interest do you hit the ball very hard as the z-star really likes a fast swing to make it work.

 

[bluenose10]

Probably use a ball for about 5 holes, simply because I lose them so often. In all seriousness I use them until I lose them and I lost 2 balls the last round I played and I was impressed that I only lost 2. The day I keep one ball in play the whole way round is the day that the ball I used will be retired to the trophy cabinet.

 

[TriggerTech]

Alex, I don't that's why I went for z star standard opposed to z star x. Main benefit to me would be more control around the green

 

[richy]

Not trying to hijack the thread but when looking for balls which club do you go off when looking at ideal swing speed for the ball.

For example if AD333 were ideal for swing speeds of over 80mph, what if you swing you driver faster than that but your irons slower.

 

[Alex1975]

Alex, I don't that's why I went for z star standard opposed to z star x. Main benefit to me would be more control around the green

I'm just being a bit of a prat because I had a day with Srixon and they told us all about the balls and gave us a ball fitting with trackman.

My guess is that you would be longer with a 333 but you will get the feel your after with the z-star.

 

[Alex1975]

Not trying to hijack the thread but when looking for balls which club do you go off when looking at ideal swing speed for the ball.

For example if AD333 were ideal for swing speeds of over 80mph, what if you swing you driver faster than that but your irons slower.

There is more to it than speed, spin is v important.

When I was fitted they looked at a drive a 6 iron and a PW. My drive was 93.5 my 6 iron was 83 & no idea about my wedge. The gave me 333s.

 

[TobyRich1928]

I start a round with a new ball and then change it when ever it starts to get a bit chip or scuffed! When that happens I normally just chuck it back in the bag and use it if things are going really wrong

 

[Whereditgo]

Similar to a couple of earlier posts; I use a new ball at the start of every competition round, if it goes AWOL during the round then it's replaced with another new ball.

If it is still in my possession at the end of the round then I will use it for bounce games until it gets too scuffed, then into the practice bag it goes.

Got a good deal on Bridgestones about 7 weeks ago, still got 47 of them left

First medal of the year to look forward to on Saturday, so that will probably see a few of 'em off!

 

[drawboy]

26 handicap, play the lake balls and spend the extra tenner you would spend on lessons then you will see much more improvement in your game. Honestly it's better value for money.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

26 handicap, play the lake balls and spend the extra tenner you would spend on lessons then you will see much more improvement in your game. Honestly it's better value for money.

Never been a fan of lake balls as you have no idea how long they have been submerged and being immersed in water isn't going to help performance any which is why I posted the link anyway. Lots of good mid price balls available these days that would suit and give a reasonable level of spin etc and wouldn't break the bank if he lost them

 

[Whereditgo]

i don't buy into the 'high handicappers have to play with a cheap ball' theme. Could be just the help the short game needs to start that handicap tumbling, or could be that the high handicapper is just starting out and the handicap will soon come tumbling down.

I'm a high handicapper, but I don't intend to stay that way, I have lessons and have been down the range in all weathers hitting 200 balls in a session 3 or 4 times a week.

So I use a decent ball that I like the preformance of, I wouldn't dream of playing with a cheap ball, it's like putting with a pebble!

 

[Alex1975]

i don't buy into the 'high handicappers have to play with a cheap ball' theme. Could be just the help the short game needs to start that handicap tumbling, or could be that the high handicapper is just starting out and the handicap will soon come tumbling down.

I'm a high handicapper, but I don't intend to stay that way, I have lessons and have been down the range in all weathers hitting 200 balls in a session 3 or 4 times a week.

So I use a decent ball that I like the preformance of, I wouldn't dream of playing with a cheap ball, it's like putting with a pebble!

totaly agree with you and who does not love the feel of a Pro V or Z-star for putting and chipping. What I am saying though is that if you use these and can not "turn them on" then you will actualy lose yardage. You need to hit some balls hard enough to compress them to the point they were made to be compressed to. If you play the ball that fits your speed and spin you will get more out of it on the way to the green.

 

[Whereditgo]

totaly agree with you and who does not love the feel of a Pro V or Z-star for putting and chipping. What I am saying though is that if you use these and can not "turn them on" then you will actualy lose yardage. You need to hit some balls hard enough to compress them to the point they were made to be compressed to. If you play the ball that fits your speed and spin you will get more out of it on the way to the green.

I think the spin is the bigger issue, for sure a softer ball will accept spin whether it's good (around the greens) or bad (off the tee).

 

[Alex1975]

One is not good or bad, one is just made for some and not for others. I think we are on the same page though.

 

[goldenbare]

totaly agree with you and who does not love the feel of a Pro V or Z-star for putting and chipping. What I am saying though is that if you use these and can not "turn them on" then you will actualy lose yardage. You need to hit some balls hard enough to compress them to the point they were made to be compressed to. If you play the ball that fits your speed and spin you will get more out of it on the way to the green.

I think the spin is the bigger issue, for sure a softer ball will accept spin whether it's good (around the greens) or bad (off the tee).

I must agree that a high (over 20) handicap will not benefit from a from a high spinning ball around the green, but depending on why they are a high handicap might suffer from a slice or hook being even more exagerated off the tee or long iron/wood from the fairway
I took a step back from the softest 333 to a mid spin to keep me nearer the fairway but still with some control around the green.
I normally put a new ball down on the 2nd hole in a comp as the first has ob on the right from tee to green 10 yds off the fairway.

 

[Whereditgo]

That's not what I was saying really, I do think a high handicapper can benefit around the green, I much prefer a soft ball for chipping and putting.

I completely agree with the problems high spin can bring off the tee though

 

[CliveW]

I think no matter which ball you use you should stick to it. I know many high handicap golfers who will play any ball they find whether it is hard or soft, old or new. If you play with the same ball you get to know how it reacts and get the feel of it. It is one "constant" in a game of many "variables".
Incidentaly, at this time of the year I use two balls. I play the first on the first hole and keep the other in my pocket so it is warm and then change balls for the next hole and so on. It might not make any difference, but in my mind it does.