KenL
Tour Rookie
No longer? That hasn't been the case since the late 70s, early eighties.
I would think they stopped doing this so people can see what they were buying.
What type of Golf Balls do you use?
- Thread starter Swango1980
- Start date
I would think they stopped doing this so people can see what they were buying.
Swango1980
Well-known member
I know. It is a disgrace. I was also thinking the same about my large bag of pink tees. They should all be wrapped, so it is an occasion every time you go and get a brand new one.
sjw
Well-known member
Not trying to be snobby at all - I'm an 18 capa bit handicap snobberish there. Any player can benefit from using the same ball all the time and as a mid handicapper who extensively tested balls over time I found the AVX was great at reducing my slice that I used to play with.
Consistently using the same ball, I totally get behind. It's just when you look at the my golf spy study etc and see that the difference between balls in terms of % is much less than the mid handicapper's swing changes each shot, it seems silly to pay £50 a dozen for balls when there are some out there that perform pretty much as well for a third of the cost
Backsticks
Assistant Pro
Even playing the same ball, or changing to the latest foundling every hole, will not be noticed not make any difference to the score of anyone not scratch or better. The marketing is powerful though, and its easy for many to succumb.Not trying to be snobby at all - I'm an 18 cap
Consistently using the same ball, I totally get behind. It's just when you look at the my golf spy study etc and see that the difference between balls in terms of % is much less than the mid handicapper's swing changes each shot, it seems silly to pay £50 a dozen for balls when there are some out there that perform pretty much as well for a third of the cost
bobmac
Major Champion
Look at what the top players use and if you can afford them, buy them
srixon 1
Journeyman Pro
It can be a psychological thing. If you think you will play better with a certain ball, then you probably will.Not trying to be snobby at all - I'm an 18 cap
Consistently using the same ball, I totally get behind. It's just when you look at the my golf spy study etc and see that the difference between balls in terms of % is much less than the mid handicapper's swing changes each shot, it seems silly to pay £50 a dozen for balls when there are some out there that perform pretty much as well for a third of the cost
Backsticks
Assistant Pro
I think you probably wont. But that wont stop you being happier thinking that you are.
Jigger
Club Champion
The only thing I’d say is higher handicappers tend to lose more balls than wear them out so cheaper is maybe better but I have a mate who plays off 32. He can’t hit his driver past 150 but is short game is so much better since he moved to a pro v which has more nip on the greens.Not trying to be snobby at all - I'm an 18 cap
Consistently using the same ball, I totally get behind. It's just when you look at the my golf spy study etc and see that the difference between balls in terms of % is much less than the mid handicapper's swing changes each shot, it seems silly to pay £50 a dozen for balls when there are some out there that perform pretty much as well for a third of the cost
Orikoru
Tour Winner
Why does that make sense if you're not a top player yourself? I don't buy an F1 car because the top drivers drive them.
bobmac
Major Champion
There's a reason why the top players use them, it's because they are the best balls.Why does that make sense if you're not a top player yourself? I don't buy an F1 car because the top drivers drive them.
And I did add the caveat ''if you can afford them''
As far as I remember, a sleeve of Pro V 1's are cheaper than a formula one car.
Backsticks
Assistant Pro
But people do buy what the best use, if they can afford it. Its the human instinct to copy the perceived best in the tribe. Its what all advertising, influencing, and sponsorship is about.Why does that make sense if you're not a top player yourself? I don't buy an F1 car because the top drivers drive them.
Agree it is not rational. But we arent rational. People buy the Taylormade driver or wear the Footjoy shirt because we see champions on TV using them. We buy them even though we dont need them, or even if they arent the best suited to us. It is literally, an aping of the best. (it suited our distant ancestors to choose a certain stick size, and copy the swing technique of the pack leader who successfully beat off the sabre tooth tiger - thise who copied, survived to tell the tale too)
Ball manufactures didnt want bifurcation for this reason. It wasnt for philosophical, golf purity, or traditions sake. They depend on getting people to buy £50 balls they dont need, on the lure that : Rory plays it...so you must too. The ball being different would have sunk the ease of that job.
Pants
Challenge Tour Pro
Only if you mug enough to fall for it
bobmac
Major Champion
If you can afford them why would you not use a Titleist
The most popular balls on tour....
The most popular balls on tour....
Orikoru
Tour Winner
Missing the point. If Rory had a set of butter knife blades should I also get some, because that's what the best use? Of course not, I don't have the skill to use them. ProV1s are not designed for people who swing it 85mph, that's a fact. Me using them would be a total waste of money and time.
Orikoru
Tour Winner
I said the same thing. The only reason we've got this stupid ball solution instead of just having a 'professional ball' is because Titleist and the like wouldn't allow it. They have to be able to sell us the ball the pros supposedly use. Annoys me no end. Marketing always wins.
Pants
Challenge Tour Pro
Oh yeh! Most "popular" as in so many top pro's are paid a small fortune to use them compared to other manufacturers?
No wonder they are so expensive
bobmac
Major Champion
Do you think a top tour player would use an inferior ball just because they get paid a small fortune to use them...bearing in mind they are playing for large fortunes every week?Oh yeh! Most "popular" as in so many top pro's are paid a small fortune to use them compared to other manufacturers?
No wonder they are so expensive
Backsticks
Assistant Pro
Yes, we know they do. With clubs as well.
Pants
Challenge Tour Pro
Rather disengenuous there Bob. Not up to your usual standard! No-one has suggested that any manufacturer's range of "premium" balls is inferior. It shoudn't need me to explain to you that most top pros are contracted to use certain manufacturer's equipment, in this case balls, for rather a large amount of money. Naturally they will select the particular ball in the range that suits them best, and they will be supplied free balls that have no doubt been carefully selected from that range. It might be cynical of me to even consider that balls (and/or other equipment) could be tweaked/rebranded to suit the player.
The manufacturer that has signed up the most number of top pros will, by definition, have the accolade of "most popular" ball on tour.
wjemather
Well-known member
They are the best balls for fast swinging tour players, but that does not automatically make them the best balls for slow swinging amateurs.
Bubba Watson did just that; and he's far from the only one to have switched balls (or any other equipment for that matter) for money and struggled mightily; some have even seen their career disappear down the drain permanently.
