Golf Ball Fitting: Low Tee Spin, High Iron Spin

Hey all,

Looking to try out some different over the course of the next few weeks to find what works best for my game and I'm open to just about any option. Here is my game:

Driver SS: 98-100 mph, 240-260 yds total

Driver Accuracy: 57% hit, 17% miss left, 24% miss right

Greens in Reg: 46%

Scrambling: 24% on par saves

Putting: 34 putts per round

In case anyone is wondering I use the Grint app on my iPhone to track my stats. It's a great tool for keep up on what you're doing and it also keeps a handicap. It's great!

Back to business... You can sort of tell by stats, but for the most part my biggest struggle is short game and putting. Last year my putting was much better, but after switching to a blade from a mallet I've struggled mightily. I'm remedying this by going back to the trusty Sabertooth. The short game is more mental than anything. I have a tendency to lift my head up and chunk it or thin it. The strength of my game is my iron play. I feel very comfortable hitting all of my irons, as well as my hybrid, and don't have much trouble hitting greens as long as I'm finding fairways. This is where the ball fitting comes in...

Obviously my short game and putting need work, but my as my driving accuracy goes, so do my scores. The more fairways I hit the better I score simply because it makes it infinitely easier to hit a green in regulation. If I miss a green I rely on my chipping and short game, which is pretty bad right now. I'm also sure my putts would be down quite a bit if my chipping were better and could get me closer to the hole. I tend to leave myself with a lot of incredibly long par saves, hence why my par saves are very, very low.

So what I'm looking for is a ball that spins low off the tee to help me hit more fairways, but also has enough iron spin to stop on the green. So far this season I've played the Hex Chrome+, SR2, SuperSoft, Project (a), Pro V1, NXT Tour, and NXT Tour S. My best scores have come using the Hex Chrome+, while my worst scores have come using the Pro V1. I've that the Pro V1 just spins way too much off the tee for my game and I miss a ton of fairways because of it. I wasn't crazy about the SR2, although I didn't really use it too much. NXT Tour S was hard to hit fairways with as well. NXT Tour was good, but didn't give me the iron performance I was looking for. In the past I've used the Bridgestone E6 and had great success with hitting fairways, but not so much with hitting greens. The Project (a) and SuperSoft were both great off the tee, but the Project (a) was hit or miss with the greens and I felt I really had to swing hard to compress the ball enough to get it to spin like I wanted it to on iron shots, and the SuperSoft did a better job at that, but it didn't outperform the Chrome+.

As of right now I'm going to continue gaming the Chrome+, although I'm open to trying other stuff out as well. What I really like about the Chrome+ is that it provides me with the lower spin off the tee, but still has great spin on iron shots into the green. The only real reason I'm looking for another option is because I haven't really tried out more options like the Chrome+ and haven't eliminated the possibility of finding something better for my game.

So, with all the said, what would you guys recommend I try? Again, looking for a something with low spin off the tee, but enough to spin to hold on a green.

ProV1x, Nike RZN Black, TM Tour Preferred or TPX, Bridgestone B330S

I'm usually a ProV1x guy (not sure why you played the V1, as it has more spin than the X), currently testing the TM balls. I loved the TPX off the tee and the feel around the greens, but it didn't spin enough into the greens for me. Testing the TM TP this week.

RZN Black didn't feel good around the greens at all to me either, FWIW.

If you don't mind spending less money I would give the Gamer Tour a try. My SS is about 10MPH less than yours, but the Gamer Tour is great off the tee and enough spin that I usually hold the green well. Better than the ProV1 on imperfect drives (which most of mine are) and longer - not as much spin on the green. I am trying the U/3 which drives well also, but the one round I played due to my swing and the wet conditions it was difficult to judge spin.

[quote name='drewtaylor21' timestamp='1400533737' post='9326005']
ProV1x, Nike RZN Black, TM Tour Preferred or TPX, Bridgestone B330S

I'm usually a ProV1x guy (not sure why you played the V1, as it has more spin than the X), currently testing the TM balls. I loved the TPX off the tee and the feel around the greens, but it didn't spin enough into the greens for me. Testing the TM TP this week.

RZN Black didn't feel good around the greens at all to me either, FWIW.
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Thanks for the input!! I was playing the Pro V1 just because my buddy gave me a sleeve for doing some club repair for him. Figured I'd try em out. The Pro V1x is definitely going to be my next trial, and I've also been keen to try out the BStones as well.

ProV1X and B330.

Srixon Q Star would be worth a try or the Chrome - not Chrome +.

SRIXON z star XV.

101 driver swing speed
Try the regular chrome. I'm somewhat similar to what you described above. Last year I was playing the srixon xv, very straight off the tee but it didn't spin much for me around the green. Chrome is just as long but has the bite I was looking for. Personally I'd rather be at the top of the recommended swing speed so that I don't have an issue every trying to compress a ball. The chrome works great for me.

E5?

Played today with a Pro V1x and it's safe to say it's been the best ball for my game to this point. I hit 11 out of 14 fairways and found the ball incredibly easy to work. I like to play a nice cut with my 2Deep off the tee because it's usually easier to control and easier to hit, so I played that all day. I found that I could really go at it and not worry about the ball spinning too much and losing it right. Ended up shooting the best I've ever shot (+5) on a course that I usually average around +8-10. Was able to hit more green just because of being in the fairway more often, and the ball performed great for short game. I'm going to give the 330 series a try and see what happens, but I really like the Pro V1x. May also give the Chrome a shot and see how it does against the Chrome+.

We have the same swing speed and I was looking for the same spin characteristics you are. I've tested them all this year, on the course and on Trackman... The answer is simple... TaylorMade TP (non x)... It was the CLEAR winner. Do your self a favor and give it a try!

[quote name='G-Bone' timestamp='1400620633' post='9334283']
We have the same swing speed and I was looking for the same spin characteristics you are. I've tested them all this year, on the course and on Trackman... The answer is simple... TaylorMade TP (non x)... It was the CLEAR winner. Do your self a favor and give it a try!
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Will do! I'm honestly not much of a TM fan, but I played the Project (a) and liked it, just didn't have the bite on the greens I was looking for. The scoring irons were fine, but even with a 7 and up through the 4 iron it just had no ability to stop. Haven't really played much a TM balls aside from that though, so I'll be sure to check out the TP.

I agree with Gbone, also the 2014 wilson fg tour.

The Chrome and the SR2 have that combination for me. The SR2 spins a little more off the irons and wedges.

Played with the TM TP (non X) today and loved it. Just as good as the ProV1x off the tee and into the green and feels better with the putter to me. I have quite a few V1x's around, but will be putting the TM TP in play! Great ball

Hmmmm sounds like the TM TP may have to be given a shot in the near future. Been hearing and reading a lot about these balls and how well they're performing.

[quote name='cane700' timestamp='1400626143' post='9334837']
The Chrome and the SR2 have that combination for me. The SR2 spins a little more off the irons and wedges.
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SR2 is a great ball also. On Trackman it spun less driver through wedges when compared to TP. It didn't fit my game as well as TP, also it didn't feel as good... But I felt SR2 was more durable. The biggest SR2 drawback for me was green side spin, it was lacking a bit.

In all fairness, if I didn't find TP, SR2 would be my gamer this year.

I played a couple holes with the SR2, but in all fairness I didn't really give it a shot. I also played it on a day that my swing was just not working whatsoever. It really didn't matter what ball I was playing haha. Definitely gonna give it another shot. Probably play 9 with the SR2 followed by 9 with the TM TP.