Using Different Balls

bigmoneyp · September 11, 2010

Tournament or Casual Rounds

I see a lot of people talking about how they use PROV1s as their main ball. They also say they like to use something cheap like the GamerV2 for practice rounds and then the V1 in tournaments. Why would you use a different ball in practice than in tournaments? I always practice with the same ball I would use in a tournament. Different balls often require different shots because of their performance. Some spin more/less, react different based on conditions. The only time I consider changing balls is during the off season as a winter ball because the temps make a different to performance. I know exactly how my main ball reacts off the face, runs on the green etc... I wouldn't want to be switching balls mid season. Thoughts?

Andyinthewoods · September 11, 2010

I would think the main reason people would do this is cost. Gamers cost half as much as ProVs.

offapex · September 11, 2010

I used to be one of those guys...I would play premium balls when it's a "big" round or "nice" course but cheap ones at the munis. but then I realize it makes no sense because my spin control and putting feel is going to be so off. so now i just stick to just 1 ball regardless.

chuck_schalch · September 11, 2010

I dont have the money to play 45$ balls at my crappy home course.. But i do play the TP Black's there since they're only 29$.. I save the ProV's, Tour I(s)'s, and Z Star's for highschool matches and tournaments.

bigmoneyp · September 12, 2010

[quote name='chuck_schalch' timestamp='1284262465' post='2691842']
I dont have the money to play 45$ balls at my crappy home course.. But i do play the TP Black's there since they're only 29$.. I save the ProV's, Tour I(s)'s, and Z Star's for highschool matches and tournaments.
[/quote]

I understand the cost thing. But why would you practice with a ball that is going to have a different feel and spins differently around the greens. When you get in competition you would have been used to a ball that doesn't check as much and youre used to more roll. Now you may be hitting shots not as close because you are used to the ball performing a certain way. Wouldn't you want consistancy between practice and tournaments?

chuck_schalch · September 12, 2010

Yes, i understand your point.. But around where i play, all of the greens react differently anyway. Its more about how fast i can judge them and adapt to how they will play..

golfin2 · September 13, 2010

I think this is a good point. I used to play cheap top flites and such for practice and then I would pull out titleists for tournaments. It didn't work very well. The consistency of playing the same ball all the time is important.

There are dozens of little things like this that are more important than people think imo.

vietnameeh · September 14, 2010

Im in the boat of playing Gamers and then V1x for money/tournament rounds

Obviously its for cost reason

do i lose feel ? IMO no i think i am better player because of it... instead of relying on spin around the greens I can play different shots playing with trajectory depending how much I want it to stop or how much I want it to roll.

The ball doesn't go much further or different then a premium ball the big difference is around the greens 60 yards and in

most likely doesn't help much switching back and forth but it does help the wallet

I think if your a good player using balls similar isn't really going to hurt that much. unless we are talking $5 dozen rocks compared to a prov1.. ok then not a good idea...

but some mid priced balls are somewhat similar to premium balls IMO around the greens is where the biggest difference is anyways.

on side note my shag balls are all prov1s... so maybe I am not as affected in tournaments as one who practices/plays with crappy balls and plays tourneys with prov1s