Greenside spin and control

[golfva28]

Picking a golf ball

I am currently trying to settle on a golf ball. This is my third year playing. Last year my goal each time out was to break 100, now I shoot in the high 80's. Last year I was using various distance balls. I thought I would try something better this year. I've played the last few rounds with a Pro V1 (2009 version). I have no problem hitting it straight and it feels great off the putter. It also holds the green very well, although I didn't really have any trouble holding greens before as I hit the ball pretty high. The problem is all of my chips come up short. My chips have no roll out with a Pro V1. Since everyone seems to desire short game spin, are you chiping to the hole and playing it to stop there, are you playing it stop or roll out on command, or are you picking the shot depending on the lie? Thanks for the input. My chip stoping after one hop when I'm playing it to land on the green and roll like a putt is really not helping.

[Bilbo99]

If your shot is to chip and roll I would say that came from playing the balls that you did in the past that wouldn't hop and stop. You need to get a few higher spin balls and practice the hop and stop to the hole. If you can do it then there ya go.

However, you really need both shots. Sometimes the hop and stop with not work (downhill) and you may need to get it on the green faster.

There is no one true ball to rule them all. Like I said, grab a few spinners (Pro V's, Nike Tour's, Srixons) and practice and see what feels good. If ya really want to make it interesting, have a friend take a black sharpie and block all the names out so there is no brand bias. Make sure they are numbered and recorded on a piece of paper. Throw a few cheaper balls in there like the Gamer V.2 and The MaxFli Tour, Wilson FG or even CG:25.

Good Luck

[storm319]

I had the same problem and ultimately switched to the NXT Tour. I feel I can control it better when I land short and let it run out so the NXT Tour works great. It still has plenty of spin compared to most non-urethane balls and I am also liking the straighter flight off the tee. The only thing I miss about the ProV1 is its ability to stop when you really need it (which happens less than when I need it to run out).

[golfva28]

[quote name='Bilbo99' date='19 July 2010 - 04:58 PM' timestamp='1279573109' post='2586420']
If your shot is to chip and roll I would say that came from playing the balls that you did in the past that wouldn't hop and stop. You need to get a few higher spin balls and practice the hop and stop to the hole. If you can do it then there ya go.

However, you really need both shots. Sometimes the hop and stop with not work (downhill) and you may need to get it on the green faster.

There is no one true ball to rule them all. Like I said, grab a few spinners (Pro V's, Nike Tour's, Srixons) and practice and see what feels good. If ya really want to make it interesting, have a friend take a black sharpie and block all the names out so there is no brand bias. Make sure they are numbered and recorded on a piece of paper. Throw a few cheaper balls in there like the Gamer V.2 and The MaxFli Tour, Wilson FG or even CG:25.

Good Luck
[/quote]

Thanks for the reply.

My other question revolves around the Pro V1x. I keep hearing you need a certain swing speed to take advantage of it, but I never hear a number. What swing speed do you need? I swing about 105 with a driver and hit a 6 iron from 150 (I think I go more all out with the driver than the irons). Thanks again.

[golfva28]

[quote name='storm319' date='19 July 2010 - 05:08 PM' timestamp='1279573682' post='2586439']
I had the same problem and ultimately switched to the NXT Tour. I feel I can control it better when I land short and let it run out so the NXT Tour works great. It still has plenty of spin compared to most non-urethane balls and I am also liking the straighter flight off the tee. The only thing I miss about the ProV1 is its ability to stop when you really need it (which happens less than when I need it to run out).
[/quote]

NXT Tour is my leading candidate if I decide not to go with Pro V1/V1x. I was thinking it would behave just like you've said, so that really helps. Thanks.

[hammerheel]

I played with a Prov1 today for the 1st time and had no problem having it roll on my chips. Must be different strokes...

[golfva28]

It may just be I need to work on the different shots and recognizing the different lies. Do you guys have any idea if there is a minimum swing speed to compress the V1x to get the most out of it and what that may be?

[Dei3Nascar8]

Are you hitting all your chips with your 60? There are many golf balls out there and your really have to spend some time trying them all out. Some you will not like and it will help you eliminate a couple balls that are all similar. If forced I could play with any of the Tour Level balls because I have payed them and know what the differences are. Since you seem like you are now good enough to differentiate between different balls feel free to buy some sleeves and experiment. You really have to play a ball to get a good review. Since you want a ball to run out try the Nike ONE Tour [u]D[/u]. There are so many good balls and so many players that each have their own preferences that if you asked us all which ball to play you would eventually get every ball on the market named. Pick a couple balls and play nine holes with each. Some you will like cause they stop around the green, others you will hit straighter and longer. Some high, some low and some you just will not like the feel of. Just play a different ball for each nine and play what you have confidence in. When you have it narrowed down buy a dozen of what you like and play through the dozen and it will give you a good idea of what the ball will do in a bunch of different situations. You might like it and you might not but a couple sleeves will give you a good idea.

[Bilbo99]

Your 105 swing speed is just fine for the Pro V1x. Keep in mind that ALL Titleiest balls are very close in length, So if you like the Pro V1x and the NXT, try them out at your practice center. If you really want to understand the short game, Netflix, buy or rent (if you can find it) "Phil Mickelson's secrets to the short game". Its a fantastic training aide. By the way, what wedges are you playing?

What loft and bounce of each?

[golfva28]

I just put Phil's video in my netflix queue. Thanks for the suggestion. I'm going to get a sleeve of Pro V1x and NXT Tours and try them on the practice green with some of the Pro V1's that I have left. I play 588 RTGs (54/11 and 60/3) so they're not conforming grooves but they're not spin milled either. My PW is the MX-25 that came with my set. It has 46 degrees of loft, but I'm not sure what the bounce is. I chip with a lot of different clubs around the green, could be a SW or could be an 8 iron. Obviously, if it calls for an 8 iron I'm not having any problem getting the shot to roll out.

[storm319]

[quote name='golfva28' date='19 July 2010 - 04:09 PM' timestamp='1279573763' post='2586444']

My other question revolves around the Pro V1x. I keep hearing you need a certain swing speed to take advantage of it, but I never hear a number. What swing speed do you need? I swing about 105 with a driver and hit a 6 iron from 150 (I think I go more all out with the driver than the irons). Thanks again.
[/quote]

My driver SS is in the high 90's and I hit my 6 iron about 165. I gained a few yards off the tee with the ProV1x over the ProV1 but lost a few yards off irons. I think a ball with too high compression will generally lose you distance in your longer irons rather than your driver.

The newest versions (2009) of the ProV1 & ProV1x spin about the same around the green. The older versions of the ProV1 spun alot more than the older ProV1x though. The NXT Tour (07 version) performed much like the older ProV1x for me only much softer and alittle less spin. I havent tried the 2010 version of the NXT Tour so I cant comment.