Golf ball dilemna

[waylman]

Distance or spin!?

Here is my dilemna...

I lose a lot of yardage by hitting a ball like the prov1. I get about 155 from a 7 iron. If I hit a ball that is a rock (top flite/hx hot etc) I get a good 165 from a 7 iron. It is difficult for me to justify using a ball like the prov1 when I am losing this much distance. However, I do need some feel from around the green!

I guess what I am asking for is what balls are in the middle ground? Something not as soft as a prov1 but certainly not as much of a rock as an HX HOT.

If it helps any I'm a 10 handicap. Thanks for any suggestions!

[caseyc1]

Im the same cap as you and i have found the best ball for me is the Callaway Tour I(s), its long off the driver and spinny around the green, great feel off the putter, wedges, and irons. The tour I(z) is the longest of the 2 but for me it was only about 5 yards longer off the tee and thats it, i will take a ball that is 5-10 yards shorter and holds the greens everytime over a longer ball anyday.

[abewley]

best for the short game.. period.... distance for most tour balls is all with in 10 yrds IMHO.

[caseyc1]

very true, i really dont think there is that much of a difference in distance with tour balls but spin and feel you can really tell

[Pepperturbo]

[quote name='waylman' date='30 June 2010 - 12:06 PM' timestamp='1277921173' post='2547092']
Here is my dilemna...

I lose a lot of yardage by hitting a ball like the prov1. I get about 155 from a 7 iron. If I hit a ball that is a rock (top flite/hx hot etc) I get a good 165 from a 7 iron. It is difficult for me to justify using a ball like the prov1 when I am losing this much distance. However, I do need some feel from around the green!

I guess what I am asking for is what balls are in the middle ground? Something not as soft as a prov1 but certainly not as much of a rock as an HX HOT.

If it helps any I'm a 10 handicap. Thanks for any suggestions!
[/quote]

Given the yardages you provided, focusing on "that" added distance is a recipe for poor performance around the green. At some juncture most golfers might face what your seriously pondering. Difference they don't see that extra yardage as worth nearly as much as heightened control around the green.
Heck I am 60 and hit 7i 150-160 carry using Callaway i(z), probably could hit a Topflight rock farther... but why??? I want to score in the least amount of strokes, not chase uncontrollable run out that comes with pure distance balls.

[Jimmy Mac]

I'm not a low handicap player – yet – but the impression I get is that distance is overrated in everything but the driver.

Who cares if you hit a 7 iron 155 or 165 as long as you hit it the same every time.

Isn't consistent yardage the most important thing, rather than what club you pull to hit the distance?

I don't really know that hitting a rock ball 165 with a 7 iron is any more consistent than hitting a 6 iron 165 with a ball that bites. The rock probably has a steeper descent, but I'd bet both have about the same roll out just because the softer ball will bite a bit.

Especially once you take into account improved greenside performance.

[suwdawg]

Most say play the game from the grenn back, so a ball that reacts well to your swing around the green is important.

[storm319]

I think what the OP is trying to get at is that he is willing to give up some spin to add a little distance and probably save some money in the process. A few to try:

Titleist NXT Tour
Srixon Trispeed Tour
Callaway HX Bite / Top Flite Gamer
Taylor Made Burner TP
Nike Vapor/Speed

Personally I like the NXT Tour and TST the best as I find that the performance gap between these and their company's premium line is much smaller than the rest.

[DaveTrom]

Taylormade Penta WOW

[crazygolfnut]

I am in the same boat and looking for a better ball. A local store gave me a sleeve of Penta's which I am going to try this weekend. I would like to have some good spin without giving up a lot of distance. Wish I could have it all!

[Adamsguy]

It also depends on what type of greens you play on. If they are soft and slow, you can get away with playing a nice 2 piece. If they are fast and hard, then you should play something that has decent spin with the short clubs. Also it depends on how deep the rough is where you play and if you play on tight lie fairways. Your course set up should play a factor in your decision.

[trackcoach13]

For me, the proper question is not distance or spin, it is straight off the tee versus spin. I usually play TP Red or Z-Star but decided to play the Callaway B.B. Diablo the other day (I got a free sleeve). I shot 77 which is my typical good round lately. Here is my analysis:

1) Very long and very straight off the tee
2) approach shots held the green but had a tendency to head toward the back of the green. I adjusted for back pin placements by playing for the middle.
3) not enough spin to play high spin shots around the green. I played for more roll.
4) Putted quite well with it.
5) After the first few holes I got so confident with my 13 degree 3W that I did not waiver over a tee shot all day.

What I lost in spin around the green, I gained with hitting almost every fairway and never being in danger of not having a next shot. Sure a few times I got burned with the ball running out to the back of the green. But hitting every fairway evened it out.

The TP Red does not spin much but if I mishit it enough I get into trouble. The Diablo seemed to minimize my usual bad shots to being in the rough near the woods instead of in them.

[Man In The Miura]

[quote name='Adamsguy' date='02 July 2010 - 07:02 PM' timestamp='1278122563' post='2552048']
It also depends on what type of greens you play on. If they are soft and slow, you can get away with playing a nice 2 piece. If they are fast and hard, then you should play something that has decent spin with the short clubs. Also it depends on how deep the rough is where you play and if you play on tight lie fairways. Your course set up should play a factor in your decision.
[/quote]

I agree that your course condition is an important thing to consider. Here in the Seattle area, it has been raining... A LOT. It is not uncommon to have very soft greens year round (when the sun does peak out, courses will water the heck out of everything). I've been playing the Z-Star, and it is fun to play spinny shots, but once a full lob wedge backs up 30 feet off the green, rolls down the hill and into the hazard, one begins to see that spin can be overrated. I tried the Z-Star X with similar results, backing up way too much.

So I'm in a similar boat as the OP. Searching for less spin, will take the added distance. My next ball to try is the Wilson Tour FG.

If anyone wants a SUPER LONG ball off the irons and zero spin around the greens, try a Srixon Lady Soft Feel. Literally 2 clubs longer than a ProV1 from the irons.

[cristphoto]

[quote name='waylman' date='30 June 2010 - 02:06 PM' timestamp='1277921173' post='2547092']
Here is my dilemna...

I lose a lot of yardage by hitting a ball like the prov1. I get about 155 from a 7 iron. If I hit a ball that is a rock (top flite/hx hot etc) I get a good 165 from a 7 iron. It is difficult for me to justify using a ball like the prov1 when I am losing this much distance. However, I do need some feel from around the green!

I guess what I am asking for is what balls are in the middle ground? Something not as soft as a prov1 but certainly not as much of a rock as an HX HOT.

If it helps any I'm a 10 handicap. Thanks for any suggestions!
[/quote]


Golf is a game of score - not how far you hit your 7 iron. I play with guys all the time that play the cheap "distance" balls and always grin when I see their approach shots hit the green and then keep on going off the back. Frankly I play better when I use a ball that's soft. It helps me with my tempo (really). Subconsciously I tend to take a harder swing at the hard balls. Also I don't feel there is much difference in distance between a good tour level ball and the distance ones. I normally play the ProV1X but have just recently switched to the Nike One Tour D ball. It has good distance and plenty of spin to grab a green. Most places are selling them for $30 a dozen now so they're also a good deal.

[duckhook]

I care so much about the short game and working the ball that I wish they'd bring back balata balls. With today's club technology, I don't think the distance loss is that much. From some experiments I did, it's only about 10 yards with a driver and 5 yards with the irons. But with the wedges and putter, nothing beats a Titleist Tour Trajectory. I'm only 32 years old, so I caught the tail end of balata. But the sound and feel were just beautiful, and the "two bounce and spin, head high wedge" was a pet shot that I just can't pull of with urethane balls.

[8thehardway]

Best ball for your short game is what matters most - the difference between a controlled chip that leaves a three-foot putt and a runner that leaves an eight-foot putt will usually cost you a stroke.

There are situations where less spin is better, like holes that require max distance from your longest club(s) to reach the green or a short, narrow par 4 where accuracy off the tee is critical and a short second shot lets trajectory from a wedge compensate for lack of spin, but it's not really debatable - to maximize your scoring potential you must sink putts and if chips normally leave you six feet out it will be a long day.

[Dei3Nascar8]

If you tend to miss a lot of greens then I think that a higher spin ball will be better around the green. But what if it is because of the higher spin ball that is causing you to miss the green with your mid to long irons? The best thing to do would be try some out. I like to have max spin around the green. This does not only mean that a high spinning shot is used but it would suck to know that I don't have the low spinner or the one hop and stop shot in the bag because of the ball I am using. It will always be a compromise and only you can tell what is best for your game. For me I hit the ball relatively straight and close to my intended line more times than not. I wear out a ball before I lose it 90% of the time so for me I get what I pay for. I would take a stroll through the woods next time you play and grab up couple balls. See how much of a difference you truly notice and how they effect your score. Only you can tell and play what is best for your game.

[brandtsnedeker]

What kind of greens are you playing? If you are playing bent grass greens in the south (not sure how they are in the north) then you can make any ball stop around the greens. If you play on champion bermuda, you are going to need a tour ball. I played on bent grass the other day and the pitch marks were like craters (they have to water them like crazy in the midsouth).

[GloriousGolfer]

[quote name='teamyonex' timestamp='1278133077' post='2552337']
[quote name='Adamsguy' date='02 July 2010 - 07:02 PM' timestamp='1278122563' post='2552048']
It also depends on what type of greens you play on. If they are soft and slow, you can get away with playing a nice 2 piece. If they are fast and hard, then you should play something that has decent spin with the short clubs. Also it depends on how deep the rough is where you play and if you play on tight lie fairways. Your course set up should play a factor in your decision.
[/quote]

I agree that your course condition is an important thing to consider. Here in the Seattle area, it has been raining... A LOT. It is not uncommon to have very soft greens year round (when the sun does peak out, courses will water the heck out of everything). I've been playing the Z-Star, and it is fun to play spinny shots, but once a full lob wedge backs up 30 feet off the green, rolls down the hill and into the hazard, one begins to see that spin can be overrated. I tried the Z-Star X with similar results, backing up way too much.

So I'm in a similar boat as the OP. Searching for less spin, will take the added distance. My next ball to try is the Wilson Tour FG.

If anyone wants a SUPER LONG ball off the irons and zero spin around the greens, try a Srixon Lady Soft Feel. Literally 2 clubs longer than a ProV1 from the irons.
[/quote]

If a Srixon Lady Soft Feel is very long and zero spin around the greens, why don't men use them?

[Fourmyle of Ceres]

[quote name='GloriousGolfer' timestamp='1279895587' post='2594420']
If a Srixon Lady Soft Feel is very long and zero spin around the greens, why don't men use them?
[/quote]

Well it's either because of "Lady" or "Soft". Or maybe "Feel". None of those sound very manly.

[storm319]

[quote name='Fourmyle of Ceres' timestamp='1279897072' post='2594469']
[quote name='GloriousGolfer' timestamp='1279895587' post='2594420']
If a Srixon Lady Soft Feel is very long and zero spin around the greens, why don't men use them?
[/quote]

Well it's either because of "Lady" or "Soft". Or maybe "Feel". None of those sound very manly.
[/quote]

Very true. Why do you think Precent released the Laddie? I suspect that there is little difference between the normal Soft Feel and the Lady version.