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What should I expect to see - upgrading balls


atlanta golfer

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12.9 handicap index and continuing to get a little better each year, and I have always been using Precept Laddies or similar low compression hard cover ball because the brand sounded good, the price was cheap, they were supposed to go fairly straight and far, and I didn't think a ball would make a difference in my game.

 

Then I read the golf digest article this month and am thinking in a whole new way. I'm somewhere between "average joe" and "would be gamer". So I'm thinking Wilson 50 or perhaps a couple other choices such as Bridgestone E6+ or Topflight D2 feel.

 

My real question is, what should I expect to see and feel? I guess I just don't know anything different than what I've been using. Will the differences be obvious? Will my short game and putting clearly be better? Will I have to be more careful off the tee with possible stronger fades or draws?

 

Just looking for a little perspective here, in advance of finding good weather on the course to try out within the next couple weeks.

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With the right swingspeed you will gain distance. I didn't realize just how much it could be until I took some Noodles and V1x's and hit them both down the course all day. Some of the more "premium" balls have higher wedge spin too, so if you like it to stop quicker they can. You'll just have to try out a bunch to know which you like. Eventually it will become psychological in that you won't feel you are getting your smash factor's worth without a certain ball. Welcome to the club!

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Distance is not a factor for me... plus unless you compare the longest to the shortest, there is not enough variance for me to care about (I am not a long hitter).

To me it is more about the sound and feel off the putter and the spin on the wedges. I liked the NXT (played through a dozen), and I really liked the Wilson 50 (played through several dozen based on comments here), but my pro rec'd the D2 Feel, and after trying a sleeve I bought 8 dozen. The feel of the D2 off the putter is more solid to me, that and the sound gives me more feedback on distance control (something I have been struggling since coming back from a 5 year layoff and playing a home course with fast greens - no more munis). It is getting much better.

I didn't notice differences in distance with the balls I've tried lately, mostly feel and spin. For instance I could really stop the Wilson 50 on short chips noticeably better than the D2, but the D2 feels just right on my putter and the Wilson a little too soft (kind of a soft thud).

The article you mention was great, one of the best I have read (even though it kinda felt it was sponsored by Titleist). It didn't have me changing my D2 out for something else, but it did reinforce what I already felt about it.

I think the balls you are considering are great (and super values). My rec would be to get a sleeve of each and head out to the putting and chipping areas. It is there you will really notice a difference between them.

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Try out some Titleist NXT Series i hear they are good..i play the Prov1 but it doesnt sound like you need that quite yet im about a 4 hdcp...or what you could do is buy the Titleist Prov1 Practice balls which are no different from the normal ones except for the word PRACTICE and a slight messup in the printing of Titleist or Prov1...i would also like to add that this is exactly what a topic is supposed to be like on this forum, golfers helping golfers, and to be honest i dont see it much, so thanks.

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I appreciate the comments. In exchange for better feel and control within 100 yards and closer to the green, I'm not real worried about a small loss of distance of several yards off the tee. But I am worried about turning a slight draw into a big draw or turning a slight fade into a bigger fade. Do these higher spin balls (use Wilson 50 as an example which is mid spin) mean I will be significantly more left and right off the tee? Or only a couple yards either way? That is my big concern, not the distance loss. I'm a 12.9 handicap index so I generally keep the ball out of the hazards and OB off the tee, but I don't keep it in the fairway nearly often enough already with a supposedly straight low spin ball. How much more will the ball spray left and right?

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I appreciate the comments. In exchange for better feel and control within 100 yards and closer to the green, I'm not real worried about a small loss of distance of several yards off the tee. But I am worried about turning a slight draw into a big draw or turning a slight fade into a bigger fade. Do these higher spin balls (use Wilson 50 as an example which is mid spin) mean I will be significantly more left and right off the tee? Or only a couple yards either way? That is my big concern, not the distance loss. I'm a 12.9 handicap index so I generally keep the ball out of the hazards and OB off the tee, but I don't keep it in the fairway nearly often enough already with a supposedly straight low spin ball. How much more will the ball spray left and right?

 

 

I'll use the Nike Platinum as an example - the spin is so high on these for wedges it is almost too much for me. They claim the spin off the driver is low by comparison. So, low spin drives, high spin wedges. It's not that simple though. I tried it and found it wasn't necessarily so low spinning off the drive. What has everyone else found? I'm sure it's been covered elsewhere too. I think the V1x is the best balance, and the GrandZ (Golfsmith logo overruns) are the best value.

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I still believe in the old adage that if you don't have the ability to spin a 40 yard wedge shot, there is no point in playing a Tour type ball. Even if you can, I still think it makes sense to play a cheaper ball for most people.

 

Being in the golf business, I was always been able to get pro discounts, if not free balls most of the time. You would think that I would have become spoiled - and I have. Now that I have to pay for balls, I still play my favorites (Srixon ZUR-S or ZUR-C) most of the time. I am, however, totally impressed with the TopFlite D2 Feels. They play almost as well as any Tour ball at less than 1/2 the price. The Srixon AD333 is awesome and for a lower swing speed, it is hard to beat the TriSpeed.

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