Which clubs and ball are the most difficult to shape?

[deanomag]

Given swing mechanics are in check !

 

which driver is the most difficult to shape (fade and draw) 

and which ball is the most difficult to shape ?

[putterboy75]

My guess is the Titleist ProV1 "Left-Dash" is probably one of them. It's ~20% lower spin for me than the ProV1 which seems like a crazy high difference but I've tested several times and always around this %. It's also 10 yards longer for me through the bag. My miss is a right to left shot that is too right to left (i.e. a hook.) I swear this ball doesn't move nearly as much.

 

Will be interested to hear what others think.

Definitely is NOT a Titleist Tour Balata from the old days. Remember those? One slightly thin shot and you're tossing that ball out after the holes over.

[cgasucks]

I really find that whiffle balls are the hardest to shape.

[MPAndreassi]

I’d agree with the Left Dash. It still curves but it seems so be minimal. I played it all last season, and tested it against stuff this season and nothing has been able to beat it for me. 

[hoselpalooza]

for those of you who use the left dash, do you feel you're sacrificing shot shaping at all? and what about getting enough spin on (e.g.) partial wedges to tucked pins?

 

i struggle with spin control on driver and am working with a fitter to evaluate different shaft and head combos. but maybe i should also test the left dash against the pro v1x. thanks

[deanomag]

I think the lower spin balls shape less for me, srixon soft feel and Bridgestone e6 being the most stand outs 

driver is a bit more difficult but clubs with lower rear cg make a big difference. The trouble is they aren’t as long as say a front higher cg low spin monster ... 

[ChipNRun]

7 hours ago, deanomag said:

I think the lower spin balls shape less for me, ...

 

Distance balls are more difficult to shape, because the surlyn covers are hard and don't hang on the clubface as long as ionomer or urethane covers.

 

As far as clubs go, anyone can hit a basic fade or draw as long as they know how the golf swing works.

 

Flighting up or down is more challenging, and probably beyond what you want to discuss. 

Edited June 21, 2021 by ChipNRun

[putterboy75]

9 hours ago, hoselpalooza said:

for those of you who use the left dash, do you feel you're sacrificing shot shaping at all? and what about getting enough spin on (e.g.) partial wedges to tucked pins?

 

i struggle with spin control on driver and am working with a fitter to evaluate different shaft and head combos. but maybe i should also test the left dash against the pro v1x. thanks

 

Good follow-up question...I don't feel like I give up much shot shaping tee to green with the Left-Dash. To your question about getting enough spin..absolutely an issue. I'll switch to a regular ProV1 before we tee off that day if the greens are playing like concrete. I just can't stop the LD on anything but soft greens. For example, I was down in Pinehurst earlier this year and the greens are now almost exclusively Champion Bermuda in the area (previously bent was the predominant grass type, which is far softer) These happened to be on the firmer side (who doesn't love firm and fast after all!) I was hitting solid shots and they looked like a basketball bounding off the pavement as I approached the greens.

 

[phizzy30]

5 hours ago, ChipNRun said:

 

Distance balls are more difficult to shape, because the surlyn covers are hard and don't hang on the clubface as long as ionomer or urethane covers.

 

As far as clubs go, anyone can hit a basic fade or draw as long as they know how the golf swing works.

 

Flighting up or down is more challenging, and probably beyond what you want to discuss. 

I have a box of Top Flite XL distance that was gifted to me and they pretty much go straight with minimal curve unless I make a bad swing.  Not a bad thing.  I'm also a whole club longer with irons.  Problem is, they are hard as rocks and don't spin nearly as much with irons so it comes in hot and rolls out more than let's say my CSX LS.  Good wind balls though. 

[phizzy30]

On 6/19/2021 at 2:56 PM, deanomag said:

Given swing mechanics are in check !

 

which driver is the most difficult to shape (fade and draw) 

and which ball is the most difficult to shape ?

Good question.  As far as question one, I haven't found a driver yet where it's hard to shape flight. 

Question 2:  As @ChipNRun has stated, the distance balls are pretty much point and shoot for me. 

[MPAndreassi]

18 hours ago, hoselpalooza said:

for those of you who use the left dash, do you feel you're sacrificing shot shaping at all? and what about getting enough spin on (e.g.) partial wedges to tucked pins?

 

i struggle with spin control on driver and am working with a fitter to evaluate different shaft and head combos. but maybe i should also test the left dash against the pro v1x. thanks

I don’t really shape the ball a whole lot to begin with. If I need it to move the ball seems to respond just fine, without losing it out of control. 
 

I’m a high spin player to begin with, so the stopping power isn’t really an issue for me. I still spin some short irons back a bit and don’t have the issue of not being able to hit the hop and stop wedge shots.