Lower Compression or Vintage Style Balls

[HenryReardon]

Hey all, not sure if this is the correct forum for this question or not. I’m looking to start logging some rounds with vintage clubs and want to play a more period specific ball. Would a modern low compression (Wilson duo soft or something similar) do the trick? 

[Foozle]

3 hours ago, HenryReardon said:

Hey all, not sure if this is the correct forum for this question or not. I’m looking to start logging some rounds with vintage clubs and want to play a more period specific ball. Would a modern low compression (Wilson duo soft or something similar) do the trick? 

I think it depends on what you are trying to achieve. I use Wilson Duo soft and its like to protect my persimmon woods from the shock of modern higher compression balls. However, modern low compression balls do not in anyway recreate the challenge of super spinny balls of yesteryear. No matter how hard I try, I cannot hit the raking 90* slices or snap hooks of my youth using a modern ball! Modern balls are also round! So if you are looking to recreate the playing experience of 40, 50, 60 years ago, you would need to find period balls.

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

We have a WhatsApp group of 45 players (note, specifically for players) here in the UK.

 

We would normally use a modern ball of whatever spec. you personally prefer. Pro V1 s are fine, their compression being below 90, which was the ammo commonly used during vintage club's heyday. But your Duo is fine. I use a Pro V1 but am well past my best swing speed and prefer the performance around and on the green. I'm told that Kirkland balls with a urethane cover preform well on and around the green but Spin more than a Pro V1...something to try out, cheaper as well.

Commonly, old wound balls have lost their zip and may well be out of round.

 

Having said that there are players in the Group who use a wound Dunlop 65 for preference, but for their preferred performance requirements rather than 'it saves the club heads'.

Our events permit either ball, players choice.

 

Hope this helps, anybody in the UK who would like to join, just drop me a line here.

Edited September 24, 2023 by The Aspidistra in the Hall

[HenryReardon]

5 hours ago, Foozle said:

I think it depends on what you are trying to achieve. I use Wilson Duo soft and its like to protect my persimmon woods from the shock of modern higher compression balls. However, modern low compression balls do not in anyway recreate the challenge of super spinny balls of yesteryear. No matter how hard I try, I cannot hit the raking 90* slices or snap hooks of my youth using a modern ball! Modern balls are also round! So if you are looking to recreate the playing experience of 40, 50, 60 years ago, you would need to find period balls.

Thanks for the information! I am really just looking for something that gets me away from the modern ball with lower compression and perhaps more spin. 

[HenryReardon]

3 hours ago, The Aspidistra in the Hall said:

We have a WhatsApp group of 45 players (note, specifically for players) here in the UK.

 

We would normally use a modern ball of whatever spec. you personally prefer. Pro V1 s are fine, their compression being below 90, which was the ammo commonly used during vintage club's heyday. But your Duo is fine. I use a Pro V1 but am well past my best swing speed and prefer the performance around and on the green. I'm told that Kirkland balls with a urethane cover preform well on and around the green but Spin more than a Pro V1...something to try out, cheaper as well.

Commonly, old wound balls have lost their zip and may well be out of round.

 

Having said that there are players in the Group who use a wound Dunlop 65 for preference, but for their preferred performance requirements rather than 'it saves the club heads'.

Our events permit either ball, players choice.

 

Hope this helps, anybody in the UK who would like to join, just drop me a line here.

I plan to just do some experimenting with a few different ball types. The Kirklands are an interesting idea, I will give those a shot. Thank you!

[MrFlipper]

Compelled to comment here, I only played higher compression balls growing up in the 70's, titleist 100's, titleist 90's, hogan apex 100's, etc. Don't remember low compression much at all, maybe club specials. Lots of top flites around too but the general opinion was that they were bad for persimmon so rarely saw them played with better clubs.

 

Hard balls were really common in my area. They sure spun more than current higher compression balls, but for feel, pretty much the same.

 

I play more modern woods, but older irons, currently 67 or 68 staffs. Callaway csx ls work fine with them. Harder feel as I prefer, similar to what I remember growing up. 

 

 

[Hickory4ever]

I personally play lower compression balls with my hickory or classic clubs. They perform well enough and I believe are less wear and tear on my best old equipment. 

[elwhippy]

Remember balls in the 70s and 80s were much harder than anything on sale now. I have three persimmon drivers and use modern, tour grade balls when I tee them up. 

[Maine Golfer]

I have some older balls I picked up but I don't think its worth it, if you find 10 older balls maybe 3 have a little zip left in them. Some are VERY dead. I say just play the same modern balls you play otherwise. 

[HenryReardon]

Sounds like the general consensus is modern balls are just fine to the integrity of the older equipment. 
 

Any thoughts on playing a ball that spins more to replicate older balls flight or do the modern urethane balls not hold a candle to the balatas of old?

[cold_war_era_golfer]

I used Wilson Duo Softs about 2 years ago when I started as that was the ball everyone was recommending at the time for persimmons.   I’ve switched to Titleist TruFeels.  
 

I’ve found many Kirkland balls and I really like those too but don’t have the Costco membership.  
 

Lately one of my buddies gifted me a box of the new penfold balls which have a compression around 80 or 90.  I’m hitting these farther than the TruFeels and they have a great feeling putting.  
 

 

[LeftyMac]

As has been said, most modern balls aren't that hard.  Low compression balls "feel" ok but a persimmon needs a lot more spin than a modern driver to work effectively.  The Kirklands are cheap and spin more than most and one of the Mizunos is supposedly the spinnest ball you can buy.  I'll try and find a few of those to try out.

[EvanH]

You tuber playing with some MacGregor Muirfield irons (the originals, not the 20th) on why he uses lower compression balls.
fyi.

icymi.

ymmv.
 

 

[LeftyMac]

I played a few holes last night and tried out the Ping ISI's I picked up last week.  The 1 iron is 15.5 degrees and would be perfect in Scotland when it blows.  I just don't have the clubhead speed with a modern ball to get any height but it runs forever with zero carry.  The interesting question is whether a balata would help by spinning more than a ProV1.  Not sure a low compression ball which spins even less would help matters and that's the thing about picking a ball to use with old kit.  Low compression feels softer but has less spin.  High end balls spin more but feel firmer.  Persimmon woods work better with a spinier ball and where I play the greens are very firm so spin more than distance is what I look for.

Edited September 26, 2023 by LeftyMac