Good rounds

[Robert Brown]

Does the ball make alot of difference?

I had a chance to play today and shot to my hdcp...6 over. For the most part, I was happy with the round and had good guys to play with. After the round, I was thinking that the kind of ball I use usually does not make a big difference for me. I have shot good rounds with my favorite ball which the Taylor Made TP black and I have shot good rounds with distance balls like I used today (The Titliest NXT Extreme). There are balls that are between these two that also have seen some good rounds... I have also played poorly with all three kinds of balls! I wonder if others would say the same thing or in your experience, a certain kind of ball makes a great deal of difference in your score. Thanks for the thoughts.... Bob

[MtlJeff]

you know i thought of starting a thread like this in the past. I generally use TP reds/blacks aswell, and on the resort type courses i play i always use them, as the greens are firmer

 

but the 2 best rounds i played last year were oddly enough with Pinnacle Platinum feels. At the end of the year when it was wet.

 

I think ball does make a difference. It would hurt my score to use a platinum feel on a firm course. But i think that goes to show that course conditions really should affect your ball selection as an amateur. It's not like the pros where the courses are very similar every week. Because on the other hand if i used a 3 piece ball on a wet course i'd spin them off the green

[Schilly]

To me the biggest issue with the ball is around the green. I think "premium" tour balls by being softer covers and softer in general allow a person to chip and put more aggressively than a Distance ball does. AS for Drives and Irons... Doubt it makes much difference overall.

[VA_Astra]

I would agree with Schilly here.

 

Using the same ball, or a better ball will act more consistent and you will achieve the same results more often or at least a predictable result. From 100 yards in is where I think you notice the most difference.

[longballjs]

You can use different balls, but you will have to play accordingly - landing the harder ball 2-3 yards shorter. That said, it will probably be straighter = maybe another fairway or 2 = a better chance at hitting greens. But you lose the feel, both on chipping and putting - which isnt worth a trade for me

[Aces-6]

I hit it far enough so I'm looking for as much control as I can get from a golf ball. Knowing how your ball is going to react from 120 yds. is an absolute must. I like to play low spinning wedge shots, I just can't do that with a Pinnacle and the like.

[The Duck]

Nope, It's mental that you played so well.

[cigarnut81]

I feel like the most important thing is to always play the same ball so that you know exactly what to expect on every shot!! Not the exact same ball but the same style & brand!! You get used to the way a ball plays & I find it hard to change to another ball because I have no idea how it will react during flight & when it hits the green!

[Baconator]

I feel like the most important thing is to always play the same ball so that you know exactly what to expect on every shot!! Not the exact same ball but the same style & brand!! You get used to the way a ball plays & I find it hard to change to another ball because I have no idea how it will react during flight & when it hits the green!

 

Unfortunately, this takes away the possibility of using the ball as an excuse for a crappy score.

 

My best rounds last year were using the '07 TP red and AD333 and I used a variety of balls for my usual high-scoring rounds. I'm not overly discriminating, but I do notice a difference between really hard, low-spinning balls and really soft higher spinning balls and find I putt much better with softer golf balls (Wilson Zip notwithstanding). Other than a few strokes from putting and wedge shots I don't think my scores would change one iota if I switched from using decent balls to rocks.

[jay hays]

For the high handicap golfer, playing a 'tour' ball is going to provide little benefit because it'll increase side spin off the tee, and most dont strike the ball with the irons well enough to spin any ball. for the mid handicap, a softer cover/3 peice ball will peform much more mannerly around the greens and from 100-150 yards in. For the low handicap those 3 peice balls provide a feel and consistency that becomes expected for performance.

 

if you got the income, play what ever you want, but honestly, when I see a guy with an 40yrd hook/slice playing a proV1 or a B330 its frustrating because if you could get them into a sleeve of e6's or NXT's, etc they'll actually have a better chance of knocking it down the farther down the line.

 

for a sub 10 handicapper though, being able to play the same ball regardless of what it is, can really help in developing a true sense of touch.