Need New Ball Suggestions

[jhoffman27]

Really need to try something new

I'm currently playing the TM TP Red LDP golf ball, and while I like it, it is lacking in some key areas. The biggest gripe I have with it is that it spins way too much and therefore makes my ball flight way too high. I get no roll with my driver, I'll hit drivers that drop and stop in their pitchmark, or even back up on occassion. I do get some roll with my 3wood through 5 iron, but after that I get nothing. It's not too bad on my 6-9 irons (ball basically drops and stops, although I wouldn't mind getting some forward roll out of the 6I), but when I hit a PW or lower into greens, the thing backs up on me like crazy. Three times today I hit a GW or SW into a green, flew it to inside of 10 feet and then watched the thing zip back 20-30 feet (or more) from the hole. And that is a regular occurance with this ball. If I can just find something that spins less but still works for high swing speeds I can pick up some tee distance with the roll and stop zipping the ball off the green. Even pitching around the green, the thing just seems to drop dead, I know that usually a good thing, but its hard to feel confident enough to fly pitches to every pin, its got to roll at some point, right?


I've tried a bunch of other balls with similar issues (Pro V1 and V1x, Bridgeston B330-S, TP Black, Callaway iX). Any suggestions would be really appreciated as I'm about at my wits end. I'm not against switching to a lower-calibre ball to get less spin, but I need something that will stop around the greens, not run all over the place. Thanks a ton.

[louie09]

Try a srixon z-star or even the z-urs, I tried both and like them as much as the pro v1x, also get some insight on green conditions before your round, plan ahead.

[jhoffman27]

Just a quick update - I went to the local shop today, talked to some of the guys and came up with four new sleeves to try, a couple pro-grade, a couple mid-grade.

 

Nike One Tour D

Srixon Z-Star

Bridgestone e7+

TaylorMade Burner TP Black

 

I've heard really good things about the Burner, and I was told that the Tour D has the lowest spin rates of any pro-grade ball out there, so we will see once I get to try them all out.

 

Any other suggestions are still greatly appreciated.

[therusty]

All the tour quality balls have a urethane cover and are going to have spin rates in the same neighborhood. If you go with cheaper quality balls, they'll have a Surlyn (ionomer) cover and spin a lot less. If you're just changing balls, try the TM Burner, Callaway HX Hot, Bridgestone E6 or the Top Flite D2-Straight. For your described spin rate, these balls will stop on the green.

 

Have you seen the Golf Digest spin chart?

 

Pros use a different swing to take spin off the ball when they need to. Do you know your distances with 1/2 and 3/4 swings? Are you using U grooved wedges? If so, you could go back to V grooves. Have you tried a lower lofted driver? Or you could move to an area with drier golf courses. These kinds of changes are drastic, but sometimes they are the "right" thing to do over the long term. There are tons of folks out there who are dieing to have your "problem". You did ask for suggestions :)

[Lefty4par2]

Lets talk reality though, no ball, by design, spins the amount you are explaining... period. It sounds to me like you add a lot of back spin with your swing. If you have balls spinning off the green on "normal" courses (meaning not perfectly groomed country club courses) it almost has to be your swing.

 

My bet is that you hit down on the ball... a lot, thus adding that much spin to the ball. Sorry, but no ball by design will consistently spin enough to come running off the green of average golf courses.

[amerza18]

Just a quick update - I went to the local shop today, talked to some of the guys and came up with four new sleeves to try, a couple pro-grade, a couple mid-grade.

 

Nike One Tour D

Srixon Z-Star

Bridgestone e7+

TaylorMade Burner TP Black

 

I've heard really good things about the Burner, and I was told that the Tour D has the lowest spin rates of any pro-grade ball out there, so we will see once I get to try them all out.

 

Any other suggestions are still greatly appreciated.

Not sure why you went with the TM TP Black, those have more spin than the TP Reds

 

Might want to try the e6+ or the Nike One Vapor, the Golf Digest Hot List for Balls is a good place to start. May 2009 issue.

[jhoffman27]

To answer a couple of the questions raised:

 

I am talking about groomed country-club courses, I play most of my golf at the club I belong to and the place is kept in impeccable condition. However, I played recently at a local public track that is in rough condition at best and was still backing up my wedge shots quite a bit (admittedly not as much as my home course). Also, when I talk about the balls that spin off the green, its really only with my 4 wedges - the PW (45*), 50*, 55*, and 60*. All my other mid and short clubs (5I - 9I) are basically drop and stop on the greens.

 

I do hit down on the ball a fair bit, this is true and something I've worked on, but its taking time. I absolutely have very active hands through my swing (I'm a former hockey player) so I have no doubt that contributes to the spin issues, although I wouldn't think it would have as much effect on the driver.

 

I have debated about a lower-lofted driver and also switching to a stiffer shaft, both are definite considerations. However, thats a more expensive option and I'd like to try the ball option first.

 

The balls I picked up aren't the TP Black, they are the TM Burner TP.

[teamgs]

I was also going to suggest the E7+, and the Burner TP LDP's. You also could try playing around some with your ball position. Maybe just slightly more forward in your stance.

 

Gary

[jhperna]

Also, when I talk about the balls that spin off the green, its really only with my 4 wedges - the PW (45*), 50*, 55*, and 60*. All my other mid and short clubs (5I - 9I) are basically drop and stop on the greens.

 

nike one tour D. I went to it on windy days, here in florida is almost every day. great ball, it still spins but not as much as the one tour and its longer off the tee

[Terpman]

Try this--press your hands forward at address tilting the shaft forward. That will take the spin off the ball; I guarantee it. I know since that is my "normal" and "natural" address position and I've been told by several instructors that it is the reason I don't spin a ball very much at all, if any.

[jhoffman27]

All the tour quality balls have a urethane cover and are going to have spin rates in the same neighborhood. If you go with cheaper quality balls, they'll have a Surlyn (ionomer) cover and spin a lot less. If you're just changing balls, try the TM Burner, Callaway HX Hot, Bridgestone E6 or the Top Flite D2-Straight. For your described spin rate, these balls will stop on the green.

 

Have you seen the Golf Digest spin chart?

 

Pros use a different swing to take spin off the ball when they need to. Do you know your distances with 1/2 and 3/4 swings? Are you using U grooved wedges? If so, you could go back to V grooves. Have you tried a lower lofted driver? Or you could move to an area with drier golf courses. These kinds of changes are drastic, but sometimes they are the "right" thing to do over the long term. There are tons of folks out there who are dieing to have your "problem". You did ask for suggestions :)

 

 

Thanks for the spin chart, that definitely looks like a good tool. Looks like the Burner TP might be a good option. Also looks like the Nike One Vapor might be interesting, we'll see how my trials go with the Tour D. Although I do have a higher swing speed so I might be worried about going to a ball with that low of a compression.

 

I do know my distances with 1/2 and 3/4 swings with my wedges and I am using the U grooves. I've definitely thought about going back to V grooves, but I'm thinking that the new rule changes that decrease the sharpness of the grooves could be a huge help to me so I may just wait till the new wedges become available.

 

I know there are people out there who think I'm nuts because they would love to spin the ball. But when you walk up to your drive on the fairway and the ball is sitting in its pitchmark (meaning you lose 10-15 yards of roll), or you hit a wedge to 10 feet and then watch it spin 30 feet away, it gets frustrating.

[therusty]

I don't think you're nuts. I've seen the pros whine when their shots spin away from the hole. The drastic suggestions were made mostly tongue in cheek. It sounds to me like you have a good handle on the situation. Glad the ball chart helped (I found it in a different thread). Good luck!