Does my current ball hurt my game?

tatertot · July 9, 2009

Playing a Noodle

I'm currently at a 9.1 index. Happy with my length, not a lot of spin on my wedges. I hit a VERY high ball, though, so I've learned to live without a lot of spin. Would upgrading to a more expensive ball really help lower my score at all?

kmoff77 · July 9, 2009

I doubt it.

There are a lot of decent players out there that play Noodle +. You would def loose distance by switching to a premium ball.

tbowles411 · July 9, 2009

No. Actually, I'm going a distance ball. I need the length and to limit the spin.

amerza18 · July 10, 2009

Depends on your short game, if you are getting up and down a good percentage of the time, then don't mess with what you are doing. If you want more control around the greens, then I would experiment with a sleeve of premium balls to see if you can increase your chances of getting down in 2.

InspiredGolf · July 10, 2009

Depends on your short game, if you are getting up and down a good percentage of the time, then don't mess with what you are doing. If you want more control around the greens, then I would experiment with a sleeve of premium balls to see if you can increase your chances of getting down in 2.

X 2... short game huge for me, I won't play anything but a tour quality ball that spins around the green. Nothing worse than hitting a good solid chip and having it run 15 ft past the hole....

atlanta golfer · July 10, 2009

My latest handicap revision brought me down to 11.0 and I've been playing the Noodle +. I obtained a couple dozen Srixon z-urs and have been playing these some. I noticed only slightly better spin and definite loss of distance off the tee. I also hit the ball pretty high. One thing I noticed is that although the Noodle+ ball does not have much spin, it is soft with good feel. I have just learned to play a drop and roll type of chip and pitch. I also don't have the square milled grooves in my wedges.

I would go ahead and try a higher spin 3 piece or 4 piece ball, but don't be too quick to abandon the Noodle.

leftygolf · July 10, 2009

Play the noodle on the par 4's and 5's and use the premium ball for the par 3's to hold the greens.

Johwak121 · July 10, 2009

I usualy dont play premium balls since i tend to lose a sleeve or two everytime i go out...however i have 100's of found golf balls in my garage and a bucket of Titleist balls

Went to the putting range for about 2 hours yesterday using nothing but Pro V1 and NXT Tour...wooooooooooooooooow i was so amazed at how well they preformed on the green...now if i could just hit more fairways and stay out of the hazards :(

herkyjerk · July 11, 2009

Nonsense. A scratch player can get around with a Noodle, DT Solo, Big Bertha, Wilson 50/50, you name it. The score difference would be negligible. IMO most tour balls are played by players that aspire to get them to dance, like myself. If you've got the swing you can shoot par with a Rock Flite. Seen it too many times. The ball means nothing.

Ping Blackout Grip · July 12, 2009

Nonsense. A scratch player can get around with a Noodle, DT Solo, Big Bertha, Wilson 50/50, you name it. The score difference would be negligible. IMO most tour balls are played by players that aspire to get them to dance, like myself. If you've got the swing you can shoot par with a Rock Flite. Seen it too many times. The ball means nothing.

Well said. You do get better spin with those top tier golf balls, but I believe the ball can only do so much, its the guy striking the ball.

michael lingard · July 12, 2009

I have played the noodle+ abit also and yes you dont get the spin of a pro-v1 etc but full shots with all clubs seem to have a higher flight than some other balls so you dont need the spin and only half shots you would lose out , i like the soft feel and the distance is nice so i wont be playing a premium ball because they arent twice as good but they are twice the price .

amerza18 · July 12, 2009

Nonsense. A scratch player can get around with a Noodle, DT Solo, Big Bertha, Wilson 50/50, you name it. The score difference would be negligible. IMO most tour balls are played by players that aspire to get them to dance, like myself. If you've got the swing you can shoot par with a Rock Flite. Seen it too many times. The ball means nothing.

If we follow this logic, then a scratch player can get around with niblicks, brassies and mashies. So then why do we always look for the next greatest thing that will help our game: We are not all scratch golfers. Most of the reason why most of us aren't better is because of the space between our ears.

Like I said in my first post, if the OP likes the noodle and is happy with his game around the greens, then he shouldn't make a switch. But if he thinks that changing balls, drivers, irons or wedges is going to help his game and he gets a boost of confidence with it, then by all means experiment with it. Maybe that extra boost of confidence will help him out.

At first, I hated playing with premium golf balls because I hated losing 2 or 3 $4 golf balls a round. I played tight and couldn't find my swing. I messed around with a few other options and found something I liked, guess what, my game got better. It's all personal preference. I say play what you like and don't let anyone tell you different.

herkyjerk · July 12, 2009

I don't really understand your brassie & niblick response. I also lose 2-3 balls per round (12 index) but I buy my premium balls from Dr. Mulligans so the cost is less concerning. My only point is the ball has very very little to do with the score, I'm telling you it's true. If you feel better playing a high end ball by all means play it. Of course pros can control spin and use that spin as a weapon to score. But pros are scoring machines. I see too many guys in my blitz that shoot in the low 70's with balls that I would collect & then hit into the lake behind my house after about 8 Crown Royals. I play Tour IX and get throttled 8 and 7 by a guy playing a Pinnacle because he is a better player, period. I agree that between the ears is a powerful mess for golfers.

amerza18 · July 12, 2009

I don't really understand your brassie & niblick response. I also lose 2-3 balls per round (12 index) but I buy my premium balls from Dr. Mulligans so the cost is less concerning. My only point is the ball has very very little to do with the score, I'm telling you it's true. If you feel better playing a high end ball by all means play it. Of course pros can control spin and use that spin as a weapon to score. But pros are scoring machines. I see too many guys in my blitz that shoot in the low 70's with balls that I would collect & then hit into the lake behind my house after about 8 Crown Royals. I play Tour IX and get throttled 8 and 7 by a guy playing a Pinnacle because he is a better player, period. I agree that between the ears is a powerful mess for golfers.

I was just saying that a scratch player can play with anything (much like your comment) and still play well. They have the confindence to be handed to them whatever equipment and still play well.

The rest of us 12 cappers (I am too), need confidence. If the average 12 capper feels he needs a certain ball to play well, then that's all that matters to him. It is the craziness in our heads that keep these equipment companies in business.

ErnieMcCracken2 · July 27, 2009

experiment, we can't help you on this one.
there are no perfect balls or clubs, you have to spend enough time to see which balls work the best for your game. do you hit green less than 50% then you need $40+ balls for chipp'n/feel, are you looking for distant then $10 - $30 balls for less spin, less feel, longer shots.