How important is a 'decent' golf ball?
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- Опубликовано: 21 авг 2024
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Great discussion, I remember back 20 years ago when I started playing golf I was paired with an older gentleman. He drove the ball down the middle every time only about 150 yds and played par some times bogey golf I was spraying all over the place and shot around 30+ over par. He said to me when we finished " that a 100 yards down the fairway is way better than 300 yds in the woods". I think he has it right!
On my course, 100 yards towards the fairway won’t even get you in play. I’ll take 300 in the rough all day. Easy to hit that gap wedge the final 90 yards from the rough compared to smashing a 3 or 5 wood towards the green on the second shot
@@mcnillerandsons7906 if you’re only driving it 100 o doubt you’re hitting the 2bd shot 250
@@tomashehir I think you need to learn how to read. He's saying that additional 100 yards. He's not saying he's only hitting it 100 yards off the tee. He clearly said hitting it 150 yards. 99% of you aren't hitting 300 yard drives. Most would be lucky to be hitting a driver 275 yards. In other words is 250 to 275 yards off in the woods or the next fairway over better than 150 or 175 yards straight down the middle of the fairway?
He lied to you.
350yds in the semi rough is better than 100 yards in fairway
I played for a Division 2 college and found a Ram Tour ball when I was at practice one day. I played it for the heck of it in our practice rounds and didn't lose it for 54 holes. Played the best I've ever played in my life. Even though we got Pro V1s for free - I always wanted to find a few dozen of those Ram Tours to bring back the luck!
I'm not a ball snob. I sometimes think these conversations overlook med-high handicappers. If you are losing 1-4 balls a round, then a pro V1 isn't for you (unless you are super rich), and even then, would you really see a benefit. A nice comparison woudl be balls reviewd on spin, feel, distance, durability, given a score. Have one leaderboard for best ball, then another based on value per £.
Only losing 1-4 balls is a victory for me😂😂
Me and my buddy always end up pulling out the topflght stuck at the bottom of our bag saying, "Bad balls for bad golfers" lol
Pretty sure Rick has done video comparisons like this, it’s just not written anywhere in a list
LMFAO If I only lost 1-4 balls in a round I'd be so happy and overconfident that I would show up at the PGA event expecting to have qualified
@@Zeesneakyninja yeah I know. I play Srixon distance balls as a result : £12-£15 a dozen - cant be much better value.... Thats what I want to know!!!
I just tried the Titleist AVX and absolutely love it... I can work it but it doesn't overspin with long clubs and get some very nice spin around the green...
Very good in the wind also.
The first ball that I used regularly was a Callaway Warbird and I used them for a few years. I have climbed to premium balls as my game has gotten better, but I have chosen Vice Pro Plus over all major brands based on performance for me.
I used to use those, but I went to school, took a long break from golf. Now I use Supersoft.
For someone that's played golf for 26 years and never had a handicap lower than 12 the Wilson 50\50 is superior to the rest. As a side note the furthest I've ever hit a golf ball was a Top Flight red striped range ball.
I’ve played them all. In the end the key to my ball choice is feel, especially around the green. I could care less if I can drive one ball 20 or 30 yards further if I don’t like the feel of it around the green. Length is not going to improve scoring much. Play around the green does. So after playing all the big name balls, my ball of choice is the “direct to consumer” Snell MTB Black. The lower price point helps, but in the end, I am just more confident with the Snell.
I love this! Ego is such a struggle sometimes! I have a very med-low club head speed, mid to high 90's with my driver, and I play with a buddy who is a retired pro because of injury, and I've only ever beat him once straight up (we sometimes play straight up or with some strokes given to me) and it was because I took my ego out as much as I could. That was towards the end of last year, and now I'm realizing the more and more I listen to Rick and Guy, the more I need to be fitted for a more proper set of clubs. I have a driver that is probably too long for me. Sometimes I smack it perfect and get around 270-290 depending on wind, hills and such, but a lot of times I don't strike it well and I hit it more like 230-250.
I’ve tried a number of brands; Snell, Titleist, TaylorMade, and Callaway and have ended up preferring Titleist for one simple reason…the - Pro V1x (left dash). I instantly had more distance off of the tee…say 10-yards maybe more if flush and it gave me more manageable spin. I’m a decent player (3.9) and just don’t know how to consistently control spin for wedge shots and how a chip may check or release. The Left Dash will keep my ball within 2-3ft of landing spot for a
I also played the Snell MTB-X and Srixon Z Star until last year when I tried the Pro V1x left dash. Absolutely love it off the driver. Keeps my spin rate down and find a lot more fairways with it
Gave up using expensive balls a couple of years ago and my handicap is lower than it's ever been (5.9). Only time I use a Pro V1 is if I find one!
Same. I usually pack my Kirkland balls, and I love them, but by the end of the round I'm using a ProV1 or a Callaway Chromesoft that I found while rummaging around for my ball 50 yards off the fairway
I found an old Snake Eyes driver about a year ago with a 460 head on 43.5” shaft. The whole thing was very professionally finished with weighting, shaft, properly gripped………the whole thing. That driver is deadly accurate for me no matter the quality of my swing on the day. I can’t bomb one and the sound is like a sawed off shotgun but it really works. I tried one of the mini drivers (original one) and I like the sound much better. Take that sound and pump it into my Snake Eyes club and I would totally game that all the time
I had a Snake eyes driver years ago… I loved it … long and forgiving as you say… and then one day I suddenly started having trouble with it … the distance went and the harder I tried the worse the slice got…. Then I noticed the front face of the driver had cracked right at the edge (it was hard to spot!) . I was sad 😢 having to trash it ☹️ ….. so if your driver ever starts misbehaving you know what to look for …. Finally ended up with a Taylor Made R1 …. Great club… not as long as some but very predictable and forgiving !
Great discussion! I personally use the Srixon Q-Star's. I was a TP5 guy for a couple years, but then never wanted to hand out the cash. The Q-Stars were on sale and what you said was exactly it... I love putting and hitting with them. For whatever reason my distances are locked in with them. I'll play a sleeve of ProV's here and there, as well as the Kirkland Performance+ when I drag a few out of the bush. But I found a home in my Q-stars. Pure feel thing.
Kirkland Signature balls at Costco. The company that makes the TP5 for Taylormade makes them. Absolutely killer and cheap! Will scuff a little easier but who cares at that price
@@collinjamesguitar Never sad when I hit them. I don't think I've ever bought a sleeve but if I find them in the woods they're in the bag right away!
I'm a mid-high handicapper and normally use Q-Stars. But this winter I'm playing Srixon Soft Feel (bright red) and am very pleased with them.
The q star is a great ball. The upper mid range ball is what most people should play anyway. The tour response is fantastic, the e12 isn't bad but not my favorite, the Titleist tour speed is one of the best balls I've ever hit.
Would love to see a best ball 9 hole round with one player using a prov1 and one using a cheaper ball like a Wilson duo soft. It would be interesting to see and on course difference
need two players playing same way is impossible. Using a robot playing two different balls works.
Or like John was saying, 1 player playing the 2 balls
Rick would love to see you do a blind golf ball test. Remove the logos, have someone else number them accordingly and give them a try. I feel like that is the only way to give them a true test. I know personally I feel like I mash the expensive balls but in all honesty I lose the cheap ones just as fast as the more expensive balls.
Titleist Pro-V1's are designed for a club head speed of 100 or more. Fortunately, there are so many other finely designed balls for golfers with slower swing speeds and also the average golfer. unless you have a handicap under 12, you have probably not developed a good enough feel to merit a Pro-V1. The harder cover ball is far more forgiving. Also, if you're a senior or female, there are several very good lower compression balls that will help immensely. I'm in my late 60's with a swing speed of under 70 and I play to a two handicap from the senior tees. My favorite golf ball is the Bridgestone Lady Precept that has a 50 compression. I hope my feedback proves helpful.
My dad gave me a chipper when I first started playing. He's used one all his life. Excellent clubs and help build confidence round the greens
Cheating.
I have new ProV1 and ProV1x, Zstar and Zstarxv, Snell Mtbx and Mtbblack, etc, etc, and often play them during a round, but it seems my best-ever shots: longest, straightest drives and 2nd shots, closest-to-pin par 3 tee shots, best chips n pitches inside of 50 yds, and hole-out chips always seem to happen with the "crummy" 45-balls-for-$20 Nitros or the low-end range of balls from some of the top companies (Titleist, Bridgestone, Srixon, Snell, & TM).
I think it's because I'm not worrying about "cart-pathing/tree-bashing/otherwise scuffing" or losing a $4 to $5 ball, but suspect I'm not alone in my experience with this dynamic.
Candidly -- for me -- the Nitros and cheaper balls are like the gas station sunglasses that, while no one is going to compliment me on them, they aren't as clear, and may even scratch more easily, I always seem to lose Ray-Bans, Costas, or Maui Jim's to random mishaps well before they go out of style. I just seem to have better luck with keeping the cheapass sunglasses...
I used to buy srixon ad333 as they were reasonable price. I could go through a box of 12 in a month. I bit the bullet about 6 months ago and bought 12 TP5's and I've still got 9 left. Changed my game.
I love the feel and look of a prov1x. But I have also shot under par with a range ball before and will play any ball this time of year and it doesn’t make much difference. But in a comp I’d still go with prov1x. Lol 🤷♂️
This really is the Internet isn't it 🤣
23.6 on the index player here.
My first choice ball is lime green Srixon, but only as I find them easy to see, and I have enough income to be able to afford to lose some and not really worry.
My average round may also include a lake ball, or freshly found Sports Direct Slazenger ... and I'm no more or less likely to score par with any of those balls.
I'd be sure that ball 'quality' makes no difference to average players who are more affected by 101 other inconsistencies in playing
I like Calloway Superhot in red for the same reason. something about the reaction between the color and the tint in my glasses makes them almost glow.
@@kenbrown2808 My lime green Srixon, brand new, was glowing today ... when I hit it first shot, first tee, OOB and over a boundary fence 😁
@@nickpellatt not bad. I usually top my first shot into the swamp on the par 3 first hole.
I like these out takes of the podcast. I dont have time to watch the full podcast, so these out takes on interesting topics is good for me.
Found the Bridgestone E12 soft to be a great ball mid range price. Ideal for Mid-High HC
I score better with cheaper balls! My home course is lined with hazards on both sides of the fairway. As soon as I pull out a premium ball, I'm nervous about losing it and immediately hit it into the swamp. With cheap balls I don't care about losing them and hit them much straighter without that pressure. Sure, a ProV1 could help me with short game spin, but that doesn't make up for losing 10 balls off the tee. Plus losing 10 ProV1s adds 60 bucks to the cost of a round.
I echoed that with my comment. Maybe it's something psychological because I like to keep my money in the bank or my wallet rather in the woods or in ponds, but it seems I play better with just any old ball. Weird thing is, is that I don't actually pay for any of them. I used to volunteer as a ranger at a golf course and I live on a golf course, so I have a lifetime supply and an afterlife supply for when I play with Satan.
I have used Titleist golf balls for over 40 years...and now in my 60's with my bad lower back and left leg, I can't justify the cost to my wife. I did find that I really liked the Vice Tour Golf Balls. I like that I get good distance off the tee....I play from the Senior Tees...and since I rely on my short game for scoring, they pretty much do exactly what I am trying to do with chipping and shots from inside 30 yards. I haven't had any surprises with them! They stop nicely and feel great on the greens!
Go see a good chiropractor. I fought that for 4 yrs. No more.
I got a couple boxes of Callaway Warbird 2.0's for Christmas. Now just waiting for the snow to melt so I can go lose them 😂
I will say that with some golf balls, it feels extremely soft coming off the clubhead. I started golfing 100 percent a few years ago with Callaways because it had a certain feel. I also wonder if I was giving up 5 to 10 yards on my drives. Last year i started rotating in the Bridgestone and really liked those too. I can only do Pro V1s if they were gifts. They cost too much for a mid to low handicapper but I always enjoying finding them in the woods and thinking, "clearly it wasn't the ball's fault."
I played with cheap balls till I was confident that I could hit it straight, when I tried my first pro v1 my score went A LOT lower, so it's important when you can utilize the full potential of the ball
In regards to your driver discussion, there is a driver from Decathlon (Inesis Driver 500) comes in 2 sizes and 3 swing speeds. This is a shorter driver and has 12 degrees of loft. I think you could do an amazing video comparing that to some main brand drivers, also under some worse golfers and let them decide.
I've carried a chipper for years... My buddies constantly remark how "deadly" I am with it within 10 yards off the green... My best drives on a good day might go 175 yards max with the roll but my yellow Top-Flites are in the fairway and I can see them... Long ago I realized you can't "buy" a game.
Decades ago I was a terrible golfer (never broke 100). I couldn't get off the tee to save my life. My golfing group broke up and I quit playing I came back to golf a few years ago and bought a used Callaway Fusion HL driver. It was 13.5 degrees, and I adjusted it to 15.5 degrees. I teed it just a little higher than I would a three wood and used a fairway wood swing, and I was basically hitting a big headed, ultra forgiving three wood. If I wasn't feeling great about my swing, I'd even choke down an inch or two. I had enough success getting decent drives (for a bad golfer) that I stayed with it, though I've since moved on to a 10.5 degree Rogue.
Great conversation - some of the best club golfers I have played with used 2 piece rockets and top flight rocks. They shot consistently low with a putting stroke that would horrify any coach in 2022. The ball is overrated… it does not change your swing or give you ability…it does go further only and the marketing grabs everyone….the chipper ideas is spot on, most people can’t hit a barn door from 10 metes let alone a golf hole
I play Vice balls because they give me 95-100% of the performance of a Pro-V or a TP5 but for the price of a DT-Solo. Plus they come in cool colors and they're more playful about themselves than Titliest.
The forgiving driver you mention is a 3 wood...most people under-utilize that club and that is a personal choice because it isn't cool to hit a 3wood but should be considered.
I had a wilson brass chipper I saw them going cheap at the driving shop it was brilliant only used it a few times though because as you say there is a bit of a stigma attached to them, but they certainly work.
Not to be underestimated as well is the fact that you hit your ball on EVERY shot. Your $500 driver at MOST is hit 18 times a round. So a ball fitting will impact your score 4x’s more than a driver fit.
Got fitted by Ping fitter and recommended cutting the shaft length by 1inch. Went for it getting more centre strikes and hence better and more consistent distance,, highly recommend it.
It’s all about confidence in your golf ball whatever you use …. I use very cheap golf balls but they suit my game (16 handicap) and I never feel bad about losing a couple a round 😄
Agreed on the shorter driver shaft idea. Hope to see a less-popular company try that out as a retail option (Srixon, Cleveland, Wilson)
The average golfer I would say, can't always afford to get a box of pro v1s for golfing. I think that's why alot of people are always so interested in the more affordable balls in the reviews. Were hoping you'll find a great ball for a better price. I myself am using a hodgepodge of Tommy Armour, random Ping, Titleist, and 3 or 4 other brands.
Consistency at your price point is the important thing for me. Next big thing in golf tech could well be “chipped” golf balls I.e. gps so easier to find + provides stats to your phone (spin, speed, distance etc.) 🤔
Rick has already reviewed a chipped ball - have a search
Playing with the same ball all the time is key.
@@PDXJack87 I’ll let you know when I’ve cracked that.
It’s a momentous day when I finish a round with the same ball I started with and that’s after 50 years of practice….
The better the golfer you are, the more the fine details matter and the more important the golf ball is. For most weekend amateurs, they are so inconsistent and don't hit solid a high enough percentage of the time for this to really matter. They need to focus on solid contact a high percentage of the time
So I put a chipper in my bag and the club I removed was technically a wood, but for my gapping (at least my estimates), I'm covered with a driver, 3 Wood, Heavenwood, and divine nine and then jumping to my 5 hybrid. Plus, to experiment, I took out my sand wedge and put in an A wedge. My lob wedge 58 so I can use that in the sand. I've been fine in testing.
As for golf balls, I generally just use Callaway, generally a softer feel
Distance balls will go just as far as a ProV1 but will not spin like a prov1 near the green. There are trade off. If your losing 6 balls a game, obviously price plays a factor and you'll have to choose what you wanna leave on the table when it comes to balls.
I played Callaway Supersofts/Warbirds due to price (avg score 110). As i progressed in my game i noticed they would skip off greens. So i moved up to a taylormade tour response. Not as far but spun more. My avg score now is 91.
My advice, choose a ball that you like the FEEL of and that performs for your game with your scoring clubs. DO NOT choose your ball based off your driver.
I never really cared too much about ball choice assuming it’s a somewhat decent ball. But I’ve been playing simulator golf, and I tried a different ball other than a pro V and it seemed like my distance wasn’t the same even after hitting very solid strike shots on the range mode. Idk if it was a faulty ball (old) or if it was just an anomaly hitting into a simulator. Next time I’m going to specifically compare two balls at the range and see if there really is a difference in my distances.
My ball of choice is the TP5. About 2 months ago, I was 13 over after 9. I hadn’t shot that bad since high school. I had lost all the balls in my bag except for a completely rubbish Wilson that I had found. I ended up shooting 3 over on the back 9 including parring the last 5. I was so mad about losing all those balls on the front 9, that when I just let go and started swinging freely….. my game got a lot better. (TBH, I haven’t replaced my TP5s though)
I 100% use a chipper for all kinds of shots. It’s an odyssey tank and it is bloody brilliant. I was also one if the first to take on hybrids and have used them ever since. I still use wedges but the chipper is a go to for par 3’s and approach shots.
I love my chipper, great club. Just gotta find the right one.
I used to build that type of driver that you're talking about. Bang Golf had heads up to 18 degrees, and I would generally get the 16 degree head, and put in a heavy steel shaft. I would make it a 43" length and add head weight to be appropriately balanced. It without a doubt was a fairway finder and distance wasn't compromised that much. I think the average distance was about the same since I'd put a better swing on the ball. Also, it's funny how you talk about a cheaper ball being as good..if not better. I've never run numbers, but it sure seems that whenever I throw just some ball out there to play with, at the end of the round, I still have it and I've posted a reasonably good score. If I play with a Pro V, in short order, I'm looking for it in the woods.
Funny you mentioned the chipper as a club that would improve your short game. My mate has bought one since he struggled big time when he was using a "normal" wedge for the very short chips around the green and since he uses that chipper now, he has improved massively.
Taylormade Mini Driver is one of the best clubs ever for most club golfers! Mine is a fairway finding machine and I often out drive my playing partners, play off a 9 hc. I also have the 3HL Sim2 fw at 16.5 and it is amazing, 3 and 5 hy and golf is so much easier. Let go of ego, score better
I’m a 7 handicap and play a PV1x. For me, it’s about the amount of spin to control the distance from 150 yds and in. That’s where I see the biggest difference between premium balls versus other balls.
I would love to have a conversation on this topic! In my opinion there is no good or bad golf ball, they are different! I am a 2 handicap that does not spin the ball much. For me personally, I think a fitted golf ball (for me something that spins a lot) matters more than equipment to an extent! I would rather use unfitted clubs than a distance golf ball!
this discussion is exactly why the Kirkland Signature urethane balls for $24/24 balls at Costco are so amazing. Watch testing, for all intensive purposes on paper and on-course they're essentially a ProV1. I'd say you could replace 90% of people who play prov1's and they'd never know it.
Hey, just a quick note - the phrase is actually "intents and purposes." I liked the content on your channel! My grandad was also a fine golfer and introduced me and my brother to the game. He played to scratch most of his life, and even in his 80s he was striping a 5-wood 175 yards right down the middle every time! Take care.
- Dan
Some of the Best balls (For Me) where some Arnold Palmer Control Titaniums.
I bought 12 about 25 years ago to play a couple of rounds with a chap at work
( at the time hadn't played for 10-15 years) and up till 4-5 months ago not since then.
The were soft feel nice to putt and spun nicely around the green. I usually go for the lofty fly it there version so knowing how much spin is on the ball is essential
I like the point you make about the 15th club, I carry a driver and also a mini driver for distance off the deck and also for when the big stick is flying all over
I’ve been playing for 5 months. Swing speeds in the 90s. I won’t get the most out of tour balls because of my swing speed won’t compress them enough. I do well for now with the Wilson Zip and Calloway Supersoft. Once I get better, I may switch to a tour ball, but that may be a while.
It's so good to have this on yt! Good talk guys
I play a 44.75 driver and it blows my 45.5 away. Unless i absolutely dime the 45.5, which is not common
I'm not terribly picky on the ball I use. I currently use the Top Flite Hammer ball. They come in a bucket of 48 for $35. I use them because my local course has a lot of water hazards that are in play across the fairway. There is one hole that I have yet to finish without losing a ball in the fairway pond. I don't want to spend tons of money on balls, so I use the cheapest one on the market. If I wasn't losing so many, I would use the Titleist TruFeel. They're relatively inexpensive ($22/Dozen) and of much higher quality and durability than the Top Flites I use. Maybe in a year after I've improved some. I am only a year off from when I started.
Rick describing my 13° Nike Sumo Square as my 2nd driver.
My bag is D-10.5°, D-13°, 4W-16.5°, 4H-20°, 5-PW, 50, 54, 58, putter.
here's what a 'revolutionary' non-tournament golfer carries: Three-year old driver with fitted shaft, 22 deg hybrid, 5-7-9 irons, 2 wedges, putter of choice, small carry bag, mid-price urethane (Costco?) or Prov1 practice balls, flask, comfy shoes. Inexpensive, light, can walk and carry. Also, probably for a golfer over 35...Young hot shot golfer? Titleist everything, Scotty putter, 50 pound bag, new prov1x left dash, cool shoes, cool cap, cool everything, don't play unless you can bomb it, despise short game, and always act angry with only a NEAR-perfect shot. Also for golfers under 25: 330 yards driver, 220 5 iron, 185 7, 175 8, 155 wedge, and 100 putter...Ha ha....
Over the past few years I have gravitated towards Callaway Supersoft balls due to their forgiveness and relatively inexpensive price point (half the price of a dozen Pro V1s). Back in October, I played the back 9 at my home course with my buddy and all we had were the Top Flite Hammer balls they sell at Dicks for $35 for a bucket of 48 balls. I ended up shooting a 40, which for me is a personal best for 9 holes.
You should be talking about the increased costs of wedges ! The price for irons now >£1k. Detrimental to getting people into game. Golf companies are hurting themselves. Second hand market is booming. Club proshops relying on trade in deals to encourage golfers to upgrade.
Loads of cheap club options. No barrier to entry for anyone.
Bag setup suggestion
Driver draw and long
Driver fade slightly shorter
3 wood
2 iron
Rescue
5
6
7
8
9
46
54
58
Putter
"Maybe I could make chippers cool" 🤣
Totally agree with the chipper comments. My short game is my Achilles heel and always will be even after lessons. My Odyssey chipper is my favourite club in the bag, I use it to around the green and to get me out of trouble, however it is a source of amusement for my golf mates! Have a word with Taylor Made, Titleist and the rest Rick and tell them to get in the chipper market please!
I used Pro V1 X until i stopped playing, was playing off 5 at my best, when i stopped i was playing off of 7.
Won club champ using Pro V1X, won a hell of a lot using the Pro V1X but played my lowest rounds front and back 9 not in competition using Srixon, TopFlite Strata and lake balls.
I can tell you based on my own results and game it didn't matter which ball i used past a certain point, my head made a difference and led to me leaving the game, the PV1x gave me consistency when i needed it though in competition, it didn't spin as much as the 1x and had a lower trajectory which i really enjoyed.
Just to add to this, watching your videos is encouraging me back to the sport to the point i may re-join a golf club this year.
I play Molitors or Club Specials that have been marinating in ponds for about 50 years..My niblicks and mashies sing when they hit them.
We should be able to change ball during game to suit the shot needed.
That would also have the added benefit of making us think what kind of 'ball affect' we want/need for next shot.
Golf seems to go round in circles, 1st of all it was 2 and 3 irons in the bag, then came the 5 and 7 woods that were not "cool" when they came out ,as you say then Hybrids came out..... and whats happening again lots of people are now going back to the driving irons.
I think its all down to marketing and the big manufactures recycling ideas and just making money from us who want/need the up to date equipment !
Plus is there really a difference in the last 3 Pro v1 golf balls apart from the line up arrows ,,,, personally I would not be able to tell the difference if the line up arrows were removed and I'm sure a lot of other people could not either ....
Great videos Rick keep em coming
OnCore Elixer is one of the best feeling balls.
I currently have 2 drivers in the bag, a shorter length shaft and a longer one - my longer one is new to me so until I get comfortable with it I’m keeping the shorter one in the bag for the fighter fairways
For the average golfer, pretty much anything that isn't a lake ball will do the job. Possibly a bit of an exaggeration, but for most of us we're not going to notice minute differences in spin rates or softness.
I don't think a "premium" ball is the most important thing, what's more important is not using a budget ball. Anything mid range £20-£30 (AD333, Super Soft, Tour Soft etc) are all more than useable for the average golfer, even going down to Srixon distance for new golfers.
As for clubs, I was fitted last year for CBX2's, which are wider soled more forgiving wedges. I'm a 14.5 handicap and I absolutely love them, moved from SM5's which I hit ok, but I am a lot more consistent with the CBX2's.
I think using a premium ball I paid for has a psychological effect where I swing like I'm afraid to lose it. If I'm using a found ball, of any kind, I'll swing more freely because I'm not as worried about using it. If I lose new 6 Pro Vs a round, that's an expensive round.
Paying £45 for 12 golf balls is absolutely insane. Most amateurs are nowhere near good enough for it to matter anyway.
For club golfers the most important thing should be keeping it in play. Golf needs to be simpler for everyone. I do think chippers is something that could take of next. Most people don't want a wedge with lots of bounce that they can hit lots of different ways.
Im a 14-18 handicap and i feel that the only time i can tell the difference is my short game. Prov1s and the nike one platinum have given me so much spin around the greens.
Rick, Cleveland makes what they are calling an Accuracy build in "ALL" of their new product. Drivers go from 45.75" to 44.75", Fairways, Hybrids and Irons are built -1/2" in the Accuracy build.
I normally play Taylor Made TP5 or generally Pro V1's in the competition season but in the Winter plough through the pix and mix section, normally resulting in a Srixon Distance or AD333. Shot some of my best rounds with an 'average' ball rather than a premium one !
If you can fine “Texan Classic Wedges” you should give them a review. I bought a set which comes with a 60, 56, and 52 for 50 bucks at the time. Now they are about 75 but we’ll worth it. They hit so nice.
I bought a ping hybrid I found on eBay to test it out and I hated it. I’d shank it every time, 20 yards out and 100 yards right. After some practice with it now it’s my go-to club for longer approach shots and even off the tee sometimes.
I use lake balls found be retailers who goes out and dive for them at the courses here in Denmark. Tietlist DT Trusoft. It's a nice soft ball and it's been my ball for a while now.
Im proud to say I haven't lost a golf ball in 9 years. Open space course and playing withing myself 💯👌👍😁
I play Callaway Chrome Soft with the tri lines. The red, white, blue truvis chrome soft also. I never ever buy brand new dozen balls. I visit my local 2nd hand golf ball guy. GOLF BALL SHOP VIRGINIA BEACH, VA.
I have a chipper that I religiously use.
Around the green when I don’t need loft all the way out to 125-130 yards when I need a straight low running shot. Also if I’m in scramble mode and I need to punch out but keep the ball low I’ll use my chipper. I could use other clubs but the confidence I have with it is what makes the difference.
I'm a middling handicapper who rarely loses balls. I have tried a huge range of brands.
It makes no difference.
Same here. I have a couple dozen boxes prov 1x, NXT tour, Tour Feel & Softcallaway csx 2020 and 01. "Glean"8 doz pro v and and just about any other major ball on the market. Don't lose many at all and don't know if i will ever use the boxes. Didn't buy those either. Raffle prizes.
Titleist fits everyone for pro v because they are the most expensive. The reality is that a ball that spins more doesn't discriminate direction of spin. If it has more backspin, it is going to spin more to the side as well. A large percentage of golfers are going to do better with a dt solo than a pro v. Short game. Spin will make the dispersion higher if someone is inconsistent on striking pitch/chip shots as well. Most high handicap players have no idea how or no ability to spin shots, so what benefit are they gaining from having a higher spin ball? I'd bet anything if they switched they would lower their scores, but they want their friends to see them playing the "nicer" ball.
Best ball I ever played was the Nike PD Soft. Green packaging. Worked perfectly for me in all areas of my game. Then they stopped making them! Bounced around lots of different ones since, currently playing Vice Pro as it’s the closest I’ve found to the feel of the Nike ball.
I would encourage beginners to use pro v and tp5x. How else are the rest of us going to find good balls in the rough.
Love the TP5 pix.
I would say mini drivers. Most high handicappers would probably benefit from a smaller head higher loft short shafts. Less distance but for better accuracy.
It seems that the better the golfer the "better" the ball should be. I have really become fond of the srixon ball. I play a qstar and only because I got them for a dollar a ball. They wear fast but I like the feel of them. I have played the cheapest of the cheap to the pro v1's and I shoot the same basically. I'm a 8-9 handicap and really just play whatever is handy.
Should I buy used pro v balls or a cheaper new ball?
Hi Rick, I’m watching this totally pissed when I should be sleeping.
Another point to the golf ball discussion would be the mental aspect of playing an expensive premuim ball - i.e. how it changes how you think about the shot if you're on the tee with OB right and a brand new ProV1 tee'ed up - are you going to be thinking "this ball's cost me £4, I can't lose it right" so much that you inhibit your swing and massively duck hook it left (or aim so far left that you slice it into the cabbage right!), instead of using your normal stance and swing and getting it down the middle.
Unfortunately leaps in technology seem to be driven by the Pro game (e.g. hybrids took off in the mass market once Pros started using them, and square drivers, in a similar way, fell off the face of the earth once Pros stopped using them - or refused to use them in the case of Tiger). I can't see Pro's using chippers so the effect isn't going to filter through to us meer mortals, even though having a chipper in the bag instead of a 4 iron would benefit the vast majority of golfers.
Would love to see more fitting videos with Nick Hibbs - had a full bag fitting with him last year and it's a proper "Pro" experience. His (and Nicolas) knowledge and service are second to none.
Cheers!
Specialty Clubs and Sets, for unique situations.
The Nike sumo2 5900 was the most accurate forgiving driver I have ever used
My main objective is to go have fun playing the game with my dad and brother. While getting better is important I believe it's more important to enjoy the game and the company around me. The three of us play by the rules and take it serious, wile being able to poke fun at each other. As my brother tells me my Callaway Chrome Soft golf balls look like soccer balls.
For me've always had issues with Pro V'1s spinning up with irons and coming up short, me personal preference is the TP5 ball or Srixon Z-star ; for me they perform better overall
I mow rough at a public golf course, find all the Pro V1's and X's I could ever want. The 40 dollar ball goes just as crooked as the 20 dollar one, folks.