Do you really think the ball makes a difference?

[Ballgofarboy]

I have played all the premium balls, Bridgestone, Callaway, Taylormade, and Titleist.

 

Shot all kinds of scores. Recently, I have pulled out a Pinnacle gold. I have shot under par with this ball. A While ago I pulled out a Topflight XL 5000 and shot under part with that ball too.

 

 

I am not seeing a difference myself.

[deetsal]

Depends on the course conditions. Without a tour ball greens that are running at a 12 and are hard, would be impossible to hold. Full shots you may be able to hit high enough bit as you get around the green good luck.

[Guia]

There are some differences in golf balls, but not as much as advertised or people want to believe. I can generally shoot the same scores using a different model ball each day. However, with a golfer that is a +HC there could be a shot or two that the ball would make a little difference. For someone who shoots in the 80s, 90s or above, a ball is a ball, their game is not refined enough to take advantage of the different technologies.

[elwhippy]

Course must have been receptive. Firm greens, short sided or downhill over a bunker and I'll take a premium ball every time.

[BrianL99]

The ultimate ball test:

 

 

http://www.golfwrx.c...__ultimate ball

[DLiver]

It does for me. There are very noticeable differences in how different balls perform. Does it affect my score? Maybe not to a huge degree. But it definitely affects how I play, and the kinds of shots I can hit.

[Golf64]

Try the Wilson 50. Best bang for the buck out there, IMO. ;)

[gpleonard]

Definitely makes a difference. The really cheap priced balls will not help your game once you start to improve. Does not mean you need Pro V's . But you should play a decent quality ball and stay with the same brand so you get used to the characteristics of the ball. I have done ball testing this spring and played a few different ones. Find some to have way too much spin, others to be short. I think that it is important to find a ball that you can be comfortable with and have confidence when you play from tee to green. Just my opinion.

[NJpatbee]

Playing the right type of ball for your swing IMO does make a difference. As a 17 HCP I have played the full range from ProV1 to Noodle Long and I can play a round of golf with any ball out there. However balls that have a very high amount of spin cause me difficulty both with the driver and the approach game. Slices are exaggerated and I come up short with my approach shots since I do not hit a high ball and the ball stops quickly, so I have to take 1 club more to reach the pin. I have found that balls like the Gamer Series, e6, NXT Tour, Softfli, and Supersoft are all better for my game than a true tour ball or hard distance ball. Of course, the swing makes the biggest difference but the ball is a factor.

[mlp021]

If golf balls were blank (no logo or names), I could adjust to any ball that I played. I do know that I prefer the way a "tour" ball performs. And even though I might not have the game (swing speed) for the Pro V1x, I just love that golf ball. I always seem to play my best rounds (lowest scoring) with them. It might be a completely mental thing, but if it works...

[Matt J]

I'd guess that most players that are finding the center of the face can tell a difference between golf balls. Whether that difference is good or bad for your game would depend on a lot of different factors. The conventional wisdom is to find a ball that suits your game and stick to it. That is the general consensus I have reached as well. If you look at the biggest factors, spin off of driver and long irons mostly relating to side spin, spin on short irons mostly as back spin, green side touch as low rpm spin and mostly related to the cover, and putting feel then it's mostly about adjusting to what you're going to get out of the ball.

[DLiver]

I'd guess that most players that are finding the center of the face can tell a difference between golf balls. Whether that difference is good or bad for your game would depend on a lot of different factors. The conventional wisdom is to find a ball that suits your game and stick to it. That is the general consensus I have reached as well. If you look at the biggest factors, spin off of driver and long irons mostly relating to side spin, spin on short irons mostly as back spin, green side touch as low rpm spin and mostly related to the cover, and putting feel then it's mostly about adjusting to what you're going to get out of the ball.

 

That pretty much nails it.

[mdhacker123]

I've played them all and I religiously stick with high end balls, however lately I began to dabble. Today I had a 2 hr chipping n 30-40 pitches with the following 2016 b330s, 2016 b330rx, 2015 tm tp, new pinnacle rush n soft.

 

On chips of course the pinnacle rolled out more but the results were good. I'd say feel n result wise on chips was the pinnacle soft n tm to.

 

Pitches again same results but I'll add the b330s in there. And off the putter the b330s n pinnacle soft felt good. I will say on longer putts it didn't take much to get the distNce compared to the others. Maybe I just made better contact. But this week I'm goin to play my usual course and gSme the pinnacle n note where I usual end up n certain shots I like to play with the result. I'm pretty confident that my scores will be very similar, within a Cpl strokes both ways

[Scottz]

For me in the early and late season, when it's cold (40 or so degrees), and wet, the ball really does not matter. I actually think that a distance ball works better in these conditions and are cheaper to lose in the leaves and plugged lies.

[vonasemj]

I can shoot good or bad rounds with any ball. The ball I play is usually picked on feel. I generally find higher end balls feel better.

[SplashShot]

Bottom line.. there are shots you can hit with a Urethane ball that you simply cannot hit with a Surlyn or Ionomer ball. I don't care what anecdotal stories people have about 2 piece distance balls. You can hit a different shot with them, that may get a similar result, but it's not the same shots. Dried out hard and fast greens with trouble lurking? Good luck with your pinnacle.

[DonMega884]

Ball don't lie

[Scottz]

Bottom line.. there are shots you can hit with a Urethane ball that you simply cannot hit with a Surlyn or Ionomer ball. I don't care what anecdotal stories people have about 2 piece distance balls. You can hit a different shot with them, that may get a similar result, but it's not the same shots. Dried out hard and fast greens with trouble lurking? Good luck with your pinnacle.

I think you hit the nail on the head. Never thought of it that way.

[mjmihal]

Which ever ball you putt with the best, go with it. If they all feel the same, you're in big trouble.

[TripleSingle]

I have played all the premium balls, Bridgestone, Callaway, Taylormade, and Titleist.

 

Shot all kinds of scores. Recently, I have pulled out a Pinnacle gold. I have shot under par with this ball. A While ago I pulled out a Topflight XL 5000 and shot under part with that ball too.

 

 

I am not seeing a difference myself.

 

The answer is yes or no depending on the player. Because at the end of the day, it's the player that makes the difference on the golf ball.

Long term score averages are a reflection/representation of your talent, and not how "good" a ball is, or whatever equipment we want to talk about.

An example would be like bowling, which I absolutely suck at. But if a pro bowler walked in and used a house ball, could he still score 250...probably will. You give me a custom ball, I'd still suck.

Or lets reverse it, make the ball the constant variable. If you took long term score averages of your own clubs vs rented clubs, they probably wouldn't be too far off either. If Rory forgot to bring his bag and had to take turns using yours for the round can he still post a good score..I'm sure he can. Sure he'll have to make adjustments, and if he does shoot a good score, it's because he's just that damn talented.

So does that mean we should just not have our own clubs and start using rentals...ofcourse not.

At the end of the day, it's all about the indian and not the arrow. But having said that, I'd like to use the same arrows.

[MadGolfer76]

I've shot par with a Top-Flite. Took a lot more effort than shooting par with a ProV1x, though.

[Shambles]

I can't really say because all I ever felt with different ball brands is that some play a bit softer than others. As far as bite and roll and all that other stuff, it seems to me more a function of how I hit the ball. I can only say for sure that I prefer the softer balls. The hard ones have a different sound but when you are doing a full swing, they all seem pretty much the same.

 

 

 

Shambles

[wyattdog]

Yes, enough said.

[Bogeyman22]

The golf ball industry is a huge money maker. That being said, please don't take the fun of constantly trying different balls away from me. I do find a difference. Sound, feel, feedback, spin, it's all fun learning about. We all have a boatload of balls laying around, and yet we buy more. It's fun, it's part of this great game. Next new one comes out, I'll be first in line.

[highergr0und]

Balls make a difference, but not as much as a lot of them would like you to believe..... Style of play is a factor too.

[Dan42nepa]

This week i have been switching balls every round. Different brand each day. My game has suffered in that i have been averaging 4-5 strokes higher than normal. I cant point out the cause as I have been hitting all shots well.. my only problem may be short game.. I am wondering if that is due to the balls. Starting today I am going back to one ball for a week to see if it makes a difference. My putts have been not terrible but inconsistant. Same with chips...

[tsecor]

if you cant feel the difference between hitting a titleist and a pinnacle, something else is wrong. Pinnacles are like hitting rocks

[CDM]

I think the Ball adds in to the equation BUT that is like everything.

 

IMHO I feel if your a decent golfer and you go with "Off" the rack with everything you will be 90% of your game (relatively speaking). Getting fitted with all your clubs and ball matching then your percentage goes up. It like anything it is the sum of the total that increase the performance or results.

 

Edit: To me the ball makes a difference but only matched to my game. Spin, Control, feel, etc

[DLiver]

I played with a Wilson Duo-U today. That thing is seriously long. Long off the tee, and long into the greens. Way different trajectory. Hits the green and keeps on going. Good luck trying to score with that thing.

[2zlinks]

Brian attaching a link to his "official" thread which was anything but official. Amused but not close to surprised.