Golf experimentation

[Robert L.]

Up here in Massachusetts we've been in drought conditions since late summer, and the greens at the course I play at have been rock hard and very fast. While they do get watered they absorb the water like a dry sponge. Now the problem I have is that I now play a low compression ball, the Mizuno RB 566. While I love the distance and accuracy I'm getting off the tee these low compression balls just won't hold the greens, which is getting really frustrating. I make what I think is a good approach shot, and the ball just lands on the green and takes off to the edge, which really pisses me off!

 

In my next round I'm going to try something, Before I make my approach (especially on par 3s) I'm going to switch the Mizuno with a ProV1, and we'll see if a better quality ball will hold the green better. Now I know it's against the rules, but I don't care, it's just a casual round anyways. So please, no rules lectures! We'll see if this experiment will work.

[Maine Golfer]

Pro v1s i find suck in the cold 

[naval2006]

If greens are too hard the ball, no matter what brand, won't stop.  You'll probably have to change your strategy.

[Mikey_HACKilroy]

And you only have to deal with that when you have drought conditions......

The greens keepers around here seem to make it a sport in the best conditions to see how much like concrete they can make their greens. Then they place the cup on a slope. They deserve a pay cut. 😄 

Edit: Okay, fine, they don't deserve a pay-cut.... LOL

Edited November 19, 2024 by Mikey_HACKilroy

[Ferguson]

It's not the ball.  

[Shankyouverymuch]

I played on a chilly Spring day and the greens were frozen. I hit an approach wedge and my ball hit the green and literally bounced 15' in the air. I could hear the ball bounce off the turf from 120+ yards away 😄. Now that is a hard green.

[biker74]

This sounds like a THP experience to me 

[Robert L.]

4 hours ago, Ferguson said:

It's not the ball.  

You're right. It's the greens.

[Jeff58]

On 11/18/2024 at 10:28 AM, Robert L. said:

Before I make my approach (especially on par 3s) I'm going to switch the Mizuno with a ProV1, and we'll see if a better quality ball will hold the green better.

The “King of stops” is usually considered the V1x. The newest V1 version is better in this regard but you have to be able to identify it. You don’t show your clubs, but with many modern configurations, the ability to achieve a zero roll situation beyond around PW tends to be poor. If you can’t achieve close to a 50 degree landing angle on a hard green, there is little chance.

[Robert L.]

1 hour ago, Jeff58 said:

The “King of stops” is usually considered the V1x. The newest V1 version is better in this regard but you have to be able to identify it. You don’t show your clubs, but with many modern configurations, the ability to achieve a zero roll situation beyond around PW tends to be poor. If you can’t achieve close to a 50 degree landing angle on a hard green, there is little chance.

I really don't have a problem with close-in chips. It's those medium to longer pitches that have a problem holding those hard and fast greens we're now experiencing. I pitch with a 56° sand wedge, and I open the face a bit when pitching. I'll see how the V1X performs, but I might have to aim for the closest edge of the green to allow for more roll. Hopefully I'll have enough skill to drop the ball just beyond the edge of the green!

[grochol17]

According to the MGS ball test from 2023, the Bridgestone B XS is on the higher end of spin for their 35 yard wedge test.  So, that might be a way for you to stay on the softer side of things while also getting a good bit of greenside spin.  But, technique is a big part of it and, to some level, even with perfect technique, there's not a ton that you can do to change things if you're dealing with baked out greens, as evidenced by what happens at the US Open).

[jjfcpa]

On 11/19/2024 at 2:16 PM, Ferguson said:

It's not the ball.  

 

Bump!  In my opinion, the trajectory of the shot into a green has more to do with whether it stops than the spin you generate.

[Robert L.]

Welp, I've got a feeling that I'm going to have to put this off until next season. The weather in Massachusetts for next week isn't looking too good, with the possibility of snow next week, which will shut down the course I play on. It will soon be time to work on certain aspects of my game, and work out to get stronger and more flexible.

[tatertot]

I've played Bridgestone Tour B RX balls for quite a while ... late this year, my course forgot how to blow leaves, so we were losing a couple balls a round. I bought a box of TruFeels to save a couple bucks since the season was ending. Ended up really liking them. May stick with them next season.