Different Ball or Driver Shaft Recommendations

[mitrik]

Hey all, been making some ball flight observations outside this season and considering making a tweak in my bag. Wanted to hear some thoughts, here's a brief rundown:

 

Handicap hovers around 1-3ish, ~105 driver CHS, 82–85 7i CHS. Playing a Paradym TD 8° w/ Ventus Black TR 5S and Pro V1x Left Dash. Irons are Srixon ZXi7 4–PW with DG Mid 115 X100 (soft stepped).

I pretty much exclusively try to fade driver, draw irons. Driver is my best club — launches 13–15° with ~2100 spin, tight cut flight. No complaints, would like to keep it there. 

 

The issue: Left Dash feels great off the tee but tends to lack spin on certain iron shots, especially when the draw gets bigger or when it's out of dry PA rough (but this is kinda unavoidable) or when it's a touch high on the face. Tried a couple higher spin balls, one being regular Pro V1x, and iron flight was way better, but the driver started spinning to the moon on cut shots.

Feels like I’m stuck in between. Considering either:

• A different ball that spins a touch more than Left Dash on irons but won’t over-spin driver? If this exists?

• Or maybe a driver shaft change to help lower spin when using a higher-spin ball? I haven't changed my driver in a few years because it's been so good. I have gained speed in recent years since I was fitted to this though.

 

Any suggestions from those who’ve been in a similar spot?

 

[rsballer10]

Could try srixon q star xv and Bridgestone tour b x. Prov1x is high compression/long of the tee but higher spinning with irons. The two I recommended keep the higher compression, but aren't as higher spinning. Like a less extreme left dash, which is sometimes unplayable with irons/wedges unless you are really fast and produce a lot of spin.

 

Take a look at your delivery numbers. 8 degree triple diamond and left dash ball seems like a lot of spin reduction at that speed, im guessing dynamic loft is too high. 

[Old Tom Morris]

TP5x always seemed like the left dash with a little bit more spin to me .

[Jeff58]

Your are exactly describing the Tour Crome TD. It’s basically a high compression AVX. This type of ball does need to “interpret” the impact to create the appropriate flight characteristics, which some find non-optimal. Definitely try some though.

 

The current model BX is similar to the LD except everything goes a little higher…

[Stoc]

another vote for Tour chrome TD and the srixon XV

[dffjunior]

If driver is the only club you want to alter you could just tip the shaft to reduce spin.

[grochol17]

17 hours ago, mitrik said:

Hey all, been making some ball flight observations outside this season and considering making a tweak in my bag. Wanted to hear some thoughts, here's a brief rundown:

 

Handicap hovers around 1-3ish, ~105 driver CHS, 82–85 7i CHS. Playing a Paradym TD 8° w/ Ventus Black TR 5S and Pro V1x Left Dash. Irons are Srixon ZXi7 4–PW with DG Mid 115 X100 (soft stepped).

I pretty much exclusively try to fade driver, draw irons. Driver is my best club — launches 13–15° with ~2100 spin, tight cut flight. No complaints, would like to keep it there. 

 

The issue: Left Dash feels great off the tee but tends to lack spin on certain iron shots, especially when the draw gets bigger or when it's out of dry PA rough (but this is kinda unavoidable) or when it's a touch high on the face. Tried a couple higher spin balls, one being regular Pro V1x, and iron flight was way better, but the driver started spinning to the moon on cut shots.

Feels like I’m stuck in between. Considering either:

• A different ball that spins a touch more than Left Dash on irons but won’t over-spin driver? If this exists?

• Or maybe a driver shaft change to help lower spin when using a higher-spin ball? I haven't changed my driver in a few years because it's been so good. I have gained speed in recent years since I was fitted to this though.

 

Any suggestions from those who’ve been in a similar spot?

 

 

Give the Wilson Staff Model (non-X version) a try.  I'm a left dash player and I find that the Staff plays pretty similarly off the tee, but with more spin on short irons and wedges.

[ScooterMcTavish]

20 hours ago, rsballer10 said:

Take a look at your delivery numbers. 8 degree triple diamond and left dash ball seems like a lot of spin reduction at that speed, im guessing dynamic loft is too high. 

 

I also hit a cut (but at a much lower speed) and also have the occasional moon ball sneak into my round.  Also am playing a low-spin head with a low-mid spin shaft, and often the XV.

 

If I was going to guess, the issue is not the ball.  When I also look at a particular ball test on a different website, backspin for the left dash is only 100 RPM less, and max height is only 1.12' lower vs the ProV1x off driver at 97 MPH.  At 113 MPH, the spin difference is 19 (yes, 19) RPM lower, though the ProV1x does get almost 2' higher.

In short, pretty fine strokes, and not the difference between a "normal" cut and a moonball.  Which makes me think looking at the shaft is not a bad idea.

 

When I miss, it's due to not coming around quick enough, which leaves the face open, radically increases the dynamic loft (as mentioned above) and also helps the ball go very high and very right.  As I don't put a lot of move on my fade (400-500 RPM), the only thing which will make it balloon is an open face.  And I had this problem severely with any lighter weight driver shaft (50g class), where the lack of resistive weight was causing me an issue with my sequence. 

 

Playing a 67g shaft now, and have this problem very, very rarely.  I also noted that we play similar weight iron shafts, which may (or may not) translate to the weight needed in a driver.

 

Possibly it's worth taking it to a fitter and trying the Ventus Black in a 6S to see if that changes anything.  And although counterintuitive, some of us swing heavy shafts faster, as we get more resistive feedback making us more confident in our swing.

 

[rsballer10]

5 minutes ago, ScooterMcTavish said:

 

I also hit a cut (but at a much lower speed) and also have the occasional moon ball sneak into my round.  Also am playing a low-spin head with a low-mid spin shaft, and often the XV.

 

If I was going to guess, the issue is not the ball.  When I also look at a particular ball test on a different website, backspin for the left dash is only 100 RPM less, and max height is only 1.12' lower vs the ProV1x off driver at 97 MPH.  At 113 MPH, the spin difference is 19 (yes, 19) RPM lower, though the ProV1x does get almost 2' higher.

In short, pretty fine strokes, and not the difference between a "normal" cut and a moonball.  Which makes me think looking at the shaft is not a bad idea.

 

When I miss, it's due to not coming around quick enough, which leaves the face open, radically increases the dynamic loft (as mentioned above) and also helps the ball go very high and very right.  As I don't put a lot of move on my fade (400-500 RPM), the only thing which will make it balloon is an open face.  And I had this problem severely with any lighter weight driver shaft (50g class), where the lack of resistive weight was causing me an issue with my sequence. 

 

Playing a 67g shaft now, and have this problem very, very rarely.  I also noted that we play similar weight iron shafts, which may (or may not) translate to the weight needed in a driver.

 

Possibly it's worth taking it to a fitter and trying the Ventus Black in a 6S to see if that changes anything.  And although counterintuitive, some of us swing heavy shafts faster, as we get more resistive feedback making us more confident in our swing.

 

Heavier shaft worth trying for sure. Would also double check the length of the driver as well. Much harder to swing way up/out on the ball with a shorter shaft. It can still be done, but the setup would favor a more neutral delivery. 

 

Totally agree with you on the differences between golf balls with the driver. They are all basically low spinning from the tee, or they wouldn't ever be purchased or played by anyone 🙂.

 

That's why my personal preference is to higher compression balls. Since you can get higher/lower spinning balls independent of compression, I can get slightly higher ball speed from a firmer ball. Then, irons and wedges is simply a matter of finding the right flight/spin rate. The only downside is sound but I've found that after about a round most people adjust to whatever ball they are playing. 

[ScooterMcTavish]

13 minutes ago, rsballer10 said:

Heavier shaft worth trying for sure. Would also double check the length of the driver as well. Much harder to swing way up/out on the ball with a shorter shaft. It can still be done, but the setup would favor a more neutral delivery. 

 

This is an interesting consideration, as I have certainly pulled down my sidespin numbers and increased my AoA since I took my driver from stock 45.5 to 44.5.  I find the shorter shaft allows me to get more upright, and also have a more controlled low point in my swing.  YMMV, of course, and you also have to be short with gorilla arms like me.

[phizzy30]

Chrome Tour TD.  I rotate it with left dash.  CT TD is low spin like left dash with driver but spins a bit more with irons and more green side spin as well.  Launch was a touch lower.  It's pretty much the unicorn ball for this year, IMO.  

Edited July 14 by phizzy30

[mitrik]

Bought a dozen Chrome Tour TD and Bridgestone B X balls to try first. Gonna jump around the course with a GC3 here soon and will report back.

[mitrik]

After a few rounds running around the course with a GC3, I lean towards the Bridgestone B X. Nothing against the Chrome Tour TD, it was a good ball, it just didn't check as many boxes as I'd like. 

- I could keep spin pretty close to left dash numbers with driver, for both balls really. For me, I spun the TD a touch more than the Bridgestone. Bridgestone sat around 2400 on shots I liked. Callaway also tended to balloon the spin a little more on my characteristic mishits. I am a high launch player so I like to see a bit of a "knuckle ball" type of flight that doesn't really die if that makes sense. 

- The Bridgestone really won me over with the iron play and short game. To be honest, with irons, the two balls pretty much played the same. They both spun similarly.

- I am a big fan of low checking chips/pitches; I use my 60 everywhere, and the Bridgestone absolutely rips. You have an insane amount of control with it from a lot of different lies if you catch it clean. I am someone who personally likes to take more break out of chips and pitches by flying it closer, and I thought this ball let me do that way better than the left dash and the chrome tour TD.

- I liked how both golf balls felt, to be honest they both felt just like the left dash with the driver and they definitely felt "softer" with the irons and around the greens than the left dash. 

[Pepperturbo]

On 7/13/2025 at 3:18 PM, mitrik said:

Hey all, been making some ball flight observations outside this season and considering making a tweak in my bag. Wanted to hear some thoughts, here's a brief rundown:

 

Handicap hovers around 1-3ish, ~105 driver CHS, 82–85 7i CHS. Playing a Paradym TD 8° w/ Ventus Black TR 5S and Pro V1x Left Dash. Irons are Srixon ZXi7 4–PW with DG Mid 115 X100 (soft stepped).

I pretty much exclusively try to fade driver, draw irons. Driver is my best club — launches 13–15° with ~2100 spin, tight cut flight. No complaints, would like to keep it there. 

 

The issue: Left Dash feels great off the tee but tends to lack spin on certain iron shots, especially when the draw gets bigger or when it's out of dry PA rough (but this is kinda unavoidable) or when it's a touch high on the face. Tried a couple higher spin balls, one being regular Pro V1x, and iron flight was way better, but the driver started spinning to the moon on cut shots.

Feels like I’m stuck in between. Considering either:

• A different ball that spins a touch more than Left Dash on irons but won’t over-spin driver? If this exists?

• Or maybe a driver shaft change to help lower spin when using a higher-spin ball? I haven't changed my driver in a few years because it's been so good. I have gained speed in recent years since I was fitted to this though.

 

Any suggestions from those who’ve been in a similar spot?

 

Handi is 5ish; don't know SS of Rogue ST Max 9.5 with Diamana GT S, but hit it straight 250ish; 7i is 80+/-.

I played DASH -ProV1x for several years, its a good all around ball. It is longer than most other balls and did everything else within reason. To get spin out of it, I just hit it harder. Then I tripped over the NEW ProV1, immediately it was my new ball. For me, it's as long as DASH, but it performs better around fast greens, and I like its lower trajectory.

 

Years back I played ProV1x but they changed the ball to a spinner; thus off driver ball spins too much, its great off irons.  

[AllWorkNoPlay]

Not sure why you’d want to mess with a good thing. Don’t touch that driver! Just bend your irons a degree or two weak. Reduce offset (less overcooked draws for me), add spin, and bounce. Maybe cut out those high on the face shots and give more control.

[POKeefe]

Maxfli Tour X potentially worth a try too since it's extremely high compression.

[bcflyguy1]

On 7/13/2025 at 5:18 PM, mitrik said:

Considering either:

• A different ball that spins a touch more than Left Dash on irons but won’t over-spin driver? If this exists?

 

Chrome Tour Triple Diamond is worth a try.

EDIT:
See now that you've given that a twist already.

Edited July 22 by bcflyguy1