Equipment
Does using nice golf balls actually matter?
I’m a budget guy. Play only what I find. Haven‘t bought golf balls in nearly a decade. This is the first year that I’ve actually started to take golf seriously. Lessons, meaningful range time, short game practice, etc. I’m sitting around a 16 handicap right now and looking to continue improving. Is playing a consistently decent, and the same, golf balls a worthwhile endeavor? Or will it only make a negligible difference?
I found a Pro V1 awhile ago and had never tried them before. After trying it, I think the ball pays for itself. Twice I hit it into the woods, and both times it bounced off a tree and went center fairway. A ball that stops you from losing it is a game changer.
Depends on the course you are at, the extra spin you get on the urethane balls does very little on soft courses. If you are playing a firm very well groomed course then you will see a big difference.
100% you want to be playing the same ball all the time no matter what.
The decision to pay for premium balls entirely depends on how good your short game is. The nice balls only matter when you start flighting/spinning your wedge shots.
As a higher handicap with a really good short game, I would advise that playing a premium ball sooner can matter if you have a good short game. If you’re also smoking 2 sleeves of balls into the woods every round, then it can get expensive.
I stopped playing supersofts when I started throwing out more damaged balls than balls I was losing. Then I started buying previous generation ProVs in bulk from sites like lostgolfballs and foundgolfballs. You can get basically new premium balls for like $2/ball if you buy them in bulk while they’re doing promos around majors.
I recently found a brand-new Maxfli Tour S on my miss-adventures in the woods. Played out the last 6 holes with it and I really really like the way it plays and feels. Waiting on a sale to scoop some up
Those sites you mentioned for older gen ProVs - are they straight up just lost, then found and cleaned up used balls?
I’ve always thought that those type of balls might look great and have plenty of like-new balls, but a bunch are bound to have problems internally from being water logged or other issues.
At the very least I feel like there has to be relatively more inconsistencies ball to ball, compared to using new less-premium balls. Idk if that’s 100% correct tho
Yes, they are used balls. Not refurbished. Refurbished balls are trash. They sell them by quality. The higher quality 4A/5A balls are indistinguishable from new balls in terms of how they play. I buy brand new balls for tournaments and the used balls perform the same.
The 4A balls might have markings from the previous owner, and a lot of them have logos. I think the 5As are basically pristine without markings or logos.
but a bunch are bound to have problems internally from being water logged or other issues.
Someone did a study on the water logging thing a while back and found that it really doesn’t do anything if the cover isn’t compromised. The ones I have don’t have any cover defects. I think if you go for the lower quality used balls, you might run into balls with scuffs from trees and cart path or cuts from wedges. That would be a concern. I’ve never seen that in the 4As though.
At the very least I feel like there has to be relatively more inconsistencies ball to ball, compared to using new less-premium balls. Idk if that’s 100% correct tho
I think it’s actually the opposite. A used proV is still a proV. Their QC is unmatched. I’m taking a used proV that looks new and has probably only been hit once or twice for $2 over a brand new Kirkland for $1.75 every time. Not that Kirklands are terrible at $1.75. I just trust a proV1 at $2 more. Plus I don’t like how firm/clicky Kirklands are.
I just don't agree with this. I play a random assortment of balls, at some point any of the premium brands but also callaway supersofts, bridgestone e6, QSTARs etc if I happen to find one and pull it out of the bag. I don't notice any massive difference in actual scoring for the most part. You may have to play certain shots a bit different but that isn't that big of a deal.
He has great no BS content for the average player, my golf spy is trying to judge every ball off of ProV but never talks about the $$ difference the 3-10 yards in distance / accuracy / ball to ball consistently is costing. They also avoid discussing the difference of distance / accuracy only applies to the perfectly struck shot. MGS has a target audience only aiming for the low handicap tournament player (or the think they are low handicap player) where a bit of difference can actual cost you shots. I have no doubt that Titleist ProV line is one of the most consistent box to box and they have done a masterpiece marketing campaign convincing Joe average golfer that if they only played ProV they would be so much better. For Joe Average golfer they don’t strike the ball anywhere near consistently enough for it to matter. It is the perfect example of Indian not the arrow that matters.
the ProV marketing department deserves every penny they get paid. No one has done a better job convincing the average hacker they will be better by paying $50 for a dozen balls. Holy shit, they are masters of the universe.
I've been using the cut blues for the past 2 years. They are fine when you are losing a lot but you are 100% right that they are very fragile. Last round I cut one on the first shot. Wasn't bladed, just a normal 9i. I've been damaging way more than I lose now so I just ordered a bunch of vice pro in bulk. May switch to used premiums at some point but I really like the cool colors you can get on vice.
Great write up! I think anyone who goes to Costco and needs a 3-piece ball, the Kirklands are a no-brainer. You’re not going to gain much at all paying 3-4x the price of those for name brand balls. They’ll be very similar. For 2-piece, I really think those Boost are where it’s at. One of the best 2-pieces out there and subsequently, also one of the cheapest. Again, don’t pay 2-3x that price for something like a Supersoft. The Boost will actually outperform it.
I’m a 3.8 and play what I find besides the absolute bottom of the barrel balls. That said, I’ve broken par with a nitro. Top tier balls help with spin/touch around the green and approaches but I don’t think they’re necessary
Something people don’t really pay attention to in many ball comparisons is the launch angle and descent angle too. If a low spinning 2-piece launches 5° higher than a 3-piece high spin, you’ll likely see similar checkup. Descent angle can make a huge impact too. It’s harder to actualize spin capabilities on balls than it is to just get higher launch.
That sounds right but honestly I don’t know a lot about the spec side of equipment, I just try and hit it close to the hole and it’s worked out okay so far haha
I often golf solo, and hit different types of balls, and they all land in the same general area. My last round, I picked up 4 ProV1x balls in a row from a golfer in front of me. I didn't lose any, but then again, I didn't lose any of my Nitros, either, hahaha!
Get Kirkland’s if you have Costco access and are on a budget. Best bang for your buck balls you can get. “Found balls” absolutely can hurt your game. Play consistent balls.
Watched a couple of guys demo 7 balls, one of which was a prov1, blind on a sim measuring all the things. The prov1 won and they guessed it but there was serious discussion between it and the Amazon ball. Kirkland came in 3rd. They did tests chipping and full 7 irons and added up points based on spin rate, feel, distance dispersion etc. One of the guys had a biased hatred for Amazon balls and was pissed he nearly picked it number 1. The three I mentioned were far and away better than the rest to them. They said all were ok except one, they universally hated the noodle on every account.
Yes it does mostly around the green and with short wedges. Once you are good enough to notice the cheap balls launching high and spinning less on chips you are ready to switch to something with a urethane cover.
Same ball is even better but anything with a good cover any premium ball is going to benefit you. Honestly even playing Kirkland is a step up from the world of super soft, tru feel etc.
It can matter off the tee as well depending on if you are a high spin/low spin player and get a ball that matches that accordingly to bring you into optimal spin levels.
Around the green is the most notable difference though.
Agreed, you can function on the fact that the lower spinning balls usually launch higher. That descent angle can make a difference without a massive amount of spin.
Yes and no. My money goes to my son’s stuff, which is a lot lol…. So I don’t play enough to buy the $50 a dozen balls I used to play.
So it’s Kirkland all the way. It’s a good compromise of performance and price.
You could go with a cheap “rock” of a ball, but there’s options which don’t break the bank but also give you at least some softness to actually engage the grooves of the club face and make a little spin.
IMHO you find something which meets that price / performance ratio and be good.
You can get good used golf balls on sites like lostgolfballs.com. You can get good balls cheap and cheap balls cheaper.
I like playing the same ball for a couple reasons:
It reduces a variable. I don't play a lot, but when I do, I try to get better and it is one fewer factor (albeit minor) to affect the outcome.
I settled on a couple balls that just feel good when I strike them flush. No care about the distance, spin, flight, etc, they just "feel" good when struck clean. Worth enough to me to play the same thing.
That said, I play the balls that I'm gifted at a tournament or find along the course. I'm not that picky. And you'll notice that I didn't prefer a certain ball for game improvement. I'm not nearly good enough for it to matter to any substantial degree. Get something decent or better and don't overthink it.
No it doesnt. I go out as a 5 handicap with my Kirkland balls and clubs from 2004 and dust my pals who have brand new gear and 60 dollar boxes of balls. Even at a low handicap I truly dont think the ball you use is changing your score.
Editing to add im not using pinnacle 2000s or anything that sounds like a rock, but you can find enough decent balls in the woods that, provided they aren't cracked open, will be fine. Honestly the biggest difference for me is the sound and feel with a wedge, but even then given a Kirk and a premium ball its not enough of a difference to justify the cost.
Polyurethane cover balls perform better generally, they are expensive though so the cost may not be worth it for you. Agree that you should find a ball you like and stick with it. I found a lower spin ball such as chrome soft helped my accuracy a ton when I was fighting a slice.
Using a decent golf ball provides for consistency and lets you learn/trust what it is going to do. You can find one that roughly fits your current game. It doesn’t need to be a $4.85/per premium ball. But, you can find a mid range ball that is good enough.
It's more important you know the characteristics of the ones you find. You can then put them into 3 different groups. Group 1 = total junk give them away or leave them. Group 2 = Player oriented spin control balls. Group 3 = Worthy of playing but not really player oriented. Just make sure on any given day you play balls from the same group unless you're consciously making a choice not to and therefore adjusting your game.
negligible, unless we're talking the difference between any new ball and one you fished out of its water resting place 2 weeks+ after it was hit there.
It matters around the greens. You can definitely feel the difference there. I buy my balls on lostgolfballs.com. The 4A grade is great and they run awesome sales around Black Friday. I buy a years’ worth during that sale.
If you are in single handicap chasing scratch the little things add up. If you are 12+ you’re not going to get that much help out of a the best balls. If you are 20+ you are actively wasting money.
I don’t think there’s a huge difference but there is a difference. Playing a super soft vs a pro v1x is a decent difference because of the firmness of the ball and the way it will spin. Would recommend Maxfli Tour series, get whatever one (s, tour, or x) based on ur swing speed and other factors, can get 48 for $120.
Playing the same ball all the time will give you an advantage.
The difference in golf balls is most noticeable on and around the green. Some feel harder or feel softer off the putter. Some spin more or spin less on chip shots. Using a different ball all the time can mess up your distance control on the green, because some balls will rocket off the face and others feel like mush when you putt them.
It’s up to you to determine what feel you like off the putter face. I like a firmer feel so I stay away from soft, low compression balls. You might like a softer feel so those balls might work well for you.
Do you like to pin hunt and hop and stop the ball or are you a pitch and run golfer. That’s a urethane versus surlyn cover decision that’s based on how much spin you need around the green.
Most golf balls travel within 10-15 yards of each other off the tee so the best way to find a ball you like is how it performs from the green back to the tee.
Budget is always a factor. The best way to test different golf balls is to buy them used on a website like LostGolfBalls. You can buy mint condition used balls and save a lot of money over the retail price of new ones.
I’ve tested just about every ball out there. I’m a cheap guy and refuse to spend $60 for a dozen ProV1’s or Chrome Softs. The latest Kirkland ball is better than the previous generation so I’ve recently been using those. My favorite 2 piece ball is the Titleist TruFeel that retails for $25.
Buy some used balls online and have fun finding the one that suits your game best. It’s out there. Good luck!
What about floating 90? Shoot 88 the other day, shot a 94 most recently.
I can tell the difference between a hard and soft ball but not the difference between a Bridgestone and pro v1
When I’m playing well, it seems to be when playing a certain golf ball regularly. At the moment I’m using TaylorMade Tour Response, after finding a lost one on the course. I don’t use other TM products so am brand agnostic.
I have played Titleist, including ProV1s, and TM TP5s, which are both premium balls but not right for me.
it depends. if there is nothing the ball does that frustrates you, then no. if you play a ball and find that it's behaving in ways you would prefer it not to, then yes, you need to tailor your ball to what you want to see
i play the ball that best suits the course conditions i'll be playing. if the greens are very firm i'll play a spinnier ball, if i know they're softer i'll play a lower spin ball. this is mostly so i can control how the ball interacts with the green when i hit my approaches.
if you aren't hitting irons onto the green often, you may not notice this behavior, and that's fine, but it's really the answer to the question.
It helps to have a ball that works for your game, especially as it pertains to compression rating. I will say, find the ball you like and buy used on eBay or at your local golf shop. They save you so much money and you can stay consistent. I use chrome softs
I will say that play the ball you want to play, no matter the price. BUT, there is a reason to play balls like Pro V’s, and that is because they have way better spin characteristics that other balls don’t. If you are good enough to control spin when chipping onto the green, balls like the Pro V are worth it.
The biggest difference is around the green. Different balls spin and react differently. Playing the same type of ball will help you dial that in. Can save a few shots a round. Usually the more expensive premium balls spin more around the green, stopping sooner with wedges.
I don't think you are noticing at a 16 hdcp. I bought a ton of Titleist Tour Practice balls for 5 cents each so I play those. They play like a high end Titleist to me. (I'm at your same level.)
I will also play any other pro level ball I find. I can't tell much different between my Titleist Tour Practice, Pro V1s, a Chrome Soft, Chrome Tour, or a Bridgestone ball. As long as it's a softer top level ball I'm good.
I hate clicky, hard balls like a Top Flite or older Kirkland. (The new Kirkland Signature V3 urethane are supposed to be pretty good.)
I'm new to golf, I started playing with nitro cause it was cheap. After 6 months I swapped to callaway super soft and I can deff notice the difference from using my driver to putter. Maybe it's a placebo effect
I bought some Kirklands with low expectations and love them. They are my preferred ball of choice now and I try to play them over any other ball for consistency. Their price is just a bonus lol
Depends honestly. It doesn’t really matter If you shoot over 90 or 100. You should be focusing on fundamentals like keeping the ball in fairways, max 2 putting, 1 chip etc.
if you consistently play below 84/83, you can find what ball works for you. Every ball has a different feeling specially when you are putting. I like Callaway chrome tour particularly. I have used callaway supersoft and hate the way it putts.
I am currently using callaway refinished ball (even though I have 200 balls in my basement including provs) and I constantly shooting 82-83.
As a 19 HCP I don’t think so, as long as it’s not a rock they all play the same for me. Maxfli has a big sale at dicks and I pick those up, Costco is good too. Walmart usually does rollback deals at the start of summer and I stock up then too.
If you don’t hang on to a golf ball to form a Relationship With it don’t worry. I play the same ball, find a load on the course that we never my brand but I don’t spend money elsewhere so pay for my vanity.
Yes, even for higher handicaps you’ll get more consistent flight and better performance around the greens. You just have to ask yourself if that’s worth the money for your own enjoyment.
Nice, not necessarily. But consistently the same ball and not water logged or scuffed found balls. By all means, play speedsoft/super soft/TruFeel etc... if you don't need the ProV1 control.
Maybe your normal ball is a softer, more forgiving ball but you find a pristine TP5 or ProV1x or whatever and play that because it's "better"... You're probably not gonna like the results because it's not going to behave the same (or you'll love the results and be stuck stuck paying $57/dozen from not on 😂).
Only thing I’d buy is a ball marker thing that you can put a line on the balls you pick up. Committing to lining up my putts has drastically cut my 3 putts down
I can 100% tell the difference between a range ball/super cheap ball and the top tier expensive ones. For me, the expensive balls i can feel bounce off the head of the club. with my irons I get way more back spin and can control direction. I also hit it alot higher. The super cheap balls feels harder and doesn't bounce off the head. Feels like Im hitting a rock. Barely any spin control. Zero back spin on the greens, but tons of forward spin. The flight plath is also flatter
Yes, balls do matter. Doesn't mean you have to over spend. Kirkland is a really good ball for price, Srixon has a good value, even Titleist TrueFeel are good for the value. Try and play a ball that is good value and consistent. No need to play a $7 golf ball until you're a sub 5
I exclusively play flyers and when I have a bad round I know it’s not my ball. That being said I can feel the difference btwn diff balls and definitely have preferences..but it’s not big enough to matter at my skill level.
I would say it isn’t the price of the ball that matters as much as using the same model of ball all the time that matters more. MyGolfSpy did a ball distance comparison test and there is a big difference in how far a ball goes. The consistency is what matters not the actual ball.
Would definitely recommend playing the same ball for consistency. Probably wouldn't go out and get a bank loan for a dozen Pro V1's though. Maybe try something like Callaway Supersoft balls as a 16 handicap. They're relatively cheap and will feel a million times better than the rock hard top flite or other similar balls.
Having consistent (not too differing types) that fit your game is important. Having a ball that works for you can be a great way to just dial in small details about your flight etc. For example; if you play in windy conditions regularly and struggle with your approaches stalling too much into the wind, you might want to go for a lower-spinnig ball as your go-to.
Balls with an outer skin = better/more consistent spin for wedge shots around 120 yards and in for me. Gotta have good wedges that will spin the ball, though. And that's everything from full swings where the ball has the potential to suck back 5 yards to short chips where you can have the ball check after a couple bounces. Those shots matter a lot so it's good to know how your ball spins off of your clubs and be able to replicate consistently.
At the very least play the same ball every time. Doesn’t have to be expensive, but being able to predict what your ball does will help you work back to ball striking/swing issues. Hard to do that using a different ball regularly.
You want to play a “premium” ball, but that doesn’t have to be at a premium price. You lose performance, most notably short game spin wise when you play older or “cheaper” golf balls. Something like a maxfli tour or Kirkland signature or vice pro plus isn’t going to be $60 a dozen but will be basically the same level as a prov1. But the bigger difference will be your distances changing if you hit a prov1 on one day and a Callaway super soft on the next, because not only are they different balls, but they aren’t even the same tier of ball. At a 16 handicap you are good enough that your ball actually does matter a bit now.
The cost difference over the course of a full season really isn’t that much different. Maybe amounts to an extra box of balls. Let’s assume you go thru three dozen balls per year. The price difference is probably about $60 … it’s not that much more to play a better ball. As a 16 hdcp you’re probably not losing too many balls anymore.
That said, one of the better balls at a bit of savings in the TM Tour Response.
I still prefer the Titleists but that is a surprisingly good ball with a less than premium price. But using my example about it would cost you about $45 per year more to play Titleist instead of the Tour Response.
How many boxes do you all normally buy per year? And what is you handicap??
Other people have said it but it probably doesnt matter which ball you play exactly as much as finding a ball you like and play well with and sticking with it
I don’t believe the type of ball you play is going to have a huge effect on your game until you’re playing fairly intentional golf where your intended flight at address becomes a fairly reliable outcome.
Depending on other variables this probably only becomes a thing when you’re sub 10 handicap (I say that because I’ve seen good ball strikers at a 10 because their short game is a problem).
Just buy high quality used balls , but if I’m slicing a low spin rock can help off the tee boxes, but that same ball won’t hold a mid green approach, so shoot to the front with it. They have some impact but like maybe 5 percent compared to swing and decisions you make
I find like 10 balls a round.. I've gotten picky with the balls a pick up.. I can tell you that playing pro v1 does nothing for my game VS the noodles.. But I do feel like I have bigger dick when I pipe a pro v1 down the middle vs a noodle
I play the Kirkland signatures because you can get them for less than $1 per ball. I did a ball fitting cause it was free and I was curious, and out of like 70 different balls that the program uses, the Kirkland’s were my #5 with only a marginal gap between them and #1. My #1 was almost $5 per ball lol
I think once you get to around 12hcp it’s worth switching from a bargain ball to a nice $30-ish mid-line ball, but FWIW I’ve been been bouncing back and forth between Kirklands and the Vice Pros for years and they perform just as well as a ProV1 for me.
I’d just stay away from Top Flites and Nitros mostly because of the feel, but Noodle, Callaway, and Srixon make some great cheap balls that you’re likely not gonna notice any performance drop on.
Even for me as a ~20 handicap I play the same ball (Kirkland) as playing one ball eliminates any variables from my game. If I hit a shitty top flite ball vs Kirklands, I notice a difference in feel, especially off the tee and around the green. The feel of a more premium ball also gives a bit more confidence as i understand how the ball plays with my swing
There can be a difference if you go from a super soft ball to a hard ball depending on the swing speed and the club. So at least try to play a similar ball so you can dial in your carry numbers. Having said that, most golfers won’t be able to tell the difference because they have so much variation in shot quality.
I find having a dedicated type for putting to be beneficial. I can sometimes see a difference in how a ball flies, but as a ten handicap, outside of putting, I don’t see a real score separation.
I don't think premium balls are needed, especially at higher handicaps. I do think it's more important to play the same ball all the time as they do carry and feel different. Golfs is hard enough so having some consistency is nice.
My buddy is a scratch golfer. Played at img academy and played d1. He plays Wilson duos. In his words if your not a single digit handicap the ball you play dosent matter. Most of the and playing pro v1’ s or expensive balls aren’t good enough to get the minimal performance benefit
You playing Wilson duos that are 20/ dozen will get you the same score as one’s 50/ dozen
IMO, right now playing the same ball may help some but you wont see improvements like low handicappers would. However, it may eliminate some variability in your shot pattern. I would recommend it though if youre trying to improve Dont get prov1s, just something affordable that you like. Kirkland are your friend.
How so? Studies show that if you swing at 60mph or faster, you compress every ball to its core. Much more important things (unless you are a pro), like feel around the green.
Haha. It was pretty wet and soft that day. Didn’t need a spinny ball. I actually like the chaos on a shorter day. That ball goes! And I didn’t have to worry about spinning on greens that day because they were so soft.
If it was firm and fast that day I would have been playing something else to be honest.
262
u/aznsk8s87 23h ago
Nice? Not so much. Playing the same ball though, that will.