No, this isn't about what suit you should wear! From time to time, people have asked for information regarding what is the correct golf ball for them to play. This article is intended to help shed some light on the subject. While I will not mention any particular company's names or brands of golf balls, I will cover the characteristics that you should look for based on your particular circumstance.
Certainly a lot of technology has come down the road in golf's recent past. I personally think that the single biggest improvement in the golfing world has been in the evolution of the golf ball. While clubs have changed and shafts have changed, the golf ball has evolved into a real intricate piece of equipment. If you take the modern golf ball and use clubs that were played by many of our childhood heroes such as Arnold, Jack, Lee, Gary, and others, you'll still see a marked improvement in distance and performance. Remarkably, the distance and performance is very similar to the results using the so-called game improvement, longer hitting clubs.
In choosing a golf ball, you want to find a ball that offers you the playability factors that work with you instead of against you. All too often I see players come in for fittings and when asked about what ball they play I get the same answer. Of course, you can probably guess what it is. Again, marketing hype at its most effectiveness. Why do they play it? It's what the pros play.
Everybody wants distance! Some people want to back a ball up on the green. WHY? Can you control how far it backs up? NOPE! So, what's the most important aspect of a golf ball to you? Distance? Feel? Spin? Accuracy? There are so many choices, how do you know what to pick?
When I work with clients and students in golf ball selection, my first consideration is club head speed. If the speed isn't there, there is no need to be playing a firmer cover, firmer core ball that they can't compress sufficiently to get adequate and maximum ball speed off the club. Conversely, if they have a high club head speed, the last thing they need is a soft ball because it's like mush on the club face. Also, slower swing speeds need a ball that spins more in order for the ball to achieve the proper launch angle. Again, higher swing speeds don't want a 'spin' ball as it will balloon on them. Also, the more spin ball will hold its line better than a low spin ball, when hit from the rough or flyer lies. This will improve accuracy. What about us high swing speed guys, you want a tighter shot dispersion also? You guys generate spin just by the very nature of the higher club head speed. This fact also allows you to play a lower spin ball and still get good action on the greens.
Now, is there a difference in the tour balls as far as those that spin more and those that don't? Sure there is. Is there that big a difference? It would be game specific and the ability to hit that shot that hits the green and comes to a screeching halt. If you can hit that shot I feel pretty confident you can get any ball to stop quickly. One may stop a bit more quickly than the other but it's a simple matter to learn how they play.
The following are generalized recommendations and not cast in stone but a good place to start.
If your club head speed is in excess of 105mph, you definitely would benefit from the lower spin tour balls.
If your club head speed is in the 95mph to 105mph, you'll probably like the higher spin tour balls as your first choice.
The widest range of speeds is the 80mph to 95mph players. This is the category that I fall in. There are more balls made for us than any other segment of the golfing community. The lower the speed the more need there is for softer cover/softer core, higher spin ball. There are balls in this category that range from 60 to 75 on the hardness scale. (If you hear compression used to refer to golf balls you're listening to the wrong thing. Compression went out with liquid centers and windings)
If your speed is below 80mph, you'll need the softest cover/core, highest spinning ball that you can find. There are fewer of these balls made but they are out there. Performance at this point is not the premium, distance is.
So, just how in the world do you know what balls are in what category? Unfortunately, you'll have to talk to a sales person and hope that they have been trained properly (don't hold your breath). While I can't mention names in the article, I can answer emails and questions if you have them.
I hope this has given some useful insight into golf balls and how to pick what's right for you. As always, fitters are qualified to help you in this area too.
J. Lynn Griffin
Master Fitter/Builder
PPGS Certified Instructor
Comments
Golf balls are the
Golf balls are the construction of the balls in two parts which are much simpler and cheaper to design and tend to use more more durable materials which means longer and have had a better opportunity to survive impacts with rocks and wagon roads. These balls are perfect for beginners because they are optimized for distance and forgiveness so that the rate of spin down and optimal launch conditions allow you to maximize its length off the tee and give you a ball flying straight so you can more streets.
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