Does The Ball Really Make A Difference!

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By thesby t

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  • 30 Replies
  1. Team Titleist Staff

    Hi Thesby,

    There are certainly a lot of different elements that go into your golf game. Putting in the work and time to build a better game is definitely a big part. However, when it comes to the golf ball I don't think you can understate its importance. 

    When you think about it, the golf ball is the only piece of equipment that you use on every single shot.

    And I always remind my friends how important it is get fit and then to play the same model ball on every shot, on every hole and during every round. Doing this puts you on the path to a more consistent game and ultimately lower scores.

    Cheers,

    Mike

  2. thesby t

    thesby t
    chicago, IL

    ok, but i still think it's the swing that's a major part of the game and well you putt! some balls feel soft of the clubhead and some are hard! i've used some soft golf balls and they went long off the tee. also, old balata balls i have played with went far too! the only difference in the tour ball is the price compared to the average one. now range balls don't go far because they have been hit so many times! i'll look into getting fit but i rather get fit for clubs rather than a golf ball.

  3. thesby t

    thesby t
    chicago, IL

    the ball depends of a golfer's taste and preference! some golfers like soft core ones while other like the tour pro hard core type.

  4. Paul P

    Paul P
    Rochester, NY

    Mike, I went to a fitting  and I have played the ProV1 since.  I have a playing partner that would play what ever he found on the course till I convinced him to go with me to a fitting.  Now he plays the ProV1X and couldn't be happier. 

  5. Speedy

    Speedy
    East Coast, NH

    Hey Thesby,

    IMO, yes the ball does make a difference.   I've been playing golf for the last 25+ years and I've played with my different brands.  Every year I'm trying new golf balls to see if I can  find "the one" to keep using year after year...  Well that didn't happen until a few years ago when I finally decided to spend some money and get a dozen of ProV1s..   My first reaction "WOW"..   Since then it's been my go to ball...  I'll admit, from time to time I'll try out other golf balls but I'm always going back to the ProV1s....  

    Why?  Feel..   There is NO BETTER FEEL than the ProV1s especially around and on the greens...    

    Also, I don't get to play much these days but when I do get that chance I'm teeing it up with the best...

    It's worth noting I haven't been fitted yet for golf balls but it is on my radar....  Hopefully soon...

    Wish you all the best and play well!  Fairways and greens...

     

      

  6. Don O

    Don O
    Madison, WI

    No question that a ball alone will not change your game. However, there are differences and if you are playing enough to work on your game, you can play one ball consistently and see a difference quickly with a different kind of ball. My own experience is the Pro-V1x and NXT Tour provide my best tee to green setup. The Pro-V1x is a softer feel around the greens, but probably no scoring difference. NXT Tour-S,Hex, and Gamer will not give me the same distance, and a club here and there will cost me a couple of strokes a round. And I only know this searching for a yellow option on days I can't follow white balls against a hazy sky. These are my results - yours will vary. If you've invested a grand in clubs and a couple of grand in fees for range, courses, and lessons, then playing a consistent ball will make a difference.
  7. thesby t

    thesby t
    chicago, IL

    i see the wanamaker trophy! you must be a club or teaching pro! in this case i'll take your advice but you must have a good swing to hit the ball solidly!

  8. Don O

    Don O
    Madison, WI

    LOL - ...in my dreams, but the PGA had the trophy on display for the volunteers to get close to as part of the prep for the Championship week. I did have my TT shirt on for the picture. Starting at 59, I've worked on swing and being LH and of slower swing, settled on Titleist equipment since there aren't full lines available from retail oriented OEMs, let alone for fittings. The last piece to add to the tool box was the ball. Another advantage of Titleist is the lines only get updated. DT, NXT and ProV are names that have been around for years. Unlike others that go in different directions from year to year. I don't have to read reviews and shop to find out what my next alternative for last year's ball will be.
  9. thesby t

    thesby t
    chicago, IL

    oh, but i will always play Titleist because the others don't suit me. It's worth the money if you can keep it out of the rough! you do look like a teaching pro!

  10. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military

    I was fitted for my current Prov1s when a representative from Titleist visited our course a number of years ago.  Am leaving in the morning for the Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs in Nova Scotia which are a links style courses along the eastern coast of Canada. When I spoke with my local Titleist rep and he recommended that I play a Prov1x in those types of conditions which will be windy and a bit different from the normal bermuda courses I am accustomed to playing along the coast of South Carolina.  My question to him was should I change to the NXT tour and he said "no", "stay with the Prov1 just go to the Prov1x for this trip".   I trust the folks at Titleist and the number one ball in golf.  Thanks, Bobby.....

  11. Frank P

    Frank P
    Port St. Lucie, FL

    Military
    I played the DT ball for years until I went to a Titleist ball fitting a couple of years ago. It made a believer out of me. It's been Pro V1 ever since. I certainly don't hit every shot in the center of the clubface and will hit some tee shots in the rough (or a fairway bunker for that matter). That's called golf and don't believe it's a criteria for ball or club fitting. Nor is waiting to develop the "perfect" swing. Speaking for myself, I don't have enough time left on earth for that. LOL. Enjoy the game!
  12. thesby t

    thesby t
    chicago, IL

    a perfect swing takes times meaning days, months and years to get! it's only all about getting a repeated swing that will take you from the practice tee to the golf course! then, from time to time even at home you can work on that perfect swing! i do like the dt because of the price but it does not have the feel of the pro-v1. it's going to be how good your swing is that's going to make the ball go far and straight! keep on hit them solid!

  13. Sam E

    Sam E
    San Diego, CA

    I used to have that same saying, and i practiced and practiced and results got better and stuck with my dollar golf balls. I also thought only really good players would benefit from a premium ball.

    Then one day at the beginning of the year I found a mint Pro V1 on the fairway and played the last 6 holes with it. Every shot I hit was noticeably better. My drives would go longer and straighten out. All my long and mid iron shots seemed to go a bit higher and drop on the green and stick instead of the usual rolling to the back of the green.

    That did it for me, I took my stock of 6 dozen or so new balls I had stashed to the range and hit them, then bought Pro V1s

    I'm currently playing Pro V1x, won't play anything else.

  14. thesby t

    thesby t
    chicago, IL

    so do i! i play Pro V1's too but use them for putting and on less rough golf courses! the Pro V1's i purchase are refurbished but i do have some new one's!

  15. Titleist Fan 3482

    Titleist Fan 3482
    Riverside,

    the ball really helps once you have put in alot of work

  16. thesby t

    thesby t
    chicago, IL

    ok!

  17. No'l

    No'l
    Palmdale, CA

    thesby, glad to hear you are working hard at the game- there's nothing more fascinating. I'm curious if you have done some testing, but my guess is you probably already have in some way or form. After all the hard work and time anyone had put in their swing, and so now the swing is now sound and good and it works well with different shots or at least a stock shot. At this point would be a good time to test and get fitted for a club. After the fitted clubs arrives and that everything is gelling together, this would now be a good time to test and compare different balls. I've gone through those process to some degree on my own and with some help from my swing coach as well as some good ol'guys at various pro shops. Result: there are differences- not just for distance, but also the overall spin rate for example, which makes a difference when you are trying to work the ball. Outcome: I'm a firm believer that Titleist Pro V1 outshines all the other balls I have tried just in feel alone....and so therefore the ball matters. I'll stay with Pro V1 and Pro V1x.
  18. Allen L

    Allen L
    Clarington, OH

    Thesby, here's another way to look at the ball choice importance.  When you have worked hard on your swing, when you are happy with your Fairways Hit, Greens In Regulation, and so on.  Don't you want repeatability?  As noted, the ball is the one thing used in every shot, makes sense to find the one ball that supports your swing and overall game performance.  Everything begins and ends with the ball.  Just a thought.

  19. tdogg21

    tdogg21
    Chambersburg, PA

    If you want to claim that your swing and practice is more important than choosing, between a Pro V1 or a Pro V1x, I'm ok with that.  But to claim the ball doesn't matter at all just doesn't make sense.  Go to the pro shop and buy a sleeve of the cheapest ball you can find and the most expensive ball you can find.  Play a few holes with both balls.  I guarantee you will see a difference on just about every shot!

  20. Dino J

    Dino J
    Burnaby, BC

    Hi Thesby,

    I have to agree with the others ... the ball does make a big difference.

    I usually play the Pro V1 or Pro V1x and decided that with the cooler weather coming up that I would try the NXT Tour to see what it was like and weather it would be a suitable alternative for the winter months.

    Several players that I know from one of my usual golf courses swear by the NXT Tour/Tour S for the winter months. Well after a 15 holes ... I have come to the conclusion that the NXT balls do not fit me or my game at all.

    I found it to be completely different for me than the PRO V1/V1x lineup. I could not adjust to the "hard feel" of the ball and just did not like it at all. I going to give my box of NXT Tours to some of my friends and I think I will have to stick to my PRO V1/V1x for the winter months.

    So for what it is worth ...imho ... the balls do make a big difference! - all the best Thesby, D.
  21. CoolBreeze

    CoolBreeze
    Sudbury, MA

    A golf ball makes a difference, but the #1 Ball in Golf IS THE DIFFERENCE! Pro V1 and Pro V1x is the ball to take you to the next level!
  22. Joe P

    Joe P
    Coventry, West Midlands

    Absolutely agree, I think lots of people would benefit including myself if we played the same ball consistently all year round,the ball makes a noticeable difference in a round of golf including  durability and feel being a big part of performance 

  23. Jason B

    Jason B
    Waterford, WI

    I would strongly agree the ball one plays does make a difference.  I've had my best and most consistent rounds while using a ProV1x.   For grins I tried a some NXT tours and while the overall feel was good I saw a difference  around the greens.  The NXT tour would roll out more than the ProV1x did.  As others have stated, stick with the same ball for the best results.

  24. Joshua G

    Joshua G
    Southern Pines, NC

    Hi Thesby,

    Playing with the right equipment well benefit your game the most. With that i mean by getting fit for your golf balls, and golf equipment. The golf ball you play will have a big effect on your scores, cause the closer you hit the ball to the hole the more putts you can make. I personally play the Pro v1 which benefits my short game the most. I would try out all of the balls titleist has to offer and see which one you like the best. But the ball you play does have a big effect on your game. Happy Golfing.

    Joshua Greene, PGA

  25. thesby t

    thesby t
    chicago, IL

    ok, whatever you say! i guess back then when they were using featheries they didn't care how the ball and scores were!

  26. Jonathan K

    Jonathan K
    Advance, NC

    I would suggest experimenting with a Velocity and a ProV1 while practicing your short game. The differences will make you a believer. The Titleist Velocity is an excellent ball but made to benefit high handicap players. If you play a  nice course with firm, fast greens your score will drop with a higher spin ball like the ProV1 or ProV1x. What's more critical is sticking with the same ball all of the time otherwise you're simply guessing as to how the ball is going to react to your shots.

  27. PRO V

    PRO V
    golf course

    The most important thing to me about golf is the golf ball, The ProV ball in particular.  But beyond all the amazing specs, ultimately it's the feeling, the emotion it elicits from the person using it.  There are not enough PROV's in the world as far as I'm concerned.  I can never have enough stocked.  The look, feel, texture when you look at a PROV through the window of it's well designed box, how the edges of the cardboard so carefully designed snap open, then the ball gently rolls out into your hand.  The feel of it's weight and gloss of it's skin.  The look of it when you set it down on a tee and the crisp, one of a kind feel when you hit it and putt with it, is like no other.  A Titleist golf ball has never been and never will be duplicated.  Although many have tried and are still trying. Imitation is the highest form of flattery.  But the more people, other companies, that try and duplicate a Titleist golf ball, the more it proves how great it really is.  There is a reason Titleist is the "#1 ball in golf!"  It is the most important part of your game.  Good luck!

  28. Steve L

    Steve L
    Framingham, MA

    I've been playing Titleist golf balls for 35 years and have become accustom to their  feel and performance.  as they have changed, so have I.   I remember an experiment I did several years ago on a chipping green.   I had my usual pro v and also some pro v x to compare , plus several other manufacturers balls.   I was hitting chips and pitches with each ball from the same spot.  the results were actually surprising.   My instincts of how hard to hit the ball, and how much roll would occur were spot on with my prefered Pro V1, but  noticably different with the other balls including the pro v1x.   I could probably adjust and relearn how to play with another ball but I've become instinctively aware of the characteristics of one ball.  I had similar results when I moved to hit 20-40 yard pitch shots.  The majority of my Pro v1's finished within a small circle  from the hole whereas  the others were scattered and not as consistent.  I've seemingly adapted my swing and mental approach to fit the characteristics of the ball.  Regardless of which ball you play, I believe you need to know the ball you play.  There is so much talk about visualizing your shot  ( I'm a huge advocate ), but how can you implement this if your   ball does not react the way you think it will.  

  29. jim d

    jim d
    indianapolis, IN

    After reading these comments I think someone really has the need to be right. There is no question that practice makes perfect, but the ball makes all the difference. If the ball was not an issue why are some of the older pros always wanting to dial back golf ball technology? Thank goodness we no longer have to play rock hard top flights and balata balls that cut if you sneeze on them. Keep swinging and keep practicing.
  30. jim d

    jim d
    indianapolis, IN

    I agree with the perfect swing concept, I certainly have that swing once or twice per round. I think the ball makes a huge difference when you are attacking the green. You can have a great swing, but if the ball doesn't check up on the green you will either have a long put or scrambling with the 60 degree for par. Nice soft greens are not an issue with most balls, but hard greens call for drop and stop.

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