Choosing the right ball is crucial to improving your golf handicap. A ball affects your game almost as much as your clubs do, so it’s important to choose a ball that suits you. Below is a six step process for choosing the right golf ball, a process I often repeat in my golf lessons and golf tips. It’s a relatively new selection approach. But first, let’s review the usual historical approach to selecting a golf ball.
standard selection procedure
With this approach, you choose a golf ball that goes forward off the tee. That is, you hit balls off the tee and observed their performance characteristics. You’ve based your decisions primarily on control and distance, depending on preference.
This approach was appropriate when ball manufacturing technology was simpler. Here were your options.
1. If you want ultimate control, you’ve chosen a balata covered three piece suit. It offered high spin rates, a soft feel, and good maneuverability, but lacked durability. I used to recommend this ball in my golf lessons and golf tips for low handicap golfers who are skilled at hitting.
2. If you want ultimate distance, you’ve chosen a two-piece, Surlyn-covered ball. This ball would travel far and last a long time. Unfortunately, the lack of spin greatly reduced control, especially around the greens. I used to recommend this ball to high handicap golfers who needed more distance than control.
3. If you want something in between, choose a three-piece ball with a Surlyn cover. With this ball, you’ve sacrificed a little control for more distance and durability. This ball worked relatively well.
This method worked well for a long time. But it’s less appropriate for evaluating today’s golf balls, which incorporate the latest advances in technology.
breakthroughs in technology
Ball manufacturing technology saw several breakthroughs in the 1990s and beyond, making it difficult to choose. Layered balls like the Top-Flite Strata, which offer less spin for more distance and a softer surface for better control around the greens, arrived in 1996, followed by Titleist’s Pro V1 – a fixed core distance ball – in 2000. Nike’s One and Titleist’s Next also made their debuts in the last 10 years.
While these balls all represented technological breakthroughs, they challenged the selection of standard approach balls. Basically, you’re still picking a ball forward from the tee based on distance and control.
A new approach to selection
Today there is a different approach to choosing a ball. This approach is based on walking backwards from the green. It turns out to be more appropriate for today’s game. Below is a six-step methodology for choosing a ball based on this new approach.
Step 1: Define your needs.
First you must (1) assess your game, (2) define your needs, and (3) decide what you want and don’t want from a ball. Defining your needs is crucial to choosing the right ball. Remember that not everyone with the same ball hitting ability, golf handicap and/or swing speed plays the same ball. Ask yourself questions like “Do I need more distance?”, “Do I need more control with my irons?”
Step 2: Select Test Balls
Select multiple balls to test. Base your decision on your defined needs. Try selecting balls from each category – multi-layer, two-piece, and super soft, low compression – to see how they stack up. Keep in mind that not all models of the same ball type react exactly the same.
Step 3: Test from the edge
Bring the test balls to the edge of the green. Hit some chip shots and pitch shots and watch the results. See which balls hit the green and “check” and which hit the green and release. Then hit some putts and sand shots. watch performances. In general, the layered balls feel softer, fly a little lower, and stop or check more on the green than their two-piece counterparts. Super soft balls will roll the furthest with the least spin after hitting the ground.
Step 4: Test from 100 yards
Grab the balls and move up the fairway to the 100 yard marker. Test each ball from this point and observe each ball’s control and release characteristics after it hits the green.
Step 5: Test balls from 150 yards
Now bring your balls to the 150 yard mark and hit from there. Watch the results. Use the same criteria to score each ball.
Step 6: Test balls off the tee
Head to the tee and hit the balls with your driver. Look for drives that reach their apex or highest point quickly and then align themselves and bring themselves far down. What you don’t want to see are engines that start low and then shoot up like a jet plane taking off. Such shots indicate that the driver has added too much spin to the ball, resulting in shorter drives that cause more hooks or slices.
Well, of course, you can’t necessarily go to the course to do all these tests. Your local range or practice area will work just fine. Once you have completed these steps, you can choose. Base your decision on the most sensible combination of performance qualities – that is, sensible for you. For example, golfers who base their iron game on shots that hit and bite close to spot will likely prefer a layered ball, even if it means sacrificing some trajectory and distance.
Remember that a golf ball affects your game almost as much as your clubs do. If the ball you chose doesn’t feel right after selecting it, try another one. Give each ball a fair lane.
Choosing the right ball for you, as I say in my golf lessons and golf tips, takes some work, but it’s well worth the effort. The right ball is crucial to improving your game and lowering your golf handicap. It also helps build self-confidence. Choose wise.
Thanks to Jack Moorehouse | #choose #golf #ball
