The Golf Thread

[volinbham]

Speaking of balls - what's everyone's opinion on buying used? I bought 4 doz ProV1s from a guy on ebay and they were about a buck a piece. He lived in Hilton Head and overall the quality was very good to like new. Many had logos.

Found a site "LostGolfBalls.com" that claims they do no refinishing. AAAAA (like new) are about 10 bucks a doz cheaper than new.

Thoughts?

 

[golfballs]

I played with Srixon Z Star x on Sunday. Still like B330 better. B330 still a bit longer, spin about equal, feel really about the same as well. I shot a 78 which is 5 below my handicap, maybe I should stay with them.
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whatever works! good round

 

[golfballs]

Speaking of balls - what's everyone's opinion on buying used? I bought 4 doz ProV1s from a guy on ebay and they were about a buck a piece. He lived in Hilton Head and overall the quality was very good to like new. Many had logos.

Found a site "LostGolfBalls.com" that claims they do no refinishing. AAAAA (like new) are about 10 bucks a doz cheaper than new.

Thoughts?

i personally wouldn't pay for used balls. if i find used provs or something decent, i will put them in my shag bag for practicing my short game.

but try them out. some might be duds, but if you go out just to knock it around for fun it might be worth it

 

[bamacheats]

whatever works! good round

That was at my home course so I usually score well there and I could get my hcap in single digits pretty fast if that's all I played but I'm not a fan of the country club handicap.
A buddy only plays at his club and tells me he's got his hc at 7. Wow! Just a few years earlier he was shooting in the 90s. Played with him on a new course and he shot a 96. When I get paired with someone playing hcaps I make sure to find out where they are recording the rounds.
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[volinbham]

i personally wouldn't pay for used balls. if i find used provs or something decent, i will put them in my shag bag for practicing my short game.

but try them out. some might be duds, but if you go out just to knock it around for fun it might be worth it

I'm somewhere between knock it around for fun and serious.

I shoot in the mid 90s typically but don't have any real short game skills to the point where I work on controlling spin, etc. I drive relatively straight (but not long) and putt well. The rest is more inconsistent.

 

[cotton]

feel is one thing. he's talking about performance off of the club face.

I can tell a difference in performance between some balls in the premium category.

you are way overestimating the golf ball in this equation. shafts however, have as much impact as you think the golf ball has.

I'm not way overestimating anything. I said there is a difference, and I think there is. Shafts do make a big difference, but I like my shafts. They are also much more difficult to change than balls.

 

[NYYVol]

Speaking of balls - what's everyone's opinion on buying used? I bought 4 doz ProV1s from a guy on ebay and they were about a buck a piece. He lived in Hilton Head and overall the quality was very good to like new. Many had logos.

Found a site "LostGolfBalls.com" that claims they do no refinishing. AAAAA (like new) are about 10 bucks a doz cheaper than new.

Thoughts?

Not bad if you just want to go out and play occasionally. Personally, I can't hit a ball with a logo on it.
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[golfballs]

I can tell a difference in performance between some balls in the premium category.



I'm not way overestimating anything. I said there is a difference, and I think there is. Shafts do make a big difference, but I like my shafts. They are also much more difficult to change than balls.

perceived difference.

shafts make 1000 times more difference than the ball.

 

[BigPapaVol]

it's in your head.

shafts make 1000 times more difference than the ball.

but the two aren't mutually exclusive. Once one has appropriately fitted shafts, there are other things to consider.

For my money, I simply want a ball that will consistently do whatever it does. Higher spinning balls are more likely to behave consistently around the greens. Most behave consistently around the course.

IMO, the surlyn ball should be gone. Most of the new urethane balls are reasonably cut proof and are plenty long. Most of the surlyn balls are simply about marketing and price point. The difference to produce the balls simply isn't very big any more since we aren't waiting on the balata completion process.

Almost all balls are now low compression, multi covered balls. They are all dramatically better than the balls from 15 years ago. If you really believe the shaft vs. ball importance you profess here, then you start playing old school gutta percha (or whatever it was), or even go back to the liquid core Maxfli Balatas while I play any of the new balls. I don't think you'll like the result.

 

[golfballs]

but the two aren't mutually exclusive. Once one has appropriately fitted shafts, there are other things to consider.

For my money, I simply want a ball that will consistently do whatever it does. Higher spinning balls are more likely to behave consistently around the greens. Most behave consistently around the course.

IMO, the surlyn ball should be gone. Most of the new urethane balls are reasonably cut proof and are plenty long. Most of the surlyn balls are simply about marketing and price point. The difference to produce the balls simply isn't very big any more since we aren't waiting on the balata completion process.

Almost all balls are now low compression, multi covered balls. They are all dramatically better than the balls from 15 years ago. If you really believe the shaft vs. ball importance you profess here, then you start playing old school gutta percha (or whatever it was), or even go back to the liquid core Maxfli Balatas while I play any of the new balls. I don't think you'll like the result.

the conversation was about average golfers. for them, the effect of the ball is overrated.

 

[BigPapaVol]

the conversation was about average golfers. for them, the effect of the ball is overrated.

I understand the conversation, but consistency of ball reaction is not overrated. Everyone needs to find the ball that helps them do over and over what they're trying to do. If someone bumps and runs everything because that's their game, then the ball that best accomplishes that is the one they should play. If you take your argument and stick it to the average golfer, then nothing matters. What difference does a consistent shaft make to a guy that can't make a consistent pass? We can make the same argument for every aspect of the game.

 

[golfballs]

I understand the conversation, but consistency of ball reaction is not overrated. Everyone needs to find the ball that helps them do over and over what they're trying to do. If someone bumps and runs everything because that's their game, then the ball that best accomplishes that is the one they should play. If you take your argument and stick it to the average golfer, then nothing matters. What difference does a consistent shaft make to a guy that can't make a consistent pass? We can make the same argument for every aspect of the game.

no, because the effect of the golf ball is minimal compared to the effect of the shaft.

golf is part mental, so i guess if playing a certain ball improves your confidence then it should help.

 

[bamacheats]

I get the shaft vs. ball argument but speaking of average golfers, they will not get fitted in most instances and just buy whatever is on the rack. Changing the ball is the easiest and cheapest fix for most.
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[BigPapaVol]

no, because the effect of the golf ball is minimal compared to the effect of the shaft.

golf is part mental, so i guess if playing a certain ball improves your confidence then it should help.

Properly fitted shafts are of extreme importance, but you're acting as if the alternative is absolutely ill fitting shafts that are as unpredictable as possible. I'd bet that most "average" golfers fit well within the bounds of what most manufacturers call their spec shafts. Might differ a little on the wood shafts, but on the irons, I'd bet few need much change.

 

[golfballs]

I get the shaft vs. ball argument but speaking of average golfers, they will not get fitted in most instances and just buy whatever is on the rack. Changing the ball is the easiest and cheapest fix for most.
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the ball won't fix anything.

 

[BigPapaVol]

the ball won't fix anything.

nor will the shaft.

 

[bamacheats]

the ball won't fix anything.

Yes the ball will.
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[golfballs]

Properly fitted shafts are of extreme importance, but you're acting as if the alternative is absolutely ill fitting shafts that are as unpredictable as possible. I'd bet that most "average" golfers fit well within the bounds of what most manufacturers call their spec shafts. Might differ a little on the wood shafts, but on the irons, I'd bet few need much change.

I'd say it's fairly close for most people. I'm not saying that Cotton needs to go get new shafts. I'm just saying the performance characteristics of most balls are overstated, especially for the average golfer.

 

[BigPapaVol]

I'd say it's fairly close for most people. I'm not saying that Cotton needs to go get new shafts. I'm just saying the performance characteristics of most balls are overstated, especially for the average golfer.

might be so, but since one has to choose, why not find the one most beneficial to one's game?

The "average" golfer, whatever that might be, needs short game work. Almost every single one of them needs to spend dramatically more time working 100 yards and in and less time hitting drivers. Shafts matter a little to the short game, but not very much at all. The ball matters to the short game.

 

[golfballs]

nor will the shaft.

In some cases it will. I've got a friend who just started golf and is tall and has a high swing speed. The clubs he bought off the shelf were your standard set, and he hits big fades. The shafts are too weak. If he were to continue to use those clubs, he would develop swing flaws in order to overcompensate for the flight of his ball.

 

[NYYVol]

This ball/shaft argument made me look to see if I had clicked on the pub rather than the golf thread.

Carry on.
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[BigPapaVol]

In some cases it will. I've got a friend who just started golf and is tall and has a high swing speed. The clubs he bought off the shelf were your standard set, and he hits big fades. The shafts are too weak. If he were to continue to use those clubs, he would develop swing flaws in order to overcompensate for the flight of his ball.

not sure the big fade is about the weak shaft.

 

[golfballs]

not sure the big fade is about the weak shaft.

how do you know

 

[NYYVol]

how do you know

Can't speak for bpv, but a big fade is imparting spin.

That can't be put directly on a shaft issue only.
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[golfballs]

Can't speak for bpv, but a big fade is imparting spin.

That can't be put directly on a shaft issue only.
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2 things - swing path, and/or position of the face at impact.

with high swing speed, shafts with too high a degree of torque won't allow the clubface to square at impact. it is open and causes a fade.

most regular flex shafts have a higher degree of torque than stiffer shafts.