I dig dem dimples: What is your preferred golf ball?

[Art Vandelay]

What is your preferred golf ball?*

Last year I converted to Taylormade, and was all in on the Penta TP3, but lately I've been sneaking back to my old mistress- Pro V1. For whatever reason, the Penta feels too soft, and unless I hit it dead on the screws sounds almost mushy.

The reality is, I'm not a good enough golfer that it really matters, but so much of golf (especially putting) is confidence. When I'm hitting my driver well, I prefer the PV1 over the PV1x, since I don't always have enough swing speed to compress the x. However, If I'm coming across the ball, or the wind is blowing I prefer the decreased driver spin of the x. The primary reason I stick with PV1s, is how they feel with my putter.



*I wasn't sure to put this in the golf thread, the golf equipment thread, gym, sports bar, etc.

[Donuthole]

I've gone away from high-performance, pro-grade golf balls in the last two years. I find that the loss of touch and feel around the greens is more than made up for by the reduced spin off the tee (which means i'm in play more often). I buy the refurbished balls from Target--$9.99 per dozen.

[RC Vikings]

Whatever I find in the weeds.

The ones I prefer to find are the Pro VI, the Penta or Rocketballz. The Rocketballz is a little cheaper ball but it feels good and flies.

[Y84it]

Yelow Tour Srixon Q star. Easy to find and I hit it straighter than any other ball. It's all in my head I am sure.

[Surfah]

I am not good enough either. For cheap balls I like the Gamer V2 and Noodles. Like Donuthole, I pick up bags of refurbished or one hit wonder balls from this wholesale/salvage goods store. 25 balls for $15. The last bag I bought was all Nike.

[Shaka]

I've really enjoyed the Titleist Velocity. It seems to be a nice compromise of spin, feel, and distance.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Aren't you taking a big chance with refurbs? Unlike electronics where a refurbishment usually means the inside components have been checked out and left in optimal working order, I assume they can't do that with golf balls, and that a refurb simply means the ball has a nice new, shiny overcoat. The interior (whether wound or a solid core) could have been pretty badly softened up but how would one know?

P.S. I like Titleist NXT Tours, less than Pro-V1 but still a nice feel. I play so infrequently I don't mind shelling out for fresh ones.

[Art Vandelay]

P.S. I like Titleist NXT Tours, less than Pro-V1 but still a nice feel. I play so infrequently I don't mind shelling out for fresh ones.

Considering the courses you often play, I'm surprised you aren't just snagging range balls. When Tumble Creek opened a few years ago, just as the economy and housing market took a dive, it was struggling to find members. Somehow they got in contact with my buddy (an orthodontist)* and gave him a pass for 36 holes of golf. He enjoyed the golf, and said the course is fantastic, but had no intention of coughing up the 50k (now 20K) joining fee. He did like the fact they used real ProV1s on the range, with nothing more than the course logo, and RANGE in small lettering. He must have come home with at least 50 of them, in his bag.

* Same friend's last name is Almond. His office staff, had a bunch of custom balls made for him, with his nickname ALMS printed on them. Unfortunately the font they used makes it look like it says ANUS

[il Padrino Ute]

I'm a Maxfli guy. I had been playing the Revolution Solid (it's a 2-piece) for a number of years and liked it, but it's a higher trajectory ball and I tend to hit a naturally high trajectory off the tee. It took away a bit of distance, but it's also good for straighter flight. And the ionomer cover was very durable. The ball feels soft of the club, but I don't remember ever cutting the cover.

Last year, I switched to the Maxfli U/3 (3 piece) and have been happy with it thus far. The only differences are that the cover is urethane, so it feels a bit softer than the Revolution and it's a lower trajectory ball so I've been able to increase the distance of the tee. I haven't noticed a difference in straightness of flight and both balls have lots of spin on approach and around the green.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Considering the courses you often play, I'm surprised you aren't just snagging range balls. When Tumble Creek opened a few years ago, just as the economy and housing market took a dive, it was struggling to find members. Somehow they got in contact with my buddy (an orthodontist)* and gave him a pass for 36 holes of golf. He enjoyed the golf, and said the course is fantastic, but had no intention of coughing up the 50k (now 20K) joining fee. He did like the fact they used real ProV1s on the range, with nothing more than the course logo...

My dad never played golf, but I did, and during my high school years a couple of his business partners would take me to their country club (Lake Merced--VERY nice) for a round and great eats. Because the members and their caddies didn't bother with going into the bushes and gorse along the fairways to retrieve balls, I dared to go where no millionaire had ever gone before, and came home each time with a trove of Titleists in perfect condition. Sadly, on my round at Del Mar Country Club last month, karma reared its ugly head and claimed a few back.

[Drunk Tank]

I am currently playing prov1 practice balls. My current ones are from wing foot. The local course orders them and sells then 3/$5.00. They are old range balls, but I pick through them and most are unblemished.

I really like the new ProV1-x. It seems a little softer off the tee and a little more responsive around the greens.

[clackamascoug]

Talk about missing threads!

The correct ball for you is the ball that will set you up to succeed and score your best - at your best effort. A correct ball, versus a incorrect ball may make a difference of 2 or 3 shots out of 90. Sometimes the wrong ball will help you score better, but only because you made a mistake. As a 53 year old 10 handicap, distance off the tee setting up my second shot is my most important attribute. To me, there's a big difference between hitting a 8 or a 7, than hitting a 6 or a 5. With an 8 I should be putting birdie, 7 should be on the 90%, 6 should be a up and down, and a 5 is probably looking at a 50% chance for a bogey.

Now that I'm closer to the green with my marginal 240/260 drive, I'm looking for a ball that does not spin so much that it accentuates a fade or draw. I want my approach shot to go straight and roll up to the pin. I don't have the strength, or skill, to overfly the pin and suck back a below the hole birdie opp. I want to be below the hole with a bounce and a check.

Now I'm putting. Do I want to hit a rock, or have some feel? I like a little feel, and a ball that will roll out well without skipping off the blade. But... what I just described is about three different balls. Long balls are hard as a rock, and don't stop. Low spinning balls that don't fade too much and stop and check are softer than long balls. Balls that roll nice off the face are much softer than hard balls, and putting is kind of important... so what fits the bill?

For me... it's the Titleist ProV1x. But really, I'm not that picky about the ball. I could play a pink Flying Lady, and probably score as well, and have an easier time finding it. Really, any ball over $30 a dz is good enough and won't cost you any strokes, and I throw the $19.99 Top Flite Gamers into that group as well as the econo ball that plays the best.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Yelow Tour Srixon Q star. Easy to find and I hit it straighter than any other ball. It's all in my head I am sure.

The yellow on the Q star is an odd shade to me, so I play the Tour SL. It is a shinier yellow.

[Y84it]

The yellow on the Q star is an odd shade to me, so I play the Tour SL. It is a shinier yellow.

I agree witht he odd shade. However it does not bug me enough to change my straighter shots.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

I agree witht he odd shade. However it does not bug me enough to change my straighter shots.

My OCD doesn't allow my brain to function if I'm uncomfortable with something silly like color, or knowing that all the clubs in my bag aren't from the same manufacturer, my socks and shoes aren't the same brand etc. Yes, I am a crazy person.