Playing The Same Ball Helps?

[DeepRedCee]

Hey folks,

Played with a low handicapper (he shot par) and during the round he asked me a few questions and gave me some good course management advice.
But we were discussing how far I hit each club and I confessed to only having a general idea ie 140-150 7 Iron. He told me that I need to go to the course (not a range) when its quiet and go to the 150 yard mark and hit my 7 iron 5 times then measure the total distance it had travelled, then move forward 10 yards at a time and do the same for 8 iron to LW. Then to repeat it all but only do 1 ball at a time and watch where it pitched and then measure that so I then knew how far the ball would carry the ball and what the run off would be. All of this made sense to me and I guess all good standard golfers know this, but he then said of course you'll never get the right answer if you don't play the same ball all the time, there's too much fluctuation and even a couple of yards difference could mean going in a bunker or through a green. Again it made sense but its not something I have read about before, indeed I am sure I asked a Pro a few years back about the best ball for me to play and he said whatever you find... of course he may have been right having seen my game as I play off eleven.

So what are your thoughts?
Steve

 

[softconsult]

My bet is that a survey of the general golfing public would yield the same type answer about the exact distance they hit each club. But there is a big reason why this never occured to them, and perhaps to you. That reason is simply their swings are not consisent enough to make an exact distance possible. Thus the 140 - 150 answer.

When your swing reaches a consistent level of repeatability, then absolutely you need to do the club gapping exercise. Then you need to learn how to take some yards off or put some on. A laser rangefinder is helpful in this regard. It's also helpful in determining the exact distance to the pin.

My opinion on the same ball argument would be that there isn't that much difference between balls of reasonable quality relative to distance. A couple of yards either way. However, there really can be a difference in feel around the green, and in putting. Putt a Pro V1x, then putt a Srixon Z Star. Huge difference in feel. V1x feels harder than the Z Star.

 

[spktho]

My bet is that a survey of the general golfing public would yield the same type answer about the exact distance they hit each club. But there is a big reason why this never occured to them, and perhaps to you. That reason is simply their swings are not consisent enough to make an exact distance possible. Thus the 140 - 150 answer.

When your swing reaches a consistent level of repeatability, then absolutely you need to do the club gapping exercise. Then you need to learn how to take some yards off or put some on. A laser rangefinder is helpful in this regard. It's also helpful in determining the exact distance to the pin.

My opinion on the same ball argument would be that there isn't that much difference between balls of reasonable quality relative to distance. A couple of yards either way. However, there really can be a difference in feel around the green, and in putting. Putt a Pro V1x, then putt a Srixon Z Star. Huge difference in feel. V1x feels harder than the Z Star.

Exactly what I have noticed in my own game. I'm about an 11 handicap and as an example, I play my 7 iron for a 165 yard stock shot. But, say out of 5 shots, I will hit 2 of them 175 with the same ball. I've been playing Taylor Made TP red for a while since there is a 2 dozen special locally.

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

My opinion on the same ball argument would be that there isn't that much difference between balls of reasonable quality relative to distance. A couple of yards either way.

I'm sorry but this is false and i know this from launch monitory sessions and also testing new balls out at the course. With some "premium" 3 or 4 piece ball it can literally be as much as 1 club difference due to how it much it spins off the irons for me. I wouldn't call that "isn't much difference."

Again not trying to call you out but this is simply a false statement.

 

[Chip Putterman]

Jim, your obsevations are correct if the golfballs are being struck by Iron Byron or a very skilled golfer. But for the general public whose swing speeds (with same club) vary, the differences are not statistically significant. Now, on chips and putts, where tempo and speed are more consistent, the type of ball used is noticeable.

 

[Mike O]

Balls- Crude Chart

You could create a chart and dice this up a million different ways - here's a crude starting point:
1) Stage One - Same ball - Absolutely! Handicaps +8 to -40 i.e. everyone
2) Stage Two - Same ball - With Sufficient Spin - Handicaps +8 to -15, allows better control (stops faster) on fast greens etc., creates greater side spin (more precise in regards to showing your errors), creates greater side spin (creates ability to "contour" shots as needed)
3) Chart may be adjusted for financial or psychological reasons i.e. play with any ball if you find them and can't afford to purchase the same ones all the time. Or, if you want to be a really good golfer then start using the ball that you'll eventually want for control and the one that will identify your swing faults more - now! If you really don't care - just like to go out and play - aren't driven/obsessed about getting better, and don't even realize that you make a ball mark on the green - then use any ball you'd like.

 

[ggsjpc]

If you're striving for consistency through change, you might want to reconsider your approach.

Predictability is a powerful source of trust and confidence.

I would use the same ball no matter what it is.

 

[softconsult]

Jim, you are the master of absolute statement. Problem is you add in a variable at the end of the sentence. In this case, the variable is when you say you have tested various balls on the launch monitor using your swing. That is a test that might be legitimate for your swing, but might not be useful for a variety of swings.

That wasn't the original point anyway. The way I read the original post, the posters advisor was suggesting that he find a ball and stick with that ball. It doesn't matter relative to consistency, whether one model goes farther than another as long as you don't mix them.

I will say, however, that often times brand loyalty can be a problem. This is illustrated by casual and multiple observations of guys with high 80's driver swings playing ProV1's. They would be so much better off with even a good quality Ladies ball, but ego get's in their way. They are consistent, but consistently shorter than they could be.

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

Jim, you are the master of absolute statement. Problem is you add in a variable at the end of the sentence. In this case, the variable is when you say you have tested various balls on the launch monitor using your swing. That is a test that might be legitimate for your swing, but might not be useful for a variety of swings.

I'm not going to get into a huge debate but you can look through almost any golf forum on the net (which exception of this one since we don't talk much equiptment) and find all kinds of ball reviews that travel all kinds of different distances for different people. Also, it isn't just "my" testing but also giving close to a hundred launch monitor fittings/sessions and also through playing lessons with students. It isn't just "me."

For instance i spin my irons a lot, thus i use a fairly low spin ball so i don't balloon my irons shots and this makes the ball go further for me. Take a low spin player and give them the same ball and it will probably end up short of where they are expecting and/or not have enough spin to hold the green.

Play enough balls, for anyone, and you'll see differences both off driver/irons/chipping/putting. Some balls can be similar in all aspects, some in only a few aspects but not all balls are created equal no matter who you are.

 

[Jim Kobylinski]

Jim, your obsevations are correct if the golfballs are being struck by Iron Byron or a very skilled golfer. But for the general public whose swing speeds (with same club) vary, the differences are not statistically significant. Now, on chips and putts, where tempo and speed are more consistent, the type of ball used is noticeable.

Again, false. See my post that i responded to softconsult; there may be a perceived lack of discernability but mostly thats because the worse golfers really don't know how far there ball goes.

 

[DeepRedCee]

Thanks for all the input, if I read correctly, it does have an impact and the better player you are the more benefit it has. I guess now its time to find out what ball suits me best before doing the measurements, I'll let you know how I get on and what if any impact it has

Cheers
Steve

 

[ggsjpc]

There is usually a trade off between control in the air vs. control on the ground. Pick your poison cause it's hard to get both.

 

[jpeck]

The gapping exercise can also benefit your game overall. Once you are tuned in to thinking of fine distance control you may find you can often think of a distance, say 147, and hit it very close.

When you hit a bunch of balls for average distance also take notice of the spread. You may find a certain ball (higher/lower spin, multi-cover, or whatever) gives you a tighter group.

 

[softconsult]

I also do not want to argue incessantly about which ball does what.

I will end by saying that I do know my distances and do hit my irons high with mucho spin, so to speak. My iron with a 9 on it, 42 degree Titleist 695 CB +1/2, is predictable at 142. Last season, I did play some different balls. They included ProV1's, Taylormade Black, Bridgestone B330, and Bridgestone B330-RX. Could I tell a significant difference in distance? Not really. Is there a difference probably so.

My reality is that I laser the distance, then pick the club based on wind, slope, green shape, etc. Hit the shot. If it comes up short or long, the last thing I would think about would be the ball. Matter of fact, in 50 years of golf that would have never crossed my mind. Always have played high quality balls and they all perform nicely.

Back in the day, I was much more prone to the vanity of black balata 100's.
I will bet that the differences in ball models were more pronounced back then.

I'm outta here in this subject.