The Perfect Senior Golf Ball

[Pepperturbo]

5 hours ago, bluedot said:

You’re saying that while “most amateurs aren’t skilled enough to actually control spin on green side shots” that those same skill-challenged amateurs can add loft and/or manipulate the clubface, including with a lob wedge, to add “stopping power”.  I have never seen any study that shows that unskilled players generate the kind of spin rates you’re talking about that cause their chips to come up 20-30’ short; when they do that, and they do it a LOT, it’s primarily because they hit the chip fat, rather than that all of a sudden they generated Tour level sauce on a chip.

 

The best answer to the question of the “perfect” ball for ANY player is the same one you played yesterday and the same one you will be playing tomorrow; familiarity with a ball’s performance is far, far more important than than the characteristics of any particular ball. 
 

That said, seniors are absolutely going to benefit more from a premium, urethane cover ball.  Seniors are likely to depend more on wedge play, especially on par 5’s, than younger, longer players, and spin adds control; there’s no way to reasonably argue otherwise.  
 

There is one (and ONLY one) good reason to play a surlyn ball; they’re cheaper.  I do not mean to minimize the significance of cost, but there are no performance advantages to surlyn; none.  And even the cost advantage isn’t significant anymore because of DTC balls, the Maxflis, the Kirkland, Sam’s Club, and so on.

 

 

face to add “stopping power” with a surlyn ball.  

Agree 100%.  It's been said many times by online instructors and reviewers; seniors can benefit more from a premium ball.  Hell, Titleist staffers even said, the hardest premium ball made, DASH -ProV1x benefits seniors and hi caps.

 

Familiarity with any ball's characteristics improves its playability! 

 

I don't like the new AVX, so it's no longer in the bag, but when it was, I was able to make it play relatively like ProV1.  My 12 index wife plays Supersoft, so I've played that ball just to see.  It was similar to AVX, felt soft at impact.  I was capable of stopping both balls, but the run out of both is always in question.  

 

A cheap buddy plays any ball he finds or is given, or buys cheap.  On really slow 9-9.5 muni greens, his ball usually stops, but has near zero control on 10.5-11 greens.  His ball usually runs well past the pin, often to the opposite apron, sometimes further.  But when I've given him a used ProV1, he's heard saying, damn, it stopped way short of the pin, and doesn't know how that happened.

[ShortGolfer]

This thread is a good reminder that I need to switch to urethane balls when I start playing this  year on a private course with very fast greens.

I found I was making significantly more birdies on short Par 3s when I switched to more expensive urethane balls.

[myspinonit]

33 minutes ago, Pepperturbo said:

Agree 100%.  It's been said many times by online instructors and reviewers; seniors can benefit more from a premium ball.  Hell, Titleist staffers even said, the hardest premium ball made, DASH -ProV1x benefits seniors and hi caps.

 

Familiarity with any ball's characteristics improves its playability! 

 

I don't like the new AVX, so it's no longer in the bag, but when it was, I was able to make it play relatively like ProV1.  My 12 index wife plays Supersoft, so I've played that ball just to see.  It was similar to AVX, felt soft at impact.  I was capable of stopping both balls, but the run out of both is always in question.  

 

A cheap buddy plays any ball he finds or is given, or buys cheap.  On really slow 9-9.5 muni greens, his ball usually stops, but has near zero control on 10.5-11 greens.  His ball usually runs well past the pin, often to the opposite apron, sometimes further.  But when I've given him a used ProV1, he's heard saying, damn, it stopped way short of the pin, and doesn't know how that happened.

( I'm the injured list now so this Forum is vicarious golf, but nonetheless)...

I also have friends that play any ball, often found, and it sometimes surprises me that some do have good distance control.  I think the most important thing is to always play the same ball. For years I played PV1s (economically from a guy who collected lost balls from some local  courses, not water balls, often one-hit wonders). Then for several years, from fears my supply might dry up,  I went with (new) Srixon Q Star Tour balls as a financially prudent urethane ball. I liked them, but with some hand arthritis I changed to the slightly softer and of course less expensive Srixon Soft Feel.  I might have gained a few yards too. Sure, not as much spin, but generally they have been very straight.  I have pretty good control  around the greens and can predict rollout and can often generate a hop and stop when needed.  I had better get off the injured list soon as I've got a stash of about eight dozen or so new balls!      

Edited June 27 by myspinonit

[Pepperturbo]

18 minutes ago, myspinonit said:

( I'm the injured list now so this Forum is vicarious golf, but nonetheless)...

I also have friends that play any ball, often found, and it sometimes surprises me that some do have good distance control.  I think the most important thing is to always play the same ball. For years I played PV1s (economically from a guy who collected lost balls from some local  courses, not water balls, often one-hit wonders). Then for several years, from fears my supply might dry up,  I went with (new) Srixon Q Star Tour balls as a financially prudent urethane ball. I liked them, but with some hand arthritis I changed to the slightly softer and of course less expensive Srixon Soft Feel.  I might have gained a few yards too. Sure, not as much spin, but generally they have been very straight.  I have pretty good control  around the greens and can predict rollout and can often generate a hop and stop when needed.  I had better get off the injured list soon as I've got a stash of about eight dozen or so new balls!      

Of all the balls out there, Srixon and a few others are the only lines I've never messed with.  I am, for the most part, a Titleist equipment guy, but I have played Callaway Chrome Tour and X, which are nice balls. 

 

Told I am on the Spectrum to an undetermined extent, and Dyslexic, thus fussy about things being exact or the same.  LOL the other day, after an errant shot into a pond, I discovered I had no more ProV1 balls, so played DASH -ProV1x from 12 on, and was slightly uneasy the rest of the round, go figure.  

[bluedot]

2 hours ago, ShortGolfer said:

This thread is a good reminder that I need to switch to urethane balls when I start playing this  year on a private course with very fast greens.

I found I was making significantly more birdies on short Par 3s when I switched to more expensive urethane balls.

Urethane balls do NOT have to be significantly more expensive anymore.  There are a lot of very affordable urethane options out there now.

[shavdog1968]

Age is 75 swg speed is low 90"s and hcp is 6     My go to ball is a Callaway erc yellow...been using it for a couple of yrs...I like how it feels and distance is fine..I would like to try something different to get alittle more distance without losing feel...I do not like balls that feel like hitting a rock...any suggestions?....thanks....right now I am hitting it around 230-250 depending on my pass..I see a lot of positive comments on a Maxfli tour and a Callaway tour...

Edited June 27 by shavdog1968

[ShortGolfer]

I bought four dozen new yellow 2022 TM Tour Response balls for less than $3 per ball, including tax and shipping charges.

 

If discovered that if I play on Fridays, the white cover flowers in the rough make it very difficult to spot white golf balls.  Yellow balls are much easier to find among the white clover flowers.

This means the muni I play at does not spray the rough with broadleaf herbicides as they would kill white clover.

Edited June 27 by ShortGolfer

[A.Princey]

Believe what you want, but you see it on YouTube all the time, Horvat, GG, Shiels, and so on. They hit partial shots and chips that don’t react at all how they “expect”. Sometimes they rip back, some times they release like crazy. 

 

If you want to use 5$ balls, be my guest. Play what you want, but I have enough personal data to know chipping with rollout is a WAY more consistent release than urethane, by miles. 
 

 

Edited June 27 by A.Princey

[TNwanabe]

14 hours ago, bluedot said:

You’re saying that while “most amateurs aren’t skilled enough to actually control spin on green side shots” that those same skill-challenged amateurs can add loft and/or manipulate the clubface, including with a lob wedge, to add “stopping power”.  I have never seen any study that shows that unskilled players generate the kind of spin rates you’re talking about that cause their chips to come up 20-30’ short; when they do that, and they do it a LOT, it’s primarily because they hit the chip fat, rather than that all of a sudden they generated Tour level sauce on a chip.

 

The best answer to the question of the “perfect” ball for ANY player is the same one you played yesterday and the same one you will be playing tomorrow; familiarity with a ball’s performance is far, far more important than than the characteristics of any particular ball. 
 

That said, seniors are absolutely going to benefit more from a premium, urethane cover ball.  Seniors are likely to depend more on wedge play, especially on par 5’s, than younger, longer players, and spin adds control; there’s no way to reasonably argue otherwise.  
 

There is one (and ONLY one) good reason to play a surlyn ball; they’re cheaper.  I do not mean to minimize the significance of cost, but there are no performance advantages to surlyn; none.  And even the cost advantage isn’t significant anymore because of DTC balls, the Maxflis, the Kirkland, Sam’s Club, and so on.

 

I think says it all. Particularly on the short game. It does not matter what the cover is if you are unfamiliar with it. More rollout, less rollout. It can be dealt with if you are used to it. I play the V1x or a Srixon Diamond. Around the green for ME, the Diamond spins more, the V1x has more rollout. I know this so I adjust accordingly. 

Edited June 28 by TNwanabe

[myspinonit]

18 hours ago, bluedot said:

Urethane balls do NOT have to be significantly more expensive anymore.  There are a lot of very affordable urethane options out there now.

In Canada add 40% plus to the price from exchange rate..we'll see if tarrifs go through if they add to that.  So size still matters for a lot of seniors. 🤩

[munichop]

In my casual group I play with a lot of old men who still use urethane. In winter we play one course with hard push up greens 

the trouble is no one in the group with the exception of our best player can spin pitches and chips well enough to take advantage of the urethane cover.

i have played surlyn for 10 years now.

i used to switch back in summer but got addicted to low compression models. 
I think the limitations of surlyn actually help less skilled players because it will always release. Most of my old guy group leave their pitches short with urethane 

[myspinonit]

17 hours ago, ShortGolfer said:

I bought four dozen new yellow 2022 TM Tour Response balls for less than $3 per ball, including tax and shipping charges.

 

If discovered that if I play on Fridays, the white cover flowers in the rough make it very difficult to spot white golf balls.  Yellow balls are much easier to find among the white clover flowers.

This means the muni I play at does not spray the rough with broadleaf herbicides as they would kill white clover.

Years ago (early 1980's) when colored balls first came out I put in the orange ones. Great in the air, not great to see in the Fall among fallen aves. So when the bright yellow ones came out I switched to those and that's all I had in the bag.  That was fine until Il played an ill-maintained resort course on vacation and the whole course was covered in marigolds. 

Edited June 28 by myspinonit

[bluedot]

20 hours ago, myspinonit said:

In Canada add 40% plus to the price from exchange rate..we'll see if tarrifs go through if they add to that.  So size still matters for a lot of seniors. 🤩

Doesn’t the added 40% apply to surlyn balls as well?

[bluedot]

22 hours ago, munichop said:

In my casual group I play with a lot of old men who still use urethane. In winter we play one course with hard push up greens 

the trouble is no one in the group with the exception of our best player can spin pitches and chips well enough to take advantage of the urethane cover.

i have played surlyn for 10 years now.

i used to switch back in summer but got addicted to low compression models. 
I think the limitations of surlyn actually help less skilled players because it will always release. Most of my old guy group leave their pitches short with urethane 

1. “…no one in the group…can spin pitches and chips well enough to take advantage of thr urethane cover.”

 

2. “Most of my old guy group leave their pitches short with urethane.”

 

I’m sure you see at least some conflict in those two statements.  
 

The reality is that your old guys likely aren’t spinning the ball a lot on chips and pitches anyway; relative spin rates matter much more on full swings with an iron than on a chip or even a pitch.  

 

I understand your preference for a low compression surlyn cover golf ball; you’ve expressed that many, many times on many, many threads.  And I’ve said many, many times on many, many threads that using the same ball all the time is the most important aspect of choosing a ball, regardless of the construction of that ball.

 

But either your old guys can spin the ball on chips and pitches, or they can’t.  While there are clear differences in the spin rates of surlyn vs urethane, it isn’t like a surlyn ball doesn’t spin at all on chips and pitches.  If a given player is erratic when they chip and pitch in terms of imparting spin, they are going to be erratic with EVERY ball, and the differences in spin rates from ball to ball will still be proportional.  If any player, old or not, generates a lot of spin on one pitch shot, and relatively little spin on another pitch shot, regardless of the ball he is using, his results will vary widely; it isn't like a surlyn ball will magically roll out the same amount every time.  There's just as much likelihood that the surlyn ball will roll out too much as there is that a urethane ball won't roll out enough. That’s NOT a golf ball issue; that’s a swing issue.

 

If a player uses the same ball all the time, but can’t hit his landing spot on a chip or pitch, or can’t consistently make good contact, then his results will be all over the place regardless of the particular ball he is using.  There’s just no way a guy with a bad short game is somehow saved by a ball that doesn’t spin as much.  Whatever ball he is using, he'll have to learn to make good contact and hit a landing spot consistently; only then does what the ball does when it lands become predictable.

 

Your experience and preferences aside, MOST amateurs are going to helped by a high compression, urethane cover, multi layer golf ball.  That doesn’t change with age or swing speed or handicap, and testing has shown that over and over and over.

Edited June 29 by bluedot

[myspinonit]

9 hours ago, bluedot said:

Doesn’t the added 40% apply to surlyn balls as well?

Sure, but the price before exchange for surlyn starts  lower of course.

 

Everyone's pocket book and golf desire is different but I don't see a lot of mid to high cap senior golfers I play with forking out another buck and a half to two bucks a ball for urethane. 

 

The surlyn Titleist Tour Soft is $54.99 here pre-tax;  (the same price as PV1 I see online sold in US). Tour Soft in US I see at $39.99. 

 

At a quick look the lowest advertised Urethane see listed in Canada  is  Taylormade Tour Response $59.99 (plus 13% tax). Next up is SrixonZ Star XV $69.99 (plus tax). PV1 are 74.99  before tax, so about $85 post tax. 

 

I gather on line that the pre-tax price for both the  PV1 and ZStar are listed  $20 less than here so close to two bucks more a ball here post tax. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 29 by myspinonit

[myspinonit]

3 hours ago, bluedot said:

1. “…no one in the group…can spin pitches and chips well enough to take advantage of thr urethane cover.”

 

2. “Most of my old guy group leave their pitches short with urethane.”

 

I’m sure you see at least some conflict in those two statements.  
 

The reality is that your old guys likely aren’t spinning the ball a lot on chips and pitches anyway; relative spin rates matter much more on full swings with an iron than on a chip or even a pitch.  

 

I understand your preference for a low compression surlyn cover golf ball; you’ve expressed that many, many times on many, many threads.  And I’ve said many, many times on many, many threads that using the same ball all the time is the most important aspect of choosing a ball, regardless of the construction of that ball.

 

But either your old guys can spin the ball on chips and pitches, or they can’t.  While there are clear differences in the spin rates of surlyn vs urethane, it isn’t like a surlyn ball doesn’t spin at all on chips and pitches.  If a given player is erratic when they chip and pitch in terms of imparting spin, they are going to be erratic with EVERY ball, and the differences in spin rates from ball to ball will still be proportional.  If any player, old or not, generates a lot of spin on one pitch shot, and relatively little spin on another pitch shot, regardless of the ball he is using, his results will vary widely; it isn't like a surlyn ball will magically roll out the same amount every time.  There's just as much likelihood that the surlyn ball will roll out too much as there is that a urethane ball won't roll out enough. That’s NOT a golf ball issue; that’s a swing issue.

 

If a player uses the same ball all the time, but can’t hit his landing spot on a chip or pitch, or can’t consistently make good contact, then his results will be all over the place regardless of the particular ball he is using.  There’s just no way a guy with a bad short game is somehow saved by a ball that doesn’t spin as much.  Whatever ball he is using, he'll have to learn to make good contact and hit a landing spot consistently; only then does what the ball does when it lands become predictable.

 

Your experience and preferences aside, MOST amateurs are going to helped by a high compression, urethane cover, multi layer golf ball.  That doesn’t change with age or swing speed or handicap, and testing has shown that over and over and over.

I agree with most everything here. But I opted to move to a softer ball (even softer than the Q Star Tour I was playing) largely from hand arthritis.  The Chrome Soft might also have been a urethane option, but at $72.99 plus tax currently not in my comfort zone. So I opted for the Srixon Soft Feel for the past couple of seasons or so. 

[Pepperturbo]

A blatant ad for the NEW ProV1 in the hands of a 74 yr old senior. 

 

Yesterday, I was excited to play, feeling my oats and felt like I was juiced, and swinging well.  Before teeing off, decided to adjust Driver loft down to 9.5, thinking maybe a yard or two, who knows?  

 

On the front 9 I was finding spots in fairways, I'd never seen before.  Even my buddy was commenting.  My ball was near his and he's 15yrs younger.  One Par 5, I was 25yds longer, a few yards past his ball, so was excited, par was easy, but that wasn't the round crescendo.  I knew the back was going to be tougher, thus the ultimate test, especially facing the 615yd par 5, a tight driving hole all the way to the end. 

 

I hit the longest Drive I'd ever hit on that hole, and was too excited when I got to my ball.  So, proceeded to hit a weak/short 3i up the left side, which got stuck 2' into the left rough, but ProV1 was sitting up perfectly, even though the ball was below my feet.  Using 3wd, I damn near left my shoes, hit the best 3wd of my life, ball ended up in front of green.  My problem was, I too damn excited, so then stubbed a wedge.  I was disgusted, but had to settle myself down, then using 58' holed-out from the apron to save par.  LOL

 

Point, in all the years playing that course, I had NEVER been just short of that green in 3, that hole has always been a bogie for me.  On the drive home, I was looking for the differences; lower Driver loft + new ProV1, drives were consistently longer for me; I was drinking LIVPUR, which helped my focus and energy to stay sharp on a hot day on the back, and ProV1 was flying further. 

 

I have been playing this course for 5 yrs, usually from blue, card 76-79, depending.  But to be in front of that green in 3, for me, speaks to the loft, ball striking and the NEW ProV1 ball, I consistently hit it further than -ProV1x.  Thank you, technology!  

Edited June 30 by Pepperturbo

[grochol17]

3 hours ago, Pepperturbo said:

I hit the longest Drive I'd ever hit on that hole, and was too excited when I got to my ball.  So, proceeded to hit a weak/short 3i up the left side, which got stuck 2' into the left rough, but ProV1 was sitting up perfectly, even though the ball was below my feet.  Using 3wd, I damn near left my shoes, hit the best 3wd of my life, ball ended up in front of green.  My problem was, I too damn excited, so then stubbed a wedge.  I was disgusted, but had to settle myself down, then using 58' holed-out from the apron to save par.  LOL

 

Gotta love golf... great shot, bad shot, great shot, terrible shot, perfect shot, move on to the next hole.

[Pepperturbo]

9 minutes ago, grochol17 said:

 

Gotta love golf... great shot, bad shot, great shot, terrible shot, perfect shot, move on to the next hole.

Yes.

 

For reasons, I won't go into golf is never so simple.  I can only move past an error.  But I always hold on to the best of the last round until the next time.  That way, when I hit the tee later this week, I have good swing thoughts. 

Edited June 30 by Pepperturbo

[myspinonit]

9 hours ago, Pepperturbo said:

A blatant ad for the NEW ProV1 in the hands of a 74 yr old senior. 

 

Yesterday, I was excited to play, feeling my oats and felt like I was juiced, and swinging well.  Before teeing off, decided to adjust Driver loft down to 9.5, thinking maybe a yard or two, who knows?  

 

On the front 9 I was finding spots in fairways, I'd never seen before.  Even my buddy was commenting.  My ball was near his and he's 15yrs younger.  One Par 5, I was 25yds longer, a few yards past his ball, so was excited, par was easy, but that wasn't the round crescendo.  I knew the back was going to be tougher, thus the ultimate test, especially facing the 615yd par 5, a tight driving hole all the way to the end. 

 

I hit the longest Drive I'd ever hit on that hole, and was too excited when I got to my ball.  So, proceeded to hit a weak/short 3i up the left side, which got stuck 2' into the left rough, but ProV1 was sitting up perfectly, even though the ball was below my feet.  Using 3wd, I damn near left my shoes, hit the best 3wd of my life, ball ended up in front of green.  My problem was, I too damn excited, so then stubbed a wedge.  I was disgusted, but had to settle myself down, then using 58' holed-out from the apron to save par.  LOL

 

Point, in all the years playing that course, I had NEVER been just short of that green in 3, that hole has always been a bogie for me.  On the drive home, I was looking for the differences; lower Driver loft + new ProV1, drives were consistently longer for me; I was drinking LIVPUR, which helped my focus and energy to stay sharp on a hot day on the back, and ProV1 was flying further. 

 

I have been playing this course for 5 yrs, usually from blue, card 76-79, depending.  But to be in front of that green in 3, for me, speaks to the loft, ball striking and the NEW ProV1 ball, I consistently hit it further than -ProV1x.  Thank you, technology!  

See...that's why they need to roll the ball back for everyone. LOL 

Don't want folks having fun out there. 

[munichop]

On 6/29/2025 at 4:55 AM, bluedot said:

1. “…no one in the group…can spin pitches and chips well enough to take advantage of thr urethane cover.”

 

2. “Most of my old guy group leave their pitches short with urethane.”

 

I’m sure you see at least some conflict in those two statements.  
 

The reality is that your old guys likely aren’t spinning the ball a lot on chips and pitches anyway; relative spin rates matter much more on full swings with an iron than on a chip or even a pitch.  

 

I understand your preference for a low compression surlyn cover golf ball; you’ve expressed that many, many times on many, many threads.  And I’ve said many, many times on many, many threads that using the same ball all the time is the most important aspect of choosing a ball, regardless of the construction of that ball.

 

But either your old guys can spin the ball on chips and pitches, or they can’t.  While there are clear differences in the spin rates of surlyn vs urethane, it isn’t like a surlyn ball doesn’t spin at all on chips and pitches.  If a given player is erratic when they chip and pitch in terms of imparting spin, they are going to be erratic with EVERY ball, and the differences in spin rates from ball to ball will still be proportional.  If any player, old or not, generates a lot of spin on one pitch shot, and relatively little spin on another pitch shot, regardless of the ball he is using, his results will vary widely; it isn't like a surlyn ball will magically roll out the same amount every time.  There's just as much likelihood that the surlyn ball will roll out too much as there is that a urethane ball won't roll out enough. That’s NOT a golf ball issue; that’s a swing issue.

 

If a player uses the same ball all the time, but can’t hit his landing spot on a chip or pitch, or can’t consistently make good contact, then his results will be all over the place regardless of the particular ball he is using.  There’s just no way a guy with a bad short game is somehow saved by a ball that doesn’t spin as much.  Whatever ball he is using, he'll have to learn to make good contact and hit a landing spot consistently; only then does what the ball does when it lands become predictable.

 

Your experience and preferences aside, MOST amateurs are going to helped by a high compression, urethane cover, multi layer golf ball.  That doesn’t change with age or swing speed or handicap, and testing has shown that over and over and over.

I should refine my comment to say my friends can’t spin their urethane balls consistently. 
i believe the variation of results around the green for inconsistent pitching is greater for urethane than surlyn. The same can be said for full shots. Why? Because urethane has a wider range of shot shaping and spin range than surlyn. I have compared this difference to that of a game improvement iron vs a blade.  The surlyn balls are more point and shoot. As you lose club speed the low compression balls are more consistent. Less variation leads to more consistent results. That being said i understand why older guys play urethane. That’s what they are used to playing and it won’t change. 
I am not married to a specific ball other than I like low compression ones. My Softfli seems to have a little magic at elevation but not as much in the Valley of the sun. I tend to use supersofts down there.

if I played a urethane it would likely be the q star tour.

[Pepperturbo]

17 hours ago, myspinonit said:

See...that's why they need to roll the ball back for everyone. LOL 

Don't want folks having fun out there. 

I am hoping when the roll-back is implemented, it's predominantly for pros.  Leaving the rest of the world to choose their ball. 

[munichop]

Hit all 18 greens today for the first time today. Only bogey a 3 putt. Shot 65 in my old man league from 6200 plus par 72 with the Maxfli Softfli. The magic at elevation continues with this ball.

[monks66]

10 hours ago, munichop said:

Hit all 18 greens today for the first time today. Only bogey a 3 putt. Shot 65 in my old man league from 6200 plus par 72 with the Maxfli Softfli. The magic at elevation continues with this ball.

what ball is it?

[bellken]

These might be the perfect ball for this senior golfer (me), received as part of a Taylormade golf promotion.

Edited July 3 by bellken

[munichop]

On 7/3/2025 at 5:02 AM, monks66 said:

what ball is it?

Maxfli Softfli

[The Pearl]

On 7/1/2025 at 8:54 AM, munichop said:

I should refine my comment to say my friends can’t spin their urethane balls consistently. 
i believe the variation of results around the green for inconsistent pitching is greater for urethane than surlyn. The same can be said for full shots. Why? Because urethane has a wider range of shot shaping and spin range than surlyn. I have compared this difference to that of a game improvement iron vs a blade.  The surlyn balls are more point and shoot. As you lose club speed the low compression balls are more consistent. Less variation leads to more consistent results. That being said i understand why older guys play urethane. That’s what they are used to playing and it won’t change. 
I am not married to a specific ball other than I like low compression ones. My Softfli seems to have a little magic at elevation but not as much in the Valley of the sun. I tend to use supersofts down there.

if I played a urethane it would likely be the q star tour.

 

If a golfer departs a wide range of spin profiles when chipping he/she is a poor chipper and it will show up regardless of ball. You are making a common error in research methods by assuming every chip shot that results in inconsistent spin produces a negative outcome. A crappy chipper with a wide dispersion of outcomes regardless of ball will produce "inconsistent spinning shots with a urethane ball" that can still produce a better outcome than with a surlyn ball. 

 

A common anit-urethane ball meme is the ball that checks up too early that if the player were using a surlyn ball the golfer would be closer to the hole.  What is never mentioned is the urethane ball that goes passed the hole, grabs some spin and stops when the same shot using a surlyn ball would be farther away.  

 

You can't have it both ways. 

 

If a player is presenting the club to the ball so that is ProV1 is producing significant different spin profiles than his dispersion is as likely to be past the hole as it is to being short of the hole. The main character trait of a crappy chipper is abysmal distance control.  Unless the golfer is consistently short or consistently long, than his dispersion will mostly approximate a 50/50 coin flip outcome. Half the balls short of the hole, half the balls past the hole. Using a urethane ball helps in half the cases and hurts in half the cases.

 

Any golfer using a surlyn ball that has successful outcomes that are statistically significant beyond a coin flip can certainly use a urethane ball without any drop off in outcome.  

 

 

 

 

[munichop]

11 hours ago, The Pearl said:

 

If a golfer departs a wide range of spin profiles when chipping he/she is a poor chipper and it will show up regardless of ball. You are making a common error in research methods by assuming every chip shot that results in inconsistent spin produces a negative outcome. A crappy chipper with a wide dispersion of outcomes regardless of ball will produce "inconsistent spinning shots with a urethane ball" that can still produce a better outcome than with a surlyn ball. 

 

A common anit-urethane ball meme is the ball that checks up too early that if the player were using a surlyn ball the golfer would be closer to the hole.  What is never mentioned is the urethane ball that goes passed the hole, grabs some spin and stops when the same shot using a surlyn ball would be farther away.  

 

You can't have it both ways. 

 

If a player is presenting the club to the ball so that is ProV1 is producing significant different spin profiles than his dispersion is as likely to be past the hole as it is to being short of the hole. The main character trait of a crappy chipper is abysmal distance control.  Unless the golfer is consistently short or consistently long, than his dispersion will mostly approximate a 50/50 coin flip outcome. Half the balls short of the hole, half the balls past the hole. Using a urethane ball helps in half the cases and hurts in half the cases.

 

Any golfer using a surlyn ball that has successful outcomes that are statistically significant beyond a coin flip can certainly use a urethane ball without any drop off in outcome.  

 

 

 

 

I know what I witness every round with my friends. The difference between their inconsistent shots with urethane is more than with surlyn. The ones who play urethane do so because they are used to the ball. I tinker more with golf balls than all but a couple of guys in my group.  My short game is w deg gap wedge. Expect release on every shot.  I save par about 70 percent this season when missing greens. I am averaging 2 bogeys a round, over 4 birdies a round. My best ever bogeys per round was 1.61 with a gamer soft.  The limitations of the surlyn ball helps me play smarter because I don’t chase sucker pins. My friends see this play out every week but only a few have tried my approach. Everyone has to find what works best for them. Cost isn’t a factor. If I played pro vs I wouldn’t pay for a ball ever. I live on a golf course and find more than I could ever use. I give the good ones to my friends who play them.

[bluedot]

14 hours ago, The Pearl said:

 

If a golfer departs a wide range of spin profiles when chipping he/she is a poor chipper and it will show up regardless of ball. You are making a common error in research methods by assuming every chip shot that results in inconsistent spin produces a negative outcome. A crappy chipper with a wide dispersion of outcomes regardless of ball will produce "inconsistent spinning shots with a urethane ball" that can still produce a better outcome than with a surlyn ball. 

 

A common anit-urethane ball meme is the ball that checks up too early that if the player were using a surlyn ball the golfer would be closer to the hole.  What is never mentioned is the urethane ball that goes passed the hole, grabs some spin and stops when the same shot using a surlyn ball would be farther away.  

 

You can't have it both ways. 

 

If a player is presenting the club to the ball so that is ProV1 is producing significant different spin profiles than his dispersion is as likely to be past the hole as it is to being short of the hole. The main character trait of a crappy chipper is abysmal distance control.  Unless the golfer is consistently short or consistently long, than his dispersion will mostly approximate a 50/50 coin flip outcome. Half the balls short of the hole, half the balls past the hole. Using a urethane ball helps in half the cases and hurts in half the cases.

 

Any golfer using a surlyn ball that has successful outcomes that are statistically significant beyond a coin flip can certainly use a urethane ball without any drop off in outcome.  

 

 

 

 

Excellent post.

 

It is remarkable, at least to me, how often advocates of two piece surlyn balls in effect claim what can only be described as magical properties for cheap golf balls.  The idea that poor chippers see urethane balls check up well short of the hole, while OTOH surlyn balls NEVER roll out much too much is Harry Potter stuff.

 

The reality is that not only is this a two-sided coin, but poor chippers don't generate much spin anyway; a lot of spin on a chip or pitch is caused by a lot of things being done correctly, and poor chippers just don't do that.  The irony is that good chippers could use a surlyn ball effectively; bad chippers need all the help they can get, and a urethane ball provides at least some help.

[munichop]

3 hours ago, bluedot said:

Excellent post.

 

It is remarkable, at least to me, how often advocates of two piece surlyn balls in effect claim what can only be described as magical properties for cheap golf balls.  The idea that poor chippers see urethane balls check up well short of the hole, while OTOH surlyn balls NEVER roll out much too much is Harry Potter stuff.

 

The reality is that not only is this a two-sided coin, but poor chippers don't generate much spin anyway; a lot of spin on a chip or pitch is caused by a lot of things being done correctly, and poor chippers just don't do that.  The irony is that good chippers could use a surlyn ball effectively; bad chippers need all the help they can get, and a urethane ball provides at least some help.

2 piece balls by definition are limited in the range of shots that can be played around the green compared to urethane.  Like I said I witness my casual group every week struggle to chip consistently with urethane.  It doesn't make them great chippers if they use surlyn.  What happens is their worst efforts with surlyn are better than their worst efforts with urethane.  Similar to using a putter from off the green.  You may not make a great lag every time but your mistake will be closer than the crappy chip.  As I have aged and lost clubhead speed and have limited practice due to my back I have simplified my approach to golf so I can still score.  My fg17's are a distant memory as well as shaping shots to get to tucked pins.   I prefer the low compression balls and can still score well with them when I am having a good day. For me their limitations have become a strength because I trust my foul balls will stay in play better and like I said my short game is about having a ball that is consistent around the greens.  I never try the low skidder that is shown on tv.  My golf ball doesn't allow me that shot.  But that is a sacrafice I am willing to make if I can consistently score with an old man point and shoot golf ball.