Which Golf Balls do you play?

[rlheiman]

How do you decide?

How do you choose which ball to play?

Brand?
Price?
Performance?
Other?

[9thGreenAt9]

performance and price...the brand isn't a big deal, but sometimes its psychological when picking brands..."#1 ball in golf (titleist)" stuff like that.

[CassinoNorth]

Tournament rounds usually brand new sleeves of Pentas
Practice rounds leading up to the tournament beat up Pentas or practice Pentas

Any regular round usually any premium ball I'm feeling. Going with the Z Stars tomorrow morning.

[g8a_golf]

Performance... Price isn't all that important to me but I'm definitely not paying Country Club prices for premium balls. I've seen Pro V1's as high as 68 bucks a dozen... hahahaha no friggin way you jackwagon!! but if I can find them for 40 bucks or less thats a plus

[jbrunone]

price and performance...

[eppey]

Performance for me. Price is a bonus. I start with the putter and move my way back to the tee box with the driver. If it doesn't feel right off the putter it doesn't make my performance grade.

[jabrch]

I try to find really good balls - that fit my game - that are on sale.

I have 12 doz Z Stars, 12 doz Nike Tour Ds and 12 Doz TM TP LDPs. The Z Stars and Tour Ds Average cost to about $25 a doz. The TMs cost $10 a doz. Then I have a bunch of other dozens of decent balls RXS, e5, e6, Pro Vs, that I got on sale or as gifts...And finally, I have about 50 ProV1X AAAAA from LGB.COM...

I think I have a ball problem.

[FriedEgg]

Right name gaming the Srixon Z-Star yellow (courtesy of Dick's 2 dozen for $49.99)

Srixon Z-Star (2010)
Pro V1 (2010)
Pro V1x (2010)
Bridgestone B330
Nike Tour Ds

I'd choose the Srixon over the rest at this point. The Nike was a nice surprise.

I bought em all on sale and have been stocking up on last year's models. I don't see myself paying $45.99 for a dozen anything.

[Buzzkill]

Any 3 layer or more ball that's on sale.

[lvphil702]

Price AND Performance. Currently that is....ta da! Gamer V2.

[Inochi]

Trial and error is how I decide, but price is also very important. In the past few months I have used Penta's, Pro V1x, Gamer V2, Wilson Staff C25, E6, B330 RXS, B330 RX, Titleist DT Solo, Callaway HX, and probably a couple others that I can't immediately think of. I am still undecided one which ones I will play mainly as each one has its advantages and disadvantages.

In the winter I stay with the less expensive balls, but during the summer I think probably going to be using the Penta's. So I guess that answers your question...

Winter : Price > Performance
Summer : Performance > Price

[one9reasons]

I like to try different balls and too be honest, most of the premium balls are about the same. I currently play the Pro V1x and switch between the Srixon Z-Star X. I really don't like the way Pro V1's feel off the tee but, that's just me. For awhile, the B330RX was a great ball until the Z-Star's outperformed it off the tee and on the green.

[Raven Logics]

I tend to find out what I like by either finding balls on the course or by buying a sleeve to try. Once I have something that I feel confident in, then I like to stick with it so that I get to know how it behaves (takes away a certain amount of uncertainty when choosing shots). When a good sale eventually comes by then I'll stock up for the rest of the year. Last year I had some Tour i's for $30 each, then this year I stocked up with some i(S) at 3 for $100 (cdn).

I don't know if I am good enough to play premium balls (I lose too many), but I enjoy the game more with the spinnier balls so I get them anyway. However, it's not necessary to buy premium balls just for the sake of it - most recreational golfers will find that a lot of the cheaper balls are as good if not better for their game.

[GaijinGolfer]

Price. When Im not thinking about losing balls because of how expensive they are I tend to play better.

[ThreeOnParFive]

For the first time ever, I've actually put some real thought into this very subject. As I've just gotten back in to golf again, I've been evaluating what it's going to take to get back to the level I used to be. Admittedly, I was probably only about an 8 or 9 before but I'm about a 15 right now. Back when I used to play all the time, I always played the same ball....a Titleist DT Wound 100. That was my favorite ball ever and obviously they don't make them any more. I don't think anyone makes a wound ball any more. So as I've played off and on over the past few years, I just played with whatever ball I could find. Yeah, I was inconsistent due to lack of play, but as I'd lose a ball and be on a completely different ball every few holes, my putting for example was really inconsistent even in the same round.

It hasn't taken me long to realize how important using a consistent ball is when trying to improve your game. I'm not saying it has to always be the same ball but the playing characteristics of one's ball choice shouldn't vastly change from ball to ball. But if you're hitting 2 piece $14/doz balls most of the time and then dopping the occasional coin for a sleeve of ProV1s, my opinion is that you're hurting yourself by getting the ProV1s because of how different they will be...especially off the putter.

So as I started thinking about my new "favorite ball", the most important factor for me was picking a ball I would be willing to stick with for the long haul. This meant a ball that had decent spin without sacrificing a lot of control off the tee, and it meant a ball I could afford to stick with....even on the worst days. As I work on getting my game back, I have really awful days where I might lose 5 or 6 balls. Then the very next day, I may not lose any. ;Still....those 5 ball days get expensive if I were gaming ProVs.

In the end, I set my target at about $25/doz as a price I could reasonably justify in my mind as a decent performance ball that I'm not afraid to lose. As it turns out, I found a ball that plays like a $30-40+ ball that instead costs $20/doz but can be found for as low as $15 for a 15-pack right now....the Top-Flite Gamer V2. The thought of playing a Top-Flite was a little hard to get over but it helped be get over it telling myself it's a Callaway company now. I'm also telling myself the Gamer V2 is really just a rebadged/covered Callaway HX Bite at a much lower price.

So my choice is cheap for now, yet very near the performance of a premium Callaway or Titleist ball that I might (or might not) switch to when I'm no longer loosing balls.

[Cornbread]

[quote name='rlheiman' timestamp='1298725129' post='3010172']
How do you choose which ball to play?

Brand?
Price?
Performance?
Other?
[/quote]

Price and Ball Compression.
If its on a Sale Rack for greater than 50% off and has a ball compresson of less than say 96... I'll play it. Urethane or non-urethane.
.

[drugdawg]

Performance over price. Play B330 and B330RX now. About to try the Pentas.

[HitEmTrue]

[quote name='Cornbread' timestamp='1298939249' post='3014320']
and has a ball compresson of less than say 96...
[/quote]

where do you get that information?

[fore_life]

price and performance, but price first. I get whatever I can score a good deal on from lostgolfbals(300 nike one plats for 79) or I pick up proV1 practice balls here locally for 10/dozen.

[minimal45]

PRICE AND PERFORMANCE

[glfpunk]

I used to only play proV1 and then got tired of paying their prices so I was determined to find a ball as good for cheaper. What I found was that there are tons of balls as good as proV1. Right now I'm gaming Srixon. Have some Zstar and Zstar XV. Whatever I'm hitting I like to keep it consistent.

So I'd say performance and price are the main factors.

[RainShadow]

I go for performance and price.
I'm still playing TP Reds I got for 19.99 ( Got about 5 dozen left )
I like the Cally i(s) a bit, but the FG Tour is what I'll be playing for a while.
Winter ball is NXT Tour or some scruffy stuff from the bushes, as long as they're soft and spin a little.

[makigrl]

[quote name='ThreeOnParFive' timestamp='1298938155' post='3014268']
For the first time ever, I've actually put some real thought into this very subject. As I've just gotten back in to golf again, I've been evaluating what it's going to take to get back to the level I used to be. Admittedly, I was probably only about an 8 or 9 before but I'm about a 15 right now. Back when I used to play all the time, I always played the same ball....a Titleist DT Wound 100. That was my favorite ball ever and obviously they don't make them any more. I don't think anyone makes a wound ball any more. So as I've played off and on over the past few years, I just played with whatever ball I could find. Yeah, I was inconsistent due to lack of play, but as I'd lose a ball and be on a completely different ball every few holes, my putting for example was really inconsistent even in the same round.

It hasn't taken me long to realize how important using a consistent ball is when trying to improve your game. I'm not saying it has to always be the same ball but the playing characteristics of one's ball choice shouldn't vastly change from ball to ball. But if you're hitting 2 piece $14/doz balls most of the time and then dopping the occasional coin for a sleeve of ProV1s, my opinion is that you're hurting yourself by getting the ProV1s because of how different they will be...especially off the putter.

So as I started thinking about my new "favorite ball", the most important factor for me was picking a ball I would be willing to stick with for the long haul. This meant a ball that had decent spin without sacrificing a lot of control off the tee, and it meant a ball I could afford to stick with....even on the worst days. As I work on getting my game back, I have really awful days where I might lose 5 or 6 balls. Then the very next day, I may not lose any. ;Still....those 5 ball days get expensive if I were gaming ProVs.

In the end, I set my target at about $25/doz as a price I could reasonably justify in my mind as a decent performance ball that I'm not afraid to lose. As it turns out, I found a ball that plays like a $30-40+ ball that instead costs $20/doz but can be found for as low as $15 for a 15-pack right now....the Top-Flite Gamer V2. The thought of playing a Top-Flite was a little hard to get over but it helped be get over it telling myself it's a Callaway company now. I'm also telling myself the Gamer V2 is really just a rebadged/covered Callaway HX Bite at a much lower price.

So my choice is cheap for now, yet very near the performance of a premium Callaway or Titleist ball that I might (or might not) switch to when I'm no longer loosing balls.
[/quote]

I have been looking at buying some balls. I thought it is better to have 1 ball than have many different balls in your bag. I don't think everyone actually thinks about what ball would work good for them. I was at Big 5 and they did Have the Wilson C25 ball for $25 a dozen but I didn't really feel like spending that much on a dozen balls. I would rather not spend a bunch of money on golf balls. I found I can go to Sports Chalet and get a 15 pack of the D2 feels for $16. For some reason Big 5 sells the D2 ball for $22. I don't know how they can charge $6 over what the ball is worth. I had been looking at mid priced balls like the Wilson C25, Bridgestone E5, and Srixon Trispeed. I wasn't really looking at cheaper balls like Top Flites or Pinnacle balls. There are actually some good balls out there you can get for less than $20 a dozen. I think many people shun away from the cheaper balls out there. They think they have to have some super expensive ball or something. I also think some see brands like Top Flite or Pinnacle and think those aren't junk balls or something. I have found many Pro V1 and Titleist NXT balls while playing golf. I get the feeling its worth more not to play those Titleist Balls but instead collect the balls you find and sell them on Ebay.

[Slapshot45]

i chose by performance and price......right now i am hitting the callaway tour IS i got a good deal for them on ebay for a few dozen and i like the way they play

[samlax13]

I put the most emphasis on performance. However, price does factor in. I've tried most of the premium balls out there. I play the Pro V1x. I buy the AAAAA quality. They look like they've never been hit. I bought a dozen of the Srixon Z Star's to try out strictly because of the praise they get on this site.

[Tee2Green85]

Only Titleist Pro V1's. But if i had a endless supply of those two toned colored PING balls i would game them. There awesome, and always get attention on the putting green. I have about 5 of them, all colors. The black/silver is my fav lol!!!

[johnnythunders]

Each year I have my top 2 balls and buy a sleeve of some of the new ones and do a little head to head comparison. Last year I started with E6 and Prov1 then Penta knocked out Prov1. Year before it was E7 but I've fixed my scoop so they were going too low. I mainly play the E6 and somtimes the Penta on par 3's. I put with the Ping two tone ball eith orange/white or orange/yellow. I do not play by the one ball rule.

[Conrad1953]

Performance and price. Right now B330 RXS and Srixon Z Star as they are the only 3 piece urethane balls
designed for DSS under 105. Also, didn't ball compression go the way of the wound balls? Where do you
see a mfr listing ball compression any more?

[BigBlue7]

Just joined the site. Some great advice here.

Just purchased a dozen Z Stars and a dozen 330-s's. Trying to find a ball to replace the Taylor Made TP Red. Any other balls I should try?

I prefer a good all-around ball with low spin off the driver and good feel in the short game.

[jabrch]

[quote name='jlukes' timestamp='1299536140' post='3034072']
Just joined the site. Some great advice here.

Just purchased a dozen Z Stars and a dozen 330-s's. Trying to find a ball to replace the Taylor Made TP Red. Any other balls I should try?

I prefer a good all-around ball with low spin off the driver and good feel in the short game.
[/quote]


The Nike Tour D is another similar ball - and priced well right now.