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Sandwedge · 06-09-2007, 05:26 PM

I had an interesting experience today at the course. I am driving the ball 280 yard consistantly. I count the yardadge very closely. I have been using srixon and titleist balls. I played a friends Nike soft feel ball and couldn't believe how much yardadge I seemed to loose on the drives. I lost almost 20-25 yards at least maybe more. My driver is a 10.5 loft and I am about to get the same one in a 9.5 loft to gain more distance - in which case it might be worth the soft feeling balls for green play - but do you guys have this same experience with softer balls?? I know for my game - I would rather garuntee most of my second shots to be an approach shot - rather then a third shot being the approach just cuz I like a softer ball - I wont be switching anytime soon but curious what you all think??

white_tiger_137 · 06-09-2007, 06:30 PM

Exactly how many shots did you hit?

65nlovenit · 06-09-2007, 07:15 PM

I guess I'd have to ask "Hows your Short Game", if your contemplating going to a softer ball, that usually comes when someone wants more control in their short game. Its seems obvious you dont have a problem with your woods, but the mere fact that your even thinking about a softer ball tells me you'd like to take the Short Game up a notch. If I lost 20 yards on my drives it would be a disaster, but hitting 265 should put you in range of even the longest par 5's.

Sandwedge · 06-10-2007, 01:02 AM

to answer the first question - I hit 3 drives with the soft nike balls - and then went back to my srixons.

to answer the second thread. I am not thinking about softer balls - I just tire them out for fun and out of curiousity. My short game is good. I can usually get up and down in 3 from 100 yards out barring mis hits - which do happen to all of us. this thread was merely to address the distance question with the softer balls. Fair question though. Also important to note that i disagree with your distance assement of drives and that 265 is perfect for most par 5's. granted - 265 yards is certainly a healthy drive in my book and probably most peoples - but I am working hard to get my drives to 300 and am only about 20 yard short on average (this will hopefully change when I go to a 9.5 loft from my current 10.5)
One reason for this is that I play once a week and Bethpage
(2004 US open course)
on the red course (second only to the black course which is even harder and longer) there are 2 par 4's that are over 470 yards - the par 5's are 530 and 565 - so 300+ yards for driving is very helpful to me.
Just my two cents

300Yards · 06-10-2007, 01:33 AM

The best advice I can give you is too go with what you feel is right. If you think you will benefit more from a softer ball, then use it, if not, stick with the harder types. Certain situations call for certain balls..so really why not just bring both to the course, and see what happens?

Sandwedge · 06-10-2007, 09:33 AM

I think this got a little confused -
here is my question to put out to the forum as a discussion topic.
Has anyone found a loss of distance with softer balls?

white_tiger_137 · 06-10-2007, 11:00 AM

Pretty minimal for me, maybe 3 or 4 yards. But I'll gladly give that up for a couple feet closer on a putt.

3 shots is NOT enough to make a decision on.

300Yards · 06-10-2007, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandwedge

I think this got a little confused -
here is my question to put out to the forum as a discussion topic.
Has anyone found a loss of distance with softer balls?

Nothing significant..

stevel1017 · 06-10-2007, 11:09 PM

It's not harder vs softer = distance, the trick is to match the ball to your swing and equipment. Softer balls can give more distance for slower swing speeds. They compress easier and for slower swings this equates to more distance. In the old wound ball days, higher swing speeds would use 100 compression, slower swing speeds 90 or even 80. If it were simply a matter of harder = more distance, the pro's would all use the same ball (with so much $$ at stake, they would all use the "best" ball)
But they don't, because they all have different equipment and swings, so they match them up for optimum performance