You get what you pay for. Or do you?
For many avid male golfers the sensation of cracking open a brand new box of ProV1’s is similar to that of a lady seeing her engagement ring for the first time.
If this doesn’t describe you, then I’m sure you've been forced to watch impatiently as someone in in the group in front of you scours the bush for their ball as if they dropped a Rolex.
Nope, just a golf ball, most likely a ProV1, PENTA or any other brand of $6 tour-caliber ball.
After all, the pros play the best gear to get the most out of their game and any golfer out for more than a few giggles should too, right?
Not necessarily.
Sometimes expensive means better, sometimes it means different.
The trick is figuring out what's right for you.
I can make this easy for some.
If you don’t notice any benefits by playing the expensive models, then they're just not worth it.
If you regularly enjoy one of the mid-priced models but treat yourself once in awhile for good behavior, you might get better results by spending the extra 20 bucks on flowers for your wife. Forgive me, for it is not my intent to tell you how to spend your money. But there are reasons.
Tour balls are designed to provide feel and control through increased backspin, which helps the ball stop closer to where it lands.
For those seeking extra distance, a ball with less spin would help and, as an added bonus, it could be easier to control.
I’m sure the possibility of zipping the ball back sounds exciting, but backspin comes with baggage and that particular luggage is called sidespin.
They work as a pair and are never separated.
Sidespin is like a puppy.
If well-trained, it's what creates soft draws and butter-cuts. But let it off leash before it's ready, and your ball will ignore your calls as it scampers aimlessly into the bush.
Determine the traits that are important to your game and we can find the ball that fits you best.
There is good news for those who prefer a tour ball but don’t have tour swing speed.
Until recently, the true benefits of tour-caliber balls could only be realized with swing speeds in excess of 105-mph, but balls like the Srixon Z-STAR S are made to provide tour ball performance with maximum distance for swing speeds under 100 mph.
Kevin Black is the CPGA golf pro and general manager at Seven Hills Golf and Country Club. Email your golf questions to him at kbgolf@live.ca.