The Simple Golf Ball And How It Affects Your Game

This topic is dear to my heart and I have discussed at great length with Amateur members at my golf club regarding the type of golf ball they are using. The answer is nearly always the same. They use different golf balls from day to day, even to the extent of swapping golf balls midround to a different manufacturer. This can have a detrimental effect on your handicap and your ability to produce consistent golf shots.

Allow me to explain further and imagine if you will - David has just hit his tee shot out of bounds on the fifth hole using a Top Flite XL, he then proceeds to use another golf ball this time it's a Titleist ProV1 which he plays to the edge of the green, he is now about 15 yards from the pin and takes his trusty 8 iron out and proceeds to chip the ball to the hole, it comes up about 4 yards short. Under normal circumstances David is excellent around the greens and was surprised to see his golf ball pull up short; he shaves the hole with his putt, taps in then carries on with his round of golf as if nothing untoward had happened

Ok let's back up a bit here and analyse that scenario. I am sure by now a few of you have guessed the problem, its common enough and happens thousands of times a day on golf courses around the world.

When David switched golf balls to a ProV1 he created the problem with his subsequent chip from in front of the green. David plays most of his golf with a top flite ball which jumps off the face of a club quicker than a ProV1, but because he changed to the softer ProV1 (which you need to hit firmer) his chip ended up 4 yards from the hole with the subsequent missed putt costing him a valuable stroke.

Different types of golf balls react differently for a variety of full shots as well, not to mention putting which makes distance control very difficult if you chop and change your golf balls all the time. Feel is a very important factor in golf and should not be overlooked.

The truth of the matter is you should use the same type and make of golf ball all the time. I am not saying you shouldn't try different Golf balls but you should get used to a Golf ball and not change them on a regular basis. Especially during the course of a round. Get used to the ball you use so you can be more consistent.  I cannot stress strongly enough to you how important this will be to your future scores. Like I said earlier this is a common mistake that most of us at some time have been guilty of.

Next time you go to play check the golf balls you are carrying and make sure the ones you take out onto the course with you are all the same type and make.

This is one thing you can all do, no excuses, enjoy your game.