Tales From The Bunker

A smooth golf ball driven by a tour player would go about 130 yards. As we all know the average tour pro hits their drivers around 295 yards.  Why the difference?  The Dimples!!

A ball with no dimples is akin to a bullet. It will fly but it doesn’t create lift. A dimpled ball creates more spin and climbs into the air more easily because it has lift from the dimples. But all dimples do not behave alike. The size, shape, depth, number of, pattern and overall surface coverage of the dimples all influence the ball’s aerodynamic lift and drag properties.

The Rules of Golf only have a few formal rules covering dimples, which has opened the door to ball manufacturers. The USGA does require that a ball must be aerodynamically symmetrical.  While most balls have between 300-450 dimples some claim to have many more. The idea is to make the surface of the golf ball more uniform to improve the consistency of the aerodynamic performance.

Dimples affect trajectory but not spin. A particular dimple design can result is a higher of lower trajectory by modifying the dimensions of the dimples. Dimple patterns are designed to minimize drag. The larger the total volume of the dimples, the lower the lift. In other words, balls with large or deep dimples are more likely to produce a lower trajectory.

What does this all mean for duffers like us?  Probably not much. For the more accomplished player, choosing a ball that fits their game may just shave off a few strokes using technology (plus practice).

As always keep “em in the fairway.

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I have absolutely no preference what golf ball I use. Price and availability are the two main factors. When I get low on balls I usually either go to the local mega sports store looking for the best price on a ball I am not ashamed to play, or if I have the time I look on eBay to see if I can find a great deal. Is this the best thing for my golf game?

On the PGA tour the longest hitters swing speed is around 130 miles per hour. The shorter tour hitters are around 107-110 mph. Impressive! The average male middle handicapper’s swing speed is 80-90 mph. Women generally average around 60 mph.

Another way to look at this comparison is by ball speed. A tour player’s ball speed for a driver is around 170 mph, for a three iron 150 mph, for a 5 iron 140 mph and for an 8 iron 120mph.  The ball speed for an average male player’s driver is around 145 mph; the speed for women is around 115 mph.

That is a lot of numbers but are they relevant to your choice of ball. The high performance golf ball manufacturers (think Titleist)  want you to believe that since tour players must employ lower swing speeds to execute certain shots, a high performance ball ( think Pro V1) is designed to perform for all golfers at all swing speeds.

With a thank you to Livestong.com  let’s take a closer look at different types of golf balls:

Premium Balls
The Titleist ProV1 and ProV1x are the clear leaders of the golf ball industry. The ProV1x has slightly lower spin rates and so is more suitable for faster swing speeds.. The reason that they offer two or more versions of the same ball is related to swing speed. Higher swing speeds, as a rule, create more spin and so the lower spin versions are for faster speeds and the higher spin balls are for more moderate swing speeds.

Quality Balls
The second tier of golf balls caters more for moderate swing speeds. The use of lower compression cores allows for greater energy transfer and increased ball speed. Balls in this sector include the Titleist NXT Tour and the Nike One Vapor Speed, each designed for swing speeds of 85 to 95 mph.

Women’s Balls
Women’s golf balls are designed for slower swing speeds.  Women’s golf balls are designed with very low compression cores that help to increase ball speed. Most feature ionomer covers for improved feel. The Nike Karma is designed for women with swing speeds between 70 and 80 mph, who are looking to increase carry distance.

2-piece Balls
2-piece golf balls are suited to players who have average or slow swing speeds and are looking for distance. These golf balls provide a higher launch angle and have low spin rates. You may struggle to stop a 2-piece ball on a firm green but with the extra yards from the tee, you’ll be a little closer to the green than with a softer ball. The Callaway Diablo, Maxfli Noodle and Pinnacle dimension are all 2-piece balls .

My conclusion, when I am looking for bargains for golf balls I am most likely purchasing a ball that is designed for my slower swing speed. So I think no change in strategy is necessary.

Bottom line – I am going to lose the golf ball anyway so why spend big bucks!

As always, keep ‘em in the fairway!

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With colder temperatures about to descend upon us in the Chicagoland area it is time to consider strategies for the cold weather.  With the advent of better gloves and clothing it is no longer difficult to keep yourself warm, but often overlooked is your equipment, specifically your golf balls.

As a ball gets cold it no longer compress and it starts to feel like you are hitting a rock. Keeping them warm is critical. We have all heard about warming them up in the microwave. DO NOT every try it. Balls will explode in the microwave and ruin it. Not a smart idea plus you cannot maintain the balls’ warmth on the golf course.

Our solution is to purchase at your local drug store heating pads that are activated when you break them up. They stay warm for multiple holes so you only need a few. Wrap your golf balls with the warming pad and change balls after each hole. The difference you will notice in a warm ball’s response is significant.

Give it a try. We think you will be very pleased!

Till next time, keep ‘em in the fairway

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