 | Don Farquhar is Head Golf Professional at Rolling Hills CC, a position he has held since 1988. Don has earned several distinctive awards: 1991 South Central Section Golf Professional of the Year, 1994 South Central Section Merchandiser of the Year, 2003 & 2004 South Central Teacher of the Year and 7 Time Kansas Chapter PGA Teacher of the Year. Don has competed in 5 National Club Professional Championships and qualified for the USGA Public Links Championship. Don is also a member of the Titlist Custom Fitting Staff. Don may be contacted Rolling Hills Country Club Pro Shop, (316) 722-1181, 223 Westlink Drive, Wichita, KS 67209, or by e-mail at dafarquhar@pga.com. |
Golf
2001-11-01 15:28:00
How important is the ball?
Question: How important is the kind of ball to the average 14 handicapper? Is it something one should be concerned about or are there lots of other things that need to be addressed first?
Answer: The ball choice for all players is an important one. Finding a ball to suit your game is as important as finding the right putter. There are several things to consider when choosing a ball. First of all, how important is distance to you? If it is your primary objective then you should be playing with a solid constructed ball such as a Pinnacle or Topflight. Several studies and tests show they travel the greatest distance. They do not however provide spin. This makes them very difficult to control.If distance is only somewhat important and you would like some spin and control on your shots, you should consider a three-piece constructed ball. This type of construction provides adequate distance and enough spin for a greater degree of control. The new Titleist NXT Tour ball would be a good example of a three-piece constructed ball. Another would be a Slazenger.If feel and spin are your primary objectives then you should be playing with a premium ball such as the new Pro V-1. It provides maximum feel and spin while at the same time delivering a great amount of distance. The cover on this ball is also very durable. A great combination for any ball. That's why it has met with the success it has. When choosing a ball players are often misguided by thinking only that they need more distance. It might be good to ask yourself... Will another 10 yards really make that much difference in getting the ball to the green? Probably not. If you’re like most golfers, you will still spend most of your round chipping. Assuming that’s the case, then you should be playing with a ball that spins. Your control around the greens will bring your score down, not another 10 yards off of the tee.Never however, would I want to underestimate confidence. It can be an overriding factor. If a ball will give you an extra 10 yards off the tee, and improve your confidence to be able to hit 5 or 6 more greens a round in regulation... then it might be worth it. Chances are a ball that spins is going to do more for lowering your score than any other type of ball. Try a sleeve or two and watch your scores come down!
