Have balls, will travel

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I think we all know that golfers are weird ducks. Ran into one the other day while playing a quick round.

The first signs of trouble were on the fourth. A par 4, wide open, a blaster's hole. This guy makes a show of digging into his bag to extract a Titleist Pro V1 and says, "Great time to use this Pro V." Titleist Pro V1's are probably the best ball in the game today, used by the majority of pros. Great distance, low spin, good feel. The guy hooks it 225 yards in the rough on the left. Next sign was on hole No. 8, a water hole. This shot required a 175-yard carry to the green over water. "Not going to risk a Pro V1 on a water hole. Maybe I'll strike this Topflight." He swings easier and lands on the green, albeit some 60 feet away.

I've never been a ball hound, simply because of the constraints of my budget and my game. But, this experience led me to wonder, "Will a more expensive ball improve my game? Lets look.

The first balls were made of wood -- easy to make with a top distance of about 100 yards. Next was the leather-wrapped ball filled with boiled chicken and goose feathers -- difficult to manufacture, but they doubled the distance. Golf balls were even molded from sap from trees in Malaysia, an idea that faded rather quickly. Today, balls are covered with synthetic material with the greatest advancement being the addition of dimples.

The science of golf balls is fascinating. There are three factors that determine ball performance. Construction type, spin and feel. Let's start with construction.

The ubiquitous range ball is the bottom-feeder. It is a one-piece golf ball, typically made from a solid piece of Surlyn with dimples molded into the surface -- very durable but seldom used as a playing ball.

The two-piece ball is the everyman's ball. It yields distance and durability, and is virtually indestructible, which is a budget-saver. The Maxfli Noodle, my ball, is a two-piecer and costs about $12 a dozen.

Three-piece golf balls have a solid rubber or liquid center surrounded by a layer of rubber or synthetic product covered with Surlyn, a synthetic layer, or balata. This results in a softer feel and a higher spin ball -- attributes a lower handicapper golfer would appreciate. The Nike One Black at $41 a dozen is an example.

The four-piece ball is a breakthrough, combining four layers that interact with each other to produce superior (in the makers' minds) performance. The Titleist Pro V1x is such a ball. A dozen will run you about $44.

As for spin, there are three levels when measuring a golf ball -- low, mid nd high. Low spin balls will produce longer fairway runs because they tend to reduce side spin that occurs when we strike the ball. The Pro V1x is a low spin ball. Mid-spins are a compromise and targeted to the mass golfer that wants decent distance and a good feel. High-spin balls will not get the fairway runs, but they will produce more control around the greens. The Titleist DT is a high-spin ball.

Feel is funny. There are three types here, too -- firm, mid and soft. Firm will feel hard off the driver, resulting in distance but sacrificing touch around the green. Mid-feel offers compromise and is the favorite of most golfers today (the Callaway HX-HOT offers mid-spin and mid-feel). The soft feel ball offers maximum ball control, but sacrifices distance. Pros use this when distance isn't an issue of concern.

Armed with this knowledge, off I went to check out golf balls with the intent of improving my game. Based on all that I read, I need a two-piece, mid-spin and mid-feel golf ball -- done!

But wait! What about dimple count? There can be 300 to 500 dimples on the ball. How many would be needed to enhance my game?

Dimples create less drag and more distance, however, they really don't come into play for the average player.

As for lake balls, they are cheap, but are they good? Studies show that lake balls can average less in distance -- up to 15 yards -- if submerged for six months. Not for me. X-outs are factory overruns with minor blemishes. They're brand new and the ones with corporate logos are usually the best buy.

Golf galaxy is one of the newest golf shops in the Valley. I entered the store armed with specs, and went right to the ball section. Wow! I started to count and with more than 50 types of balls to choose from, I started to do in-store research. Near closing time, I finally made my choice -- the black bag with 75 used Titleist balls for $30. And I will risk these over water.

Mulligan

Last month I mentioned the special golf deals at Highland Falls, Palm Valley and Eagle Crest Golf Courses. I took my eye off the ball when mentioning the All You can Play golf package. For the upcoming holidays that price is $90, still a heck of a deal.

John Asay is a local golfer and freelance writer. Contact him at jasay@reviewjournal.com.