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Accounting for increased ball distance

• JObie2 1 Posts

  Wed, Sep 11 2013 2:12 PM

  I just recently decided to try out some improved balls that had been collecting dust in my bag.  (I'd only used the stock balls up until that point.)  While I enjoyed the improved distance and spin, I didn't really care for the uncertainty that came with the increased distance.  At first I thought it might be something like a 2% increase per dot (these particular balls had 2 dots for distance, so a 4% increase), but the more I experimented the more I found that to not be the case.

  Is there a relatively reliable way of calculating the adjusted distance similar to the system for green speed while putting, or do I just have to figure it out through trial and error?  Does it vary based on the club?  The shot type?

  Thanks in advance.

   

  Edit:  As soon as I posted this the 4% rule started working for me.  Apparently doesn't apply to putting, though?  Still curious what the experts have to say.

• oneeyedjohn 9,589 Posts

  Wed, Sep 11 2013 2:50 PM

  Consistency is what you are looking for, regardless of what ball.

  So take your favourite ball and play practice mode, and use the mulligan feature to nail the distances for each club.

  If you move the dot , then that will have an effect on distance too.

  Bethpage is the best place to practice, as the fairways are flat and wide.

• Tightrope 1,072 Posts

  Wed, Sep 11 2013 8:41 PM

  Each club is different, within a set. I played for instance the Kiawah no wind weekly tourny today.
  120 club: 124 yds
  150: 152 with full backspin, 158 neutral
  165: 165
  180: 171 with full bs
  225: 241 yds from tee, neutral
  282: 300+ (driver)
  
  So if you want to get a feeling for what the ball itself does for the distance, you need to use a club that you are familiar with.
  
  And no - putts are not affected
  

   

• pjctas0822 4,621 Posts

  Wed, Sep 11 2013 9:48 PM

  There is no real way to nail down specific on what you are asking. There is way too many variables in this game for example wind , lie and wether or not you ding or misding the shot.

  Like 1I said you want to find consistency with your equipment and play an awful alot of games :) 

  Why sit there with a pen and paper and calculator , thats just plain boring , time consuming and you will never get exact figures . If you get distances to be  consistent  with your playing style then you have won the battle. I would assume Elite players have their distance dialed in within 1 to 3 yards for every shot.

• Tightrope 1,072 Posts

  Thu, Sep 12 2013 5:01 AM

  Yes, but what I mean is that if you don't know your clubs, you will not know your ball either.
  In my opinion, with the short irons you can pretty much ignore the distance dots and with the long irons you will still need to get lucky :)
  Dots has noticeable difference on the driver though. Personally I don't like the balls that has more "dots" for spin than for distance, they seem to become very sensitive, too sensitive for the rather insensitive spin setting mechanism WGT has made available for us. A hair extra bs with the Cleveland 64 degree and the Nike spin ball will make you spin back yards instead of stopping.

• oneeyedjohn 9,589 Posts

  Thu, Sep 12 2013 3:43 PM

  With cleveland wedge 64º and cally or Nike ball, there are several holes like #2 & #9 at Oak, #15 at Beth and #14 at Congo, that you would rather have no spin at all, even top spin will bring it back.

  So it's not all about distance, but really understanding the hole and its characteristics.

  Try Cabo for a a quirky golf course.