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Making all golf balls more durable

• MrManiack56 9 Posts

  Wed, Apr 22 2015 7:49 PM

  How about making all the balls more durable so they last a bit longer and more inline with real golf balls.

• KRC37615 4 Posts

  Thu, Apr 23 2015 10:56 AM

  I agree.  Why should virtual balls cost as much or more than the real thing?  Seriously, I spend more playing online than I do ta real course.  How much money is enough when it doesn't cost you anything to manufacture the balls?

• ApexPC 3,164 Posts

  Thu, Apr 23 2015 11:09 AM

  How fast, or slow, do the real golf balls you play lose compression?

  When I played real golf I used a sleeve of new balls every 18 holes - 6 holes for each ball.

  At that point the balls became practice balls for a time, before they were disposed of because there was not enough compression left to make them worth practicing with.

  Apparently, virtual ball sales is a major source of income for WGT, so it's not likely WGT will be amenable to implementing your suggestion.

  I get close to 3, 18 hole rounds out of each Nike ball (120 hits per ball) I play, or 9, 18 hole rounds per sleeve

• MrManiack56 9 Posts

  Thu, Apr 23 2015 12:08 PM

  I'd sure like to hear from others on what they get on a real course (I get more use from mine) and in game. Thanks for your input.

   

• alanti 10,564 Posts

  Thu, Apr 23 2015 1:16 PM

  MrManiack56:

  How about making all the balls more durable so they last a bit longer and more inline with real golf balls.

  I agree but you do realise that prices would rise incrementally, so they would not be any cheaper. In fact imagine the pain (and complaints) when you dumped a new ball into the pond at KIA's 17th hole.

  It is a business and ball sales are the main source of revenue from the players.

  As Apex said, real balls do lose there compression (aerodynamics - scuffs etc) and certainly top players and pros often change their ball every 3- 6 holes. I still use one ball a round in real golf before it becomes a practice ball - my choice (I could still use it and would be OK). Back in the days of using Balata balls I would be happy to get 3 holes out of a ball before it was scuffed, or dare I say it, cut lol.

   

• navigater 1,319 Posts

  Thu, Apr 23 2015 1:36 PM

  I had a chance one day to use a swing.So I put it to good use.

  Then I had an idead.I got this  pro v 1 that Ive been whacking for three years ,
  So i sent 10 brand new ones down the range. nice grouping. then I sent that 3 year old one down.
  Dam thing landed in the middle of that group.

  Go figure.LOL

   

   

   

  navi

• MichaelStroke 2,066 Posts

  Thu, Apr 23 2015 1:47 PM

  What a surprise - he's using 600cr/sleeve balls.

  Why do all the complaints come from low level/tier people playing the really expensive stuff?

• alanti 10,564 Posts

  Thu, Apr 23 2015 2:31 PM

  My complaint with Max balls is the lack of spin....someone was asking for another dot....can't remember who......

  Durability is poor, but we have choice.

  The only plus to the Max is the meter speed, otherwise they are a hunk of chit that incidentally float on greens...what is up with that?

• MichaelStroke 2,066 Posts

  Thu, Apr 23 2015 3:16 PM

  alanti:

  My complaint with Max balls is the lack of spin....someone was asking for another dot....can't remember who......

  Durability is poor, but we have choice.

  The only plus to the Max is the meter speed, otherwise they are a hunk of chit that incidentally float on greens...what is up with that?

  Actually, the main plus to the Max is that you can use them much, much earlier.

  On a stroke-per-credit basis, they're equal to the 90/92 RZNs, but are cheaper.  They have to be watered down, due to the fact that all you need to use them is be at least a Pro tier (which is what, about level 30 these days?).  Level 90 is not quick to get to these days.

• srellim234 2,077 Posts

  Thu, Apr 23 2015 3:41 PM

  Apex- Golf balls wear out these days as a result of cover degradation more than compression loss.Loss of compression is no longer as big of an issue as it used to be.The following is direct from Srixon (note the line that I highlighted):

  "...DURABILITY

  The most common durability concern among players is the everyday scuffing and peeling due to normal wear and tear.

  Scuffs and slices affect the aerodynamics of golf ball flight as well as wedge spin and other launch conditions.

  Depending on the dimple pattern disruption, the effect could manifest itself as reduced distance or exaggerated dispersion.

  We recommend players replace their golf ball anytime they cut into the cover. Minor surface scuffs do not always require replacing the golf ball but be aware that scuffs can affect wedge spin negatively.

  LIFETIME

  Golf balls can last for hundreds of driver impacts. Despite fears that golf balls may expire on the shelf or get water logged in the hazard, their lifetime is determined mainly by our ability to keep it in play.

  Unlike a tennis ball, exposure to air, subtle temperature changes and varying humidity should not adversely affect long term performance.

  Both urethane and ionomer are impermeable to water, meaning that a submerged golf ball will not absorb water but water can degrade the cover over time, hurting performance..."

  Similar results from testing other manufacturer's balls can be found with some web searching.

  I have no problem with WGT's durability on any given golf ball. They should wear out as covers are degraded. If it were a compression issue, though, they would last longer as ball technology has really improved from when we used to play a lot more (no more rubber band-wound insides and balata covers). WGT offers plenty of options to fit a large variety of budgets. They also offer a free ball that never wears out.