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Characteristics of different golf balls

• MioKontic 4,654 Posts

  Sun, Feb 13 2011 5:54 AM

  I want to understand about the end result, i.e. distance travelled, of different golf balls.  I have used the freebie ball, GI2-S, GI3-S, Callaway i(s) and Callaway i(z) and so may reference these, but I guess it would apply to all balls.

  Now I know the Callaway's go further than other WGT balls, but after having taken into account the extra distance, shouldn't all the balls go the same distance with the same club.  For example, lets assume we're hitting a wedge shot and it's max distance is 77yds.  Lets also assume we're hitting into a flat green (e.g. St Andrews #1 front pin, forget the burn) with no wind.  So, If you hit the freebie ball at full power should it not go 77yds?  And should the other non-distance balls also go 77yds?  I would expect the difference would be the landing point; the freebie ball would land shorter and roll further, whereas a spin ball would carry further and stop quicker.  Is my assumption correct?

  Now assume we're hitting a 3-iron which hits, say, 200yds.  Would the same principles apply, or would the freebie ball run further - and therefore more than 200yds - than other non-distance balls?

  I understand the distance is affected by the lie of the land, by humps and hollows etc, but for now I just want to understand what happens on a flat surface with no obstructions.

• LizzieRossetti 1,545 Posts

  Sun, Feb 13 2011 6:10 AM

  MioKontic:

  but for now I just want to understand what happens on a flat surface with no obstructions.

   

  Okie,three things happen.

  1.Some numpty on a motorcycle will pull doughnuts.

  2.Developers will build 32 homes in a space more suited to just 9.

  3.As a girl with those stats,you become a supermodel...

  Hope this helps Mio.x

  Lizzie xx

• piztaker 5,743 Posts

  Sun, Feb 13 2011 6:27 AM

  I thought the extra distances only affected the drives. Any way the 1st at St. Andrews is far from flat. (Pokes out tongue). lol.

• chrisironsbones 3,524 Posts

  Sun, Feb 13 2011 6:41 AM

  piztaker:

  I thought the extra distances only affected the drives. Any way the 1st at St. Andrews is far from flat. (Pokes out tongue). lol.

  And also long irons, for example the 190 yard iron might be 193/194, and i've noticed my 75 yard wedge is 77, and 50, is 51/52.

  But this is without backspin, i've recently realised after countless adding yardage for distance to my clubs, then subtracting for spin to the yardage i'd allready added, i found say i had 85 yard club, the extra distance makes it 87, but if i use backspin, then i have to minus the 3 yards for the 3 dots spin out of 85 (actual club yardage) and not 87, the yardage it is with extra distance.

• MioKontic 4,654 Posts

  Sun, Feb 13 2011 8:56 AM

  LizzieRossetti:

  doughnuts

  Doughnuts?  Where?  I want half a dozen of the custard filled ones.  No, make it 10.  Tell you what, might as well have a whole dozen.  Bakers dozen.  So, 15 it is.

  LizzieRossetti:

  As a girl with those stats,you become a supermodel

  I knew you were a supermodel right from the word go.  All this talk about HMS's and excercises and whatnot and such was just a cover-up.

  But enough chit-chat about supermodels and buns... I mean doughnuts, how about that distance thingy I asked about.

• LizzieRossetti 1,545 Posts

  Sun, Feb 13 2011 10:25 AM

  With regard to the relative distance of various balls Mio,I think you must be confusing me with someone who knows..

  All I can say is that sometimes I get way good yardage,and others I dont,so then I apply some muttered incant and hope to make up later.Oh,and I do know,if you knock a putt with a 60 ft instead of a 30,youre screwed but royally.even on a bumpty green.

  Good luck finding out though,but I have to ask,when you DO find out,what will you do with all that intel?

  Lizzie xx

• MioKontic 4,654 Posts

  Sun, Feb 13 2011 10:53 AM

  LizzieRossetti:

  I apply some muttered incant

  I thought about spreading some hot mustard on them too, but it discolours them and make them sticky.  And whatever you do, you wouldn't want to lick 'em.

  LizzieRossetti:

  if you knock a putt with a 60 ft instead of a 30,youre screwed but royally

  Were you spying on me or something earlier today???

  LizzieRossetti:

  what will you do with all that intel?

  Well, I plan to take over the world, but don't go telling everyone.  Failing that, I plan to use it to lower my WGT score and be a legend.  :-)  You see, the thinking is that if the freebies actually go the same distance as other WGT balls but just in a slightly different manner, then, when I run out of credits (which I think I will pretty soon as I'm getting nothing on the survey front at the moment) I will have to make do with those there freebies.  I could, of course, sell my house and use the money to buy virtual balls on WGT.

• LizzieRossetti 1,545 Posts

  Sun, Feb 13 2011 12:23 PM

  well if you do sell your house,you could sleep in the recycle bins,since that idea appears to have been not only shelved,but summarily and roundly dismissed with a smack for Lizzie and her inherent temerity.

  See though,about the ball characteristics,all you need first is the facts,then you can distort them any way you wish...

  Hedgehogs.why can't they just share?

   

  Lizzie xx

• passiveson 39 Posts

  Sun, Feb 13 2011 1:09 PM

  The chareristics of a ball is in it's engineering. The free ball is generic, constucted out of inferior, inexpensive materials, with minimum performance in mind. in other words it's cheap. You get what you pay for.

  Higher grade balls are scientifically engineered for enhanced  performance. The type and grade of the materials, the texture, weight and density, the composite of the shell, whether it's liquid filled or has a solid core all affect it's resilence and performance.

  Think about the amount of force impacting the ball. If it's spongy it loses shape (like gelitin) and you're not going to be pleased with the resulting flight, landing or roll, it's unpredictable. High grade balls have greater durability. The denser, heavier ball transfers and retains more energy from the club and travels straighter and farther, it retains it's shape to maximize aerodynamics and doesn't wobble in flight or while rolling. Plastic casings provide reduced friction (slippery) than polyvinyls or vulcanized composites which grip when struck by the club or on impacting and rolling on the ground.

  The right ball is just as important as the right club when it comes to equipment to make a shot count. Try driving a ping pong ball and you'll know what I mean.

   

  Hope this helps.

• Infinito3010 3,689 Posts

  Sun, Feb 13 2011 1:49 PM

  MioKontic:

  I want to understand about the end result, i.e. distance travelled, of different golf balls.  I have used the freebie ball, GI2-S, GI3-S, Callaway i(s) and Callaway i(z) and so may reference these, but I guess it would apply to all balls.

  Now I know the Callaway's go further than other WGT balls, but after having taken into account the extra distance, shouldn't all the balls go the same distance with the same club.  For example, lets assume we're hitting a wedge shot and it's max distance is 77yds.  Lets also assume we're hitting into a flat green (e.g. St Andrews #1 front pin, forget the burn) with no wind.  So, If you hit the freebie ball at full power should it not go 77yds?  And should the other non-distance balls also go 77yds?  I would expect the difference would be the landing point; the freebie ball would land shorter and roll further, whereas a spin ball would carry further and stop quicker.  Is my assumption correct?

  Now assume we're hitting a 3-iron which hits, say, 200yds.  Would the same principles apply, or would the freebie ball run further - and therefore more than 200yds - than other non-distance balls?

  I understand the distance is affected by the lie of the land, by humps and hollows etc, but for now I just want to understand what happens on a flat surface with no obstructions.

  Club yardages are based on the freebie balls in no wind conditions.  The roll and carry reflect on average the yardage specified by the club.  The different balls with the various attributes will influence the carry and roll.

  Thus a ball with one dot distance will go further than a ball with 1 dot spin.  The replay feature is an important tool that can help examine the characteristics of the ball and the impact of spin and wind has on a ball.   I find it a great tool to develop a feel for each club in various conditions.