As golf balls have evolved, performance has greatly improved in all areas. In my school, I try to wean my students off those hard, low-spin distance balls. You may get 5 more yards off of the tee, but you will also get 5 more yards around the green as well. You are getting better, so here is your next move up. Look into the mid-price category. This would be a dozen balls in the $35 range. I have three or four that, through my testing, perform beautifully. The Titleist NXT Tour is outstanding, and a few tour players use it now and then. The new Callaway Hex Chrome is a winner. Another is the TaylorMade Penta 3. Fred Funk recently won a Champions Tour event with the Penta 3. Finally, the Nike Vapor Black, although it lacks a urethane cover, performs right up there with the big boys. What all of these balls have in common, with the exception of the Nike Vapor Black’s cover composition, is three-piece construction and a urethane cover. Applying a urethane cover is a very expensive process. These two factors will provide you with more control, and you won’t lose much distance.
Bruce Black’s short-game school can be reached at 720-280-0274.
