What kind of ball do you use?

[JiggaFresh]

Although we're all trying to get the most 'correct' read, this has more to do with the cost and durability of the ball used. That being said, here are the questions I have for the community:

1. Do you play the same ball that you game out on the course?
2. Do you rotate between balls in your simulator? (I'd assume this is yes, curious how many people use)
3. How often do you swap out the ball from rotation?
4. What is your preferred ball for the simulator?

I'm really looking for a solid ball to use that's durable and doesn't break the bank.

[IAhawkeyeDDS]

Play same ball on course and Skytrak/TGC (prov1x) ...

To keep cost down I'll buy previous generation logo overruns for the simulator.

although I probably get about 500-700 swings into a ball before i throw it into the shag bag. By the time I'm done with it all printing and lettering is gone from the ball surface. I really don't notice a drop in performance as the ball wears... but I'm not a single digit HCP either -- yet :-). I have split a couple of them in half from over use.

[JiggaFresh]

I like the idea of the overruns and previous generations. I play a b330 on the course and have used it in the sim for the most part. I've been doing a ton of short game practice, which seems to run the balls down more quickly.

[skytrakali]

Chromesoft on the course - chromesoft in my simulator. Here's why: one thing that ST can tell you is that different balls really do perfomr very differently. Particularly with spin rates. A chromesoft loses me about 2 yards with a PW but has TWICE (yes twice) the backspin of (say) a Warbirdwith a PW, GW, 9 iron etc. ST is great for comparing balls actually. I want to know what will happen on the course - so yeah the same ball every time.

Regarding wear - yes agree with IAhawkeyeDDS - the lettering fades after a few 100 shots - time to change it then. Coincidentally yesterday I suddenly started to lose 10, then 20, then 30 yards with a chromesoft. Was puzzled, but then noticed that my ball was split.

[Whiskeyjack]

I'm with you on the ball comparison. I was using a pretty good ball then got won a dozen NXT's and tried them on the skytrak. You're right about the spin rate, twice the amount. Now I'm using NXT's all the time and notice over all more consistent performance. Now I'm constantly checking out different kinds of ball's and their spin rates etc. It's becoming an interesting side thing lol.

[skytrakali]

It's also possible to match your ball to the season. It's so wet on our course at the moment (Oxfordshire) that even a half-topped approach will pretty much end up in its pitch mark on the green - so I use a lower-spinning ball to maximize distance in the mud and the cold air.

The link below shows what difference the ball type makes to spin - and that's just on a 40 yard pitch

[msg]

I use the same Callaway Supersoft I used on real games. I buy used every time. I don't rotate mine. I use them till the ball is beat up. I use my ST only on the range mode, no simulation yet.

[Miller player]

I have not yet purchased SkyTrak as I want to make sure I can use foam balls in the indoor range in the basement.

[trumb1mj]

I have not yet purchased SkyTrak as I want to make sure I can use foam balls in the indoor range in the basement.

If you have the space to take a full swing and use foam balls, why not just go all the way with real balls?

[dagratest816]

TP5X on the course...old used tp5x's and prov1x's on the sim. got some other random balls that ive found and what not that i keep around the house for sim use but just havent got to em yet, usually i hit a ball or two and just go chase em down and continue hitting. Have split 2 TP5x's

[frackh]

For the Skytrak range, I use the Callaway Diablo Tour, these balls last forever. But I switch over to the Bridgestone RX330 for both real golf and TGC tournament rounds. I've played with Vice & Kirkland balls and they last maybe 3 TGC rounds before it physical crack open.

[trentmharris]

I'm sticking with the new Callaway Warbird until such time I find a more durable ball to use with a simulator. This is the only ball I have used to date that can make it through 20+ rounds of golf on the simulator without cracking. What I have tested so far includes ProV1 & V1x, Vice Pro+, Pinnacle Soft, and Maxfli U/6 Tour. I would guess the average number of rounds of all these balls except Warbid is around 8-10 rounds.

[jut111]

I have not yet purchased SkyTrak as I want to make sure I can use foam balls in the indoor range in the basement.

you're not going to get very accurate numbers using foam balls.

[Mirek_62]

I'm using Wilson Ultra on my sim. I have about 100pcs in the bucket. According to ST statistics, I played more than 20,000 shots with them. On average, there are 200 shots per ball. No ball is cracked yet and all have only a slight wear on the surface.

[Virtualadam]

If you have the space to take a full swing and use foam balls, why not just go all the way with real balls?

I think this is a common issue for many people. You need a lot less rigour when hitting foam balls versus real balls, not to mention the sound (if living with others). My initial setup was hitting foam balls into a standard retractible projector screen (with Optishots). Moving to Skytrack, I had to change my entire setup to real simulator screen that would take a real golf ball, and also side nets to ensure I don't shank one and put in through my wive's car window (setup is in my garage)...

I have a friend that would love to buy a Skytrak, but hasn't because he isn't able to hit real balls in his basement, but could hit foam balls....

I think this relatively simple enhancement would open up the device for many people that have these limitations.

Ideally if customers could configure "ball profiles", and share those online, as there is such a variation with foam ball characteristics. Could be something as simple as a power boost a spin boost, and a factor that scales those based on ball speed....

[trumb1mj]

Buying a $2k simulator and using fake balls is a dumb investment.

[tonybrown32]

Although we're all trying to get the most 'correct' read, this has more to do with the cost and durability of the ball used. That being said, here are the questions I have for the community:

1. Do you play the same ball that you game out on the course?
2. Do you rotate between balls in your simulator? (I'd assume this is yes, curious how many people use)
3. How often do you swap out the ball from rotation?
4. What is your preferred ball for the simulator?

I'm really looking for a solid ball to use that's durable and doesn't break the bank.

1. Yes. Play the same ball on the course and on the Skytrak for the most part. Although I may change my ball in the fall, and play something softer outdoors due to conditions and air temperature, but may not have a need to do so indoors on the Skytrak. Use whatever ball most closely matches the playing characteristics of your gamer. In my view there is no reason not to... the whole point for me is to use Skytrak as a training and practice tool, so I want to get the same results when I move my game to the course. Spin and launch characteristics can vary greatly between balls... if you use Skytrak to dial in distances, you could see at times 10 yard differences (a full club) between balls in your mid irons for example.

2. Yes. I buy all my balls at lostgolfballs.com used anyway. I draw a line on them, as I feel it helps with Skytrak accuracy. Over time however, the ball does wear.. I see the ball get "grey" as it gets worn, print wears off, etc and becomes less accurate I feel due to the color changes and print wear. Just last night, I was using an older ball (too lazy to go to the basement at the time and grab a new one), and noticed my spin rates were wildly variable, but didn't feel like I was striking it poorly... varied from 3000rpm with my 8i to as much as 8500 with my 8i. Usually I stay in the 6500 range. Grabbed a new ball, and the spin variability went away.... so I replace when i start to see some inconsistancies show up, or when a ball cracks. I have had only 2-3 balls split on me. I think it ocurrs mostly because I'm in the garage, and can be 20-30 degrees there some days, so cold temps don't help durability... also the deformation of the ball when struck, may not fully reform well by the time it hits the net which can cause some durability issues.

3. Like I said, I swap out for a new ball when it looks warn... the print on the ball is a good indicator for me.. when letters start to wear off, I think about swapping. I don't keep track but maybe every 500 shots or so? I hit about 100 balls a session, and maybe every 5 sessions or so I'll use a new ball. Far less than I lose on the course outside

4. No preferred simulator ball, since I use my gamer. I'm using Chrome Soft right now. Incidentally, I have used MANY different balls on the Skytrak, and Chrome Soft are the only balls I've cracked. Chrome Soft vs. ProV1 are nearly identical for me as far as spin. Chrome soft launches ever so slightly higher for me though, and I prefer the feel, so I stick with Chrome Soft. I actually prefer the feel of the Supersoft even more, and I get about 5 more yards in distance through the bag and substantially more height with that ball as well, but the spin on short irons/wedges and chips/pitches is so much less, it's difficult to play on firm fast courses so it's my cold weather ball only. Through testing, I get about 9-10k spin with my 56 degree on full shots using a Chrome Soft or ProV1... 5-6k with the Supersoft.. however the lauch is much higher with the Supersoft so it balances out fine stopping on greens with full shots, but not short pitches or wedges.

Ball testing is becoming a bit of a hobby for me like it is for others in this thread. I just picked up a couple dozen Srixon Q-Star Tour balls and got a chance to compare one to the Chrome Soft last night... Excellent feeling ball. Softness is between ChromeSoft and Supersoft, but closer to the Supersoft which is great. I expected spin rates to be less than the Chrome Soft based on reviews, but I was pleasantly surprised I did not lose much if any spin. Mid to long irons the Q-Star Tour and Chrome Soft played identically for me. Wedges, I did see slight reduction in spin, but only 100-200 rpm which is negligible and may be related to strike as much as ball properties... I could live with 200rpm reduction in spin as a trade off for softer feel... I can't trade 4000rpm spin reduction. My driver is getting re-shafted, but looking forward to testing the two with the driver.. also looking forward to seeing how the Q-Star tour plays on the course with chips and pitches... could be my new ball if it performs well around and on the greens.