Picking the right golf ball is highly important for anyone who wishes to score well in…
Golf Ball For Slow Swing Speed: What To Consider
Balls are an integral part of the game: the right ball defines and perfects your strike. But with such a wide variety available in the market, it becomes highly difficult to select the one that suits your style. Furthermore, you require the right knowledge to choose from the several available options and play the game that you enjoy. That is why we will help you to find the best golf ball for slow swing speed.
Getting the wrong ball means wastage of resources and a losing game. However, before you decide on the ball, it’s best to understand your skills and expertise. It starts with understanding your swing speed, which isn’t easy to do. Moreover, gauging it wrong can even cost you the game as you’ll be unable to get yourself the right gear.
Swing speed most definitely affects your ball choice as well, but thanks to modern technology, now you can accurately measure your swing speed with precision to get the right game equipment. Although it is important to increase speed, a slow swing is manageable, given you have the right knowledge and equipment. Golf clubs and pro shops have the tools to calculate your swing speed while also the help required for finding suitable golf balls.
But what is a slow swing? It is a term used for average male golfers having speed below 90 mph. Top golfer swing between the ranges of 105-110 mph. While record-breakers could even go beyond 160 mph as the legendary Tiger Wood reached top swing speed at just under 130 mph during one of his tour games.
Golf ball Speed vs. Swing Speed
Although people often get confused and used them interchangeably, ball speed is entirely different from the swing speed. Latter is the clubhead’s speed at the time it was attached to the ball, whereas ball speed is the ball’s epicenter velocity at the time it left the clubface.
Meanwhile, swing speed is important for distance. One can still increase the ball’s speed and distance at a slower swing speed. Moreover, swing speed also has an impact on ball speed. It is far from the only factor. Ball speed is dependent on:
- Angle of attack
- Point of contact
- Face angle w.r.t flight path
Hitting the ball at its dead center ensures less spin, and as a result, you get higher ball speed and increased distance. However, taking a steep angle will increase the spin, reduce the speed and shorten the drive. Keeping the above aspects correct ensure greater covered distance without increasing the swing speed.
Golf Ball Compression vs. Swing Speed
Have you ever noticed the number on the golf balls that come in varying colors, such as red or black? Do you know what does that means and why is the significance of these colors? It is very important to understand the meaning and implications of these colors.
Black color means the ball has a higher swing, ideal for hard hitters, while red color signifies softer compression, which is suitable for a smooth hitter. Typically, there are three different categories of compression that your swing speed can alter: low (highly flexible), medium (flexible) and high (least flexible).
Typically, players benefit from low compression balls as it gives them higher energy return, which means you’ll get a good distance. But if you’re a hard hitter, you’ll benefit from high compression balls as it gives accuracy.
If you’re a soft hitter, then slower swing speed is ideal for you as it will help you with the distance. Therefore, a lower compression ball works best for them as it translates the flexible energy into the distance.
These are the number of factors you should consider when shopping for golf balls that matches your ball and swing speed:
Compression: How hard is the ball?
Even newbie golfers can find the right compression rating as the balls are marked with different colored numbers. Besides, if you know your swing speed along with the driver, finding the right golf will be quite easy. Having a high compression golf ball means you’ll get greater distance from golfers with a high-speed swing.
While golfers with a slower swing speed require lower compression balls to get more distance from the golfer, having the wrong or higher compression balls for your swing speed will result in shorter drives, so it’s best to have the right compression ball to get the most out of your swing.
Feel: How it feels when you hit the ball
It is a personal attribute and thus varies from golfer to golfer. If you feel okay when hitting the ball, then it means the ball has a good feel. Typically, harder feel balls are preferred for full swing shots but if you play in the greens, then choose a softer feel golf ball. It is best to try a few options before you make a final decision.
The ball’s feel also affects chipping and pitching of the game while giving you a fuller control over the hit. To ensure you’re comfortable with the feel of the ball, it is best to try out a few in the green area to measure its swing and compression.
Spin: How much it rotates
The third most definitive feature of the ball is its spin, which is quite tricky. Mostly you don’t get enough swing when you want more swing, while in other cases, your ball swings too much when you don’t want it to swing. However, with the right gear and ball, you can control the ball’s swing. To measure swing, you can use a launch monitor once you’ve selected the type of ball you require.
If you want long-distance driver spin, go for less, whereas more is better for a short distance. Meanwhile, the backspin automatically enlarges the ball. However, the spin choice depends on the distance from the tee and the control on the ground.
Price: How much it costs
The only thing that compromises a golfer’s buying decision is the price of the ball. But, expensive balls don’t necessarily offer better quality. You can get some great options within your price range. However, if you’re a pro, you may need balls that come with a higher price tag, but newbies should start with affordable gears and get the expensive one as the game improves.
While you save the money on balls, you can utilize it to play more rounds of a game per year. Buying a new expensive ball means it will wear off quickly before you get the hang of the game. Newbies should invest $40-50 on a box ball that can last for long.
Handicap: what’s your skill level
It gives a clear indication of your potential, proficiency and expertise in the game. A high handicap player will require a versatile ball in distance and spin as he cannot pitch and shape shots accurately.
Distance: How far the ball goes
Distance is important for your game, especially for those who swing slow, but it’s not the only factor affecting your round’s efficiency or performance. The players who focus only on speed often comprise other areas of the game, especially in the green control. Find a ball that provides substantial distance without reducing control and spin, even on a slow swing.
However, the slow swing is often discouraged in the game. Therefore, professionals regard golfers making such moves as amateurs with limited skills. But with the right clubs, gear and practice, you can bring improvement in your game. Ball manufacturers have played a vital role in helping players overcome their shortcomings by using the right ball.