Which Are The Best Golf Balls For Seniors….
Which Are The Best Golf Balls For Seniors….In the past few weeks, we have been bombarded with questions about golf balls for seniors.
Age Defying Golf focuses on golf flexibility, golf exercise, senior golf instruction to add distance and improve golf consistency. But new technology also plays a big roll and we will take a look at how you can utilize golf ball technology to improve your senior golf game.
The best golf ball for the senior golfers depends on whether you are primarily interested in 1. More distance, 2. More distance but retaining the feel and greenside control of a high performance golf ball, or 3. Tour quality performance.
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The selection of a golf ball, even as a senior golfer, is not a one size fits all option. It depends on your skill level and what you would like the golf ball to do for you.
Whereas the higher handicap senior golfer will benefit the most from a pure distance ball with low compression, the lower handicap player that has played with high-end golf balls for the last 20 years, will not be satisfied by the poor feel and control around the greens.
The Mid-High Handicap Senior Golfer Ball Selection
Golf ball selection is very straightforward for the mid-high handicap senior golfer. It comes down to 2 things:Distance and forgiveness.
However, distance is not as simple as it is for high swing speeds. You need a golf ball that maximizes distance with slower swing speeds (Driver swing speed less than 90mph).
The main components a golf ball in this category should have, include covers made of either Ionomer, Surlyn, or Trionomer. The ball should also be a low compression ball(less than 90) because you need to be able to compress the ball to a certain extent to benefit from the springlike energy transfer for distance. These golf balls are typically 2-piece designs.
Golf balls in this Category include…
| Image | Name | More Details |
|---|---|---|
 | TaylorMade SuperDeep Golf Ball (Pack of 12) | |
 | Nike Golf Crush Extreme Golf Balls, White | |
 | Callaway HEX Diablo Golf Balls -Pack of 12, White | |
 | Titleist DT SoLo Golf Balls (One Dozen) |
The Mid-Low Handicap Senior Golfer
As I was researching for this article, I found that all articles focused on distance when considering a golf ball for senior golfers. The articles just assumed that senior golfers just want distance. I felt that they were disregarding a large majority of senior golfers who can play the game with skill and need a golf ball that compliments and enhances that skill.
Personally, I cannot stand to play or even practice with hard cover golf balls. They don’t spin, they are clunky and uncontrollable with various shots around the green, and I hate the feel they give with putting.
In other words, distance is not necessarily the holy grail. I have also found this to be true in our business because distance articles and distance tips are never our most popularly read content. So I didn’t want to assume that distance was the key for ALL senior golfers.
Selecting a good golf ball that compliments the senior golfer with good skills has become much easier in recent years thanks to improving technologies. You can now find golf balls that improve distance with slower swing speeds but still retain some of the benefits of softer feel for green side control and the ability to spin the ball into the greens with irons and wedges.
The components to look for in this type of golf ball include a 3,4,or 5 piece construction with an Iothane or Urethane cover.
Golf balls with these qualities include…
The “Tour” Golf Balls
I know a lot of fellow senior golfers that use tour quality golf balls. Golf balls such as the Pro V1. These golf balls are designed for premium performance such as high spin and very soft covers so that the golfer can hit a variety of shots around the greens: low spinners, flops, flops with spin, the 2 bounce and grab pitch, draws and fade shots.
For low handicap golfers, these balls are the most enjoyable to play. However, with slower swing speeds you will lose all the components of distance including carry and roll. These golf balls are specifically designed for golfers with high swing speeds (105+mph swing speeds).
Tour Golf Balls …..
I am not saying that senior golfers should not play with Tour quality golf balls, just be aware that you will lose some of the performance benefits of balls better designed for your game. I play the Pro V1, so who am I to judge!
Thanks for reading! I hope this short guide helps in your selection.
Dr. Ryan York, DPT CGS
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Certified Golf Performance Specialist