Ask Bubba

Follow Thread

By Bubba

  • 0 Likes
  • 14 Replies
  1. Bubba

    Bubba
    Providence, RI

    Team Titleist Staff

    Hi Team Titleist,

    As you can imagine, we’re always looking for ways to keep the discussion boards fresh, fun and informative. And we know there are a lot of great questions out there as we all look to dial-in our gear and our games.

    So we want to try something new…Each week I’ll start a new thread titled “Ask Bubba”and it will be an open forum for you to ask any of your questions.

    Topics can range from finding the right golf ball for your game and Titleist golf ball or golf club technology, to dialing in your clubs and optimizing your set composition. 

    Or anything else golf related that is on your mind. 

    We’ll pick a few of our favorites and post a video with our responses. So keep those questions coming in and we hope this turns out to be a cool new feature.

    Take care,

    Bubba

  2. Bubba,

    I've recently been thinking about switching golf balls. I currently play a Pro V1x, but am open to anything that will improve my game and be more cost efficient. I would benefit from both a better long game with less spin off the tee, and better short game. I am not sure if I should be looking for a longer ball or a softer feel. Any tips?

    Thank you!

    John

  3. Don O

    Don O
    Madison, WI

    John M said:

    Bubba,

    I've recently been thinking about switching golf balls. I currently play a Pro V1x, but am open to anything that will improve my game and be more cost efficient. I would benefit from both a better long game with less spin off the tee, and better short game. I am not sure if I should be looking for a longer ball or a softer feel. Any tips?

    Thank you!

    John

    It's taken me a couple of years to come around on the value of the Pro-V line (and First Tee has gotten at least 4 different balls in multiple dozens as a result).  Even though I'm a slower swinger, I clearly get my best results with the Pro-V1x.  The only way you reduce cost and maintain distance is to look at NXT Tour (it's a monster, but you'd need to compare it to the 1x around the greens) or Velocity/DT Solo which I have no experience.  Each ball will be different for each player, so you'd have to try them all. No question that there are players that will have a favorite Titleist ball that's not a Pro-V - without a market Titleist wouldn't make them. One major sports retailer owns several well-known brands and they are less expensive.  You could easily spend a year trying out all the other options, trying to read through all the claims as to why they are better.  At some point, you need to know that this club and that ball will hit and stop on each par 3.  Changing balls in search of nirvana changes what you can expect on each shot.  I can't mix balls during a round and know what the next shot will do.

     

  4. Thanks Don!

    I suppose I am asking because I have never played another ball besides the Pro V1x. I was thinking about maybe going NXT Tour, NXT Tour S, Velocity or DT Solo. I would never leave the #1 ball in golf, but I suppose I will just have to do some trial and error within practice rounds.

  5. Don O

    Don O
    Madison, WI

    John -

    I got to test the 2014 NXT Tour last fall.  The new NXT and Pro-V1x were equal with my game, and almost a club longer than the 2012 NXT.  I've been working on adding more spin to my short game and with the loyalty program, the price differential was small enough to move up.  Without the program, I may have stayed.  I've only played 2 rounds on really soft conditions, so the short game is still in question.

  6. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    Well here is one I have been mulling with........  

    I currently have an AP1 PW and SM4 48-06 (still under the 90 day playability guarantee) both at stock loft.  Both are set 35.5" and 1/2* upright.  Full swing distance is 10 yards diff (PW is 110 and 48 is 100).   Pitch distances are within a couple feet (full swing pitch with both is about 80 yards) and they perform the same on long bunker shots.   MY 54-11 (set at 53) is 85 full swing and 55 full swing pitch.  The 48 works better around the greens.

    I carried a SM c-c 5-08 between 2011 - 2013.  With the Eye 2 irons, I had it set at 51* and was pretty deadly around the greens.  When I went to AP1 , I changed the loft to 49* - OK but not nearly as deadly around the greens.  I had a full swing distance of about 95 yards.  I had this one set up at 35.25" 

    48s and 50s are hard to find used.  I saw an SM4 50-08 at Golf Mart and was contemplating returning the 48.

    Here is the final thing..... if I do a Sunday bag, I can carry the driver, 7 wood 27H, 34H, 9 iron and Vokeys (48-54-58-64).    I already have choke down shots mastered.   With the 50, I would end up with a 25 yard gap between it and the 9 iron. 48 is 15-20 yards and that is easily manageable.

    Thoughts?

     

  7. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    Lou G said:

    Well here is one I have been mulling with........  

    I currently have an AP1 PW and SM4 48-06 (still under the 90 day playability guarantee) both at stock loft.  Both are set 35.5" and 1/2* upright.  Full swing distance is 10 yards diff (PW is 110 and 48 is 100).   Pitch distances are within a couple feet (full swing pitch with both is about 80 yards) and they perform the same on long bunker shots.   MY 54-11 (set at 53) is 85 full swing and 55 full swing pitch.  The 48 works better around the greens.

    I carried a SM c-c 5-08 between 2011 - 2013.  With the Eye 2 irons, I had it set at 51* and was pretty deadly around the greens.  When I went to AP1 , I changed the loft to 49* - OK but not nearly as deadly around the greens.  I had a full swing distance of about 95 yards.  I had this one set up at 35.25" 

    48s and 50s are hard to find used.  I saw an SM4 50-08 at Golf Mart and was contemplating returning the 48.

    Here is the final thing..... if I do a Sunday bag, I can carry the driver, 7 wood 27H, 34H, 9 iron and Vokeys (48-54-58-64).    I already have choke down shots mastered.   With the 50, I would end up with a 25 yard gap between it and the 9 iron. 48 is 15-20 yards and that is easily manageable.

    Thoughts?

     

    I took the plunge......   The cash cost with the return was $16 (including the new Titleist grip).   The loft was already 49* and the lie angles  matched.   I took the 50-08 over to the practice areas at Adm Baker.  Dropped the ball at the back of the driving range bunker and hit within 3' of the pin.  Did ditto with some pitch shots and got them within 1-3 ft most of the time (had one that landed 6").  Did some bump n run shots at the clubhouse practice green and holed out 2 of them with quite a few within a foot. The SM4 50-08 stops the ball MUCH better than the SM c-c 50-08 and the SM4 48-06.  Well.... with the Sunday bag I keep the PW in.

  8. John L

    John L
    Dewey, OK

    I know its Ask Bubba but i had some thoughts. your loft of your AP1 PW is factory 44 witch is why you were seeing the yardage gap between that and your 48. and thats why if you go ap1 nine iron to 48 vokey you see such a huge gap. its like hitting a mb 8 iron and pw. you would be missing  the 9 iron gap. if you left your pw in the bag and wen't too a 50 degree you would probably find a club that fits in the distance game but of course thats only looking at the short approch shots.  not sure what you were looking for in the questions but thats what i can see from what you wrote

    cheers greens and fairways

    simba

  9. Tim Tiger

    Tim Tiger
    Tucson, AZ

    • What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?
    • How much wood would a woodchuck chuck If a woodchuck could chuck wood?

    But on a more serious note.  What is your opinion of the 913 HD vs 913 H vs 712U.

    Looking to close up some distance gaps and cover all shots.  Currently have a 15* fairway and an 18* 913 HD.  Then the next club is an AP2 4 iron.


    TT

  10. tdogg21

    tdogg21
    Chambersburg, PA

    T.Tiger said:

    • What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?
    • How much wood would a woodchuck chuck If a woodchuck could chuck wood?

    But on a more serious note.  What is your opinion of the 913 HD vs 913 H vs 712U.

    Looking to close up some distance gaps and cover all shots.  Currently have a 15* fairway and an 18* 913 HD.  Then the next club is an AP2 4 iron.


    TT

    An African or European Swallow? 

  11. Titleist Fan 2435

    Titleist Fan 2435
    Fort Myers, FL

    Bubba, I've been playing 690 forged MB's for last 10yrs. but only play 2 times a month now if that due to 3 kids keeping me busy. I love my clubs and still hit them well but was wondering if I should switch to some type of cavity back to make it even easier since I'm not playing as much. I had MP 33's before that and moved on to 690's cause I liked the heavier head. My misses are timing mostly and the main clubs I have issues with now are 3 & 4 iron since I never practice. Thought about trying the newer MB's or CB 714 or 712 irons and maybe custom 712U for long irons since I can't stand offset hybrids. I haven't hit any yet so that's next on list. I went to golf shop not too long ago and my swing speed was between 105-110 with ball spin 3400-3600 if that matters. I've always had a higher flight with draw but I don't practice, except before the round, so am not out there working the ball very much. Any thoughts would be much appreciated. Thanks Ed B.
  12. Don O

    Don O
    Madison, WI

    Thanks Bubba for the effort to crank up the volume!

    I can't get in many rounds in Wisconsin, so I can probably use my Spin-Milled wedges for a couple of more years based on groove wear since I'm not restricted where I play.  Since they are not legal for competition, is there a reason to look at SM5s before the groves wear out?

  13. Bomber3

    Bomber3
    Lake St Louis, MO

    Military

    Bubba,

    My question relates to humidity and golf ball performance, specifically, does humidity impact golf ball performance?  I travel a lot between Dallas and St Louis for work and usually get a round or two in each time I'm in Dallas.  I've noticed that my shots tend to fly a little farther in Dallas' warm/hot - low humidity environment, versus St Louis' warm/hot - mid-to-high humidity environment.

    Thanks,

    Barry B.

  14. Jay  W

    Jay W
    big spring, TX

    i am in concern about around the how is the best way to hit the ball and not hit it fat

  15. james w

    james w
    jessup, PA

    hi bubba

    I was wondering if putting sensacore inserts in my 712 ap2 irons with dynalite gold xp shafts and my volkey wedges is ok,

    i've had 2 operations on my left arm and find the low vibration helps when playing, I had them in my old irons that had dynamic gold s300 shafts so I though it would be ok for this type, i'm just not sure about the wedges.                               

    thanks  james

     

Please login to post a comment.

Sign In

Haven't registered for Team Titleist yet?

Sign Up