PAGE 4: Answering your golf tech questions

Different companies have different theories on it, but generally it’s to make it to make it feel a little bit softer, and their arguments with their inserts are that it gets the ball to roll quicker than any other company to reduce lag or skid because every putt when you hit it skids before it starts rolling.

They reckon you have different things like Microhinge which Odyssey use in their face, Scotty Cameron have got a milled finish that they use on theirs so they all do different type of technologies, but that’s the idea behind it, to get it rolling before it’s quicker than it’s skidding if that makes sense.

The balls with more layers can be softer with softer covers. Generally those who generate more power need softer balls such as Pro V1s. Those with average power wouldn’t need something that soft because they don’t generate enough power to compress the ball.

So if you are an average golfer I wouldn’t look at a premium ball - a mid range golf ball would be a lot more beneficial.

No I wouldn’t say they go too far on Tour.

Luke Donald made a good comment the other day on Twitter that there was a course that was 7,000 yards like the US Open and I think 16 under won, and then last week there was a course which was 6,400 and only 8 under won.

So it’s the golf courses that need changing in my eyes.

Rather than pick one particular model, I would say adjustability on drivers today. The technology on drivers in the last 10 years has improved so much. 

You could get an iron from 10 years ago and a modern iron, and generally out the middle there is not a massive difference, whereas you get a massive difference with drivers, especially ball speed and spin rates.

The modern drivers spin less and launch higher because they have a thinner face.

Your average Tour pro now hits it 280 yards whereas 10 years ago he would have been hitting it a long way if he was hitting it that far. People like Dustin Johnson are carrying it way over 300 yards now so the driver is definitely the big one.

Click here for more information about custom fitting at The Belfry, and keep up to date with Neil Wain's extremely helpful golf equipment and custom fitting advice on his active Twitter and Instagram pages.