Premium Balls

JC,

Couple of years before I started using Titleist on a regular basis, I was an avid Srixon fan. The price and performance of those balls from Transview were too good to be passed over.

The only problem I had the last time with them were that they cut almost too easily. A full wedge shot with them will result in bits of ball stuck on my grooves and good shredmarks on ball. A full 18 hole with them is all it can last.

I will try out the Z-Star since u mention but I'm not overly optimistic the cover can last >18 holes.

I am goin to go out and grab a box of Pentas 1st. These balls have gotten my interest for awhile.

S70B,
thanks for ur info and details of type of balls you have used.
Not craps or BS thru the balls.

ChrisD wrote:

S70B,
thanks for ur info and details of type of balls you have used.
Not craps or BS thru the balls.

Funny U shd mention mate but I did try my wife's cheap Top Flite XL Straights against the Pro V1X with my Driver shots.

Surprisingly, the ProV1X wasn't more than an avg of mebbe 5-7 yds behind the rock-hard distance ball. This shows that even with spin and softness, you wouldn't get too much of a distance loss with these premium balls.

I must add to the above post: My swing speed is only in the region of 102-105mph. Those faster swingers and better players might see a greater discrepancy in distance comparing a two-piece and a premium 3 or more piece ball. For those swinging slower, I do not think the distance difference will be that noticeable.

really my idol...

Anyway, i cannot really feel the difference btwn all 3 balls and even with putting? but u are right, i have not tried them side by side before. so maybe that is why i can't really tell the difference...

I have tried the Titlelist, Callaway and Nikes already. You are right about Titlelist having the harder cover. They seem to last longer compared to the rest.

but honestly i cannot feel the difference between all 3 balls... even when putting. maybe i need to continue to find the 'one' for me....

S70B wrote:

I will try out the Z-Star since u mention but I'm not overly optimistic the cover can last >18 holes.

Rex,

Here's a link to a review of the Z-Star, the 2nd last para mentions durability.

S70B wrote:

I must add to the above post: My swing speed is only in the region of 102-105mph. Those faster swingers and better players might see a greater discrepancy in distance comparing a two-piece and a premium 3 or more piece ball. For those swinging slower, I do not think the distance difference will be that noticeable.

You hit the nail on the head Rex, two articles I've come across in both Golf and Golf Digest where they did extensive testing on balls that there was only a marginal difference in distance between two-piece distance balls and multi-layered spin/premium balls. The difference was 8 yards between the longest and shortest ball in any brand. Where it really mattered was spin:

"Given how similar ball performance off the driver is, even some everyday golfers should be thinking about greenside performance more than how long a ball might be off the tee. The extra 5 or 7 yardsyou get probably aren't as important as the opportunity to save strokes with your short game. It's simple: pricier balls typically provide more spin and control"
Off Golf Magazine Feb '08 article "Revealed: The Best Ball for You!"

Having said that, here were the distance measurements for the balls mentioned in this thread. Launch conditions were 90mph swing speed, 137mph ball speed, 13.75 degree launch angle, 2,900rpm spin rate.

Titleist ProV1 - 249 yards (Pro V1x - 250.4 yards)
Callaway Tour i -253.7 yards
Nike One Platinum - 239.1 yards

The top distance balls in each brand were as follows (in case those seeking distance are interested)

TaylorMade TP Black - 259.1 yards (multi-layered)
Noodle+ - 259 yards (two piece)
Titleist NXT Extreme - 257.5 yards (two piece)
Precept Laddie X - 256 yards (two piece)
Nike PD Soft - 255.9 yards (two piece)
Bridgestone Tour B330-S - 255.2 yards (multi-layered)
Top Flite Freak - 254.5 yards (two piece)
Callaway HX Hot - 253.9 yards (two piece)
Srixon Ladies Soft Feel - 253.1 yards (two piece) [Soft Feel - 252.5 yards (two piece)]

Spin is a different story. Club was sand wedge with launch conditions at 76mph swing speed, 80mph ball speed, 38.5 degree launch angle, 10,500rpm spin rate.

Titleist ProV1 - 11,914 rpm (Pro V1x spins more at 12,299 rpm)
Callaway Tour i -10,473 rpm (interestingly, the two piece HX Hot Bite spins more at 11,331 rpm)
Nike One Platinum - 13,451 rpm

The conclusion with spin was "The highest or lowest spin ball isn't automatically the best one for you - you still need to try the ball to see how it reacts. Your swing's angle of attack may cause the ball to behave differently than another swing would."
Off Golf Magazine Feb '08 article "Revealed: The Best Ball for You!"

An eye opener perhaps?

MC, for putting, you can tell the difference by the sound at impact. I use a non-insert SC n u can really hear a difference with the different balls. The Nikes will sound more clicky, almost 2 piece ball-like.

For full wedge shots, I can't visually tell a diff in spin between the V1s and V1Xs but both generally perform how you want it to when you are striking it well. What I mean by being 'predictable' is that whether u cater for roll out or stop for your shots, the Titleist will do what u want it to do...more often. The Nike will either stop in its tracks when u want it to roll alittle or roll out more than anticipated when u want it to stop or spin. Its just easier to control a Titleist but dun ask me why.

I dun think TW uses a ball that is available to the general public but then again if he does, his control of the ball is like no other so I think he can overcome those things I said about Nike balls easily..

Birdman, thanks for the info. I'm still waiting on that link though.

Sorry Rex, no link for this one, searched and came up with zip. I gotta scan it off the mag and link it. Trying to figure out how to do that since my facebook is down after getting hacked.

Promise will have it sent to you.

just tried.

ok. I can feel the difference btwn Nike Tour D and Callaway Tour i.x.

Callaway is much softer...