14 minute read
The Latest in golf Balls
Selecting the right golf ball is a critical step toward better golf. Unlike the rest of the equipment being used, the golf ball factors into every shot.
So which ball is best for you?
There are many golf balls in the marketplace and all are being marketed differently. “This one is soft, this one is hard, this one is long, this one is better for slow swing speeds or high-spin or low trajectory.” In an instant gratification world, it’s understandable why the majority of golfers just grab a sleeve of balls at the course based on the golf staff’s recommendation. Instead, let’s review how Tour professionals test/fit their golf balls:
Start on the Putting Green
Elite players all start on the putting green. Start by bouncing a few different types of golf balls off the face of your putter. By doing so, you will feel/hear how soft each one is. Today, there are a lot of 2-piece balls that are actually made softer than tour balls. A Tour-caliber ball with a thin cast urethane cover will be quieter and softer. It’s important to choose a ball that sounds & feels right. After all, more than 30 percent of your strokes will come off the putter face.
the recovery zone (inside 40 Yards)
I call this the “recovery zone,” because if a golfer is off the green 40 yards and using a wedge, he/she has missed the green in regulation and now needs to recover by getting up and down for par. Since an average 15-handicap golfer only hits about four greens per round, a lot of time should be spent in this zone when testing balls. Using the club you prefer on short pitch shots, hit a series of small chips and flops to evaluate the ball’s behavior. Did the ball stop immediately? Bounce once and check? Run out? This can be an arduous process, but will be one of the biggest determining factors in choosing the ball right for you.
the Scoring zone (inside 100 Yards)
This is the distance where players are the most accurate. It is also where performance differs from ball-to-ball. In my experience with Tour pros and average players, the better player will spin the ball with their wedges twice as much and as a result, are able to zip the ball backward. Having a ball that will stop faster and reduce roll out may eliminate additional strokes. As a general rule, if the ball is settling near the pitch mark (and not running out), it is a good fit.
approach Shots (inside 165 Yards)
The final step in finding the right golf ball is with mid and long irons shots to test the ball’s performance into a headwind. Which ball travels at the highest peak trajectory? If a ball is consistency shorter, it may be spinning too much.
off the tee
All golf balls today travel the same distance, so I don’t advocate ball fitting with a driver. The proper loft, shaft selection and strength are the best ways to add extra distance!
Golf Balls - Premium
oNcorE GoLF vEro X1
39.99 www.OnCoreGolf.com Using a proprietary formulation and manufacturing process, along with a high modulus, metal-infused mantle, the Vero X1 features enhanced perimeter-weighting that results in the highest allowable velocity off the clubface and superb distance. Incorporating a nano-engineered transition layer to manage the interface between the mantle and a thin cast urethane cover, the Vero X1 delivers spin, control, and feel. The Vero X1 promises to take even the best golfer’s game to an entirely new level.
what wE LikE: Perimeter weighting gives you stability in flight, super velocity off the clubface.
oNcorE GoLF ELiXr
39.99 www.OnCoreGolf.com The ball has an innovative core composition delivers the highest initial velocity permitted by the USGA (99.84 percent of the allowable limit). Perimeter weighting allows for tight shot dispersion off the tee and on the fairway, and outstanding back spin for great control around the green. The ball has high initial velocity combined with perimeter weighting for accuracy and the longest, straightest shots possible. And low driver spin and an optimal launch angle yields extreme distance and control off the tee.
what wE LikE: Perimeter weighting gives you a tight shot dispersion, exceptional feel around green. titLEiSt Pro v1
$50 www.Titleist.com The V1 offers total performance and features longer distance, very low long game spin, penetrating flight, even more Drop-and-Stop greenside control and a softer feel. Features include a soft cast urethane elastomer cover system, a fast low-spin casing layer, a reformulated 2.0 ZG process core and a new spherically-tiled 388 tetrahedral dimple design. Benefits of the ball include longer distance with consistent flight, very low long game spin and a penetrating trajectory, increased dropand-stop short game control, and a softer feel or chips and putts.
what wE LikE: the classic “player’s” ball, offering both distance and control.
$50 www.Titleist.com The Pro V1x offers total performance and features longer distance, high trajectory, low long game spin, increased Drop-and-Stop greenside control and softer feel. The ball is designed to provide longer distance with consistent flight, low long game spin and a high trajectory, increased short game control and a softer feel around and on the greens. There’s a softer cast urethane elastomer cover system, a faster low- spin casing layer, a reformulated 2.0 ZG process dual core and a new spherically-tiled 348 tetrahedral dimple design.
what wE LikE: Superb all-around ball for the better player, distance isn’t sacrificed for feel.
titLEiSt avX
$50 www.Titleist.com The AVX offers golfers an alternative to the Pro V1 and Pro V1x in the premium performance segment with unmatched Titleist quality and consistency. The AVX delivers excellent scoring control for golfers who prioritize distance and an extremely soft feel with a piercing, low ball flight. The ball provides long distance, excellent greenside spin and control, a very soft feel and a very low long game and iron spin. The ball features a large core formulation, a high-flex casing layer, a thin cast urethane elastomer cover system and a unique spherically-tiled 352 catenary dimple design.
what wE LikE: Great alternative to the Pro v lines, distance and a very soft feel for short shots and putts.
voLvik S3 whitE
$44.99 www.Volvik.com The S3 White promises Tour-like performance and pinpoint accuracy and produces maximum distance for swing speeds 85 to 105 miles an hour. The ball offers low driver spin and high wedge spin thanks to a unique three-piece oversized BISMUTH mixed core construction. There’s a patented VU-X urethane cover for outstanding durability and increased spin control. Consistent and stable ball flight results from a patented 336 dimple design.
what wE LikE: Players with a broad range of swing speeds can benefit from the ball.
voLvik S4
$44.99 www.Volvik.com The S4 provides Tour-like performance and pinpoint accuracy to a wide range of golfers. The S4 generates maximum distance for swing speeds between 95 and 120 miles an hour. It offers low driver spin and a high wedge spin. Explosive distance and energy transfer is generated by a four-piece BISMUTH dual core technology. A patented VU-X urethane cover offers outstanding durability and increased spin control. The ball has a 95 compression and a patented 336 dimple design results in stable and consistent ball flight. The ball comes with spade, diamond, heart, and clover ball insignias.
what wE LikE: Golfers with a wide swing speed can benefit from the ball, very durable.
voLvik Xt aMt
$34.99 www.Volvik.com The XT AMT employs advanced material technology to create a ball that offers enhanced distance and more accurate ball flight generated by a dual power core. A matte finish delivers optimized soft feel and greenside spin, and extreme accuracy is delivered with a 360-degree alignment system. A patented seamless dimple design produces improved ball flight stability to keep shots from the tee and fairway on line and headed toward the intended target.
what wE LikE: a 360-degree alignment system promotes stable ball flight.
29.95 www.BridgestoneGolf.com The e12 Contact is straight distance you can see. A true game-changer is a new Contact Force dimple, which features a unique structure with a raised area in the center and an outer portion that slows horizontal rotation during flight. The raised area allows for 38 percent more contact with the clubface at impact than traditional dimples, yielding a much more efficient transfer of energy and improved core activation. The result is faster ball speed and straight distance with every club in the bag. The ball is available in white, matte green, matte red, and matte yellow colors.
what wE LikE: raised areas on the ball face gives you extra pop.
BriDGEStoNE E6
$24.99 www.BridgestoneGolf.com. The e6 promises soft feel and long distance. The reformulated e6 is designed for golfers with moderate swing speeds seeking maximum distance on all shots. The ball has the heritage of e6 in a construction that is now easier to compress thanks to a larger and softer core. A new two-piece construction with low compression core is designed for high ball speed while maintaining soft feel. The ball is available in white and optic yellow.
what wE LikE: a ball made for golfers with moderate swing speeds.
titLEiSt tour SoFt
$34.99 www.Titleist.com The Tour Soft is designed to deliver soft feel with plenty of distance off the tee, and replaces the NXT Tour and NXT Tour S in the company’s lineup. The Tour Soft was designed to feel significantly softer at impact than the NXT balls, while still delivering distance off the tee and surprising amounts of short game control. The Tour Soft features a large core that measures 1.6 inches in diameter to ensure greater speed off the clubface and longer distance.
what wE LikE: Soft feel around the greens with excellent distance off the tee.
titLEiSt tour SPEED
titLEiSt vELocitY
$34.99 www.Titleist.com The Tour Soft is designed to deliver soft feel with plenty of distance off the tee, and replaces the NXT Tour and NXT Tour S in the company’s lineup. The Tour Soft was designed to feel significantly softer at impact than the NXT balls, while still delivering distance off the tee and surprising amounts of short game control. The Tour Soft features a large core that measures 1.6 inches in diameter to ensure greater speed off the clubface and longer distance.
what wE LikE: Large core delivers great speed off the clubface for distance, soft feel around the greens.
$27.99 www.Titleist.com The Velocity’s two-piece ball construction features the patented LSX core technology that the company claims to be the “the fastest solid core” of any golf ball on the market. With this core, initial velocity is increased allowing for better distance. Additionally, a 328 spherically-tiled tetrahedral dimple design reduce the ball’s drag while in the air, allowing for high flight and long carry. The Velocity is also an ideal choice for around and on the green, as it has superb feel.
what wE LikE: Great distance off the tee without sacrificing feel.
$22.99 www.Titleist.com The TruFeel is the softest Titleist golf ball with low spin for long distance along with excellent control into and around the green. A proprietary TruFlex cover is designed for excellent control on your short shots to help you play better, score lower and enjoy the game. The aerodynamics of the TruFeel have been enhanced to maximize flight to allow for more distance off the tee and on approach shots to the greens. This is a ball for the player looking for all-around performance.
what wE LikE: Excellent and approach shots to green, good all-round performance.
voLvik viviD
$32.99 www.Volvik.com
The Vivid features maximum spin off the driver, along with a high launch angle and more distance driven by the company’s Nano Bi High Energy Resilient Core. The ball’s patented matte finish and vibrant colors minimizes glare on the surface and promotes concentration and improved ball striking. Vivid colors were also developed to improve increased visibility in flight. The V•A•S (Volvik Alignment System) was created as a visual key off the tee and on the green.
what wE LikE: Great spin off the driver for more distance, vaS alignment system a plus.
voLvik SoiicE
$34.99 www.Volvik.com The high launch, low spin, and enhanced distance of the Solice are generated by Volvik’s Nano Bi High Energy Resilient Core. The ball offers improved greenside control with consistent spin from a soft V-HPF mantle Volvik’s unique high gloss metallic coating increases ball flight visibility and durability. There’s a patented 322 dimple design that helps the ball deliver flight consistency and exceptional distance.
what wE LikE: a high launch and low spin rate results in enhanced distance off the tee.
voLvik Xt
$37.99 wwwVolvik.com The XT is a three-piece ball with a urethane cover and a soft compression for explosive distance off the tee. The ball also produces accurate greenside control with its VU-X urethane cover; a cube octahedron dimple design provides ball flight stability; a VU-X urethane cover maximizes feel and shot shaping control; and the V•A•S (Volvik Alignment System) was created as a visual key off the tee and on the green. The ball comes in multiple colors to fit the eye of every golfer.
what wE LikE: Superior distance and great feel is a winning combination.
voLvik crYStaL
$24.99 www.Volvik.com
The Crystal offers maximum visibility thanks to its bright colors and semi-transparent cover. Extreme distance is provided by a highly resilient soft power core. Stable and consistent ball flight comes from an innovative aerodynamic technology. Longer distance and superior control, consistent and accurate control on approach shots and putts is a result of the ball’s soft and comfortable feel on all shots.
what wE LikE: Bright colors help the golfer focus on each shot.
oNcorE GoLF avaNt
19.95 www.OnCoreGolf.com The Avant 55 features a large soft inner core for added perimeter weighting and straighter, longer shots off the tee. He ball has an ideal balance of flight and control. A soft surlyn cover with 392 dimple pattern offers optimal trajectory and playability. SoftCell technology achieves an ultra low 55 compression. A high coefficient of restitution (COR) core generates maximum ball velocity. The ball is ideal for moderate swing speeds. A two-piece construction allows for high launching wedge shots and a very soft feel around the greens and off the putter face. what wE LikE: optimal ball flight and control in one golf ball. .
SNELL GEt SuM GoLF BaLLS
www.SnellGolf.com $20.99 The Snell Get Sum golf ball is a high performance, two-piece ball that offers excellent feel and control. A large, soft low compression core allows for very low spin rates, which increases distance and creates less hooks and slices. The cover is constructed of a thin, soft Surlyn for a soft feel, and works in conjunction with the golf ball’s core to help players get the ball in the air easier and reduce spin rates for straighter shots from tee to green.
what wE LikE: Soft feel provides excellent control on short shots and putts.
voLvik PowEr SoFt
$19.99 www.Volvik.com The Power Soft gives players explosive speed and a softer feel, a best of both worlds scenario. An oversized power core results in that explosive ball speed and outstanding driver performance with reduced spin rates and a mid-high launch angle. A super soft ionomer cover gives you greenside control. Excellent visibility when over the ball and when it is in the air is the result of five glossy color options.
what wE LikE: a ball that provides both superior ball speed off the clubface and feel around and on the greens.
voLvik viMaX SoFt
$19.99 www.Volvik.com The Vimax Soft features high visibility thanks to a matte finish, as well as superior distance and a soft feel, all in one ball. A high energy soft core with soft feel and fast initial ball speed helps produce superior driver distance thanks to the resulting low spin and high launch. You will find yourself with improved focus because of outstanding visibility from the matte colors. Optimal ball flight and excellent flight stability is generated by an Icosahedron dimple design.
