Oversize Golf Balls?... in 2019? What the heck is that?

I just got this Callaway advertisement with various Callaway golf balls, but what the heck is this... Maybe I've been kept in a closet or in the basement all this time, but 'Oversize Golf Balls'?

(by the way, it's hard to beat their current promotion Buy 1, Get 1 free on Fairway woods, Hybrids, & Putters). Going for my 2nd helping, Callaway Epic Flash 5- and 7- wood (2 for less than price of 1 :-).

Callaway purchased Top-Flite in late 90's. Top-Flite Magna was a ball line back then. Slightly larger which yields less sidespin. When Callaway sold Top-Flite to Dicks they kept many patents and trademarked names for themselves. This is obviously one of them.

Cue the AC/DC song Big Balls

That's awesome! I might consider picking up some of these.

The idea of the larger ball is for the really high handicaps and beginners. A larger ball raises the center of gravity and makes it easier to get the ball in the air.

Sightly larger should equal more spin, all things equal. But of course, Callaway can do other things to minimize spin.

Bigger ball will not go as far in the wind. Might be ok down wind. As another poster said, it should sit up higher in the fairway, making it easier to hit for lesser skilled players.

perfect ball for the occasional golfer.

Callaway acquired all of Spaulding’s golf business during bankruptcy in 2003. Callaway then sold the Top-Flite branding only to DSG in 2012.

The original Top-Flite Magna was released in 1993 and a later XL2000 Magna Extra Control in 2000 during the Spaulding era.

Just hearing of this as well. Is there going to be an adjustment in the handicap system if playing with larger bAll?

So what exactly are the negatives of this aside from into the wind? Is there reduced ball speed in general? Or is that worse wind resistance, even in slight conditions, taking enough off of the average carry distance?

OK, it's larger, but does it weigh more to compensate for the larger size?  If not, then it's not likely to go as far, imo.

No it does not weigh more. The ROG clearly explain what the legal golf ball dimensional properties are.

Golf balls are forbidden to have a weight that exceeds 1.620 ounces, or 45.93 gm (there is no minimum weight).Golf balls must have a diameter that surpasses 1.680 inches, or 42.67 mm. Interestingly, golf balls do not have a maximum required size.

This ball is in the conforming list, so this is a slightly bigger ball with regulated weight (less than 45.93g). IMHO, this ball may be influenced by wind more than other balls. I guess Callaway will make this ball as heavy as possible (maybe ave. 45.80g) to improve the wind performance.

All other variables remaining equal, larger diameter = more drag meaning it will be impacted on all shots, not just into a head wind. However, these are marketed to higher handicap players with slower swing speeds that struggle with consistent contact so the difference may be negligible at those lower speeds.

Some (not me) have advocated mandating a larger golf ball as a way to 'roll back' the distances the elite players hit the ball nowadays. I wonder how much shorter this ball goes for those with ball speeds in the 170+ range.

I played the original magna as a kid. Never noticed the ball being shorter, but definitely noticed the spin reduction. I hit a pretty heavy draw at the time, and I could never turn them over enough

http://www.golfwrx.com/544630/magna-is-back-and-bringing-oversized-with-it/https://forums.golfwrx.com/discussion/1729294/callaway-superhot-magnahttps://forums.golfwrx.com/discussion/1744334/callaway-magna-golf-ball-review

The USGA has already done this. In 1920, the USGA and R&A agree to the initial regulation of 1.62 inch minimum diameter and 1.62 ounce maximum weight. In 1931, the USGA made another change to increase the max diameter to 1.68 inch and decrease min weight to 1.55 ounces (although the R&A decided to stick with the original regulation causing the first official ROG deviation). On year later in 1932, the USGA reverted the max weight back to 1.62 ounces due to public outcry (aka the “balloon ball”).

Theoretically, increasing the max diameter and/or decreasing the max weight would cause greater drag on the ball (exponentially so as ball speed increases).

Larger ball, where's the larger cup?

Seems like a decent idea, but have many people played with them and tested them recently?

I remember playing them back in the day. The only thing I really remember about them is struggling putting them, and the first time you miss a putt thinking it has to be the oversize ball, even if this size increase is marginal. I don't need any doubt about the ball when it comes to putting.

The cup is already small enough. Don't need a larger ball to increase my lip out rate.

I remember the Top Flite Magna. Absolute plop.

They also leave bigger ball marks on the green. Much easier to find.

Do they float? Could be my ball of choice on watery par 3's.