Jump to content

Walmart Ball Test


DublAK2

Recommended Posts

I started a thread last week about quality two piece balls because that's what my game deserves at best. I got a lot of good info and suggestions, definitely stuff I'm going to use in the future.

 

It gave me an idea. Friend's little brother works at Walmart and can get me items that customers opened up and essentially ruined, but this includes golf balls if somebody pocketed a ball or sleeve out of the packaging. I got my hands on some single sleeve budget balls, the Nitro Pulsar, Strata Smash, and Strata Voodoo. I did my own testing for putting/chipping/pitching feel on my rug and I have a net/mat in my backyward.

 

I'm looking for a low spin ball with some nice feel for putting and chipping. I compared these three to some other balls I had or found. The lineup was as follows: Pinnacle practice (range ball?), Top Flite XL (year?), Nitro Blaster (2014), Titleist Prov 1 (year?), Bridgestone e6 soft (2017), Callaway Supersoft (year?) Strata Voodoo (2018), Strata Smash (2018), Nitro Pulsar (2018).

Soft feel in descending order:

 

Softest in descending order

1. Callaway Supersoft

2. Bridgestone e6

T3. Prov1, Strata Smash, Strata Voodoo

6. Nitro Pulsar

7. Nitro Blaster

8. Pinaccle practice

9. Top Flite XL

 

Afterthoughts

-I totally expected the Pinaccle Practice to feel the hardest since I think it's a range ball. However, the Top Flite XL takes the cake by miles. Not another ball even close.

-In the same way that the TopFlite XL was the hardest, the Callaway Supersoft was softest. It felt like a marsh mellow. Some people like that, but too much for me.

-e6 felt best to me but at $28/dozen I can be bought

-The Nitro Pulsar is apparently a 3 piece ball for $15/dozen. I don't have any spin numbers for it and I didn't get to see it land on a green so no idea how it works as a performer.

-The Strata balls felt really neutral to me, and I liked it. No idea if they shoot straight or not. One thing perplexed me though. The packaging is cool but with even less information than a typical golf ball package. These balls are $15/dozen and $18/fifteen respectively, that's roughly the same price. Unless they are designed to perform differently, why produce two balls of the same quality?

- I expected the ProV1 to feel something amazing but I suppose its magic is more in the spin.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 10
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Have you tried the Precept Power Drive golf balls? They are super cheap online for new one like $5 a dozen or less. I guess they are gonna stop making them so Home Depot carried them to clear them out at that price awhile back.

 

I found one last year and hit it for a couple of holes and it doesn't seem like a too bad of ball for a two piece! I was surprised as it was no Rock Flite!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Actually a ball that's readily available at Walmart, gets great distance and is soft yet still spins acceptably (for what it is...) is.... the Noodle+. The course I was playing regularly last summer is in the middle of a marsh...very unforgiving if you're not accurate...lots of forced carries over marsh and water and quite a few holes the marsh comes up to within a couple yards of the fairway. I can play almost any other course in the area and lose none or 1, maybe 2 balls on a bad day, yet on this course I was regularly losing 3-4. Tired of losing more expensive balls, I decided to buy some cheaper balls just for that course and having played the Noodle+ from time to time years ago I decided to buy some more. They're just a really solid ball that has just about everything except loads of short game spin (they have some but they'll never be confused with a ProV). For under $20 though, they're really not a bad ball.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Actually a ball that's readily available at Walmart, gets great distance and is soft yet still spins acceptably (for what it is...) is.... the Noodle+. The course I was playing regularly last summer is in the middle of a marsh...very unforgiving if you're not accurate...lots of forced carries over marsh and water and quite a few holes the marsh comes up to within a couple yards of the fairway. I can play almost any other course in the area and lose none or 1, maybe 2 balls on a bad day, yet on this course I was regularly losing 3-4. Tired of losing more expensive balls, I decided to buy some cheaper balls just for that course and having played the Noodle+ from time to time years ago I decided to buy some more. They're just a really solid ball that has just about everything except loads of short game spin (they have some but they'll never be confused with a ProV). For under $20 though, they're really not a bad ball.

 

+1 About 10+ years ago, with a less crowded ball market. The Noodle was my go to ball. Nothing wrong with it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Have you tried the Precept Power Drive golf balls? They are super cheap online for new one like $5 a dozen or less. I guess they are gonna stop making them so Home Depot carried them to clear them out at that price awhile back.

 

I found one last year and hit it for a couple of holes and it doesn't seem like a too bad of ball for a two piece! I was surprised as it was no Rock Flite!

 

I loaded up at Home Depot around Christmastime and played them all winter. It's now my "go to" scramble tee shot ball. The thing is pretty long and stays exactly on the line that it's hit. Tough to make it spin offline.

Cobra F9 Driver 10.5 UST ProForce V2 HL 5F4 46"

Tour Edge Exotic EXS 220 16.5* UST ProForce V2 HL 6F4 44"

Cobra Amp Cell 5-7 fairway (set to 20*) Fujikura Fuel 60g S 43"

Maltby TS3 4-P Elevate MPH 95 +1"

Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 50*, 54* & 58* Apollo Matchflex Wedge 36.25"

Cleveland Classic Collection #10 35"

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Our picks

    • 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open - Discussion and links to Photos
      Please put any questions or Comments here
       
       
       
      General Albums
       
      2024 Texas Children's Houston Open - Monday #1
      2024 Texas Children's Houston Open - Monday #2
      2024 Texas Children's Houston Open - Tuesday #1
      2024 Texas Children's Houston Open - Tuesday #2
      2024 Texas Children's Houston Open - Tuesday #3
       
       
       
       
      WITB Albums
       
      Thorbjorn Olesen - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Ben Silverman - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Jesse Droemer - SoTX PGA Section POY - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      David Lipsky - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Martin Trainer - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Zac Blair - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Jacob Bridgeman - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Trace Crowe - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Jimmy Walker - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Daniel Berger - WITB(very mini) - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Chesson Hadley - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Callum McNeill - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Rhein Gibson - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Patrick Fishburn - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Peter Malnati - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Raul Pereda - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Gary Woodland WITB (New driver, iron shafts) – 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Padraig Harrington WITB – 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
       
       
       
       
      Pullout Albums
       
      Tom Hoge's custom Cameron - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Cameron putter - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Piretti putters - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Ping putter - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Kevin Dougherty's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Bettinardi putter - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Cameron putter - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Erik Barnes testing an all-black Axis1 putter – 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Tony Finau's new driver shaft – 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
       
       
       
       
       
      • 7 replies
    • 2024 Valspar Championship WITB Photos (Thanks to bvmagic)- Discussion & Links to Photos
      This weeks WITB Pics are from member bvmagic (Brian). Brian's first event for WRX was in 2008 at Bayhill while in college. Thanks so much bv.
       
      Please put your comments or question on this thread. Links to all the threads are below...
       
       
       
       
        • Like
      • 31 replies
    • 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Discussion and Links to Photos
      Please put any questions or comments here
       
       
       
      General Albums
       
      2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Monday #1
      2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Monday #2
      2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Monday #3
       
       
       
       
      WITB Albums
       
      Matt (LFG) Every - WITB - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      Sahith Theegala - WITB - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
       
       
       
       
       
      Pullout Albums
       
      New Cameron putters (and new "LD" grip) - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      New Bettinardi MB & CB irons - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      Custom Bettinardi API putter cover - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      Custom Swag API covers - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      New Golf Pride Reverse Taper grips - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
        • Like
      • 15 replies
    • 2024 Cognizant Classic - Discussion and Links to Photos
      Please put any questions or comments here
       
       
       
       
      General Albums
       
      2024 Cognizant Classic - Monday #1
      2024 Cognizant Classic - Monday #2
      2024 Cognizant Classic - Monday #3
      2024 Cognizant Classic - Monday #4
       
       
       
      WITB Albums
       
      Brandt Snedeker - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Max Greyserman - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Eric Cole - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Carl Yuan - WITb - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Russell Henley - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Justin Sun - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Alex Noren - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Shane Lowry - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Taylor Montgomery - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Jake Knapp (KnappTime_ltd) - WITB - - 2024 Cognizant Classic
       
       
       
      Pullout Albums
       
      New Super Stoke Pistol Lock 1.0 & 2.0 grips - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      LA Golf new insert putter - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      New Garsen Quad Tour 15 grip - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      New Swag covers - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Jacob Bridgeman's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Bud Cauley's custom Cameron putters - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Ryo Hisatsune's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Chris Kirk - new black Callaway Apex CB irons and a few Odyssey putters - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Alejandro Tosti's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Cognizant Classic
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
        • Like
      • 2 replies
    • 2024 Genesis Invitational - Discussion and Links to Photos
      Please put any questions or comments here
       
       
       
      General Albums
       
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Monday #1
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Monday #2
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Tuesday #1
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Tuesday #2
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Tuesday #3
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Tuesday #4
       
       
       
       
      WITB Albums
       
      Rory McIlroy - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Sepp Straka - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Patrick Rodgers - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Brendon Todd - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Denny McCarthy - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Corey Conners - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Chase Johnson - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tiger Woods - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tommy Fleetwood - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Matt Fitzpatrick - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Si Woo Kim - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Viktor Hovland - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Wyndham Clark - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Cam Davis - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Nick Taylor - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Ben Baller WITB update (New putter, driver, hybrid and shafts) – 2024 Genesis Invitational
       
       
       
       
       
      Pullout Albums
       
      New Vortex Golf rangefinder - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      New Fujikura Ventus shaft - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tiger Woods & TaylorMade "Sun Day Red" apparel launch event, product photos – 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tiger Woods Sun Day Red golf shoes - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Aretera shafts - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      New Toulon putters - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tiger Woods' new white "Sun Day Red" golf shoe prototypes – 2024 Genesis Invitational
       
       
       
       
       
      • 22 replies

×
×
  • Create New...