Nike 20xi-x Feel?

[rbhan12]

Hey all,

 

With it being winter and all I figured I should stock up on some golf balls while I can get them cheap! I personally like to buy last year's ball and get them bulk. Last year, a Nike rep gave me a sleeve of 20xi-x balls and to be honest, I really liked them. Unfortunately, I wasn't nearly as good of a golfer last year as I am now.

 

Anyway, I bought a box of 60 balls that were mint from knetgolf on ebay. To my surprise (and my stupidity) these were refinished balls. I know I know, that's a big time no-no, but it was in the VERY fine print of the listing. Anyway I wasn't really bothered by the fact that the listing didn't specifically say refinished, I should have looked deeper. Now onto the problem...

 

I do a lot of carpet putting (I'm getting really good and consistent!), and I practice with Maxfli U2s. Not the softest balls out there, but they perform really well in the short game (Golf Digest ball comparison, see that short game spin) and for the $15 I wasn't losing much at all. Half a season later, I've become really familiar with the U2. I have tried the U4 and U4x and they truly are great balls, noticeably softer than the U2. When I brought some of these 20XI-X balls in the living room to putt, I was shocked. These felt INCREDIBLY hard, like really damn hard. I know that with premium golf balls the ionomer (or elastomer?) cover is supposed to feel kinda sticky when you hold it in your palm, but this didn't feel particularly sticky, not the kind that I remember anyway.

 

So my question is, are the Nike 20XI-X balls really that damn hard or did I get screwed by the refinishing? I really can't generate ANY feel with these balls, they're just so damn hard. Kinda concerned I just had money go down the toilet. Any help you guys can offer would be great. Thanks!

[ChrisGio315]

The main question would be if they were 2012 20XI-X refinished balls or the 2013 20XI-X refinished balls... Big difference. I assume what you have are 2012 20XI-X refinished balls which were VERY hard.. The 2013 version is a much better ball (In all aspects) and from reading reviews of the new 2014 RZN ball, the 2014 is more of an upgrade.

[jwo]

Probably not an apples to apples comparo but I recently bought 4 dozen of the "tour issue" 2012 20Xi*X balls. I wouldn't say they are rock hard but way harder than the balls I've been playing recently. Also we always hear the word "clicky" being used and off the putter and wedges they are that. But man they are long and have some of the most amazing spin around the greens I've ever experienced. Until these I have never tried a ball that matched the ProV1 greenside. For my game these might be better.

Really shocking to me that a ball that goes far and feels hard lands so soft on the greens. If they can keep the same playing traits but soften it up a bit, they may have a gold mine on their hands. Also hear a lot about how loud they are. I know my hearing is bad but they are not offensive to me at all.

[rbhan12]

Anybody else able to comment on the hardness of the balls? I play a Miura putter and a Miura wedge and they felt incredibly hard off of both of them. Just chipping in the basement with the wedges I couldn't get any feel from it. I do remember them being about 5-10 yards longer than my other balls off the driver.

[4rheel]

Does anyone know how to differentiate between the 2012 and 2013 models other than the packaging?

[sidarapr]

[quote name='rbhan12' timestamp='1389815362' post='8466645']
Anybody else able to comment on the hardness of the balls? I play a Miura putter and a Miura wedge and they felt incredibly hard off of both of them. Just chipping in the basement with the wedges I couldn't get any feel from it. I do remember them being about 5-10 yards longer than my other balls off the driver.
[/quote]Hey rbhan12, I just posted my review of the RZN in which I made mention of the previous generation 20IX's. You can read it here:

[url="http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/936228-nike-2014-ball-review/page__st__120"]http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/936228-nike-2014-ball-review/page__st__120[/url]

To answer your question the 2012 versions were more clicky and felt harder than the 2013 versions. I do play the 2013 20XI-X on occasion as it is a very long and straight ball which can be had for a great price (new at RBG at $26.99) since the new RZN's are coming out. I would personally always shy away from refinished balls as their performance compared to new can't truly be tested and feeling will be lost. If cost is a factor I would seriously look at the TM Rocketballz Urethane which I think are the absolutely best bang for the buck and can be found on sale in the $21 range.

[ChrisGio315]

[quote name='4rheel' timestamp='1389815681' post='8466677']
Does anyone know how to differentiate between the 2012 and 2013 models other than the packaging?
[/quote]

2012 will have a BLACK swoosh while the 2013 balls will have a RED swoosh

[quarterskins]

[quote name='jwo' timestamp='1389815129' post='8466615']
But man they are long and have some of the most amazing spin around the greens I've ever experienced.
[/quote]

Same here. They seem hard, but they're long and they check up well. Clicky sound off the putter, but I've had good success with them on greens.

[MJisGOAT]

They have one of the highest compression ratings at 116, so your initial sense of feel is confirmed correct. Nothing more to be said here.

[Mahamilto]

They are hard, but they go a mile and they spin nasty.