Are the balls the PGA tour players use the same as Amateurs?

[Hidalgo]

[quote name='Soloman1' timestamp='1394367492' post='8830865']
So there you have it. You're playing the same equipment just like you're driving the same Chevy you see in a NASCAR race


[/quote]

NOPE. There are balls out there that we can't gain access to. Been there and seen it. And yeah ... it's a Chevy. But it ain't a Hendrick or Childress built aluminum block motor.

[kellygreen]

[quote name='backtees' timestamp='1394193782' post='8818009']
A look at the list of conforming golf balls according to the USGA show that there are balls that never will be in stores for amateurs.

[url="https://www.usga.org/ConformingGolfBall/conforming_golf_ball.asp"]https://www.usga.org...g_golf_ball.asp[/url]
[/quote]

Those are usually prototypes that the manufacturers test on tour before bringing them to market...or if a player prefers to play a previous model year.

[Roemike99]

[quote name='JohSte' timestamp='1394187710' post='8817867']
The reason I ask is that Tour pros seem to smack the ball so far. I have a friend who is Australia's long drive champ and he said they use Pinnacle balls as they are the sponsor at the Long Drive Champs. Yes they are a rock but Tour Pros seem to have yardages that don't seem right.
[/quote] they play perfect conditioned fairways. Rolled and less watered...

[kellygreen]

[quote name='Soloman1' timestamp='1394367492' post='8830865']
I'll probably have men in sunglasses at my door soon after I type this, but here goes.

Obviously not all balls are tested for USGA conformance. Samples of the model are tested at 120 MPH head speed and the launch data is used in a program that simulates trajectory. The limit is 317 yards.

In all manufacturing, there are variances. For example, within a batch of steel shafts, there are some that are better than others. The best ones tested after curing are reserved for tour players and (mostly Japanese) clubmakers that pay a premium for those shafts. They lesser quality shafts are cheaper.

The same is true for golf balls. Balls are separated after manufacturing and the conforming, yet better performing (wink) balls end up in the lockers of the tour pros sponsored by the ball manufacturer.

So there you have it. You're playing the same equipment just like you're driving the same Chevy you see in a NASCAR race

I'll be right back. There's a noise outside my win
[/quote]

I sincerely hope you're joking. The manufacturing tolerances just aren't that wide...and last time I checked the typical NASCAR engine puts out about 750 horsepower...whereas the typical Chevy sedan is lucky if it puts out a third that amount of horsepower.

The power difference is in these player's swings...the slowest of which swings a driver at 106 mph and makes consistent center-face contact. The fastest of which are well over 125. While the typical recreational player is somewhere between 90-100 if they are young...and 80-90 if they are older.

There are no magic, "hot" golf balls. Just the physics of powerful, efficient golf swings born of talent and years of dedicated practice.

[CallawayKid86]

Nike is notorious for putting out equipment for tiger that will not make resale, but as for the ball he is currently using I don't believe that is the case. he was using an old tour d, but now he and Rory are using the new rzn ball. the tour players get the tightest tolerance balls available to make sure every ball is perfect. there are a few guys on turkeys staff that are playing prototype, but those typicallydo come to retail if it is deemed an improvement. one of the reasons there are so many on the usga list is because there are still guys playing 2008 and every model since. not everyone is playing the 2013 version. I'm not arguing with you so you can calm down. everyone knows that club and shaft manufacturers put out hundreds if not thousands of products that will never reach the public each year. this is about balls though, and the cat majority of the top tour players are playing a ball that is available to retail.

[Hidalgo]

[quote name='CallawayKid86' timestamp='1394449987' post='8838285']
Nike is notorious for putting out equipment for tiger that will not make resale, but as for the ball he is currently using I don't believe that is the case. he was using an old tour d, but now he and Rory are using the new rzn ball. the tour players get the tightest tolerance balls available to make sure every ball is perfect.
[/quote]

OK ...... then please tell me which of the [b]TWENTY[/b] RZN models that they are using? That's right ... there are 20 RZN models listed with the USGA. Wonder why that is? Look, I could care less if you believe what I say or not. But the question was asked and I answered it. I know what I'm talking about because I've been fortunate enough to be around some of these guys for a long time. I can't believe that people are so naive as to believe that a logo on a cap or a list on a manufacturers website saying that a player is playing this ball or that club is the unmitigated gospel.

[Soloman1]

What was that sound?

The sound of something flying over the heads of some people...

[bu11dog]

[quote name='Soloman1' timestamp='1394367492' post='8830865']
So there you have it. You're playing the same equipment just like you're driving the same Chevy you see in a NASCAR race

[/quote]

There ain't nothin' stock about a stock car...

[attachment=2111273:maxresdefault.jpg]

[Hidalgo]

[quote name='bu11dog' timestamp='1394456120' post='8838631']

There ain't nothin' stock about a stock car...

[attachment=2111273:maxresdefault.jpg]
[/quote]

[kellygreen]

[quote name='Hidalgo' timestamp='1394452234' post='8838405']
[quote name='CallawayKid86' timestamp='1394449987' post='8838285']
Nike is notorious for putting out equipment for tiger that will not make resale, but as for the ball he is currently using I don't believe that is the case. he was using an old tour d, but now he and Rory are using the new rzn ball. the tour players get the tightest tolerance balls available to make sure every ball is perfect.
[/quote]

OK ...... then please tell me which of the [b]TWENTY[/b] RZN models that they are using? That's right ... there are 20 RZN models listed with the USGA. Wonder why that is? Look, I could care less if you believe what I say or not. But the question was asked and I answered it. I know what I'm talking about because I've been fortunate enough to be around some of these guys for a long time. I can't believe that people are so naive as to believe that a logo on a cap or a list on a manufacturers website saying that a player is playing this ball or that club is the unmitigated gospel.
[/quote]

Why? Because Nike probably put a lot of different prototype balls into play while they were perfecting this new line of balls. In order to be eligible for competitive play, each one of those prototypes has to be approved for play by the USGA, and have markings that make it clearly identifiable as a conforming ball.

If not, the player using it runs the risk of being DQ'd for using a non-conforming ball. Greg Norman, famously, had that happen to him one week when he was playing on Tour. Played a prototype ball that was improperly marked.

[cristphoto]

They've got to be different because I play the same ProV1 ball Adam Scott plays but mine doesn't go 325 yards.

[bigbutch]

I would say the pro's probably get some hand picked balls. I would not put anything pass the manufacturers; it's all about marketing. That's why you have some pro's playing PRO V1 and some playing PRO V1X. I would not be surprised if these balls are identical. It's all about sales. Adam Scott plays a PRO V1 and Luke Donald plays a PRO V1X probably identical balls.