Wilson Staff Zip

[G.Review]

Wilson Staff Zip

 

Higher Spin, Longer Distance, Unmatched Soft Feel!

 

Wilson Staff Zip as in Zero; a zero compression core that is the softest in the game. Zip as in speed; faster off the tee for maximum distance. Zip as in spin; shot-stopping control into and around the green. It's the perfect option for players seeking soft feel, great distance and greenside control.

• Wilson Staff Zip Golf Balls feature: Inside, a zero compression core is so soft that it registers "zero" on golf's Atti compression testing equipment
  
• Behind the patent-pending zero compression core is a high-velocity Neodymium catalyzed polybutadiene
  
• The unique rubber blend in the core uses a minimum of curatives to produce an ultra-soft (very low compression) core with good resilience
  
• Patented HPF mantle layer encases the zero compression core with a speed-generating mantle for distance and higher iron spin rates
  
• Super-soft ionomer cover grabs the club face for higher spin and amazingly soft feel
  
• Unique flat-bottomed, shallow dimples rip through the air to create a more stable, penetrating flight
  

Put A Little Zip Into Your Game!

 

 

[e-dog9]

I’ve only been playing for a about a year, and have never tried to seriously review a ball as I don’t have a complete game, but I’ll give it a shot.

 

Wilson mailed me samples of the Zips late November/early December, which was just the time to try a low compression ball. Our temps were in the mid to low 40s when I took them to my local par three to try them out.

 

My thoughts of them are spotty as my recollection is only that it was a good ball but not for me. I'll try to piece them together and compare them to some other popular balls to provide a common reference with the experience of others. Additionally at the time my swing was much worse than it is now, so bad mechanics that leaked power should be taken into account. Still I hit the ball solidly (applied the club face well with a bad weight shift and weak release).

 

The conditions were pretty rotten. It was wet and windy and the ground was muddy in spots and marshy in others. I ruined a pair of shoes that outing. In the days prior to my round we had rain, which turned to snow which melted as it hit the ground, which turned again to rain. It was cold enough the greens were firm in that it was hard to get a chip or pitch to hold, but slow in that the water made putting a trying exercise. In spite of all this, I think I got a pretty good feel for the ball.

 

The zip performed solidly off of irons; from the tee and off the fairway. It felt long to me and gave me a great deal of distance without much effort. However, with a normal swing I found it ballooned seriously. I typically don’t play the Nike PDSoft because it balloons too much on me, but the effect with the Zips was even more severe. Normally good two piece ball for me has a compression of 70 or 80 like a Nike Mojo or Titelist HVC Tour SF, or Maxfli Red Max. With the zip, shots I felt I did not put too much on towered in giant parabolas, which was kind of gratifying, much like hitting a easy forgiving hybrid for the first time, but took its toll into and around the wind.

 

As for feel, on the full swing with an iron, it felt like shooting a marshmallow out of an airgun. I could tell contact had been made with the club, but it was extremely mushy. I never thought a ball could feel too soft, but this is one soft feel that did not appeal to me. The ideal for soft feel for me is a Nike Platinum, Slazenger Black Label, or ProV1 With the zip, even off the putter it was a like hitting a ball of cotton. Strangely it felt tacky too, like a Loco but that might have been the temperature. My wedge play is still evolving so I can not provide a strong evaluation off of wedges, but it did seem to sit down on a green readily. It ran a bit afterwards, but I attribute that to the temperature.

 

Since there was no one around, I played two balls for a few holes, I used a Nike PD soft. A ball I find entertaining, but don’t usually play because it’s too mushy on full shots for me. Distance wise it was longer than the zip and was better against the wind. Off the putter, I’ve always liked this ball as it feels like a pleasant pretender to the platinum. On wedges it tended to run longer than the zip, in places where I can usually get it to bite during the summer.

 

I carried the Zips in bag a few rounds after my only experience with them, but never put them into play again. I liked the zips but decided they were not for me. After a while, I gave them to a friend to give to his 70 year old father who no longer gets the distance he wants, but won’t switch to A flex out of pride. Don’t read that the wrong way, these a good balls, but not for me.

 

My thoughts from another forum that covered this ball. Hope this helps.

[Baconator]

I thought these were ok. If you're looking for a really soft feeling ball that keeps a decent line in the wind this might be your ball. The downside is that even though it has a really soft cover I had some difficulty keeping them on the green. I also found putting with these balls rather difficult, mainly in terms of distance control. Distance off of the driver was ok, but nothing spectacular. Basically I found that it's a decent ball with a lot of competition in its price category.

[jotirama]

I got a couple of the Zip's through their 2-ball pack giveaway they ended a couple of months ago. Just got the balls. I had been used to playing Maxfli Noodles and Taylor Made Burner TP's.

 

Distance is about the same off the woods and irons. I thought they came off the driver lower. Had no problems getting height with irons or fairway woods. Ball is very soft off of all the clubs in the bag.

 

I had no problems spinning it out of a couple of bunkers, but the sand was wet, so...

 

I thought the paint scuffed easier that the other 2 balls mentioned. In fact I hit a wedge that buzzed all the wall to the green, 90 yrds, but when I got to it it didn't show any signs of hanging paint.

 

Never played a top of the line ball for an extended period of time so I can't compare to the Prov1's or similar balls.

 

Nice ball. I would put it at the same level on the Burner TP.

 

GPP.com has a nice price on the ball right now. Topflight Gamer logo overruns also.

[Large David Hammer]

Great distance, great feel, and super soft. I agree with Baconator...distance control with the putter is difficult (unnecessarily, in my opinion)...due to lack of audible click. Like putting with one of those "superballs" from childhood. Awesome ball tee to green...my only problem was with the putting.

[SaltytheSlicer]

I think this is a pretty nice ball. It is pretty darn soft, like e-dog said. A pured shot will leave you wondering if you hit the thing or not. That's pretty nice for those cold days. Performance for me was good. Driver distance was not spectacular, but the balls didn't stray very far off course. Iron distance was right where it has been for other balls, a good thing. Check-up on full iron shots was acceptable, but not outstanding. I'd say 6-8 feet of rollout on a 7-iron. For comparison I usually stop a Tour ix within inches of its ball mark and can stop a gamer or D2 feel within a couple of feet. Greenside behavior is pretty good for my game, meaning it's predictable. The short game spin is not exactly a ProV, but the balls like to get up in the air quickly on all kinds of hits and it's not all or nothing on the spin, so one can usually predict the rollout.

 

Overall, while there are better performers out there, it's a ball I would play again, especially for the price.

[Starched]

Just played a round at Tilden Park, shot 80. Nice looking but pretty weird ball. I couldn't agree more with other posters. Tooo soft. i.e. if you hit it solid, there is no feeling or click - you just look up and see the ball going. I would prefer a little more feedback. Distance and spin was decent, but it literally felt like a rubber "superball" feel. One shot was a sand wedge from about 60 yards - I hit the shot but didn't feel a thing, so I thought or felt I hit it fat, because all I could feel was the divot - I looked up and was yelling "go, go" and the ball was perfectly hit. At that moment I muttered to myself, "I hate this ball" even though it ended up 10 feet from the stick. Would be great on a 50 degree day feel wise, but for normal weather, I just can't see playing with one of these. If you thin it, no sting at all. They just have no feedback at all. You have to look to see the result. I like hitting a crisp shot that you know is good right at contact. And putting was tough - no sense of how hard to hit it. I three putted 4 times, I normally do that once, maybe twice at worst in a round. The bottom line is the ball actually performs fine, it is just a radically different feel from anything I have tried, including for example the Callaway CTU 30 Blue "soft feel" which are probably more like 85-90 compression versus close to 100. Love that ball. The Zip ball has a zero comp core, though the measured compression is about 67 according to golfballtest.org, it certainly feels soft. Just too marshmallowy for me - on the other hand, I love the look of Wilson balls (and the price) and love the wind boring trajectory - so I frequently use the TX4 which is an outstanding ball that sits right up there with the other tour level three piece balls, but are hard to find. I think the PX3 would be the best compromise of performance and soft feel, but alas I think it is discontinued. I'll put these away except for those rare January days I brave the Northern California courses when it is in the high 40s and low 50s. My normal game ball is either a TaylorMade TP Red or Pro V1. I'm sorry to disagree with anyone, but it is not in the same class as those balls. I could play it more I suppose and get used to it, but the more solid you hit it, the less you feel the ball at all - which just seems weird in my opinion.

[Vinny Nguyen]

Picked up a double dozen from my local Academy. Been meaning to try these out. I'll post when I get a couple rounds with them.

[Vinny Nguyen]

Played my first round with this ball today. Can't say much about feel with irons because of my poor iron play today but off the driver, 3 wood, and hybrids felt great. The ball holds the line very well with good shots and even on not so great shots. My favorite would have to be hitting the balls with wedges. They have a really nice feel to it and the extra spin really helped me stop the ball on the green. I have a tendency to have my balls roll off the back of the green but with these balls it stops within 2 feed of dropping or stops right away. Putting is where this ball lacks. Since its so soft gauging speed is difficult. Obviously with more time on the putting green that can be worked out. The cover held up very well under the abuse. Overall a great ball and well worth the $24 for a double dozen pack.

[BENNYSUPREME]

Not a fan of these. They are to soft for my liking. Its like hitting marshmellows. If I played in freezing weather I would consider these.

[Geaux Gators]

I am looking at getting them for my 12 year old. I think the super low compression will help him. and they are 14.99 at wally world for a 24 pack....

[VinceFurnier]

I really like a few of the Wilson balls. Notably the Duo and the FG Tour X. I tried to use the Zip as a winter ball but it wasn't nearly as good as the Duo in colder weather. Not a bad ball, just too soft for me.

[Geaux Gators]

I noticed that the older zip is a 3 peice.. the new ones are two piece...

bought them for my kid for 20 bux for 24. wally world has em online for 15... if he likes them.. will get him more...

i hit it.. its definately soft

[displayname]

[quote name='Ping Gator' timestamp='1396477635' post='9006247']
I noticed that the older zip is a 3 peice.. the new ones are two piece...

bought them for my kid for 20 bux for 24. wally world has em online for 15... if he likes them.. will get him more...

i hit it.. its definately soft
[/quote]

I've been using the Zip since it was first released. I didn't notice a difference in the change in production based on performance. I also made my first par 4 eagle with the newer stock by backing up a shot from 100 yards out, so still plenty of performance too.

[mcshooter]

I have a zip that I do not know about, it has square dimples and I have playing for 50 years and don't remember this one, anyone know this zip ball

[mcshooter]

Anyone ever played the Hopkins or vice golf balls?? I am probably going to try these when it warms up in spring