The Most Unpretentious Golf Ball Ever

[8bitpowerfade]

Yes, they should have put them in a vise and been more safe. My thoughts exactly.

[mocokid]

talk about unpretentious how about.....CLUB SPECIAL

 

these were titleist rejects, and you could buy (1973) at the saddle river golf and CC for $0.50 each, when you paid your $5 golf fee (unlimited once played 45 holes in a day)

[deetsal]

I had a compression tester a few years back. I was not real expensive and did not work great especially with balls that were multiple layers, 3-5.

 

Tested the "Flying Lady", The thing imploded, ball had to be made in a quarry somewhere. I think Ram made them.

[Shallowface]

I had a compression tester a few years back. I was not real expensive and did not work great especially with balls that were multiple layers, 3-5.

 

Tested the "Flying Lady", The thing imploded, ball had to be made in a quarry somewhere. I think Ram made them.

 

Spalding made the Flying Lady, and I saw an article one time where a USGA official said it was the longest legal ball they had tested at that time (probably late 80s/early 90s).

 

I've got several pink ones sitting in a bucket downstairs, but I'm afraid to hit them with anything. They probably get harder as they age, and may well be petrified by now.

[Nomad Golfer]

I had a compression tester a few years back. I was not real expensive and did not work great especially with balls that were multiple layers, 3-5.

 

Tested the "Flying Lady", The thing imploded, ball had to be made in a quarry somewhere. I think Ram made them.

 

Spalding made the Flying Lady, and I saw an article one time where a USGA official said it was the longest legal ball they had tested at that time (probably late 80s/early 90s).

 

I've got several pink ones sitting in a bucket downstairs, but I'm afraid to hit them with anything. They probably get harder as they age, and may well be petrified by now.

cut one of them in half - there may be a shark's tooth inside.

[jsabatke]

I know the answer!!!! Have you ever watched tin cup? The 7 iron was the only club guaranteed to be flawless. He broke all his clubs and played out withsw just the 7 iron. Too many scroungers must have watched this movie. Seriously I was dying when I read your theories on the missing 7 irons. That was too good. Now that I think about it about 3 of my nicest sets are indeed missing the 7. I have been looking for a Sam Snead signature 7 iron for 2 years! Lol here is the 7 tin cup story

http://socalgolfblog...-7-iron-speech/

I would like to have my MacGregor RD iron #7 back please if you ever find it :(

 

My wife is just starting to learn to play, and she picked up a set of graphite Impex irons and woods at Goodwill for $1.25 per club. They actually have pretty nice midsize heads that she's launching better and better. Anyway, the set was missing the 6 iron. I think the set has weak lofts to help ladies get them in the air, and that probably means her missing club is really a 7 iron. Can't fool the 7 iron stealing gnome.

[jsabatke]

I know the answer!!!! Have you ever watched tin cup? The 7 iron was the only club guaranteed to be flawless. He broke all his clubs and played out withsw just the 7 iron. Too many scroungers must have watched this movie. Seriously I was dying when I read your theories on the missing 7 irons. That was too good. Now that I think about it about 3 of my nicest sets are indeed missing the 7. I have been looking for a Sam Snead signature 7 iron for 2 years! Lol here is the 7 tin cup story

http://socalgolfblog...-7-iron-speech/

I would like to have my MacGregor RD iron #7 back please if you ever find it :(

 

My wife is just starting to learn to play, and she picked up a set of graphite Impex irons and woods at Goodwill for $1.25 per club. They actually have pretty nice midsize heads that she's launching better and better. Anyway, the set was missing the 6 iron. I think the set has weak lofts to help ladies get them in the air, and that probably means her missing club is really a 7 iron. Can't fool the 7 iron stealing gnome.

[jsabatke]

Oh those slazenger balatas! I had never hit a ball so sweet. When I would find those as a kid I would save the for tournaments only. The Bridgestone balls were amazing too. Love your post.

 

We used to have one of those family shops that have totally disappeared from the area, and I used to get odd lot balls really cheap. My absolute favorite was a Bullet tour balata. They were high spin, cut like crazy, and sounded like the crack of a gun with solid contact. Nicest balls I ever played.

[jsabatke]

A few posts back you guys were talking about Rock Flites. Do you remember the Magna balls from Spalding? Man when those came out they had 2 ball sample packs we gave out at a course I was working at the time. Now this being a daily fee muni type course the hacks hit those darn things everywhere and we would find them. We even found them maybe one in a pack left in the carts. Either the customer was drunk and forgot he left in in there or said this ball is terrible. Those balls were oversize but legal. Now at that time I was still hitting persimmon (did so until after the turn of the century) but a couple of the kids that were the cart boys had those new fangled King Cobra drivers with graphite shafts which were the thing at the time. We were messing around on the course one day and I found one. One of the kids (they were twins) told me hit it. I told him not on your life with my persimmon Penna Custom. He told me here hit my Cobra. Now in those days I had a tendency to hit a bad rope hook and was hitting a steel X-100 in the Penna. I hit his light weight graphite shafted metal Cobra and hit that ball not quite a left lateral but bad. I knew this would probably happen and had aimed well right. It hit in the fairway and took off running like a rabbit on steroids kicking left side spinning all the way. That big hard ball along with that driver and side spin ran and I am not kidding probably 150 yards until it hit the woods. We doubled over laughing. I mean it hit in the middle of a 100 yard wide fairway and jumped at least 50 yards sideways and still ran until it hit something in the woods. Never ever hit one of those again. In those days I still played the Maxfli HT-100 Balata which was the hot pro line balata ball at the time and IMHO the greatest golf ball made ever!!

I almost pissed my pants reading this post. That was awesome. I Do remember those balls and they were truly horrific. Thanks for sharing that story. For some reason I thought the magna were top flites. Lol

 

I used to find so many Magnas in the woods that I started leaving them there. So much for straight every time. I hated those things.

[8bitpowerfade]

Oh those slazenger balatas! I had never hit a ball so sweet. When I would find those as a kid I would save the for tournaments only. The Bridgestone balls were amazing too. Love your post.

 

We used to have one of those family shops that have totally disappeared from the area, and I used to get odd lot balls really cheap. My absolute favorite was a Bullet tour balata. They were high spin, cut like crazy, and sounded like the crack of a gun with solid contact. Nicest balls I ever played.

 

I remember when those Bullet golf balls first came out. I played with them for sure. I also remember the dorky half and half colored Ping golf balls. This has apparently become the nostalgic golf ball thread.

[Guia]

Reputations are hard to live down. The old Rock Flite disappeared in the 1980s but people still remember it.

[jonnygrouville]

Gone but not forgotten. They'd be picking these little ba$tards out of the aftermath of a nuclear apocalypse.

 

[dlygrisse]

The old Pinnacle gave the Rock Flite a run for it's money. I got my one and only hole-in-one hitting a Pinnacle, this was back in 1986.

 

Used to buy the 15 ball packs for like $10.

[Nomad Golfer]

Still a good ball the Pinnacle, I played the Gold on Tuesday last and had my best round in ages. The greens were so slick it wouldn't have mattered what ball was in use. For some perverse reason I hit this ball better than any soft one and I'm not a fast

swinger. The "Rush" will be a good replacement when the Gold is retired.

[russad]

A few posts back you guys were talking about Rock Flites. Do you remember the Magna balls from Spalding? Man when those came out they had 2 ball sample packs we gave out at a course I was working at the time. Now this being a daily fee muni type course the hacks hit those darn things everywhere and we would find them. We even found them maybe one in a pack left in the carts. Either the customer was drunk and forgot he left in in there or said this ball is terrible. Those balls were oversize but legal. Now at that time I was still hitting persimmon (did so until after the turn of the century) but a couple of the kids that were the cart boys had those new fangled King Cobra drivers with graphite shafts which were the thing at the time. We were messing around on the course one day and I found one. One of the kids (they were twins) told me hit it. I told him not on your life with my persimmon Penna Custom. He told me here hit my Cobra. Now in those days I had a tendency to hit a bad rope hook and was hitting a steel X-100 in the Penna. I hit his light weight graphite shafted metal Cobra and hit that ball not quite a left lateral but bad. I knew this would probably happen and had aimed well right. It hit in the fairway and took off running like a rabbit on steroids kicking left side spinning all the way. That big hard ball along with that driver and side spin ran and I am not kidding probably 150 yards until it hit the woods. We doubled over laughing. I mean it hit in the middle of a 100 yard wide fairway and jumped at least 50 yards sideways and still ran until it hit something in the woods. Never ever hit one of those again. In those days I still played the Maxfli HT-100 Balata which was the hot pro line balata ball at the time and IMHO the greatest golf ball made ever!!

I almost pissed my pants reading this post. That was awesome. I Do remember those balls and they were truly horrific. Thanks for sharing that story. For some reason I thought the magna were top flites. Lol

 

I used to find so many Magnas in the woods that I started leaving them there. So much for straight every time. I hated those things.

Maybe people were throwing them in there.

[super20dan]

The old Pinnacle gave the Rock Flite a run for it's money. I got my one and only hole-in-one hitting a Pinnacle, this was back in 1986.

 

Used to buy the 15 ball packs for like $10.

this was my prefered cheap ball of all time. far better ball than the original top flite

[deetsal]

I had a compression tester a few years back. I was not real expensive and did not work great especially with balls that were multiple layers, 3-5.

 

Tested the "Flying Lady", The thing imploded, ball had to be made in a quarry somewhere. I think Ram made them.

 

Spalding made the Flying Lady, and I saw an article one time where a USGA official said it was the longest legal ball they had tested at that time (probably late 80s/early 90s).

 

I've got several pink ones sitting in a bucket downstairs, but I'm afraid to hit them with anything. They probably get harder as they age, and may well be petrified by now.

cut one of them in half - there may be a shark's tooth inside.

As a former machinist in my youth I still dabble and have some equipment, I am scared I would break something

[8bitpowerfade]

A ball for a true champion with an eraser.

[8bitpowerfade]

For your consideration: 1980s Tour Edition "Crystal Light" ball.

 

I believe in Crystal Light because, like shaving pounds, I believe in shaving strokes too.

[MoaningM]

Brought back some great memories reading this thread, I was another who loved the,old maxfli ht balata ball, as juniors we always would have a long driving hole, dig deep into the bag to find that top flite or pinnacle, if you didnt have one you knew you werent taking the spoils today :)

 

Another classic over here used to be the penfold commando, complete opposite to the top flite it was more like a bouncy rubber ball, you could crunch that out the screws and watch it fly 150 yards and fall out the sky! Like to see rory and bubba carry one of them 300 yards...

[Qqq123xx]

Now I have to ask: what is the hardest rock they ever made? Could Rock Flite be the one or is there something else out there that could turn your persimmon head into a cloud of saw dust?

 

I think those Rockflites did as much to kill off wood clubs as Eli Callaway and the Adams brothers combined!

 

I remember reading somewhere that the Top Flite was around 110 compression, and the Molitor was a bit harder. Ram actually had a wound Golden Ram surlyn covered ball that they claimed was 110 compression. Most wound balls labelled 100 were said to come in somewhere between 91 and 100, with the range being 81-90 for the 90 compression labels.

 

The worst damage I ever did to a wooden club back in the late 70s wasn't with a Top Flite but with a Titleist DT, a wound ball with a surlyn cover. I've always believed the thick, inflexible covers of that day were the culprit when it came to damage inflicted on wooden clubs, not the overall hardness of the ball.

 

Today they use the word ionomer rather than surlyn to describe the covers, but I think it's basically they same thing. They are much thinner and softer today than they were back then.

A little late to the dance. Molitor's were the hardest balls imo. We used to call them concrete balls. I would not say they made the Topflites feel like balata, but man they were wrecking ball hard. You hit one of them low on a cold morning and three holes later you would still be feeling the pain.

[jonnygrouville]

The Mighty Molitor! They'll be digging those out of the ground in a thousand years when courses are being extended to nineteen thousand yards and golf is only played by the small elite who don't work in Google's salt-mines.

 

[slimeone]

Here's a video of someone chopping a selection random golf balls. It's quite fascinating to see what comes out!

 

[media=]

[/media]

[8bitpowerfade]

James Widdoes aka Hoover from Animal House for Maxfli M.D. golf balls, late 1980s likely:

 

[8bitpowerfade]

What kind of Flite are you?

[Fellaheen51]

Rummaging thru the used golf ball box yesterday made me think of this thread.

 

Top Flight Tours. Don't know if these are just the usual Rock Flights with another name. But they have some marketing mumbo on the back that makes them interesting. Multi-layer, 66 compression, "Spintack" ionomer mantle layer for "regulation" spin and distance. May have to try one.

 

 

 

A hodgepodge of balls that I had around. Titleist Professional 100 "bad boys". Still mostly, kinda round. Some Hogans. The 392 was found this summer in the wild. Wondered at the time who the heck would still be playing one. A rather yellowed Dunlop 65. And a Top Flight Z-Balata that was my putting ball of choice at one time.

 

 

 

Guess the pics want to go sideways this morning.

[8bitpowerfade]

Rummaging thru the used golf ball box yesterday made me think of this thread.

 

Top Flight Tours. Don't know if these are just the usual Rock Flights with another name. But they have some marketing mumbo on the back that makes them interesting. Multi-layer, 66 compression, "Spintack" ionomer mantle layer for "regulation" spin and distance. May have to try one.

 

 

 

A hodgepodge of balls that I had around. Titleist Professional 100 "bad boys". Still mostly, kinda round. Some Hogans. The 392 was found this summer in the wild. Wondered at the time who the heck would still be playing one. A rather yellowed Dunlop 65. And a Top Flight Z-Balata that was my putting ball of choice at one time.

 

 

 

Guess the pics want to go sideways this morning.

 

Nice, Fella. Wow, mega flashback there. I remember hitting those Hogan balls! I remember all the kids, me included, in junior golf drooling over the king of balata balls, the Titleist pro tour balls, but obviously they were expensive and I remember looking for other brands just to be different. Hogan balls for sure and Slazenger were a part of that "individuality" trend, to play something different than your friends and peers.

[jonnygrouville]

Virtual high five for that lot. I remember the Wilson ultra tour being a half-decent ball too. Would last for weeks.

 

[MoaningM]

That Dunlop 65 if im not mistaken is the old 1.62 size ball. Hit it properly and she will run for miles....

[MoaningM]

The z balata has the ryder cup insignia from what year? Im sure i have one of those up in shed somewhere.....