Kirkland Signature (Costco) golf balls (MERGED) (NO BST POSTS)

[monks66]

The whole "compress the ball to reap the benefits" is a completely made-up marketing canard.

 

Go hit a ProV1 or K-Sig with an 8-iron and land it on a firm green. Then hit a Duo or Supersoft with the same 8-iron and land it on the same firm green.

 

You will find the ProV1/K-sig stops closer to where it lands on any clean strike. Doesn't matter if you're swinging that 8-iron at 60mph or 90mph, the softer urethane cover will stop the ball more quickly and reliably.

 

You will also find the all four of those balls (Supersoft, Duo, K-Sig, ProV1) will fly give or take a couple of yards of the same distance.

 

The "compression" of a ball determines the sound it makes when you hit it. Not how far it goes, not the trajectory, not how much it spins. Distance, trajectory and spin are determined by a dozen different elements of the ball's design working together. So-called "Compression" is just one of those elements.

 

I have a friend who 100% believe the "compression" thing. He absolutely hates any ball that "feels like a rock". But being an inveterate equipment ho' he can't resist trying all different kinds of balls. Every single time he has tried a "high compression" ball he tells me something like "I didn't actually see any loss of distance but I can tell from the feel that it just wasn't compressing".

 

So he's convinced that "high compression" balls are meant for better players than him (and this is a guy who regularly drives it 240 or so) and that he would be ruining his game to play anything other than a Duo or Chrome Soft. It's amazing how otherwise intelligent people can be brainwashed by marketing to the extent that they literally do not believe their own personal experience.

 

compression does matter....but not gonna argue, i read your posts on here, you seem to have all the answers, so did you play in the Masters?

[TsarBomba]

In Butte's defense, his technical perspective can exist independant of his playing ability..a lot of varied backgrounds on this site.

[TsarBomba]

But I do think low compression has more effect than sound on off center hits...that harsh vibration you absorbed with your hands and arms is a lot of wasted energy not transferred to the ball, I suspect..

[monks66]

In Butte's defense, his technical perspective can exist independant of his playing ability..a lot of varied backgrounds on this site.

 

i really dont care about his playing ability, but dont make statements and treat it as fact....there is a reason different models of a certain brands of balls are made. I am no expert myself, but i can say that pro v1 and prov1x are made for a reason, and its not because you would rather see an x on your ball...balls are made for certain swing speeds, but dont say "its marketing hype" thats so untrue

[North Butte]

In Butte's defense, his technical perspective can exist independant of his playing ability..a lot of varied backgrounds on this site.

 

i really dont care about his playing ability, but dont make statements and treat it as fact....there is a reason different models of a certain brands of balls are made. I am no expert myself, but i can say that pro v1 and prov1x are made for a reason, and its not because you would rather see an x on your ball...balls are made for certain swing speeds, but dont say "its marketing hype" thats so untrue

 

Titleist say specifically that their balls do not perform better or worse based on clubhead speed. They say the differences come down to short-game and feel preferences with all Titleist balls performing well for all clubhead speeds.

 

So you need to quote some other company's advertising hype if you want to talk about matching "compression" to clubhead speed. You couldn't have picked a worse brand to support your belief if you tried!

 

HINT: Try Bridgestone or especially Srixon. Both of them are really into the whole compression-vs-clubhead speed matching thing.

[monks66]

this is why I dont come out here...maybe you should get a job with a company and do golf ball research and developement...you clearly seem to know all there is to know about golf balls...great your own golf ball better yet?

[tsecor]

good article on compression......and testing of low compression golf balls vs high compression...

 

 

https://Not allowed because of spam.com/the-truth-myths-about-soft-feel-golf-balls/

[monks66]

this is why I dont come out here...maybe you should get a job with a company and do golf ball research and developement...you clearly seem to know all there is to know about golf balls...great your own golf ball better yet?

 

 

Just my 2 cents worth:

 

This is a golf forum, where people express their views and opinions on various things.

 

If you don't agree with someone's views and/or opinions, there is absolutely no need to disparage them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unless, you are in mom's basement

 

 

 

 

 

excuse me but I voiced my opionion, and I was corrected thank you!

[monks66]

I guess you and northbutte are buddies huh?

[Philfil]

Or this...

 

 

[tsecor]

all the top brands build golf balls for slower swing speeds because of compression differences.....its no secret.....

[North Butte]

all the top brands build golf balls for slower swing speeds because of compression differences.....its no secret.....

 

Titleist claim there is no difference in performance for their low-compression Truvis vs. other Titleist balls. They say it is purely about feel preferences.

[dwboston]

all the top brands build golf balls for slower swing speeds because of compression differences.....its no secret.....

 

Titleist claim there is no difference in performance for their low-compression Truvis vs. other Titleist balls. They say it is purely about feel preferences.

 

Define "performance". No difference in performance between a Truvis and a Pro V1 or NXT Tour? Makes zero sense.

[North Butte]

No different with respect to high or low clubhead speed.

 

Titleist claim that NXT Tour works equally well for low, medium or high clubhead speed players.

 

And ProV1 works equally well for low, medium and high clubhead speed players.

 

Same for ProV1x, NXT Tour S, Velocity, Truvis, whatever. They have always maintained that their ball do not "fit" particular ranges of clubhead speed.

 

Obviously there are differences among the balls. But players should pick (according to Titleist) the one that performs best for them, not the one that matches their clubhead speed.

 

Based on my own experience, I'd say their claims are quite sensible and easily verified. I have very low clubhead speed but sure enough the ProV1/ProV1x spin more, the Velocity spins not at all, the DT Solo feels soft, the NXT Tour is somewhere in between all of that. But I don't gain or lose any distance by switching between the low-compression DT Solo and the high-compression ProV1x, regardless of my low clubhead speed.

 

P.S. And I bet you a nickel if and when I ever encounter a K-Sig and play it I'll find it works well for me regardless of compression.

[Break81]

IMO any variation in distance between balls is how the ball reacts to your personal swing. AOA and club path changes how a ball can perform completely different for 2 players with the exact same swing speed. 102 mph with an +5 degree AOA vs 102 mph with a -5 degree AOA most likely prefer a totally different ball. Add in driver and shaft characteristics and it gets even more complex.

 

The rest is just feel and what you like

[tsecor]

all the top brands build golf balls for slower swing speeds because of compression differences.....its no secret.....

 

Titleist claim there is no difference in performance for their low-compression Truvis vs. other Titleist balls. They say it is purely about feel preferences.

I didn't mention performance because as we know most balls perform the same as it relates to distance, especially for amateurs. 70% of amateur golfers prefer a softer feeling ball so that definitely plays into it, but for the slower swing speeds a softer compression ball is able to generate the initial speed off the face of the club much like a faster swing speeds can for a higher compression ball....

[trackcoach13]

IMO any variation in distance between balls is how the ball reacts to your personal swing. AOA and club path changes how a ball can perform completely different for 2 players with the exact same swing speed. 102 mph with an +5 degree AOA vs 102 mph with a -5 degree AOA most likely prefer a totally different ball. Add in driver and shaft characteristics and it gets even more complex.

 

The rest is just feel and what you like

 

Agreed

[TsarBomba]

all the top brands build golf balls for slower swing speeds because of compression differences.....its no secret.....

 

Titleist claim there is no difference in performance for their low-compression Truvis vs. other Titleist balls. They say it is purely about feel preferences.

I didn't mention performance because as we know most balls perform the same as it relates to distance, especially for amateurs. 70% of amateur golfers prefer a softer feeling ball so that definitely plays into it, but for the slower swing speeds a softer compression ball is able to generate the initial speed off the face of the club much like a faster swing speeds can for a higher compression ball....

 

There was no significant change to coefficient of restitution on low compression balls vs high compression with regards to initial velocity. The relationship was linear, per the article that you linked to. Now the balls may respond very differently in other launch characteristics dependant on impact factors (AOA, face angle, pure/not etc)...

 

So,in terms of dead ponys getting smacked around, ain't no "explodes off the face" going on, comparatively...

[tsecor]

all the top brands build golf balls for slower swing speeds because of compression differences.....its no secret.....

 

Titleist claim there is no difference in performance for their low-compression Truvis vs. other Titleist balls. They say it is purely about feel preferences.

 

Define "performance". No difference in performance between a Truvis and a Pro V1 or NXT Tour? Makes zero sense.

one spins more, one goes higher, one flies further...ect....performance can mean anything

[nsxguy]

all the top brands build golf balls for slower swing speeds because of compression differences.....its no secret.....

 

Titleist claim there is no difference in performance for their low-compression Truvis vs. other Titleist balls. They say it is purely about feel preferences.

 

Titleist makes Truvis ? I thought Truvis was a version of Callaway's Chrome Soft ?

 

Regardless, why do you believe Titleist vis-a-vis compression vs. findings by Bridgestone or Srixon ?

 

Or do you have some independent research that says compression is (more or less) irrelevant ?

[monks66]

i am waiting on my dozen of cut blues...i want to play it side by side with the ksig i have in my bag, just have this feeling they may be very similiar, dont know why

[North Butte]

all the top brands build golf balls for slower swing speeds because of compression differences.....its no secret.....

 

Titleist claim there is no difference in performance for their low-compression Truvis vs. other Titleist balls. They say it is purely about feel preferences.

 

Titleist makes Truvis ? I thought Truvis was a version of Callaway's Chrome Soft ?

 

Regardless, why do you believe Titleist vis-a-vis compression vs. findings by Bridgestone or Srixon ?

 

Or do you have some independent research that says compression is (more or less) irrelevant ?

 

Truvis, Trusoft, True 'dat, whatever they call the DT Solo now.

 

But anyway, I don't believe any of the hype I read on the back of a golf ball box. I believe what I see with my own eyes. Low compression balls do not go any farther, fly any higher or offer any advantage I can see over high compression ones.

 

That just happens to match up with Titleist's claims but in general Titleist ads are as full of bull as the next company. Just not on that particular score, it seems.

[Mathwiz]

i am waiting on my dozen of cut blues...i want to play it side by side with the ksig i have in my bag, just have this feeling they may be very similiar, dont know why

 

There may be many interested in your results. Be sure to let us know.

[monks66]

they may be a totally diff ball, who knows? just a feeling lol

[nsxguy]

all the top brands build golf balls for slower swing speeds because of compression differences.....its no secret.....

 

Titleist claim there is no difference in performance for their low-compression Truvis vs. other Titleist balls. They say it is purely about feel preferences.

 

Titleist makes Truvis ? I thought Truvis was a version of Callaway's Chrome Soft ?

 

Regardless, why do you believe Titleist vis-a-vis compression vs. findings by Bridgestone or Srixon ?

 

Or do you have some independent research that says compression is (more or less) irrelevant ?

 

Truvis, Trusoft, True 'dat, whatever they call the DT Solo now.

 

But anyway, I don't believe any of the hype I read on the back of a golf ball box. I believe what I see with my own eyes. Low compression balls do not go any farther, fly any higher or offer any advantage I can see over high compression ones.

 

That just happens to match up with Titleist's claims but in general Titleist ads are as full of bull as the next company. Just not on that particular score, it seems.

 

So, no actual research to prove or disprove the effect of golf ball compression on any results.

 

Just your own purely anecdotal observations.

 

OK, got it. Thanks.

[North Butte]

Of course I'm talking about my own observations. Same as everything else you see on this forum. It's all either someone sharing their own experience, someone trying to sell you something or someone repeating stuff they think they read or heard somewhere.

 

Or my personal favorite, the guys who start spouting "physics" who don't know the difference between momentum and energy...

[Geaux Gators]

But everything we go by is done that way NSX...

 

I mean I play iBlades, but I probably should play i200s. But because I like the look of the "small butterknife" club, I play the smallest club that Ping Makes... I also, probably should play a lower spinning surlyn ball, to cut down on my, well, cut... but I don't, I play the Zstar XV because I like it.

 

I get your point, i mean there needs to be real numbers to back up everything too, but with those numbers it will all be subjective from there. So its gotta be both don't you think?

[dwboston]

Sorry if I don't accept at face value the personal observations of a 17 handicap that all golf balls perform the same, and it's all just a matter of personal preference and feel. It's ludicrous.

[Geaux Gators]

Its not ludicrous to think that they do for him... isn't that the point he is making? as a 17 handicap, he doesn't play at a level that makes their qualities "show up" there fore (see what i did there) it is ALL subjective for him... feel and sound, ect... But his opinion is valid.. i mean. I know a surgeon that plays golf, and he can't break 100... but he has very sensitive hands, he plays a Supersoft, because of the way the ball feels... he likes that super soft, almost "super jump" ball kinda softness, ya know the things you get out of the gum ball machine...

[North Butte]

But everything we go by is done that way NSX...

 

I mean I play iBlades, but I probably should play i200s. But because I like the look of the "small butterknife" club, I play the smallest club that Ping Makes... I also, probably should play a lower spinning surlyn ball, to cut down on my, well, cut... but I don't, I play the Zstar XV because I like it.

 

I get your point, i mean there needs to be real numbers to back up everything too, but with those numbers it will all be subjective from there. So its gotta be both don't you think?

 

And some questions just don't admit a numerical answer. How d you quantify the experience of owning iBlades vs.i200's? I guess you can try both and talk about scores you shoot but that scoring isn't the same as your enjoyment and who knows how your enjoyment might affect your scoring?

 

Dean Snell made an interesting point about "research" a few months back, talking about how people outside the industry would not BELIEVE the amount of "numbers" required to determine if one golf ball is longer or shorter or spins more or less than another. There are only small differences among various golf balls and the testing has innate variability. So it takes many thousands of shots collected under wiell controlled conditions to nail down the kind of differences that some 4-handicapper will claim to have demonstrated by hitting a dozen shots with each ball on a Trackman.

 

Just because it is a number and just because that number comes from a $15,000 launch monitor does not make it "research". It's just an anecdote involving numbers read off a screen instead of a scorecard.

 

OTOH Dean Snell is also a man with something to sell...