NON-URETHANE- Best approach/short game spin?

[Flyers99]

So I have decided to go with a non-urethane ball. Not looking to get into prices and why one is better. For me, I can honestly say over the last 5 years I just simply score better with non-urethane. Not every round, not drastically but over a half or full season it is noticeable. May be my swing or game or all but I do better. In the past have played QStars, TriSpeed Tours, Maxfli Softfi, Titleist Tour S. Last night I had my best round of the season with a Maxfli Softfli. Anybody can comment on newer balls I terms of which provide good approach and green side spin?  Thanks. 

[chippa13]

This should be easy to find in the golf shop. It is on the rack right next to the unicorns and Santa Claus.

[North Butte]

If 

12 minutes ago, Flyers99 said:

So I have decided to go with a non-urethane ball. Not looking to get into prices and why one is better. For me, I can honestly say over the last 5 years I just simply score better with non-urethane. Not every round, not drastically but over a half or full season it is noticeable. May be my swing or game or all but I do better. In the past have played QStars, TriSpeed Tours, Maxfli Softfi, Titleist Tour S. Last night I had my best round of the season with a Maxfli Softfli. Anybody can comment on newer balls I terms of which provide good approach and green side spin?  Thanks. 

 

All kidding aside (very droll, Chippa) if those four balls produce your best scores than obviously you benefit from balls that don't spin much. Especially the TriSpeed Tour and Tour S years ago when I tried them didn't spin a lick. 

 

If you do find a ball that spins more, surely it would eliminate the scoring advantage you've experienced with low spin balls, wouldn't it? 

[storm319]

If approach/greenside spin is your primary concern, stop looking at anything with an ionomer cover.

 

If your slightly better play with ionomer balls actually goes beyond coincidence (not likely), the inherent lack of spin is likely a contributing factor. 

[nlinneman20]

1 hour ago, Flyers99 said:

So I have decided to go with a non-urethane ball. Not looking to get into prices and why one is better. For me, I can honestly say over the last 5 years I just simply score better with non-urethane. Not every round, not drastically but over a half or full season it is noticeable. May be my swing or game or all but I do better. In the past have played QStars, TriSpeed Tours, Maxfli Softfi, Titleist Tour S. Last night I had my best round of the season with a Maxfli Softfli. Anybody can comment on newer balls I terms of which provide good approach and green side spin?  Thanks. 

 

So another Softfli fan, I shot 79 with a Softfli 2 months ago, have been playing them ever since (mix in a duo optix here and there) and have lowered my handicap over a stroke

[Flyers99]

4 hours ago, chippa13 said:

This should be easy to find in the golf shop. It is on the rack right next to the unicorns and Santa Claus.

Gee thanks for the feedback. 

[bluedot]

The best answer to the OP question would probably be one of the three piece surlyn balls; you can google those and see what fits. 

 

But I agree with North Butte; if you feel like you score better with a ball that spins less, why are you interested in a ball that spins more?

[North Butte]

I learned that lesson in reverse. A Pro V1x (or a couple other balls very similar to Pro V1x) suits my game as well as any ball could ever do. But I played AVX for a while with its lower flight and lower spin. Did me more harm than good, although a few extra yards seemed nice at first.

 

When I'd spent years finding a high flying, high spinning ball because that's what I needed it was pretty silly to think I needed something similar except with lower flight and lower spin. Don't know what I was thinking.

 

Honestly, if I could get in a time machine and revisit my past self I'd give myself a clue. There have been four things in my many years of club (and ball) ho'ing that suited my game so perfectly I never needed to change:

 

Ping G20 irons 3-LW

Taylormade M4 driver 

Pro V1x golf balls

Ping Anser putter

 

Sometimes we're not satisfied by finding the ideal equipment, the grass is always greener, etc., etc.

[AnserMePing]

7 minutes ago, North Butte said:

Honestly, if I could get in a time machine and revisit my past self I'd give myself a clue. There have been four things in my many years of club (and ball) ho'ing that suited my game so perfectly I never needed to change:

 

Ping G20 irons 3-LW

Taylormade M4 driver 

Pro V1x golf balls

Ping Anser putter

 

Sometimes we're not satisfied by finding the ideal equipment, the grass is always greener, etc., etc.

 

 

Agree 100%, underrated set of irons. 

 

As bluedot mentioned a three piece surlyn should fit the bill for the OP. 

Edited August 21, 2020 by AnserMePing

[Tanner25]

In the past here, I've heard DT TrueSoft do well on greenside spin. Not sure about the new True Feels. 

 

We can only hope a Gamer Soft will return one day, that had some greenside spin. 

Edited August 22, 2020 by Tanner25

[Phireside]

If I wasn't such a snob, I'd play the 50 Elite and call it a day with much more cash in my pocket. I do still play them once in a while and always keep some on hand. Minimal difference in my game and easy to adjust to.

[chippa13]

All joking aside, I'm giving the E12 Speed a go tomorrow after spending most of the year playing the Z Star/QST. I'm curious to see how it goes. Some of my best rounds years ago were with the OG E6.

[Flyers99]

I do want a ball with lower spin but do not need the lowest. Was just seeing if people found a non-urethane ball with some spin around the greens. Not looking for a lot but just curious as to what was maybe out there that spins a little more than the Maxfli. 

[rwbloom93]

11 minutes ago, Flyers99 said:

I do want a ball with lower spin but do not need the lowest. Was just seeing if people found a non-urethane ball with some spin around the greens. Not looking for a lot but just curious as to what was maybe out there that spins a little more than the Maxfli. 

 

One robot test had the AD333 (Q-Star) with high spin on full wedges (even higher than the ProV1).  Human testing (golf digest) gave high marks for the Titleist Tour Soft.  Other human testers (Rick Shiels) produced decent results with the Titleist DT TruSoft (TruFeel) and the Callaway Supersoft.

 

Have you tried the Wilson Staff Duo Spin?

[MadGolfer76]

Wilson Duo is pretty fun to play. Very squishy. Srixon Soft Feel too.

 

Really, though, it is perfectly reasonable to play a non-urethane ball - the only thing that is harder to execute (with some balls, for me) is the low checker. Unless you are playing a Pinnacle or a range ball, you can still get at least some stopping power with most non-urethane balls. If you have some height to your shots, it can help as well.

[Flyers99]

Thanks l. Looks like the Duo, QStar and True Soft/Feel are in the list. 

[LONGBALL777]

My  choices are:

Callaway Supersoft or Superhot, depending on a preference in feel

Maxfli Softfli

Wilson 50 Elite

 

[NV825]

I recently did the same and switched to Bridgestone E6 Speed after getting some as a birthday gift. Great balls for my game with plenty of spin throughout my clubs like the Pro V1s I was playing before.

[Tanner25]

13 hours ago, Flyers99 said:

Thanks l. Looks like the Duo, QStar and True Soft/Feel are in the list. 

 

I'd agree to throw in the Duo Soft Spin, 3 piece with some spin, new ones have low-medium compression. If you search on line there are some deals on this one.

[asianslaw]

Makes me wonder if I should switch it up from the BXS add an experiment

[xkilgorextroutx]

21 hours ago, LONGBALL777 said:

My  choices are:

Callaway Supersoft or Superhot, depending on a preference in feel

Maxfli Softfli

Wilson 50 Elite

 

 

Softfli is a great ball and an amazing deal when it's 3 dozen for $30. The new Hammer Control is pretty good as well.

 

I actually started yesterday's round with a ProV1 but after some just nasty (and not in a good way) shots I switched up to some of the older Gamer Soft. Those balls landed within a few few feet of their pitch marks, and I played for the runout with chips and pitches. They handled just fine for me, as a slower swinger that normally doesn't put a lot of spin on the ball. I know some "ball tests" that can be found out there say that urethane is the way to go for every single golfer, but 2 or 3 piece surlyn performs just fine for me (and I like the price a lot better).

[MarcellusW]

Over the years, I have gone back and forth between the lower spinning urethane covered balls, and the 3 piece ionomer balls.  Although currently playing urethane, I do think there is a time and place for the surlyn/ionomer balls.  Otherwise, they wouldn't sell any.  Urethane purists will tell you that there is no way an ionomer ball will compare, and that is true regarding spin.  But after a few rounds of losing 7 ProV1s at a time, you start to look at alternatives.  The 3 piece ionomer balls do give you a little more spin than the pure distance balls.

 

At one time, I played the old Taylormade Burner TP, which has cult like status around here.  It's not around anymore.  A couple of years ago, I tried out the Callaway superhot 55 - I'm not a fan.  Then someone on this board suggested the Srixon Qstar - even though it is a 2 piece ball.  I thought it matched up very well against the 3 piece balls above - a distance ball with some spin when pitching.  It remains my back up ball if I want to go back to ionomer.  

 

(Anyone remember George Carlin?)  If you are ordering these, don't forget

the Srixon Qstar Tour in yellow is not the same as the Srixon Qstar in tour yellow.

[arbeck]

I'd probably experiment with something like the Bridgestone Tour B RX and RXS, the Srixon Q Star Tour, or even the Chromesoft. If the 2 piece balls are letting you score lower, it's almost entirely because they spin less (probably giving you half a club or more of distance). Those balls should all spin in the range of a two piece ball, but retain some green side spin.

[Flyers99]

I have played the RX in the past and liked them. I may give them a try again. 

[North Butte]

Good idea.

 

I don't know about recent generations but the very first B330-RX they came out with seemed quite low spin to me. Probably the lowest spin urethane ball I'd ever tried until years later when AVX came out.

[pallmall]

On 8/22/2020 at 12:20 AM, Flyers99 said:

So I have decided to go with a non-urethane ball. Not looking to get into prices and why one is better. For me, I can honestly say over the last 5 years I just simply score better with non-urethane. Not every round, not drastically but over a half or full season it is noticeable. May be my swing or game or all but I do better. In the past have played QStars, TriSpeed Tours, Maxfli Softfi, Titleist Tour S. Last night I had my best round of the season with a Maxfli Softfli. Anybody can comment on newer balls I terms of which provide good approach and green side spin?  Thanks. 

The best non-urethane ball I can think of for your request is not a newer ball, but Titleist NXT Tour. Very good 3 piece ball with all-around performance. Should be easy to find it. It is not NXT Tour S, which is a 2 piece ball.

[PhilsFanDrew]

On 8/24/2020 at 2:34 PM, North Butte said:

Good idea.

 

I don't know about recent generations but the very first B330-RX they came out with seemed quite low spin to me. Probably the lowest spin urethane ball I'd ever tried until years later when AVX came out.

 

I agree regarding the B330-RX.  I gave that ball a go a couple years ago and honestly it played very much like a Top Flite Gamer to me.  I'm sure if you measured the numbers it probably had a touch more spin because of the urethane cover but I didn't play it long because I couldn't justify paying $40 for dozen balls that had more performance characteristics in common with $25/dozen 3 piece ionomer balls.  

[flushem]

On 8/21/2020 at 9:20 AM, Flyers99 said:

So I have decided to go with a non-urethane ball. Not looking to get into prices and why one is better. For me, I can honestly say over the last 5 years I just simply score better with non-urethane. Not every round, not drastically but over a half or full season it is noticeable. May be my swing or game or all but I do better. In the past have played QStars, TriSpeed Tours, Maxfli Softfi, Titleist Tour S. Last night I had my best round of the season with a Maxfli Softfli. Anybody can comment on newer balls I terms of which provide good approach and green side spin?  Thanks. 

why bother with surlyn cover balls when you can buy Costco balls for the same or cheaper price?

[cristphoto]

The Srixon Q-Star's have decent spin for a surlyn ball.  Not near urethane level but OK.  

[North Butte]

On 8/27/2020 at 1:06 PM, flushem said:

why bother with surlyn cover balls when you can buy Costco balls for the same or cheaper price?

It's an enduring mystery why so many people (apparently) follow a line of reasoning something like this...

 

1) I'm not good enough to use Pro V1's or TP5's or Chrome Softs. They're too expensive for my game.

2) So I will save a dollar a ball and use a Tour Speed or ERC Soft

 

and if the suggestion is made to perhaps use a urethane ball costs half as much a name-brand one and far less than ERC Soft or Tour Speed...

 

3) No, I'm not good enough to use urethane balls. They'd be a waste of money for my game.

 

Somehow the idea of cheap urethane balls does not keep people from buying expensive non-urethane balls. I'd have thought that was a no-brainer but it shows how little I know about golf consumer psychology. 

Edited August 29, 2020 by North Butte