Golf Ball Quality

[uflorida1]

What’s the real verdict? Are the manufacturing variances significant or is this all nonsense from that other reviewing website? 

[darsony]

I guess it depends on your standard of play. Last year's pro V1, for example, was rated a 97 by that other website. So if a ball is near perfect you can determine whether a bad shot is caused by your actions.  When the ball is less reliable than you don't know if it's off track because of you or the manufacturing.  And, if you're competing why wouldn't you use the best made ball you could afford?  If you're a hacker I would use the cheapest ball you could find.  

[Jeff58]

https://www.todays-golfer.com/features/equipment-features/2022/what-impact-do-off-centre-core-golf-balls-have-on-performance-/
 

It’s actually a little worse than they make out, since there’s a difference in mass between layers/materials as well as compression. The other nasty thing is, as they point out, the magnitude and direction of the effect changes every t8me you hit the ball, since its orientation is random.

 

As far as I can tell, the best balls for centering are likely coming from Titleist and (surprise) Callaway. Callaway deserves big credit for correcting their previous mistakes.
 

The other interesting ball is the Maxfli Tour family. No other ball, again as far as I know marks each ball’s CG location. I thought that this was an advertising gimmick, and I wrote them an email asking what actual purpose the mark has. They essentially replied “hit the line”. The line represents the point of minimum decentering.

 

[philly2kuk]

From my experience when I’ve strayed away from titleist golf balls, yes there is variance. Callaway used to be terrible for it, you could hit a ball that flew fine and then get the next ball out the sleeve and it would be shorter. They seemed to have fixed it now as my recent testing of their golf balls is it has improved, just a shame I scuff them too easily compared to pro v1.

 

Taylormade were the other one I’ve seen differences in performance and flight between different balls from the same sleeve. It’s the whole reason I moved away from their balls. I’ve (touchwood) never had a pro v1 that’s behaved oddly.

Edited June 12, 2023 by philly2kuk

[phizzy30]

For consistency, the ProV1 line seems to be the cream of the crop.  Callaway seems to be up there as well.  DTC balls seem to be hit or miss and can vary quite a bit IMO.   

[AngryGilmore]

I picked up a box of Maxfli Tours on a whim.  I was almost out of balls and Snell was backed up on delivery times.   I found the Maxfli Tour to be shockingly good and any inconsistencies were from user error.

[cardia10]

Remember a couple years ago when Callaway had centering issue on their cores. The big OEMs jumped on them and the next year, people started cutting PRO Vs open and found the same thing. I think with something like balls dealing with softer materials, the room for error is just there and will happen no matter what the brand. 

[phil75070]

I'm no pro, so I'm of the opinion that the quality would have to be way off to have much of an impact on my game. On the other hand, there are these videos purportedly showing how difficult putting is by dropping balls down a ramp. Some go in, some break right, some break left. Is it the green or is it the ball?