Sorting through choosing a golf ball

[Babydaddy]

Some humble observations

If you are searching for this season's best golf ball for you, I hope some of these thoughts might help you make up your mind. There are a lot of good choices out there.

Although the pros are the pros, and we shouldn't always base our decision on what they play, I do think you can learn a little something from them.
For example, Tiger likes to work the ball "both ways", which is harder than it used to be with the modern ball. So, he has played the spinniest ball in existence (the Platinum and the Tour).

Phil on the other hand, can spin a ball with no problem and likes to flight the ball low into the green, etc... he wants to be straight off the tee. So, the Tour I and Ix do spin less off the driver.

The American made balls like Callaway, Titleist and Taylor Made tend to have very niche specific, extreme characteristics whereas the Japanese manufacturers tend to make more durable, "all around" golf balls. Some feel that Srixon, for example gives you a better value for your money.

What Titleist has done consistently is make balls with distinct personalities. This in conjunction with their marketing and reputation have done well for them.
A Pro V just knows what to do on the green, and they feel great. They just do.
So often, people like me will end up using the Pro V, especially in competition because our golfing souls want the Titleist.

Other manufactures have made longer balls, balls that are better wind balls, etc.. but have not been able to match the feel and spin intelligence of the Pro V's.

In my opinion, and for my game, the only ball that I have tried that has the feel and spin intelligence that the Pro V does is the Srixon Z-Star.
I love the way this ball putts so much, that I almost would not care if it went 200 yards off the tee.

But, having said that, as a former regular Pro V1 user, the new Pro V1x is really doing it for me. I love the way it plays and feels on the green.
And, they addressed the value part by making the ball more durable than 2007.
The Srixon is a little bit more durable than the 2009 Pro V1x in my opinion, but Titleist really did improve this aspect for 2009.
I have not tried the regular 2009 Pro V1 yet, and I am going to try. They advertise it as having more spin, which means it spins a lot! I don't know if that's best for me personally.

The Taylor Made TP Red really does what it says. I have mis-hit some shots only to be surprised that they made it to the green. I have seen this enough to believe that the LDP technology is legit.
Tee to green, the TM Red is as good or better than any ball in golf, in my opinion. The green-side spin is where I find myself wanting. It feels great off the putter too. But again, this is a niche ball. It's a softer feeling, lower spinning ball for a guy like Sergio that really clamps down on the ball with the irons.

Bridgestone just makes solid stuff with everything they make. Durable balls that do everything very well. In my opinion, the 2007 B330S was the best all around, non-pro swing speed ball available. That ball had a great medium trajectory into greens, was LONG off the tee, and had stop spin around the greens. It was not the Pro V on the green, and when I needed the spiritual feeling on and around the green, I would crawl back to the Pro V1.

So, when looking at different golf balls, I had to look at value. I mean you are paying $3.00 to $4.00 a ball, so you want to feel like you have gotten your money's worth.
All of the big manufacturers are making good products. It's a question of philosophy. Do you want an all around ball or one that has a whole bunch of some things and little of others.

The Callaway Tour ix is long and straight, and reduces side spin off the driver. But the feel with the putter and wedges may turn some off.
If you need confidence with your driver, this ball can make a real difference. Plus, as a wind ball, it shines.

So, right now I am in love with the Srixon Z-Star and the 2009 Pro V1x. I am going to try to the new regular pro v1 and see.

Love to hear from you all about your general ball findings.

Noelsy

[toms]

It's a long ball testing year, and just getting underway. Unemployment has its benefits 9 a day keeps me sane and thanks to the local golf shop for selling sleeves. So far I have been through most of the urethane covered balls except the non-S b330. While I believe Titleist, nike and cally make a fine tour ball this year I can't see paying more for them over the up and comers. Bridgestone and Srixon really have my attention at the moment. The B330 S is more durable and spins better for me than the and RX, I'm on the border for swing speed thresholds 103-105. The Srixon Z's are great balls I give the nod to the Star over the StarX, for durability and feel, shortgame spin seems about the same.

Some observations:

• The B330S, TM Red, are the longest balls overall, but the Bridgstone gives me a higher flight. The ProvX,Cally ix, SrixZstarX don't seem to give me any distance advantage over the others (not enough backswing!)
  
• The Nike Tour may shortgame spin the most but at a most severe in class durability detriment. The ball feels hard too.
  
• The SrixZstar is the lowest spinning ball off the driver - almost freaky how little it will move off my cut. It likes to fly where pointed.
  
• RX, TM Red and SrixZstar are on the softside - Srixon the softest.
  
• The RX and TP Red have little shortgame spin and cut too easily.
  

So, I'm to the point of the SrixZstar,and B330-S duke-ing it out for my gamer ball, and at $39 and $37 respectivley, a good value....kinda - because the Wilson Zip is my rec ball - a ridiuclously good ball for under $20.

 

I'll play the Bridge -S and Srix Z star tomorrow, try to A/B them as much as possible.

tk

[Babydaddy]

It's a long ball testing year, and just getting underway. Unemployment has its benefits 9 a day keeps me sane and thanks to the local golf shop for selling sleeves. So far I have been through most of the urethane covered balls except the non-S b330. While I believe Titleist, nike and cally make a fine tour ball this year I can't see paying more for them over the up and comers. Bridgestone and Srixon really have my attention at the moment. The B330 S is more durable and spins better for me than the and RX, I'm on the border for swing speed thresholds 103-105. The Srixon Z's are great balls I give the nod to the Star over the StarX, for durability and feel, shortgame spin seems about the same.

Some observations:

• The B330S, TM Red, are the longest balls overall, but the Bridgstone gives me a higher flight. The ProvX,Cally ix, SrixZstarX don't seem to give me any distance advantage over the others (not enough backswing!)
  
• The Nike Tour may shortgame spin the most but at a most severe in class durability detriment. The ball feels hard too.
  
• The SrixZstar is the lowest spinning ball off the driver - almost freaky how little it will move off my cut. It likes to fly where pointed.
  
• RX, TM Red and SrixZstar are on the softside - Srixon the softest.
  
• The RX and TP Red have little shortgame spin and cut too easily.
  

So, I'm to the point of the SrixZstar,and B330-S duke-ing it out for my gamer ball, and at $39 and $37 respectivley, a good value....kinda - because the Wilson Zip is my rec ball - a ridiuclously good ball for under $20.

 

I'll play the Bridge -S and Srix Z star tomorrow, try to A/B them as much as possible.

tk

EXCELLENT reply

I have heard people say that the B330S really spins off the driver (2009 version) From playing around with one around the practice green I definitely observed more shot game spin than the prior iteration. I liked the 2007 ball because it was somewhat durable and played GREAT tee to green.

It has a medium boring trajectory.

I love the feel of the Z star but worry it might be a high ball that can really balloon in the wind.

Love to hear your a/b on the Z star and the new B330s

 

Thanks

 

Noelsy

[Sub-80]

I just posted this in the Srixon Z Star thread - sorry for posting it twice, but I think it belongs here - my top two balls are supposed to be the B330-S or the Srixon Z Star - the same ones you are torn on...but as you will see from my post, I'm still confused...:lol:

 

Just did my first golf ball selector test of the year on their site - my swing profile was:

 

BALLSPEED: 162-177 MPH

CLUB HEAD SPEED: 108-118 MPH

LAUNCH ANGLE: HIGHER

SPIN RATE: HIGHER

ESTIMATED DRIVER: > 287 Yards

 

(My SS is 108 and my spin is right around 2700-2900, launch approx 15)

 

After answering their questions, my top 5 balls were:

 

1. Bridgestone Tour B330-S (08)

2. Srixon Z Star (09)

3. ProV1x (09)

4. Bridgestone E5 (07)

5. Nike One Vapor (09)

 

____

 

I've been a long time Prov1X player, but I've yet to try the '09 version. I'm confused by the results of the ball selector test. My '08 Prov1x rated very low according to my results. I'm also curious why they rated the Srixon Z Star so high since I read it was comparable to the reg ProV1 (non x)....and I thought the X was supposed to be the lower spinning driver ball for both brands.

 

Does the Srixon Z Star actually spin less off the driver than the Prov1X (the older version)? And if so, wouldn't the Z StarX be even lower spinning and therefore the better ball for my profile? To say I'm confused is an understatement.

[toms]

OK played 18 today on a LONG windy and empty course. I have a final determination on the balls, but first; Kudos to Tom Wishon for making the best driver head I have ever had the pleasure to hit, if you have not had a chance to test a 919THI fitted to your swing ...do yourself a favor, I had a great driving day.

Balls;

I have to give the go ahead to the SrixonZStar over the B330-s. Three advantages I found for the ZSstar, were lower driver spin, durability and feel, all else seemed equal - no difference.

 

The Srix held in the wind noticably better than the B330-S, I am talking 20-25 mph head winds, the Srix would move some but the B330 would move a lot more, the Srix didn't balloon the 330 did. Couldn't tell you under normal conditions if the b330 was longer as I suspected, because in the wind the Srix was definatly longer and straighter. Srix looks new the b330 is grooved in three places.

 

Bottom line Srixon Z Star is my "serious ball"

 

P.S. Both balls suck at putting and bunker play!

[Sub-80]

OK played 18 today on a LONG windy and empty course. I have a final determination on the balls, but first; Kudos to Tom Wishon for making the best driver head I have ever had the pleasure to hit, if you have not had a chance to test a 919THI fitted to your swing ...do yourself a favor, I had a great driving day.

Balls;

I have to give the go ahead to the SrixonZStar over the B330-s. Three advantages I found for the ZSstar, were lower driver spin, durability and feel, all else seemed equal - no difference.

 

The Srix held in the wind noticably better than the B330-S, I am talking 20-25 mph head winds, the Srix would move some but the B330 would move a lot more, the Srix didn't balloon the 330 did. Couldn't tell you under normal conditions if the b330 was longer as I suspected, because in the wind the Srix was definatly longer and straighter. Srix looks new the b330 is grooved in three places.

 

Bottom line Srixon Z Star is my "serious ball"

 

P.S. Both balls suck at putting and bunker play!

 

Thanks for the report! I play in windy conditions often (Chicago area). I bought a dozen Z Stars today and I'm trying them out Sunday (supposed to be fairly nice conditions)....I'll report later.

 

As for the sand/putting factor - could be the Indian vs the arrow :lol: I know it is with me...