Wilson Staff tour caliber prototype

[toms]

..sleeve arrived today for testing. Standard shaped dimples, not flat ones. At home, off the putter, the ball was a tad softer than the SrixZstar and Prov1, noticeably softer than the b330s.Took it out for a quick 9, flew just as bad as the three previous mentioned balls: WTF HAPPENED TO MY GAME??? jeesh, worst ball striking round of the year for me - totally pathetic.

 

Back to the ball, seems durable, I did manage 3-4 full Gap and Sand wedge shots that would scuff a lesser ball (hear me Nike One Tour).

 

 

But I couldn't tell if the ball will back-up/check. Well, it won't back-up when landing in the sand, rough, or trees.

 

 

I didn't stay at the course to get a feel for the ball around the practice area/green I couldn't stand to be there one more minute after the way I "played".

 

I don't know if I'll get out next week to restart the on-the-course testing but so far so good in the feel and durability dept.

[Volgolfer]

Interested to hear more. Found a Zip today and gave it a try. Really liked the feel and flight (low and boring) so may gaming it soon. Hoping Wilson comes up with something special for their tour ball....they're due for a break.

[myu3777]

toms,

 

Thanks for the info.  How did you scored that sleeve?

 

I've been playing Wilson Staff Zip & Tx4 Pro the last two years and loved them both. Cann't waite to try their new Tour ball. Anyone got info on retail release date?

[toms]

I asked the Wilson Face book folks about the ball - they were surprised that I knew something was being worked-on so they asked if I'd like to test the ball - since I was thew first to inquire. The release date is this fall. Initial impressions are that this ball will fit -in with the rest of the tour balls, but I haven't been able to play it for more than a poor playing 9 a couple days ago.

[myu3777]

Thanks toms,

 

Hope the new ball play softer then Tx4 Pro and new dimple design is as stable in the wind as old flat bottom version.

[toms]

I can already tell you it plays softer and is more durable than the TX4. I had the impression that while it is soft off the putter and chipping, it may feel more firm as you really compress it.

 

I have played the ZIP extensively, I would not say the Prototype is that soft but it is in the neighborhood. BTW, I have found the ZIP 302 to be very good in the wind.

[myu3777]

toms,

 

Any chance of uploading some pictures to show the new dimple design?

 

I'm down to last 3 of my Tx4s and completely out of Zip.  Ever since rep told me about the new tour ball coming out at demo day couple months ago I've been dying to try it.  I had mentioned to rep about my gripes with Tx4 (feel too hard to putt, cover not as durable) and I was told both issues had been addressed with new version.  The PhD dimple design was very stable in the wind and has very true rolls on the putts.  Hope the new dimples hold up to that traits.

[golfbum9]

Thanks for the pics

 

If it has the playing characteristics of the Tx4(which was a solid performer imo), but softer and more durable... (my only compaints)

 

They'll have a Winner!

 

Looking forward to trying it. Is there a release date yet?

[toms]

Let's see if this works....

[myu3777]

Solid!

 

Thank you Toms for the pics.

 

Cover appeared to be seamless in the new version.  Is that correct?

[toms]

I'd say there is a seam along the printed proto line. Doesn't matter to me.

The only negative I can see is the color of the ball is a little off white, callaway style.

Of course I've been looking at Srixons all summer - those things are so white - they are blue.

[myu3777]

Hehe!  Same here, currently trying out both Z-Stars (bought a sleeve each, used Z-Star X in today's round) while waiting for new WS tour ball.  Will probably get few more sleeves of Z-Star X to get me by the summer until new I have chance to try the new WS tour ball.

[Mattro]

Is it me or do the dimples look really big? What is the number on how many there are? I'm pretty jacked to hear that they have a new ball on the way. Any news on the release date and or price?

[toms]

Dimples look normal sized but maybe a little shallow. I tried to count but keep losing my "place".

 

Release is "in the fall" no word on pricing yet.

 

Played it again today, used it for only short game - narrow, nasty course.

It spins on the short stuff. Me likey

[Hnixon12]

Toms,

How was the spin off the driver?

[toms]

Like most of the rest of the urethane balls off the tee, from a playing standpoint. I have not been on a monitor to get any numbers. I'm not hitting it too much off the tee, been playing realy tight courses of late. And I don't want to lose another one.

 

A couple rounds ago I hit a couple twins with the prov1 and proto, and the prov1 got it by 10 yards, next time the wilson got the prov by 10.

[Hnixon12]

gotcha...how where you able to get them, do you work for Wilson? They will most likely come out as a $40 plus ball..

[toms]

Do I work for Wilson? Not yet, err officially, just an unemployed golf junkie that scored a test sleeve. I imagine they'll be competitively priced with the other tour balls.

 

I hope they come-out with two versions.

[toms]

Played the proto again today, really hot day 100*, ball is a mid trajectory off the driver, held it's line in the wind and spun like a top for me today, I was hitting sand and gap wedges with it all day, and other than a couple thin, unpinched shots this ball spins with the best of them - not a new scuff on the ball. I'll be buying this ball for my gamer, wilson has a winner here. One for my swingspeed (100) and one for the pros and they will be back in the tour ball market.

[talwar86]

This whole summer Ive been buying every sleeve of premium balls and seeing which one is good for me Z-Star and the new Pro V1 are Awesome, but with my Cally wedges, the Z-Star just shreds. The Pro V! is great but a little too much to pay for. I played Tx4 Pro's for a good amount of time and my only complaint was the cover...hopefully these new ones are improved and the same price.

[toms]

[quote name='talwar86' post='1829375' date='Jul 19 2009, 02:37 PM']This whole summer Ive been buying every sleeve of premium balls and seeing which one is good for me Z-Star and the new Pro V1 are Awesome, but with my Cally wedges, the Z-Star just shreds. The Pro V! is great but a little too much to pay for. I played Tx4 Pro's for a good amount of time and my only complaint was the cover...hopefully these new ones are improved and the same price.[/quote]

The Wilson cover is still looking pretty good after 4-5 rounds. The TX4 did have a durability problem - this ball is easily more durable.

[mook6873]

this "new" ball looks oddly like the dynapower ball from japan.......................

[url="http://www.kascogolf.com/wilson/dynapower/products/ball.html"]http://www.kascogolf.com/wilson/dynapower/products/ball.html[/url]

[Hnixon12]

Toms, any word on the name of the ball? and when the release might be?

[toms]

No idea on the name. Wilson said it will be out this fall

[oregongolf]

Not quite sure what to think of these. I might try one... but they have some serious work to do to get into my bag (and I can play almost any premium ball). The Tx4 Pro was so incredibly awful, I wouldn't play them if you paid me to.

I found the Tx4 to feel way too clicky and sound awful. Hopefully this is an improvement.

[luxman]

[quote name='j0npeterson' post='1841186' date='Jul 24 2009, 02:20 PM']Not quite sure what to think of these. I might try one... but they have some serious work to do to get into my bag (and I can play almost any premium ball). The Tx4 Pro was so incredibly awful, I wouldn't play them if you paid me to.

I found the Tx4 to feel way too clicky and sound awful. Hopefully this is an improvement.[/quote]

+1

Toms, does the ball you are playing resemble the Pro V1 or Pro V1x?

[toms]

[quote name='luxman' post='1841280' date='Jul 24 2009, 03:02 PM'][quote name='j0npeterson' post='1841186' date='Jul 24 2009, 02:20 PM']Not quite sure what to think of these. I might try one... but they have some serious work to do to get into my bag (and I can play almost any premium ball). The Tx4 Pro was so incredibly awful, I wouldn't play them if you paid me to.

I found the Tx4 to feel way too clicky and sound awful. Hopefully this is an improvement.[/quote]

+1

Toms, does the ball you are playing resemble the Pro V1 or Pro V1x?
[/quote]From a playing performance standpoint, I'd say it's more like the Prov1, but the Wilson is softer or more muted sounding than the Prov1. I'm not ready to cut one in half, to see if the ball is a 3 or a 4 piecer. It's definitely not resembling a Prov1x to me, at least in feel/sound off the clubface. Overall I don't see an awful lot of difference in the full swing performance of the tour balls;
[indent][left]The TP Red is long and has boring trajectory? OK, whatever.
The SrixonZStar is low spin off the driver? Cool.
Callys are great in the wind? Outstanding.
The Prov's are #1 on tour? Write me up a dozen of them!
[/left][/indent]They all land within 5 yards of each other!
[left]
[/left]I'm in the ball hunt for playing lawn darts from 100yrds in, and something that doesn't offend my sense of feel, nor my wallet, and it should reasonably hold it's skin. this Wilson will do pretty good. But this is one mans opinion.

Why don't we get Wilson to do a free two ball sleeve like thay did for the ZIP and 50/50? Find them on Facebook, tell them Tom told you about the ball. <grin>
[left]
[/left][indent][left]
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[luxman]

Tom,

I tried the Facebook "begging" thing and didn't get anywhere. Like the Tx4, I'll definitely give it a go, but if the driver spin is comparable to the ProV1 then it may not be a good fit for me.

[PixlPutterman]

I still have a box of TX4's that i wont open because i cant find then any more, I have switched to B330 for now so i hope this wilson ball is close to the TX

[toms]

This one is softer than the TX4, and more durable. I gotta believe there will be a high compression model too - if Wilson is going to get their tour staff to switch from something like the prov1x.