Any Premium Ball that is Like a Balata?

[Sean2]

does anyone know of any? i need a ball that is responsive around the greens but not clicky off the putter.

 

thank you!

[mat562]

The Nike One Platinum is the closest thing I've found. And believe me, I've looked.

[Sage]

B330 S

[songwriter]

I don't know of any ball that spins as much as a balata, as I used balata balls, on purpose, for years of scratch golf play. I played them due to their spin. Titleist prov1 is closest to it, far as I know. However, there are several balls that are, generally, close enough. I find it not to my liking to play $4/ball prov1's when playing regularly. I just bought 10 dozen Taylormade TP red for $19.99/doz and it seems to be a good, similar, ball for a heavily reduced sale price.

[MMIX]

B330 S

 

I play these, however, I disagree... Around the green it checks a little, not anything like a ProV1 or Balata. I would go with a ProV1. :D

[XYB34A]

As Mat562 said, the only ball that is even close, is the Nike One Platinum. And the Nike ball that replaced it is not nearly as good.

 

Everyone seems so concerned about spin today.

[Sean2]

thank you for your suggestions!

[Dei3Nascar8]

If you could merge the spin of a Nike Plat with the feel of a Srixon you would be getting close, though nothing feels like the balata days. I have been looking and there is just nothing out there. You have to choose between the softer feeling Srixon Z-Star (for feel) and a higher spinning Nike One Tour (the Plat does spin more). The original Pro V1's and to some extent the 07's feel decent with spin but it is not close to a Tour Balata 90 from the past. We should see a difference in next years balls to battle diferent grooves I would think. Though we are gonna tear up the new balls with out old grooves more than we are now...

[Sean2]

yes, i just love the feel of the balata off the putter...that's my main interest and haven't found anything that comes close.

[502 to Right]

yes, i just love the feel of the balata off the putter...that's my main interest and haven't found anything that comes close.

 

The Srixon Z-Star is very soft off the putter. I use a stainless steel putter and this a key criteria to choosing a ball. I use the Z-Star and love it. It also gives me lots of green side spin--better than the ProV1.

[FlemmingMertz]

If you can find any, the Maxfli Revolution Tour. I bought a lot of them for cheap when they closed out, and in both spin and feel they are the closest I can think of to balata. Perhaps some of the used balls sites carry them?

[Sean2]

thanks again for your suggestions. i'll have to try the z-star and see about the maxfli's.

[NPVWhiz]

I agree that the NOP is the only ball that's even got a hint of the old ball feel, and even then it isn't really that similar. I have a few old Titleist Tour Balatas and a couple of Maxfli HT-90s in the bag, and the way they feel chipping around the green is just so superior to the modern ball. I think it's too bad that more young players don't know what the old ball felt like, especially how they felt off a full mid iron shot. Maybe we'll see something more familiar in a four piece ball in conjunction with the new groove rule.

[Pepperturbo]

There is not one current ball remotely similar to Balata. Comparitively, Balata's spin way more then balls today.

[duckhook]

Nothing.

 

I have a couple dozen of the old Titleist Pro Trajectories left. About once a year I pull one out and play with it. I lose about 10 yards with the driver and 5 yards with the irons, but damn it feels great when you pure it. The old thin sounding wedge shot that spins off the world was such a cool thing. I actually don't like putting with them anymore - so soft. I guess I just got used to the ProV1s.

 

One thing I noticed is that the loss of distance wasn't much with the balata ball on a new driver. But hit that balata with a persimmon club, and I lose 20 yards and hit a bunch of hooks.

[Pure745]

ProV1, NOP feel similar and spin a lot, ZStar feels really soft off the putter like a balata, but doesnt spin nearly as much around the green or in general.

 

Zstar is a heck of a ball.. overall I'd pick it over most (if I didn't get such a good deal on ProV1x's I'd only pay to use the ZStar)

[Titileist x7]

I used to tear those balatas up when I was younger. As I'm 22 now, that was when I was around 13 or so. I imagine that they really wouldn't last very long for me now. I agree with the Nike Platinums, they seem to be the softest I've tried recently.

[big_mac]

The Nike One Platinum is the closest thing I've found. And believe me, I've looked.

He's right you know.

 

I agree that the NOP is the only ball that's even got a hint of the old ball feel, and even then it isn't really that similar. I have a few old Titleist Tour Balatas and a couple of Maxfli HT-90s in the bag, and the way they feel chipping around the green is just so superior to the modern ball. I think it's too bad that more young players don't know what the old ball felt like, especially how they felt off a full mid iron shot. Maybe we'll see something more familiar in a four piece ball in conjunction with the new groove rule.

He's also right you know. I also have a bunch of Maxfli HTs and there is no comparison on/around the green with any modern ball. I plan on playing a couple of retro rounds (persimmon/blades/balatas) with my brother when he comes out in a few weeks.

[Sean2]

the consensus seems to be the NOP, but even then it is not the same. oh well. :-)

[deepblue]

For me the highest spinning ball will be the Nike One Platinum 2007 model and the current Srixon Z-star. I had an 60 yards pitch that backup more than 7 yards with the Z-star which I have not done since balata was history.