Is a golf ball's wind performance important to you?

Babydaddy · July 15, 2009

Toying with Z-star and others- have questions for you...

The Tour i is what I am playing right now. There is no doubt that this ball behaves differently in the wind than others I have tried in the past.
I love the new pro v1 and I really love the feel of the Z-Star. I have only played a couple of sleeves of the z-star and I think some of my observations may be tainted by the belief that a soft feeling ball can't be a good wind ball.
I worry about ballooning, like the 2005 pro v does for me, into the wind off the tee.
I loved the 2007 B-330s because of the mid trajectory and the stability in the wind. I love the Tour i for this as well.

A case can be made on the other hand that a ball should respond to cross winds so you can play for it.
An example comes to mind where recently I was on a par three and had a 6 iron shot. I played the tour i to the left side of the green thinking the wind would push it a little right. I hit the ball wonderfully and it just never moved that much. I don't know if I could always trust that, especially in a tournament. It's almost like you are defying physics.

Question 1: Those of you that play the regular z-star- do you find it climbs up the face or performs poorly in crosswinds? Do you feel it balloons or is excessively spinny off the driver day to day?

Question 2: In this day and age, is there too much made about wind performance? It seems to me that balls that are a little harder and spin less, tend to be more stable in the wind.
But, I hear that somehow the z-star performs well in the wind.

Question 3: Is the unbelievable feel off the putter, and durability worth any loss of distance to you guys that play it?

I want to settle on a ball. Right now, I use the Tour i if it's breezy and the pro v1 if it's calm. What say you?

Noelsy

Shivas22 · July 15, 2009

I believe balls performances in the wind do vary. Down here in Texas, how a ball performs in the wind is close to the top of my criteria. The Tour ix is the best I have come across. The i is very good as well, and feels softer. I don't care as much how a ball sounds/feels (clicky) as I do how it performs. That's why I like the ix a little better. The Z Star is a great ball and feels wonderful. It does not perform in the wind on the same level as the Callaway balls. Nor does it perform as well with the driver. It is a better feeling short game ball, but again the performance of the i series is there, it just doesn't feel as good. It is a great all around ball, but if it really blows strong where you play, this wouldn't be my top choice.

The Taylor Made LDP Red may be something to check out. It feels good and is a very solid wind ball also.

Babydaddy · July 16, 2009

I believe balls performances in the wind do vary. Down here in Texas, how a ball performs in the wind is close to the top of my criteria. The Tour ix is the best I have come across. The i is very good as well, and feels softer. I don't care as much how a ball sounds/feels (clicky) as I do how it performs. That's why I like the ix a little better. The Z Star is a great ball and feels wonderful. It does not perform in the wind on the same level as the Callaway balls. Nor does it perform as well with the driver. It is a better feeling short game ball, but again the performance of the i series is there, it just doesn't feel as good. It is a great all around ball, but if it really blows strong where you play, this wouldn't be my top choice.

The Taylor Made LDP Red may be something to check out. It feels good and is a very solid wind ball also.

thanks for your excellent reply.

I like the Red tee to green, but I don't put enough spin on shots to use it the way say our head pro does. Plus, I have a hard time looking down and seeing Taylor Made on a ball (I think this dates back to the dreaded innergel days when the balls came in tubes!)

Noelsy