The search for the ball is nearing the end. I played a Srixon Z-Star X today. After a birdie on the first hole, an eagle opportunity on a par 4, and being able to stop the ball like no other, this ball may be for me. It was sent to the golfing gods, however, when I hit a 6 iron 200 yards over the green and through the woods. I was attempting to lay up and it came off the face red hot. I also played a Taylormade TP Red LDP, Bridgestone B330, and a Callaway tourix. The TP Red was a fairly decent, but just didn't have the distance of the others. The Bridgestone is a very solid, long hitter ball. It had a nice soft feel, but I felt I was at the mercy of the ball at time. It would spin crazy fast one hole and release and roll further on a shorter shot the next hole. The Callaway is a stupidly long ball. I just threw my hands at it and got it down the fairway 340 yards. It is a great ball for long par 5's, but there just isn't a satisfaction when hitting it. It goes 300 yards but you feel like you hit a rock. I hit it with my iron decently flush (slightly thin) and thought I was going to throw the club. It genuinely hurts to hit that ball if you do not catch it flush every single time.
In the final episode of this saga, I will review, hopefully, a Nike One Platinum, a Callaway Hex, a Titleist ProV1x a Top-Flite Gamer (wild card ball), and, if I can get a hold of one, a Nike 20XI.
I'm glad you found a ball you like. I would like to point out that the Z Star X is Srixon's previous model so you won't find it in golf shops anymore; although I'm sure you can find them on ebay. The Z Star XV is its replacement just as an FYI. It's still a firmer ball, but has slightly lower compression than the X. Also, most of the other balls you tested are old models that can not be readily purchased in golf shops, sporting goods stores, etc. anymore.
I really think the ProV1x is the ball for you based on your comments. I played it for a while because it is a higher compression ball yet somehow still has a soft feel off the clubface. And it has LOTS of spin around the greens (even more than the Pro V1). I highly recommend you give it a try. Just to note: the 2009 version is a little softer than the new version.
As an alternative, the Nike 20XIs are both higher compression balls (20XI-X and 20XI-S), and Dick's Sporting Goods and Golf Galaxy have a "Buy 2 get one free" deal right now. Although I wouldn't suggest getting 3 dozen before you determine you like them. I don't personally didn't care for them, but that doesn't mean you won't like them. Though I'm not sure how resonsive they are around the green since I haven't done any extensive personal testing with them.
Another suggestion is the Callaway Tour i(z). This is the higher compression ball of the 2 Callaway offerings (Tour i(s) is the other). These are the previous Callaway models (Hex Black Tour just came out), but you can get them for $35/doz on Callaway's website, or probably less on ebay.
These are my 3 recommendations, and I would consider myself to be a ball snob. Good luck!
