Golf Magazine’s Feb 2008 ball guide information

[Stacey_E]

Here are the results of Golf Magazine’s Feb 2008 ball guide. I had been answering some questions in another thread for about a month and decided to put all the info in one location. I have not listed every ball that was tested. But I did organize all the balls that were asked about over the past month. If there is a ball not listed below, please feel free to ask about it.

Keep in mind, these specs are based on balls available at the time of testing. Hopefully the information contained herein will help all the members out there in narrowing down their choices to 3 or 4 balls. Then you can all go buy a sleeve of each and see how they play for you. Ill make a post outlining the testing parameters and then one including the balls I've researched according to their results.

Possibly we will be seeing another issue in a month or so. Here's hoping they continue this tradition.

Hope this helps!

[Stacey_E]

Here’s how the Golf Magazine’s Feb 2008 ball guide tested the balls available to them:

1.) The driver distances were determined by using a robot swinging a Taylormade R7 Super Quad 10.5* driver with 45” regular flex Accra T50 M4 graphite shaft & 59* lie angle. Launch conditions were set at – 90 mph swing, 137 mph ball speed, 13.75* launch angle and 2,900 RPMs.
DISTANCES ARE CARRY + ROLL (i.e. total distance)

2.) The spin rate of the balls were tested by a robot swinging a Titleist Vokey Spin Milled (Oil Can) 56* sand wedge, 35 ¼” True Temper Dynamic Gold wedge flex steel shaft with a 64* lie angle. Launch conditions were 76mph swing speed, 80 mph ball speed and 38.5* launch angle.

3.) Ball cover hardness was measured with a Shore D Durometer after averaging 5 measurements on each ball. “The Shore D hardness scale is commonly used to gauge the hardness of plastics and rubbers. (A lower Shore D number equates to softer.)” Measurements ranged from the industry’s softest cover 46.8 (Nike One Platinum) to hardest 68.8 (Top-Flite Freak).

Shore D listings were divided into two groups. The "softest" group were balls with measurements between 46.8 and 57.2. The "hardest" group were balls with measurements between 64.6 and 68.8. Thus I would assume (although I have no proof) that balls not listed in either group were Shore D rated between 57.2 and 64.6. Although I have no proof of that, balls that were not listed in either group have been listed as "NA" because their ratings were not available.

[Stacey_E]

ACUSHNET (TITLEIST / PINNACLE)
Titleist NXT Extreme 257.5 / 6,824 / 64.8
Titleist NXT Tour 254.2 / 10,612 / 57.2
Titelist ProV1x 250.4 / 12,299 / 55.8
Titleist DT Solo (2007) 249.6 / 7,758 / NA
Titelist ProV1 249.0 / 11,914 / 57.2

Pinnacle Gold FX Long 254.1 / 5,629 / 65.4
Pinnacle Gold FX Soft 251.0 / 5,154 / 65.6

BRIDGESTONE / PRECEPT
Bridgestone Tour B330-S 255.2 / 11,866 / 57.2
Bridgestone Tour B330 253.9 / 12,137 / NA
Bridgestone E5+ 252 / 12,140 / NA
Bridgestone E6+ 251.7 / 7,651 / NA

Precept Laddie X 256 / 6,242 / 67.0
Precept Distance iQ180 255.9 / 7,790 / NA
Precept Lady iQ180 255.2 / 8,185 / NA

CALLAWAY / TOP FLITE
Callaway HX Hot 253.9 / 6,963 / 67.0
Callaway Tour i 253.7 / 10,473 / NA
Callaway Tour ix 253.4 / 9,990 / NA
Callaway Big Bertha 252.8 / 7,951 / 64.8
Callaway Warbird 251.9 / 6,111 / 66.4
Callaway HX Hot Bite 249.3 / 11,331 / 54.4

Topflight Freak 254.5 / 5,310 / 68.8
Topflight Gamer 250.6 / 10,087 / 56.4
Topflight XL Distance 248.6 / 7,667 / 65.6
Topflight D2 Feel 248.4 / 8,808 / NA

NIKE
Nike PD Soft 255.9 / 8,888 / NA
Nike Juice 312 254.5 / 7,192 / NA
Nike Karma 250.0 / 9,256 / NA
Nike Ignite 249.1 / 7,071 / NA
Nike One Black 249.0 / 12,431 / 56.8
Nike One Platinum 239.1 / 13,451 / 46.8

SRIXON
Srixon Trispeed 251.3 / 7,814 / NA
Srixon AD 333 249.9 / 8,407 / 55.4
Srixon Z-URS 247.5 / 12,137 / NA
Srixon Z-URC 247.2 / 12,250 / NA

TAYLORMADE / NOODLE
TP Black 259.1 / 12,062 / 56.6
TP Red 258.6 / 11,872 / NA
Taylor Made Burner TP 255.4 / 10,894 / NA
Taylor Made Burner 255.4 / 9,242 / NA

Noodle+ 259.0 / 7,789 / NA
Noodle+ Lady 257.1 / 7,453 / NA

VOLVIK
Volvik Crystal 248.5 / 5,986 / 64.6

WILSON
Wilson Zip 252.7 / 10,518 / NA
Wilson Tx4 252.6 / 12,454/ NA
Wilson Staff Fifty 251.8 / 9,546 / NA

[longfornothing]

Thank you for taking the time to do that.

[Stacey_E]

Thank you for taking the time to do that.

No problem. I do it for the love of the game and the sandtrap as well.

[iacas]

Unfortunately, this test has a fair number of faults and isn't terribly useful. And no, I'm not going to list the many problems I have with the test.

[bogeyhitter25]

So it turns out ProV1xs have more spin than a ProV1.

[longfornothing]

The reason he said that was b/c a lot of us don't swing 90mph. If you swing 105mph, then all the data for distance is invalid to you. If you ran that same test, but using the swing speed range each ball was designed to work for, then the current data would would come out different.

In other words, this data is good for some lucky people whose SS matches to SS used during the test and pretty much useless for anyone with a higher or lower SS.

Anyone see if differently by all means chime in.

The data is still neat to see though and I'm glad Stace posted it. Just hope the 09 test gives some data that we can all use.

[Stacey_E]

The reason he said that was b/c a lot of us don't swing 90mph. If you swing 105mph, then all the data for distance is invalid to you. If you ran that same test, but using the swing speed range each ball was designed to work for, then the current data would would come out different.

I think you nailed it there longfornothing

This is the exact point I take from this data. If you change swing speed, spin rate, launch angle the weather,.etc. ANY of the variables put into this study you will see different results. I am one of the lucky ones who can use this guide. Well, make that unlucky as I only swing 90 myself. What did strike me about the study is how little difference there is in driver distance for the "average" clubhead speed guys. Now I realize the average clubhead speed of Sandtrap members are almost certainly above the last amateur average I heard of 85-90 mph. But obviously the people on this board are more dedicated golfers than the norm. I personally used this information to pick my ball based on spin rates and cover hardness. I couldn't care less about the driver data. I was able to see what balls spin more and what balls have a softer feel. Then, and utimately this is the most important step, I went out with a few sleeves of the 3 or 4 I thought might fit my game and decided on a ball based on real life performance given my swing and course conditions. To take the data and say one ball is always longer than the next, or one ball will always spin more, is to miss the spirit of the study I think. There are many golfers, including myself at one point, who weren't educated in the ball market enough to know a 2 piece distance ball from a 3 piece tour ball. This is really just a jumping off point. I hope at least one person finds it useful. Good Luck All!

[kevidinho]

thanks for this. i realize it isnt perfectly accurate but it gives a general idea atleast

[iacas]

So it turns out ProV1xs have more spin than a ProV1.

No, and that's a bit part of the problem because people might very well draw bizarre conclusions like that with bad data like this.

P.S. A few meta-comments (comments on my comment, not on the actual topic) were removed.

[anthonykim3]

so do you guys think the spin rates are off to for some one like me with a 103 ss

[Stacey_E]

so do you guys think the spin rates are off to for some one like me with a 103 ss

The spin rates would be

different . That would also be true, I think, If your attack and launch angle were different - or if your grooves were more worn. And given a certain swing speed you may not get the same ball speed if you miss the center by a little. Many factors go into your personal launch conditions. And no study could cover every swing variable for every swing speed. But one thing you can tell from this data, for example: HX Hot Bites spin way more and have a much softer cover than the regular HX Hots. You will learn that from playing them as well. But if someone that knew little about the ball market (and many of us have been there at one point in our golfing lives) were to go into a store they could know which models to give a try from this information. If you needed more durability and/or slice the ball a lot, for now, go with the HX Hots. If you needed more spin around the greens and a softer feel off the putter and wedges, and cover durability was not an issue, go with the Hot Bites. That is just an example of the extreme end of the spectrum.

[Stacey_E]

They also tested six balls with a 105 MPH swing. This will further explain how much different the results are if you change the launch conditions…..Compare the results with these balls to the 90 MPH club head speed & launch conditions.


Here were the launch conditions:
Swing Speed: 105
Ball Speed: 155
Launch Angle: 12.25
Spin Rate: 2,700 RPMs
*driver model and driver specs were not listed.



..........................................RPMS.....Height......Carry.......Total
........................................................(feet)...........(yards)......
Bridgestone Tour B330-S ......2,903.7......99 ......252.6........287.7
Callaway Tour i....................2,809.1.....102.......254.7........289.6
Nike One Platinum................3,516.4.....109.......249.6........283.6
TaylorMade TP Black............2,909.0......101......254.3........289.1
Titleist ProV1.......................2,880.1.......98.......254.4........287.9
Titleist ProV1x......................2,849.4......96........254.4........290.0

[longfornothing]

ProV1X spins less than the ProV1 in this test. See what I mean now? I would like to see the mid level price point balls at 105mph and 80-85 mph wedge.

[anthonykim3]

that must be quite the umm like i don't know what it is called smash i think cause with my 103 my good ones 260 270 bad go as low as 230 so or i guess my average was 98 ss sorry i was ofy i was off

[RocketSauce]

that must be quite the umm like i don't know what it is called smash i think cause with my 103 my good ones 260 270 bad go as low as 230 so or i guess my average was 98 ss sorry i was ofy i was off

that is really difficult to decipher. wow.

[anthonykim3]

man i suck at making things read able what i was trying to say that it must be a high smash because my ss is 103 and my drives go 270 260 bad ones 250 and under so that robot must be set up at a high smash after i edited that i was wrong my ss was 98 miles per hour average not 103 so that would explain it all i am sorry i have to take more time and puncution might help