Consumer Reports Tests Golf Balls

[xian]

Anyone see this? Nike One Blacks came in first. Nike Power Distance Softs came in second (say what?). ProV1s came in 4 and 5 just behind the HX Tour 56. They claim to be "slicing through the hype", but I am willing to guess that people will disagree with some of the results. Unfortunately, they don't see to provide the raw data (i.e., distance in yards, spin in rpm, accuracy in yards) for each ball. They only give Excellent/Very Good/Good/etc.

Check it out here:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/t...6/overview.htm

[iacas]

Anyone see this? Nike One Blacks came in first. Nike Power Distance Softs came in second (say what?). ProV1s came in 4 and 5 just behind the HX Tour 56. They claim to be "slicing through the hype", but I am willing to guess that people will disagree with some of the results. Unfortunately, they don't see to provide the raw data (i.e., distance in yards, spin in rpm, accuracy in yards) for each ball. They only give Excellent/Very Good/Good/etc.

I'm surprised the Bridgestone or other Japanese balls weren't rated most reliable.

[xd3vilx]

i am surprise that Nike One come in first...i though it might by titleist pro v1 before entering this thread...

[Old Tom]

I've actually been playing the Nike Power Distance Soft ... my wife bought me four dozen of them for Christmas because they were on sale.

It's a surprisingly good ball, especially for the price.

[Everardo]

I'm surprised the Bridgestone or other Japanese balls weren't rated most reliable.

Yeah me too, especially since the USGA uses them for their club tests.

[iacas]

Yeah me too, especially since the USGA uses them for their club tests.

FWIW, my comment was mostly intended to be a sarcastic comment on how Consumer Reports consistently says this about Jap cars, etc.

In other words, Consumer Reports is what it is. Take that for all it's worth.

[Guest]

I was surprised the Nike One Platinum was not rated. The most consistent ball I have ever played. I've een playing for almost 40 years!

[Guest]

They do test the products themselves, and they also go by asking people in surveys about what they found about the products. I would say they are pretty safe to go by, being that the public is asked and thats what they go by. Consumer reports also test many products themselves.

[TCH454]

hmm... Yeah i'm surprised the ONE Platinum wasn't rated, i like that ball as well. Also note that the DT-solo scored higher than the NXT, interesting

[MaRx]

Where did the Maxfli BlackMax come in!?

[iacas]

Where did the Maxfli BlackMax come in!?

Who cares? The Consumer Reports test was a pretty big joke.

[ragontona]

Who cares? The Consumer Reports test was a pretty big joke.

My thoughts exactly. I leave equipment reviews to people who know equipment. If I'm shopping for a microwave or a lawn mower, I'll check Consumer Reports.

[MaRx]

Who cares? The Consumer Reports test was a pretty big joke.

I care, it would be nice to see how it compared in their "test".

[allin]

For what its worth, not much I am sure, the Nike ball they refer to plays very well for a short hitter like myself, about the same distance as a noodle with a driver, but I feel it is a better ball for shots into the green. For high handicap golfers moving up from from top flite xls, pinnacle etc. either of these is a good first step. If I lose two balls in a round it was a really bad round, so cost isn't the issue. Many golfers are like myself, short hitters, who can't consistently control their spin yet. I have tried both callaway hx and Pro V's, I had real problems with the Callways durability and on the pro v's good shots spun back as much as 12-15 feet sometimes and sometims released 10-15 feet. Nikes distance soft,noodles even stratas are more consistent for me.

[iacas]

I care, it would be nice to see how it compared in their "test".

You shouldn't is my point. It wasn't a very good "test" at all.

[MaRx]

To me, it really seems that there is no one real test for a golf ball.. Testing one aspect of the ball, like how long they go off the tee is nice to know, but there are soo many variables that need attention when putting balls to the test..

Test all of these areas with fast/slow swing speeds
1. Off the tees
2. Iron shots
3. Approach shots (Not sure how they accuratly test how much spin a ball has, but i'm sure they have something..)

Having a really detailed analysis of these areas, such as ball flight, distance, spin(i'm sure there are more, but I dont really want to waste too much time) These would be the areas of my interest.

[iacas]

These would be the areas of my interest.

And these are the things you must find out for yourself. I can tell you a Pro V1 will just about always spin more than a Pro V1x, but I can't tell you whether you want a Pro V1, a HX Tour 56, a TP Red, a One Platinum, or a B-330S. The differences in those balls are too small - and thus too unique to various clubheads, attack angles, swing characteristics, course conditions, etc. - to tell you. Only time and testing - yourself - will tell you.

[MaRx]

And these are the things you must find out for yourself. I can tell you a Pro V1 will just about always spin more than a Pro V1x, but I can't tell you whether you want a Pro V1, a HX Tour 56, a TP Red, a One Platinum, or a B-330S. The differences in those balls are too small - and thus too unique to various clubheads, attack angles, swing characteristics, course conditions, etc. - to tell you. Only time and testing - yourself - will tell you.

Good point! Balls are pretty much unique to each player's game basically. Each person's swing is slightly different, giving different ball characteristics.