What's the point in playing a Pro V?

[James_Black]

I played with 3 golf balls today.
Top Flite XL, Pro V1, Pro V1x
All in perfect condition.

Distance:
Top Flite and Pro V1x went around the same distance V1 was slightly behind.

Accuracy:
Now here's a thing a lot of people forget. If you play with a softer ball you'll not only get more backspin but also more sidespin.
The top flite was the most accurate for me.

Spin:
Pro V1 did 1 hop and stop from full wedge shots, V1x rolled out a bit more and the Top Flite ended up 5-10 feet away from the pitch mark.

Durability:
V1 and V1x were pretty bad after only 9 hole, the Top Flite looked nearly brand new.

Overall:
V1 and V1x aren't what they're hyped up to be. Yes they spin more but that's it, They get destroyed after 9 holes and accentuate fades/draws.

I'd happily play with a Top Flite XL instead of a Pro V

What do you think?

[Zeph]

The Pro V1 might not suit you, but that doesn't mean it don't suit others.

[Gibby]

While you mght be looking for every extra yard you can get, and just want to hit the ball as straight as possible, some of us might not need an extra 10 yards and prefer to have a more responsive ball for our short game. Plus once you have a decently consistent swing, there are lots of situations where being able to work the ball is much to your advantage. Personally, i just think TopFlites and most two piece balls feel rock hard and i hate putting and chipping with them.

-Gibby

[bruce]

While you mght be looking for every extra yard you can get, and just want to hit the ball as straight as possible, some of us might not need an extra 10 yards and prefer to have a more responsive ball for our short game. Plus once you have a decently consistent swing, there are lots of situations where being able to work the ball is much to your advantage. Personally, i just think TopFlites and most two piece balls feel rock hard and i hate putting and chipping with them.

I also use them mainly for the short game,top flites e.t.c are just like rocks.

[motteler621]

yea those top flights are like rocks. chipping with them its like you hit a peice of metal. Good driving balls though. Pinnacle is the same, good for driving but are like rocks.

[goblue107501]

While I agree a lot of what you say James, I have to disagree overall. I hit the ball really hard and can spin anything with a full shot. So from tee to green, I would have no problem with a Top Flight. Provided of course that they actually go a similar distance off the tee for me. The main reason why I use a Pro V is the spin you can get on partial shots and on chip shots around the green. That is where the scoring is done, so that is where I need to get the most out of the ball.

The last time I played I faced a 40-50 yard shot to a two-tier green with the hole in the back. I was able to carry to the second tier, the ball takes two hops and stops dead on the second. That just isn't going to happen with a Top Flight.

As far as them getting beat up, I don't really care. That just goes with the territory.

[delav]

I think there is a good amount of misperception over balls like the ProV1 and V1x (as well as others). If you struggle to hit fairways off the tee, this ball really shouldn't be in your bag to begin with.

For a mid handicap, balls like the bridgestone e6 would be a better fit. For better players who aren't as concerned with reducing sidespin, the Pro V1, B330 series, etc offer control around the green that distance balls cannot match.

For better players, being able to get up and down around missed GIRs is crucial to scoring. This is where the tour-level multilayer balls excel. A mid-level player would benefit from a high spin ball in these situations as well, however, they'll likely add strokes off the tee due to poor accuracy.

[Gordon McTavish]

To be honest, I find the whole "It spins less so is more accurate" statements to be the same hype as "adjustable drivers straighten wayward shots."

If a shot has side-spin, it has side-spin because of issues with clubface angle / swing path... and no piece of equipment is going to correct that. I seriously doubt that even the "straightest" equipment is even going to do much to mitigate the above mentioned swing flaws.

I can play any piece of equipment and range from pretty good to embarassingly poor, so it makes little difference in the end what I choose.

Thus, I choose equipment based on feel more than anything else; and rock hard, two-piece distance balls don't feel particularly nice to me.

[drglew]

To be honest, I find the whole "It spins less so is more accurate" statements to be the same hype as "adjustable drivers straighten wayward shots." If a shot has side-spin, it has side-spin because of issues with clubface angle / swing path... and no piece of equipment is going to correct that. I seriously doubt that even the "straightest" equipment is even going to do much to mitigate the above mentioned swing flaws.

I'd disagree. You're absolutely right that if you put sidespin on a ball due to swingpath it ain't going straight. However, if your golf ball choice puts 50% more spin on a shot, that's not just backspin, and your ball will travel even more wayward (but maybe into the next fairway if you're lucky for a clean lie!).

And as one who plays an adjustable driver, I disagree also that equipment doesn't make any difference, at least if your misses are fairly consistent. Tweaking my Nickent Evolver 4Dx to 1* closed has almost eliminated my fade, and now my driver flight is almost dead straight, resulting in 5-10 more yards. I'd agree if you miss all over the place equipment isn't going to help much though; but if you always slice your driver, an offset or "draw" driver will probably help. Yes it's a quick fix, but for those without the time for tons of lessons and just want to go out & play it may be a lot more preferable.

[JWL1957]

I like the Pro V alot myself. But will also play a Top Flite XL in a heart beat. Tee too green they are simular of of my clubs. I like the Pro V more with pitching and chipping. But I like the Top Flite more with my putter.... because of the louder sound.

[Chief Broom]

The Pro V1 might not suit you, but that doesn't mean it don't suit others.

I think if more people took the time to objectively evaluate different balls like the OP did they would be really surprised by their result. The average player simply does not have the game to differentiate between balls. Take the print off the outside of the ball and there would go 90% of the incentive to play specific balls.

[acj990]

I'd love to have the time to try a bunch of balls out, but I usually just try a dozen at a time. I recently got the Titleist NXT Tour and really like them. I get the spin I want around the greens and the distance of a two-piece. Try em out...and the price isn't to bad either. If I could afford it, I'd play the new Srixon, I've heard its amazing.

[billysandy]

I will not play most Top Flites purely because putting with them is comparable to hitting a rock. Simple.

[delav]

I'd love to have the time to try a bunch of balls out, but I usually just try a dozen at a time. I recently got the Titleist NXT Tour and really like them. I get the spin I want around the greens and the distance of a two-piece. Try em out...and the price isn't to bad either. If I could afford it, I'd play the new Srixon, I've heard its amazing.

I agree with you. For the price, the performance of the NXT Tour is pretty tough to beat.

[andef]

I play a Pro V1x because of the greenside spin and the trajectory that is more suitable than a Pro V1 (at least for me). However, I disagree when people say that it will only last 9 holes. That is simply not true as I've played my current ball for exactly 36 holes. I've hit a couple of full wedge shots which leave groove marks on the ball but I think I'll still play it until I lose it. It could be that I'm more accurate (with my swing), but I've never been able to play a ball for 18+ holes without losing it and I'm averaging 36 since I started playing with the Pro V1x. I might not be as picky with my ball as most people who will throw it away after 9 holes but I will definately stop playing the ball when I can tell that the extensive usage is affecting its performance, otherwise i'll keep on playing it.

[anthonykim3]

i have 27 holes on my prov1x and its still going strong with 3 brand new wedges in the bag this year one being a 64 degree spin mille vokey that i hit 2 60 yard shots with and this ball is still fine

[delav]

i have 27 holes on my prov1x and its still going strong with 3 brand new wedges in the bag this year one being a 64 degree spin mille vokey that i hit 2 60 yard shots with and this ball is still fine

You should take the plastic shrink wrap off your new wedges. ;)

Seriously, I can't seem to get an entire 18 holes out of a ProV1/V1x without scuffing one on an approach. I'll still play them when I can afford to do so however.

[Dave40]

I've found the ProV to be the least durable of the tour golf balls. Try a different brand.