Hot List 2010 Golf Balls

[zeg]

After reading that article, I bought a box of Bridgestone e5. That was what the Bridgestone online fitter suggested for me (don't usually have problems with sidespin, would like to get up a bit higher off the tee, would like some spin on the short game...) Not a gold medal on the list, but seemed to have a favorable opinion on there. My expectation is that it'll play just like every other ball I've ever used, but it was rainy and I felt like going to the golf shop so why not, I only had 9 or 10 unused balls left and I gotta buy new ones someday!

This is the first time I've paid more than $20 for a dozen, incidentally. $25 at my shop, so we'll see...

[Gioguy21]

i'm a fan of the z star yellow's and the callaway i(s) balls...those are the only ones i'm gamin this year...good to know they're on the list lol

[Zeph]

Sorry Zeph, I'm with the others. I get what you mean - everyone has the physical skills to be good at the short game - but there's still a big gap in actual ability. Having the potentialto putt as well as PGA Tour pros doesn't mean you actually have the ability.

I'm not saying a low handicapper can have the short game of a pro, being as consistent and have the variety of shots. But to enable the softness of a golf ball, you need certain elements in place, like hitting down on the ball, keeping the wrist angle etc. Let's say a Tour Pro hits 80% of his chips close to perfect, a low handicapper will have a much lower percentage, but if he hits the ball identically, he has enabled the advantages you can gain from using a soft ball. Not every time, but he does have the ability, albeit not the consistency and variety.

I understood the comment like a low handicapper is not able to play to the advantage of a ball like the Pro V1 and could do just as well with a Bridgestone E6. Which I don't agree with. Is a low handicapper not able to hit a bump, check and run type of chip with a Pro V1? It's like hitting a 9 iron into a green. A low handicapper can put enough spin on the ball to make it spin back some distance. He may not do it every time and strike the ball as well as a Tour Pro, but he still enable the components of the ball. It's like the saying "An amateur shouldn't play a Pro V1 because he don't have the swing to compress the ball properly", which is stupid.

[Kingfisher]

I understood the comment like a low handicapper is not able to play to the advantage of a ball like the Pro V1 and could do just as well with a Bridgestone E6. Which I don't agree with. Is a low handicapper not able to hit a bump, check and run type of chip with a Pro V1?

As an inconsistent amateur, it is possible to have too much spin.

What's the point of spinning a 9 iron shot back 4 or 5 feet if it's already landed 10ft short of the pin? Similarly what's the point of being able to hit a bump and run with a bit of check if the ball checks up 4 feet shy of the flag? The fact is that some amateurs would benefit greatly from hitting a 'less spinny' ball - it will straighten out their shots and give them more distance, allowing them to get pin high more frequently.

[Zeph]

The fact is that some amateurs would benefit greatly from hitting a 'less spinny' ball - it will straighten out their shots and give them more distance, allowing them to get pin high more frequently.

I've never said everyone should play Pro V1s, I'm just saying some amateurs is able to take advantage of the ball.

[Kingfisher]

I've never said everyone should play Pro V1s, I'm just saying some amateurs is able to take advantage of the ball.

It didn't sound like you were saying that originally, but if that's what you were trying to say, then fair enough....I've seen enough of your posts on here to suggest that you are a good student of the game.

There's simply too many amateurs (when I say amateurs, I'm not talking about single figure guys) who just go out there and blow a s**t load of money buying ProV1 balls, thinking it's suddenly going to make them a better player. Titleist must be laughing their a$$es off as the cash registers keep going kerrrrching! Every week I watch high handicap golfers teeing up Pro V1 balls (ok some of 'em are sensible enough to buy lake balls, not brand new ones) and every week I see countless Pro V1 balls sail into the jungle or get rinsed in water hazards. I just read the GD hotlist and there is a great deal of sense in what the review says....now it's just up to golfers to take heed of it, improve their game AND save some money!

[James_Black]

Every week I watch high handicap golfers teeing up Pro V1 balls (ok some of 'em are sensible enough to buy lake balls, not brand new ones) and every week I see countless Pro V1 balls sail into the jungle or get rinsed in water hazards.

I look for golf balls most of the time if I need them. I like those high handicappers

[Zeph]

It didn't sound like you were saying that originally, but if that's what you were trying to say, then fair enough....I've seen enough of your posts on here to suggest that you are a good student of the game.

I commented on this verdict on the NXT Tour, which I don't agree with. For most players, it is true, but there surely are players out there that can play to the advantage of the V1.

Source: Article VERDICT: A Pro V1 might have the capability to do more things, especially around the green, but let's be honest, you can't do those things because you're not a tour player. So turn to this ball, which satisfies the needs of all of us who still pay green fees.

[Kingfisher]

I commented on this verdict on the NXT Tour, which I don't agree with. For most players, it is true, but there surely are players out there that can play to the advantage of the V1.

Well, there is an element in truth about that statement - there is not as much difference between a V1x and an NXT Tour as most people would like to believe. In fact tee to green, they're almost identical in terms of distance and spin. As Golf digest said, the key part is around the green, where undoubtedly the V1x does have a bit more spin and feel than an NXT Tour, but not nearly as much as a V1.

The point I am trying to make is that whilst there's no doubt a V1 will give almost ANY golfer more spin, BUT (it's a big but), it's senseless for a golfer to use a V1 for greenside spin and feel, if he slices the hell out of every tee ball he hits. The average amateur should be more worried about getting his ball on the green any which way he can, rather than pretending he has the skill to make a Pro V1 dance around the pin. A well struck NXT Tour will spin far better than a poorly struck (thinned, chunked etc) V1. End of story.

[jamo]

What can a tour pro do around the greens that a low handicapper can't?

Make solid, consistent contact at a level that no one else can do. Because if other peoplle could do it, they would be tour pros. (That is sort of judging by the amount of people who say: "my swing is good, but my short game sucks.")

[Zeph]

The point I am trying to make is that whilst there's no doubt a V1 will give almost ANY golfer more spin, BUT (it's a big but), it's senseless for a golfer to use a V1 for greenside spin and feel, if he slices the hell out of every tee ball he hits.

I have never talked about a golfer that can't hit a ball straight.

I'm talking about low handicappers around scratch.

[Alley Cat]

I picked up a box of Bridgestone E6 after doing an online fitting. I drove the ball farther and straighter than I ever have before. I'm hooked. Then I came home and got my issue of Golf Digest that showed it was a gold list winner... makes sense to me. I may still try the Callaway Diablo and the Noodle Easy Distance since I have a slow swing speed and also since they are a little cheaper.

[nuck81]

I picked up a box of Bridgestone E6 after doing an online fitting. I drove the ball farther and straighter than I ever have before. I'm hooked. Then I came home and got my issue of Golf Digest that showed it was a gold list winner... makes sense to me. I may still try the Callaway Diablo and the Noodle Easy Distance since I have a slow swing speed and also since they are a little cheaper.

The Noodles are nice balls. Especially for a smooth and easy swinger. For the price they are a steal. Although I'm sure there are plenty of folks here who will turn their nose up just because of the name stamp.

[CoolBreeze20]

The Taylormade TP Black LDP's, IMO, are easily the best ball per $$$ spent. They spin better than half the higher costing "tour model" balls and still have great distance off the tee.

[jamo]

The Taylormade TP Black LDP's, IMO, are easily the best ball per $$$ spent. They spin better than half the higher costing "tour model" balls and still have great distance off the tee.

The TP Black/Red are tour models, just older ones that have been discounted due to the release of the Penta.

[daveg]

Just started using the Gamer v2, which was on the list and got pretty high marks. So far, so good. For me. YMMV

[Kingfisher]

I have never talked about a golfer that can't hit a ball straight.

Ahh, now you're trying to move the goalposts!

There's no doubt whatsoever that a 'low' amateur can benefit from a tour level ball, but this time I'm pretty sure that's not what you were originally implying? I also believe that when Golf Digest made this statement: VERDICT: A Pro V1 might have the capability to do more things, especially around the green, but let's be honest, you can't do those things because you're not a tour player. So turn to this ball, which satisfies the needs of all of us who still pay green fees. They were not limiting the scope to only low amateurs - they were talking about Joe Average golfer, every Tom, Dick and Harry that reads Golf Digest, so in that sense it is a valid statement. End of story.

[MMouse]

I'm stuck on Bridgestone E6's right now. They have worked great for me off the tee and I'm playing the most consistent golf I've ever played. My short game leaves a litte to be desired right now, but I also just switched up some of my mechanics there, so we'll see if it balances out in the end.