Another ball related question - suggestions please.

[sean_miller]

I've reviewed the Golf Digest "Hot List", visited various OEM websites and have done a couple fittings. I don't look at what the pros do, and I take threads where people rave about the latest XYZ Tour with increased awesomeness with a grain of salt, because everyone's game is different and we all play on different courses at different altitudes.

Here's my question: Which balls should I try, based on the following criteria?


1.) distance is not an issue - usually. The ball has to provide consistent distance from all shots - a pured 3-iron should not travel 25 yards farther than the vast majority of solid shots.

2.) medium to high spin. As much as I don't want a ball that checks when I'm playing for it to run out, or a ball that backs up 15 feet when I was firing it directly at the pin, the truth is, occasionally I do want a touch more stopping power than a 2-piece value "feel" ball can provide.

3.) Feel. It should feel "somewhat" soft. Somewhere between a rock and a mushroom.

4.) Ball flight - low to medium.

5.) Does not have Titleist or a swoosh on the side. No offense guys, but when I hit my ball into the rough or fairway of an adjoining hole, I'd like to know it's still gonna be there when I arrive. That's one reason I play Wilson balls - they must give off a foul odour, because nobody wants them. Good for me, but it makes me wonder.

6.) It has to be reasonably durable. One bunker shot should not make a ball unplayable - everyone's idea of "a little fuzz" is different, but the V1 Gamer was a total POS in that regard.

7.) not too expensive. Seriously, I'm not getting sponsored to play.

Based on other threads, I was thinking about the following, but I'd like to add at least one other:

• Srixon Tour (or Trispeed Tour)
• Wilson Staff Tour

Thanks.

Edit: fixed numbering

[MSUGolfer]

Srixon Z-Star (Kinda Pricey maybe the Trispeeds?)
Nike One Tour or Tour D (Just dropped there prices to 25 bucks a dozen)
Bridgestone e7+ (Think those are the ones with mid trajectory)

Those are three off the top off my head. I just started hitting the Nike Tours and really am enjoying them around the green and for the price you can't really beat it.

[James_Black]

Sirixon ZUR/S?

Seems to be what you want.
They're meant to last longer than other premium balls

[golfro]

i'll put in another vote for Bridgestone E7+. Great ball for the price. mid trajectory, good spin, durable, distance is still good...i'd say good overall ball for a good price.

[shades9323]

Taylor Made TP Reds if you can find them. If you can't find the reds, try the blacks.

You could always draw a wiener on your Titleist or Nike ball. I bet that would discourage someone picking it up.

[sean_miller]

Taylor Made TP Reds . . .

My buddy plays the TP Reds - his game is going south, but he never complains about people picking up his ball from the wrong fairway. I'm gonna check what he uses to identify his ball - maybe it's a hot dog.

I'm going to check out the Bridgestone e7+, Srixon-Z star, and Wilson Staff Tours (if I can find them).

[shades9323]

Srixon-Z star

I thought you said not expensive? I found and tried a yellow z-star a couple of weeks ago. Maybe it was defective, but it was way too soft for me. That and I drove by it 2x thinking I was still playing a white ball.

I play the reds and like them. They go nice off the driver and offer a lot of greenside spin. They are tough to find now though.

[sean_miller]

I thought you said not expensive? I found and tried a yellow z-star a couple of weeks ago. Maybe it was defective, but it was way too soft for me. That and I drove by it 2x thinking I was still playing a white ball.

See, that's how rarely I go down the premium ball aisle - I must be thinking of the Trispeed Tour.

[jamo]

If you are looking to stay away from premium, I would go with the Top Flite Gamer.

[sean_miller]

If you are looking to stay away from premium, I would go with the Top Flite Gamer.

LOL - not giving that POS a second chance - Callaway already got enough of my money on the first 12-pack. I'd send you the 6 V1 Gamers I have left, but they might fall apart in transit.

Seriously though, it's not just the initial purchase price - 12 balls for 12 rounds won't break the bank - it's the getting swiped part. The average hacker has never heard of Srixon, they think Wilson only makes volleyballs, and Bridgestone only makes tires.

[kevinbomb123]

booooooooo

[sean_miller]

booooooooo

. . . . . r n s

Was that swoosh related? I like Nike balls - the small swoosh is good since I don't use alignment lines (maybe I should though - lol). I just don't like playing a muni and having Joe Lunchpail pocketing my ball - it happens.

[gmanuel25]

i'll put in another vote for Bridgestone E7+. Great ball for the price. mid trajectory, good spin, durable, distance is still good...i'd say good overall ball for a good price.

Exactly what he said. At least for me, I think it checks up pretty well.

[motteler621]

ive been playing with a srixon soft feel that I found. I have been playing good with it but I want to try others just because I havent tried much.

[Kieran123]

http://www.golftown.com/gtcommerce/s...-P13438C9.aspx

I played with these on the weekend and loved them.

[andef]

5.) Does not have Titleist or a swoosh on the side. No offense guys, but when I hit my ball into the rough or fairway of an adjoining hole, I'd like to know it's still gonna be there when I arrive. That's one reason I play Wilson balls - they must give off a foul odour, because nobody wants them. Good for me, but it makes me wonder.

Since I've never played a muni it doesn't happen to me. I'm proud to say that most people at my golf course don't pick up a premium ball when they find one in the rough or other fairways. Once I carried the 8th green by 30 yards and probably 20 yards left of the green so the ball was almost on the 9th fairway. Surprisingly, none picked it up and I was able to recover my ProV1 after 5 minutes. Happened once to me, this "nice guy" was walking back to the clubhouse and I hit my drive in the semirough on the first hole. He looks at my ball, picks it up and looks at us while I wave at him to put it down. I run up to him and he's like "I never saw ur ball", walking away with a brand new ProV1x which he probably sliced into the lake 100 meters short of the green the next time he played the first hole.

Going back to your question, have you considered the Callaway Tour ix? It seemed to be pretty durable when I bought a couple of sleeves (didn't have my Vokeys yet so no extensive ball shredding) and should be pretty cheap now. Seeing as you don't want something too expensive, I would probably stick with the two you mentioned and try out the Tour ix and TaylorMade TP Black. What about Nike One Blacks or Platinums if you can still find them (or you think people will still take them just cuz they see the swoosh)?

[motteler621]

Since I've never played a muni it doesn't happen to me. I'm proud to say that most people at my golf course don't pick up a premium ball when they find one in the rough or other fairways. Once I carried the 8th green by 30 yards and probably 20 yards left of the green so the ball was almost on the 9th fairway. Surprisingly, none picked it up and I was able to recover my ProV1 after 5 minutes. Happened once to me, this "nice guy" was walking back to the clubhouse and I hit my drive in the semirough on the first hole. He looks at my ball, picks it up and looks at us while I wave at him to put it down. I run up to him and he's like "I never saw ur ball", walking away with a brand new ProV1x which he probably sliced into the lake 100 meters short of the green the next time he played the first hole.

lol, I once had my parents buy me a brand new cleveland gunmetal wedge back in 2001. It cost like 110 bucks and I accidently left it on the fringe on the last hole. I realized I did after I got to my car and I was heading back and saw the guy behind me running off the last hole to his car. I went running after him and he jetted off in his car. I went to the last hole and low and behold it was no longer laying in the grass. He was like almost 40 years old too.

[Crey23]

...Seriously though, it's not just the initial purchase price - 12 balls for 12 rounds won't break the bank - it's the getting swiped part.

Sean, I play both the Srixon Tri Speed's and Gamers, and while I agree that the gamers V1 shred alot easier, they also grip much better than the TriSpeed. I am a big (huge) fan of srixon, the only Titlesit balls I like are ProV1, and I am not good enough for these yet, the rest are kind of mehh... I have played AD333 and Tri-Speeds, I have a sleeve of z-start x yellow waiting to be played....that said..I still like the gamers, and I am planning on trying V2 this weekend. I thik the biggest gain on the TriSpeed's would be distance, and durability compared to the V1's

There was a good review here a few days ago about the Srixon Tri Speed Tour. I'll look for and link it....