Ball distance, spin and feel

[Will]

The USGA tests balls, posting their results on a monthly basis. One of the parameters is spin, which is tested with a driver and short iron. The spin rating is either low, medium or high, and shown like "L-M", which means low driver spin, medium short-iron spin.

The following is from the current month's pdf.

Pro V1 M-H
Pro V1x M-H
NXT L-M
NXT Tour L-M
DT Solo L-M

Titleist markets the Pro V1x as a lower spin ball, for extra driver distance and for more greenside control for those players who impart too much spin with wedges. But the USGA shows no spin performance difference between the V1 and the V1x. In fact, the V1x spins more than the NXT.
I do think that the V1x goes farther than the V1, but that's not due to lower spin. It's because of a larger core and, possibly, more areodynamic dimple pattern. But if distance is mainly a function of a larger core (everything else being equal), then the NXT tour has the largest core of any Tiltleist ball and should go farthest.

The main difference between the Pro series and NXT balls is the 2 piece cover construction, which might affect feel but wouldn't affect distance. The NXT tour does have the thinnest total cover, so shouldn't be as durable.

With the NXT tour spin rate of L-M, and the larger core, I think it's worth trying as a distance ball. And, it has a non-surlyn cover (something called soft fusablend), so it should have similar feel to the pro v series.

[BritBoy]

do you have a link to the PDF so I can see how other balls rate? In particular the bridgestones that I use

[Fourputt]

  BritBoy said:

do you have a link to the PDF so I can see how other balls rate? In particular the bridgestones that I use

Go to usga.org then click on the conforming ball list.

[Fourputt]

  Will said:

The USGA tests balls, posting their results on a monthly basis. One of the parameters is spin, which is tested with a driver and short iron. The spin rating is either low, medium or high, and shown like "L-M", which means low driver spin, medium short-iron spin.

The codes that the USGA uses are not specific numbers, where as Titleist uses the actual numbers to differentiate the two balls. Thus the Titleist claim that the V1x has lower spin is probably correct, because its actual spin is in the lower end of the USGA M-H rating while the V1 would be in the higher end of the range. Both still have more spin than the NXT which is an average ball, with more average spin ratings. L-L and L-M seem to be the predominant ranges for the majority of the balls on the list. My Noodles come in at L-M... about where I'd figure them.

[iacas]

  Will said:

Titleist markets the Pro V1x as a lower spin ball, for extra driver distance and for more greenside control for those players who impart too much spin with wedges. But the USGA shows no spin performance difference between the V1 and the V1x.

As others have pointed out already, "Medium to High" is a pretty broad range of spin rates. It's quite possible for one to be at the high end of the range and the other to be at the low end.

[Will]

  iacas said:

As others have pointed out already, "Medium to High" is a pretty broad range of spin rates. It's quite possible for one to be at the high end of the range and the other to be at the low end.

Just to clarify, the range isn't "Medium to High". A spin classification of M-H means medium spin for the driver, and high spin for the short iron.

Given the USGA info, it's not possible to tell what their classifications mean in terms of rpm, or whether they are measuring sidespin, backspin, or a combination. But I think that for practical purposes, we can assume that a ball classified in a given category will perform differently than one in a different category.

[Fourputt]

  Will said:

Just to clarify, the range isn't "Medium to High". A spin classification of M-H means medium spin for the driver, and high spin for the short iron.

Yes. No way to tell where their cutoff point is from one letter designatioin to the next. But for most players, it's close enough to help make purchase decisions. I'm using the Noodle because it's cheap, and at the moment I need the lower spin rate from the driver. I'm using a new driver and still trying to get comfortable with it.

[mrobbie]

check out http://www.golfballtest.com/ for more detailed stats on ball tests.... as has been said, H/M/L is too vague....

[Will]

  mrobbie said:

check out

Interesting site. Looks like it was last updated in July 2005, however. And the ratings in several areas don't match my experience. If I was to guess, I'd say it's a marketing site, and the numbers are made up.

fwiw, I tested all the Titleist balls yesterday, found that the DT solo and NXT tour were farther off the driver that the Pro v1 or v1x, about a 6 yard avg distance. No difference between the prov and v1x, however I probably don't swing hard enough to bring any difference into play. I used 6 of each type ball, 30 drives, slightly uphill wide fairway, averaged 247 for the pro v's, 253 for the Nxt/dt solo. (I thought I hit it farther than that! ok, slightly uphill.) The pro v1 does seem softer and more responsive around the green, but the NXT tour was acceptable. I did notice some scuffing on one of the NXT tour balls, so it's possible their thinner cover might not be as durable. I'll be checking that, as that's what I'll be playing for awhile.