Titleist Professional 90 vs. Top Flite vs. "Balata" balls?

[Used2PlayALot]

I just started playing again after a 10 year hiatus.

In 1999-99, I was about a 12 handicap and liked using Titliest Professional 90 balls.

I could actually feel a big difference between these vs. Top Flite balls (which felt like hitting a rock)

What is the 2012 eqiuvalent of Titliest Professional 90?

I remember my 7 handicap friends all would use Balata balls, which were very soft.

I remember their balls would always just spin back off the green, so I never really saw the point.

Was this just a fad or do people still use Balata balls?   What is the current name?

This looks interesting. Looks like 2012 balls are a longer than 1998 balls.

Does that come at a price?  (Less accuracy, etc)

http://persimmongolftoday.org/archives/738

[taxpayor]

Urethane is the new balata, only far more durable.  I am guessing that the ProV1 is the closest Ttitleist ball to the Professional 90.

[Used2PlayALot]

That's right, the Balata would get nicked so easily.

You could take a sliver out with your fingernail, in fact.

So, are Urethane balls popular?

Same effect:  More spin, less distance, etc?

[taxpayor]

Comparable spin, much better distance.  The new solid cores are much more resilient than the old liquid cores surrounded by rubber bands, and they spin less off the driver as well.  If they weren't better, pros would still be using the older technology.  Even today's 'rock' balls are pretty darn good.

[Used2PlayALot]

What is hte deal with Titleist Dt Solo?    The ones that look like this.

I bought a bag of AAA+ balls about 4 years ago, and plan to use these for my brief return to golf.

Are they similar to the Titliest Professional 90's I used to love?

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by Used2PlayALot

What is hte deal with Titleist Dt Solo?    The ones that look like this.

I bought a bag of AAA+ balls about 4 years ago, and plan to use these for my brief return to golf.

Are they similar to the Titliest Professional 90's I used to love?

No.  The ProV1's and ProV1x's are the next incarnation of your Titleist Professionals.  The DT's are hard distance balls.

[Used2PlayALot]

If the Solo's feel like I am hitting rock hard Top Flites, then maybe I'll invest in a bag of AAA+ ProV1x's used off Ebay

Thanks

[tefunk]

I may be wrong on this, but I'm pretty sure the "90" in the Tour Professional 90 was referring to the compression of the ball.  There was a Tour Professional 100 as well, and the DT Wound had a 90, 100 and 110.  That being said, the ProV1 or ProV1x may not be what you're looking for as they require a lot more swing speed (maybe 105-110mph plus) to get good compression on them (i.e. they are a tour compression ball).

I wouldn't say don't try them, because they may work great for you (and maybe you do have a fast swing speed as well).  But based on another post I saw of your's (I think it was you asking about a newer used driver, vs. an old cheap one... sorry if I got that wrong though) which you mentioned hitting the 3W 200yds, I was taking a guess your swing speed isn't over 100mph.  That being said, here are some other balls you may also want to consider.... Titleist NXT Tour S, Titleist Velocity, Callaway HEX Chrome, Nike PD Soft.

[cart7]

You haven't played in 10 years?  I hadn't played in 25.  The advances in golf ball construction are simply amazing.  Like you, back then you had the choice of the "tour" balls, Balata covered but would barely last a few holes before the cover got damaged or the Surlyn covered rocks of the day, which was just about everything else.

My suggestion would either be pick a selection up from a yard/garage sale or go golf ball picking the next time you're out and try a variety of them.  There are quite a few budget golf balls, under $25 a dozen, that will provide very nice results.

[rbarzill]

I also took about a decade break from golf... Upon my return, the differences in the golf ball was by and far the most significant advancement. I was a 3.8 handicap using Balatas and the Professional 100. There isn't much in common with today's golf balls and the ones made 10 to 20 years ago although you could probably match putter feel to the professional 90. I would suggest buying any ball labeled "soft", like the Nike. I currently use the Titleist Pro 1Vx and am amazed by its performance, although I hear it is just like some other cheaper ball callaway makes?

[doctorbs]

Balata is just real rubber.  They at one time had never been able to make a ball that would spin like a plain rubber or Balata coated golf ball.  I suspect that is still probably true.  The negative was that if amateurs bladed a Balata ball it would literally cut through the cover so it was expensive ball for hackers.  The Balata Ball wouldn't spin off the green if the spin was controlled properly.  With the wedges you have to control the spin depending on where you are hitting it in proximity to the pin and the slope of the green.

I'm looking for Balata balls now because I am playing in Northern Nevada on greens that don't hold the ball so everything rolls to the back of the green.  I thought I saw some new ones not long ago and otherwise they are selling older boxes of them on the internet.  Make sure your not just buying an old box which has no balls in it which are sold as collectors items.

Urethane is used on the new balls and basically you are kind of stuck with them if they don't make any new balata balls.

Coc

[RayG]

No matter which ball you decide on, If the clubs are 15-20 years old, especially the driver, you will lose distance anyway. The old balata 90 or 100's were meant to smashed with a clubhead that is completely different from today's technology. Using an old club with a new ball will seem like your hitting a cayman ball. The lower compressions of today want the springy faces on the new drivers.

[dbuck]

I don't find the Titleist SoLo's to be rock hard. They are harder than the old 90's but even though they are solid core, they are not like the old Top Flite rocks. I play with older clubs a lot, and have had good results with The SoLo's and with Bridgestone 300RX, even off of persimmon woods. The B330RX and RXS are for slower swing speeds; the regular B330 and 330s are harder. A lot of folks also like Top Flite Gamers --not like the old Top Flites- and I have heard good things about Wilson Duo, but I haven't personally tried either.If you are still using the DCI's in your avatar and metal woods, you won't have a problem.