Pinnacle Gold vs. Srixon QStar vs. Titleist DTS Solo

[Wisguy]

I was invited to tag along on my daughter's golf lesson last night and when they played a 185yd par-3, the kids asked for me and the instructor to play with them (we each had just a wedge in hand).  I had a DT Solo in my pocket, so I teed that up and hit a good shot 100yds down the center of the fairway with my 53* gap wedge (normally a 100yd club), more than 30 yards longer than the pro hit with his 58* wedge (and a bit straighter, too - kind of fun for a hacker like me to do a bit better than a pro on occasion, hitting essentially a perfect shot with that club).  He was playing a yellow ball (didn't ask him what it was) and his second shot landed about 6' from the back-located pin and ended up 1' off the back of the green.  I have been trying to hit down more on my pitches and thought I struck a good, downward blow at about 80-85%, which hit the green about 8' to the left of the flag.  With my usual favorites, the now-out-of-production Srixon AD333 (replaced by the $5 pricier Q-Stars, which I haven't tried yet), I am confident that ball would have checked up somewhat and stayed on the green, if not spun back a bit, and I would have had a putt of no more than 10'.  The DT Solo ended up 15' behind the green in the rough.  The pro even walked over to my ball mark to look at it and agreed with me when I said "that didn't bite at all, did it?  The DT Solo was a found ball and I don't think I'll be buying any soon.

[cart7]

I've gone from the Pinnacle FX Softs - Pinnacle Gold Precision - now the new Pinnacle Golds (which are basically the old Precisions)

I still love the ball as much as I did the first time I hit one after finding one on the course.  They feel great off the irons and that's what I use to judge. I can also stop these on one hop.   Other balls I've tried.

Liked:

Gamer V2 - Like the ball. Came off the driver nicely, better than the Pinnacle.

AD333 - Another one I like.  Skinned up pretty easily though.

Q Star.- Just played a round last week with one.  OK, not worth the upgrade in price from the AD333

Nike PD Soft - Nice ball.  I could see playing with these.

Didn't like:

Bridgestone E6 - Couldn't stand it.

NXT tour - I've played these twice.  Terrible.

SoLo - I wasn't that impressed.  If the newer models are softer those might be worth trying again.

Noodle Long and soft - Just wasn't the ball for me.

I've still got a couple boxes of Pinnacles right now.  Any of the Likes I listed I could switch to other than the Q Stars (not worth it IMO)

[drom3823]

They have had the Wilson Duo in Yellow since the beginning.  Easy to find here in Midwest at pretty much any Wally World.  Personally, I love the Pinnacle Gold Yellow's at the price point around a buck a ball.  I use these to play to the green, and then use a softer touch ball for putting, like the Wilson 50 elite or Srixon AD 333.  I am a high handicapper just getting back into the game, but I thought this was common practice to always use a clean soft ball for putting.

[TJBam]

DT SoLo for its feel around the green.  Played Pinnacle Gold for a bit and paying a few more extra $ for the DT SoLo was worth it.  SoLo feels so much better chipping, out of sand, putting.  In my humble opinion.

Also - OP please explain your "local handicap"?

[Groundhog34]

There are several used ball sources, google them. All grade the balls. I have purchased "mint" condition from golf ball nut and found them to be as advertised. My only complaint is golf ball nut sends too many email specials. I don't think balls can be painted but they can be cleaned with bleach I believe.

[Micah]

Ive got the pinnacle golds in the bag right now due to low spin rate off the tee box and theyre not as hard as the srixon distance balls so theyre easier on your stick with good feel and compression.

[Topper]

Originally Posted by drom3823

I am a high handicapper just getting back into the game, but I thought this was common practice to always use a clean soft ball for putting.

I don't know if it's common practice but it's definitely a rules violation....not that it matters during a casual round.  But you wouldn't want to do this in any kind of tournament or when posting rounds for handicap.

" Note that Rule 16-1b, the Rule that allows the player to lift his ball from the putting green, does not permit the player to substitute another ball; this precludes the player from substituting a “putting ball.”

A player who substitutes another ball when not permitted to do so incurs the general penalty (loss of hole in match play or a two stroke penalty in stroke play) under the applicable Rule."

[Dave40]

For a budget ball I like the Wilson Staff Fifty. You can get it in white, yellow, and orange. They are about 12 bucks per dozen. I have tried Pinnacles but they just won't hold the green unless i hit a high wedge shot.

[RandallT]

I'm impressed people can feel the differences among all of these balls. Makes me realize my game has a long way to go. I play balls that have all been lost on hole #9 par 5 at the Golden Bear Golf Course in Hilton Head, SC. My dad does his morning walk at sunrise and picks up a few new balls every day. When I visit, I take home 150 or so to last me the year! I play mostly Titleist, Calloway, Pinnacle and Nike (a lot of "Mojo" balls found!), as those are the balls that he finds in best condition. Nearly all appear brand new but they might not perform like a new ball (I'd have no idea). But I think the variation in my swing is probably more significant than the variation in the ball performance at this point. At what point do players notice differences in each ball? 20 handicappers? 5? I'm near 12, but thus far, I haven't thought much about the ball. Perhaps it's just my endless supply I have.

[stogiesnbogies]

Titleist So/Lo goes for about 20 dollars per dozen....not 40 bucks, mate!

Perhaps your confusing it with the higher end Titleist models such as Pro V1 or Pro V1X or maybe the NXT Tour or NXT Tour S models.

I personally play and love So/Lo s as they are inexpensive -about 20 bucks a dozen and less on sale...yet perform exceptionally well for my slower swing speed....they are indeed Soft and Long as in the name "So/Lo".

Golf Digest gave them a gold medal hot list virtually every year and this year said that the least expensive Titleist (the So/Lo) was quite likely the best value for the amateur player.

I couldn't agree more. And they do indeed putt well as you mentioned.

If you want to try some other balls from the same price range that I have found to be quite good as well -try Bridgestone e6,  Wilson Staff Duo, and Wilson Staff 50 Elite.  These are all comparable balls from the same price range of about 20 bucks per dozen. Eventually you will find one that fits your game and gives you confidence.

Hope this helps.

Play well.

[Wisguy]

Play well.

Well, pretty much every single car magazine gives the BMW 3-series a top-10 award for the past 10-20 years and most have done the same every year for the Honda Accord, also. As someone who has owned a 3-series and had multiple Accords in the family, as well test driven quite a few Accords, I can tell you that magazines don't always get it right and often have very significant biases in favor of certain brands. Titleist is the BMW/Honda of the golf world at least as to their lower-end balls (the Pro-V1s/1xs are top notch balls that do carry very far, stick to greens well, and have very good feel for short game and putting). I've played the So/Lo and it was no better than average in any way, absolutely no better than any of several Nikes or Maxflis that are $6 less a dozen.

[GaijinGolfer]

Originally Posted by Wisguy

Well, pretty much every single car magazine gives the BMW 3-series a top-10 award for the past 10-20 years and most have done the same every year for the Honda Accord, also. As someone who has owned a 3-series and had multiple Accords in the family, as well test driven quite a few Accords, I can tell you that magazines don't always get it right and often have very significant biases in favor of certain brands. Titleist is the BMW/Honda of the golf world at least as to their lower-end balls (the Pro-V1s/1xs are top notch balls that do carry very far, stick to greens well, and have very good feel for short game and putting). I've played the So/Lo and it was no better than average in any way, absolutely no better than any of several Nikes or Maxflis that are $6 less a dozen.

Agree.  I wouldnt use something just because a magazine says its great.  They all buy ad space, which grants them a certain favor from the people who write the magazine.  I personally dont find Titleist balls to be anything special.  I played them in the past and theyre fine but theyre not any better than any other brand of ball.  Its not as if Titleist has some special rubber in their balls that makes them better.

Really, the only company doing anything different in terms of golf ball technology is Nike with their resin core but a lot of people dont like the clicky feel of the resin cores.  Ive played the OneRZN and its fine but it does sound and feel like plastic, which it is.

[stogiesnbogies]

I was not in any way endorsing magazine reviews as they are indeed often anything but impartial. I was simply providing someone with general data/background information that they can consider regarding a particular ball which I find most satisfactory for my game. I thank you to not put words in my mouth regarding some insinuation that I endorse the concept of buying equipment based upon a magazine review.

[Chad White]

I must admit the best cheap ball out there is the Maxfli u4

[rkim291968]

I have not tried Q Star but used both Pinnacle gold and DT Solo extensively.   Between the two, I can't really tell much difference.  Any difference I saw was immaterial to how it impacted my score.  Both balls are decent for mid to high handicappers.

[Russtopher]

I'm a high handicapper (best round so far - 98) so take whatever I say with a grain of salt. I've played mostly the Callaway Warbird and last year's Gamer V2. The Callaway was OK - cheap but hard. The Gamer is pretty much like everyone said - great feel, decent on wedge shots, I found a distance drop off the tee with it vs. the Warbird.

During my last round I decided to try some DT SoLos my grandfather had given me on the back 9. I personally found them to be the perfect middle ground between the two balls I had been playing. Didn't feel like hitting a rock off the tee like the Warbird, but didn't notice any loss of distance (I can be anywhere from 220-250 based on however my driver's doing that day). Great feel off the irons, and really nice off the putter. I can't comment on wedges too much, as that part of my game is really hit or miss.

Given that Titleist is huge around here (I grew up a few blocks from some of their facilities here in MA) I've sort of avoided the local bandwagon, but I admit that I'll gladly pick up some SoLos once I finally lose the remaining box and a half of Warbirds I have in my closet.

[titleist3]

i use the Pinnacle gold in yellow, i perform great with them, but i haven't tried Srixons Q star

[madolive3]

Top Flight Gamer. Cheap, Long and feels as good on the green and off the driver as anything under $35.