Polara XD

[RussUK]

DISCLAIMER: If you play in competitions, keep a handicap or believe all golf should be played in accordance to the rules then go put the kettle on and take a break. For all you recreational golfers, rebels or those who like to read others experiences.....read on.

Since I returned to work and changed jobs ny golfing priorities have changed. Range time is time with my 4 year old son so practice isn't high on the list. Now my game isn't to bad for a "part time golfer" but prone to the odd wayward tee shot. As a leaving gift I was given a voucher and decided that, as it wasn't my money, I would try the Polara xd. This ball can correct a slice/hook by up to 50% but did it work?

I tested against other high handicappers' balls, Srixon distance and Callaway cxr control (3 piece). First, can you slice it? Yes you can. A bad swing is still a bad swing and this is no polara ultimate straight. Hit it right and it works a treat. You can see it fighting the side spin, its strange but satisfying.

is it a rock? Not really, no harder than the srixon but not as soft as the Callaway.

distance? Very good for a surprising reason. If you hit the ball high like I do then the polara is perfect. It has 90% the lift of a standard ball (ultimate straight has 50%) the flight is more penetrating. Both the srixon and Callaway balloon on me losing distance.

greenside. Well its a 2 piece so plan for roll out or, like me, play more loft and aim half way to the hole and it works fine, as good as the Srixon but not quite the Callaway.

putting. Fine just like any other ball.

This is not a cure for a slice, more of a confidence booster. I hit more fairways and greens then ever as I didn't worry about that odd off swing.

is it cheating? Yes and no. If you use it in an underhand way to gain advantage in comps then yes but for the tens of thousands of recreational golfers no, it allows the game to be played as intended...for fun.

Will I play it and recommend it? Until I have the luxury of practice time then yes I will. I had more fun on the course than ever before and for those like me I can heartily recommend it.

Get over the "illegal" tag (armed robbery is illegal, a ball isn't in the same league ?) and enjoy the game.

There are better balls out there for sure but you cant deny the tech un this is pretty cool.

play what makes you enjoy the game, not what others tell you to play.

[iacas]

IIRC the balls work by reducing the spin (or the effects of spin). This reduces lift and for most people distance. I've heard the "Ultra-Straight" goes 50 yards shorter than a premium ball, and never gets much height, and falls out of the sky.

If you're launching the ball really high they can close that gap a bit, but overall, I've heard that they're significantly shorter off just about every club for most people.

Which makes sense. The dimple-less Caesar golf ball behaved the same way (except even more of an extreme).

https://thesandtrap.com/b/balls/caesar_featherie_dimpleless_golf_ball_review

[RussUK]

1 hour ago, iacas said:

IIRC the balls work by reducing the spin (or the effects of spin). This reduces lift and for most people distance. I've heard the "Ultra-Straight" goes 50 yards shorter than a premium ball, and never gets much height, and falls out of the sky.

If you're launching the ball really high they can close that gap a bit, but overall, I've heard that they're significantly shorter off just about every club for most people.

Which makes sense. The dimple-less Caesar golf ball behaved the same way (except even more of an extreme).

https://thesandtrap.com/b/balls/caesar_featherie_dimpleless_golf_ball_review

heard the same about the ultimate straight but I suppose that they are more for the guy who slices with every club and never his a fairway. For them giving up 50 yards is worth it if they hit it straight.

the XD seems to be more about a little helping hand than skiing the work for you.

re the Caesar balls that would explain why it's near impossible to slice old worn range balls.