Golf Magazine: Ball Test

[Divot Tool]

As many of you may already know, Golf Magazine recently featured an extensive ball test in their February '08 issue. A few things piqued my interest.

One odd thing I noticed was, on pg.95 (Discover Your Spin Index article) in the chart titled Category 1: HIGH-SPIN BALLS the balls seem to be listed from highest to lowest rpms....

First being the Nike One Platinum @ 13,451 rpm and last being the Callaway Toux ix @ 9,990 rpm.

The next 4 balls on the list after the Nike One Platinum are as follows...

2. Titleist Pro V1x @ 12,299 rpm
3. Srixon Z-URC @ 12,250 rpm
4. Wilson Tx4 @ 12,454 rpm
5. Nike One Black @ 12,431 rpm

However, if you take note, clearly the Wilson Tx4 produces more spin under the specified setup conditions than the Pro V1x and the Srixon Z-URC yet is listed in 4th.

According to the results, it should list...

2. Wilson Tx4 @ 12,454 rpm
3. Nike One Black @ 12,431 rpm
4. Titleist Pro V1x @ 12,299 rpm
5. Srixon Z-URC @ 12,250 rpm

Could this just be a typo or was it done by design?

And another question: Wasn't the Pro V1 designed to spin more than the Pro-V1x? The case can be made for the Taylormade TP Red vs Tp Black. According to these tests, those claims don't hold any truth.

[Everardo]

Have you contacted the magazine?

[Divot Tool]

Have you contacted the magazine?

To be honest, I had not considered that.

[Jarno]

Some would say it is marketing, Titleist says they are the best our there and they pay for the advertising within the magazine while Wilson doesn't have nearly the amount of ads in any magazine.

As far as the V1 V1x, the way my rep tells me is that it is just like the Callaway HX balls. The HX Tour( or Pro V1) is for long ball hitters faster club head speed, HX Tour 56 (Pro V1x) is for more spin around the green and low-mid irons.

[giantbear]

Some would say it is marketing, Titleist says they are the best our there and they pay for the advertising within the magazine while Wilson doesn't have nearly the amount of ads in any magazine.

I always thought it was opposite, V1 = HX tour 56- higher spin ball; V1X = HX Tour, lower spin ball, more distance.

[AnalogAG]

I always thought it was opposite, V1 = HX tour 56- higher spin ball; V1X = HX Tour, lower spin ball, more distance.

Same here!

[cbe_golfer]

Same here!

ditto. Jarno, you may have to check your source or your memory.

[allin]

Ball spin is determined by a # of factors. For example, with a driver, a hard ball and a soft cover may actually spin more than a soft ball soft cover. A soft ball with a hard cover probably spins least. Greater ball deformation tends to reduce spin. Lower speed guys like myself who deform the ball less may need less spin, but counter intuitively some higher speed guys actually need more spin because they deform the soft balls so much that they don't generate a lot of spin. For short shots the cover matters more and the core less. Obviously the dimples, and individual swing characteristics impact this also, deeper dimples less spin. Also Phill has a steeper angle than Tiger so probably needs less spin than Tiger who is about as shallow as it gets, all this is dependent on the driver loft chosen etc etc etc. This is why I just keep trying balls until I find one I like and which suits my game and try not to get hung up on swing speed and marketing hype.