2014 FG Tour Report

[darsony]

I used the new 2014 FG Tour in a tournament last week and here is what I have to report.

 

First of all, I play tournament golf either using a PRO V1x or PRO V1 depending upon course conditions. But I took a gamble and tried the new FG Tour. In my practice round, playing both balls, I found the FG Tour to be as long or a bit longer than the ProV1x. It was never shorter. BUT it was never longer by much (maybe 6 yds). It did NOT have the super distance of last years FG Tour X, with which I hit some of my longest drives of the season.

 

Around the greens, it had good spin, and I was able to hit accurate and controlled lob shots and chips. When I practiced later, I consistently chipped the ball closer to the hole on average than the PRO V1x, chipping to five different hole locations, adding up the total yardage away from the hole. HOWEVER, when I practiced up and in chipping, where I would chip and then follow up with putting, the PRO V1x was ALWAYS superior. Without a doubt on the two days I practiced this exercise, the PRO V1x was much better at getting up and IN. The FG Tour doesn't putt/roll that consistently, at least for me. In that regard, it is like last years FG Tour X. The reason I chose not to continue using that ball was two fold: 1) I didn't like the way the ball rolled on the greens. It was too sticky (best way I can describe it). It just didn't go in the hole like the PRO V1x. 2) It was expensive considering I always find PRO V1s and PROV1xs which I can play for free but found only two FG Tours the entire year, so it would mean I would have to buy FG Tours.

 

Unfortunately, my caddie and I decided to gamble and try the FG Tour in competition and we lost! Conditions were windy at times. I kept missing greens with this ball. I was mostly pin high in regulation but left or once right and twice short and once long, no more than 30 ft from the pin except on two occasions. Yes, I will take some of the responsibility for missing the greens (from all kinds of yardages 87-195yds) but I think this ball may have been affected by the wind a bit too much. Being 15-20 ft from the pin in a bunker because I missed my target by a few feet could easily be wind drift (and of course, sometimes me). But my score was so bad with this ball, I missed so many greens, I couldn't get up and in to save my life, that I know it is mostly the ball, as my game is much better than that. But that is what my practice testing showed me. Oh well.

 

Here is my summary"

 

Distance control: Very good. Ball traveled the distance I was expecting.

Wind Stability: Weak.

Putting: Poor.

 

Actually, the reason I considered using the FG Tour in the tournament was because when I bought a box they gave me two free Duos. I also tried those during my practice round and WOW they went. At least a club/ club and a half longer than the PRO V1x and FG Tour. I was tempted to use that in the tournament because of the distance, but it wouldn't have been appropriate. Despite getting that ball up and down from some super difficult places, it doesn't have the greenside spin and control of the PROV 1x or FG Tour. But it putted better than the FG Tour. If I were playing a course with soft greens, I might be tempted to use it. :)

 

So I chose to use the FG Tour hoping to get some great DUO like distance, but it did not deliver. Nor did it roll well on the greens. (BTW, these were mini-verde bermuda greens which I play on all the time.) I will not be using it again. Too bad.

[dieselmd]

Thanks for taking the time to write such thorough review.

[RW_Shankar]

Nice review. Can you explain a little more about the issue with putts? Was it just a feel thing? Dialing in the distance?

[TKS]

Sounds like a decent ball - waiting for my two pack to give it a go. How does the ball feel ?

[Grim]

Thanks for the review as I've been interested in trying this ball.

I will ask this, and I mean no disrespect, but why would you say the pro v1x "finds" the hole better? I mean all balls are round and if struck on the correct line they go in the hole.

Do you mean you had more confidence with your pro v1 x?

[darsony]

What I mean about the putting is that the ball doesn't roll as consistently as the ProV1x - at least on mini verde bermuda greens.

It is hard to describe but it is as if it kind of sticks to the ground rather than rolling over it. This makes it unpredictable. Perhaps it is affected by the grain of the mini verde bermuda greens more so that the ProV1x. I don't know. Whatever is going on it makes it unusable for me.

Maybe if I get the time, and it is not an important round, I'll use them on a course with bent grass greens, considering I have a box full of these balls.

[darsony]

[quote name='TKS' timestamp='1395192549' post='8901303']
Sounds like a decent ball - waiting for my two pack to give it a go. How does the ball feel ?
[/quote]

The feel is excellent - soft - that is. You know you are hitting it but it is never harsh. Not nearly as soft as the Duo!

This ball has a lot of excellent individual qualities. However, they didn't seem to mesh into an excellent result. And ultimately, that is how I judge a ball - my overall score with it.

[TKS]

I used to judge a ball by it's score, but gave up.
For example last weekend I was waiting for some strong winds to settle but determined the sun wasn't going to wait, so at arrival at the course I found the back 9 completely empty - cold and wind will do that. I played two balls, all by my lonesome; RXS vs ZStar.

Enjoyed both balls, but noted:[list=1]
[*]the flight differences in the wind
[*]trajectory
[*]short game spin
[*]durabiltiy
[*]feel.
[/list]
At the end of the blustery day; both balls shot a 44 (25-30 mph winds 55*) but I enjoyed the RXS better.

[MadGolfer76]

Hmm. You can afford a caddy but rely on finding balls in the brush?

[jholz]

[quote name='MadGolfer76' timestamp='1395277842' post='8908115']
Hmm. You can afford a caddy but rely on finding balls in the brush?
[/quote]

My question exactly. Pretty funny.

[BreakingPar]

[quote name='jholz' timestamp='1395278175' post='8908159']
[quote name='MadGolfer76' timestamp='1395277842' post='8908115']
Hmm. You can afford a caddy but rely on finding balls in the brush?
[/quote]

My question exactly. Pretty funny.
[/quote]

Yeah, had to read over that twice. Did I miss something?

[jonn443]

[quote name='MadGolfer76' timestamp='1395277842' post='8908115']
Hmm. You can afford a caddy but rely on finding balls in the brush?
[/quote]

+1...That's just doesn't add up

[stuey01]

[quote name='jonn443' timestamp='1395288001' post='8909165']
[quote name='MadGolfer76' timestamp='1395277842' post='8908115']
Hmm. You can afford a caddy but rely on finding balls in the brush?
[/quote]

+1...That's just doesn't add up
[/quote]

It's not the only thing.

A prov1x gets in the hole better? Haha do me a favour.

OP shot a bad round and wants to blame the ball. That fine but don't expect anyone else to believe it.

[darsony]

[quote name='stuey01' timestamp='1395315937' post='8909811']
[quote name='jonn443' timestamp='1395288001' post='8909165']
[quote name='MadGolfer76' timestamp='1395277842' post='8908115']
Hmm. You can afford a caddy but rely on finding balls in the brush?
[/quote]

+1...That's just doesn't add up
[/quote]

It's not the only thing.

A prov1x gets in the hole better? Haha do me a favour.

OP shot a bad round and wants to blame the ball. That fine but don't expect anyone else to believe it.
[/quote]

Dude, I don't really care what you believe. I play about 150 rounds a years, mostly without a caddy. And at age 55, there are some days that I just get tired and stop playing for a while and look for balls - for the fun of it. I play nice courses and the main course I play greens fees are near $90. Needless to say, the balls I find a lot of good quality balls. Probably 25% are ProV1 or ProV1x. I have only found ONE FG Tour and ONE FG Tour X out of probably a 500 balls. I own a lifetime supply of nearly new ProVs considering I don't lose many. As it is, there is no way I can go through all of the 2011/2 ProVs let alone the newer ones.

And, hey, if you've never had your own caddy who knows your game and where you need support, then IMO you are missing out on all that is the game of golf, especially during tournament rounds.

[Bama]

The FG Tour is a very good ball. Compares favorable to a ProV1, but it is softer. However, I wouldn't pay $45 a dozen for this ball.

[MadGolfer76]

[quote name='darsony' timestamp='1395540389' post='8928407']
[quote name='stuey01' timestamp='1395315937' post='8909811']
[quote name='jonn443' timestamp='1395288001' post='8909165']
[quote name='MadGolfer76' timestamp='1395277842' post='8908115']
Hmm. You can afford a caddy but rely on finding balls in the brush?
[/quote]

+1...That's just doesn't add up
[/quote]

It's not the only thing.

A prov1x gets in the hole better? Haha do me a favour.

OP shot a bad round and wants to blame the ball. That fine but don't expect anyone else to believe it.
[/quote]

Dude, I don't really care what you believe. I play about 150 rounds a years, mostly without a caddy. And at age 55, there are some days that I just get tired and stop playing for a while and look for balls - for the fun of it. I play nice courses and the main course I play greens fees are near $90. Needless to say, the balls I find a lot of good quality balls. Probably 25% are ProV1 or ProV1x. I have only found ONE FG Tour and ONE FG Tour X out of probably a 500 balls. I own a lifetime supply of nearly new ProVs considering I don't lose many. As it is, there is no way I can go through all of the 2011/2 ProVs let alone the newer ones.

And, hey, if you've never had your own caddy who knows your game and where you need support, then IMO you are missing out on all that is the game of golf, especially during tournament rounds.
[/quote]

If most of your rounds are without a caddy, how would that person know your game inside and out?

[GaHack1]

[quote name='darsony' timestamp='1395077251' post='8890555']
I used the new 2014 FG Tour in a tournament last week and here is what I have to report.

First of all, I play tournament golf either using a PRO V1x or PRO V1 depending upon course conditions. But I took a gamble and tried the new FG Tour. In my practice round, playing both balls, I found the FG Tour to be as long or a bit longer than the ProV1x. It was never shorter. BUT it was never longer by much (maybe 6 yds). It did NOT have the super distance of last years FG Tour X, with which I hit some of my longest drives of the season.

Around the greens, it had good spin, and I was able to hit accurate and controlled lob shots and chips. When I practiced later, I consistently chipped the ball closer to the hole on average than the PRO V1x, chipping to five different hole locations, adding up the total yardage away from the hole. HOWEVER, when I practiced up and in chipping, where I would chip and then follow up with putting, the PRO V1x was ALWAYS superior. Without a doubt on the two days I practiced this exercise, the PRO V1x was much better at getting up and IN. The FG Tour doesn't putt/roll that consistently, at least for me. In that regard, it is like last years FG Tour X. The reason I chose not to continue using that ball was two fold: 1) I didn't like the way the ball rolled on the greens. It was too sticky (best way I can describe it). It just didn't go in the hole like the PRO V1x. 2) It was expensive considering I always find PRO V1s and PROV1xs which I can play for free but found only two FG Tours the entire year, so it would mean I would have to buy FG Tours.

Unfortunately, my caddie and I decided to gamble and try the FG Tour in competition and we lost! Conditions were windy at times. I kept missing greens with this ball. I was mostly pin high in regulation but left or once right and twice short and once long, no more than 30 ft from the pin except on two occasions. Yes, I will take some of the responsibility for missing the greens (from all kinds of yardages 87-195yds) but I think this ball may have been affected by the wind a bit too much. Being 15-20 ft from the pin in a bunker because I missed my target by a few feet could easily be wind drift (and of course, sometimes me). But my score was so bad with this ball, I missed so many greens, I couldn't get up and in to save my life, that I know it is mostly the ball, as my game is much better than that. But that is what my practice testing showed me. Oh well.

Here is my summary"

Distance control: Very good. Ball traveled the distance I was expecting.
Wind Stability: Weak.
Putting: Poor.

Actually, the reason I considered using the FG Tour in the tournament was because when I bought a box they gave me two free Duos. I also tried those during my practice round and WOW they went. At least a club/ club and a half longer than the PRO V1x and FG Tour. I was tempted to use that in the tournament because of the distance, but it wouldn't have been appropriate. Despite getting that ball up and down from some super difficult places, it doesn't have the greenside spin and control of the PROV 1x or FG Tour. But it putted better than the FG Tour. If I were playing a course with soft greens, I might be tempted to use it.

So I chose to use the FG Tour hoping to get some great DUO like distance, but it did not deliver. Nor did it roll well on the greens. (BTW, these were mini-verde bermuda greens which I play on all the time.) I will not be using it again. Too bad.
[/quote]

I know exactly what you mean about the putting, I tried to use the FG Tour X last year and had the same putting issues, almost like you can hear the ball catching on the grain of the green. I never noticed this with TP Reds or Prov1x, same greens same putter same stroke. I know it's crazy and I thought it was just me but it must be something about the dimples or cover. When you hold a FG Tour x in you hand the edges of the dimples feel sharper that a Prov1x.

[Chrismydawg]

[quote name='darsony' timestamp='1395077251' post='8890555']
But my score was so bad with this ball, I missed so many greens, I couldn't get up and in to save my life, that I know it is mostly the ball, as my game is much better than that. But that is what my practice testing showed me. Oh well.

[/quote]

2 things: 1. I appreciate the review. 2. I don't understand the statement above. I always blame myself for not getting up and down. I believe that all the premium balls are comparable these days. I could understand not getting up and down with a Top Flite XL compared to Prov1 and blaming it on the ball. Then again maybe I'm wrong and you are more dialed in than I.