The on-going debate

[njmack]

here are my results, I'm sticking to them (for now)

I got a chance to play a full 18 earlier this week which is a rarity during Oct. here in MI... Anyway, I was able to try out a number of balls including the Prov1 and 1x, Burner tp ldp, callaway diablo tour, and the penta.

The ball which flat out performed for me was the prov1x--longest of all balls, and just as accurate, all while giving me more than enough spin off approach shots and around the green. Every other ball was trying to catch up in terms of performance. But here's the kicker--my SS is 95-100 mph, although I am a high-spin player.

I've read too many posts on here about compression and lower SS not being able to take advantage of the top tour balls. Where I work, we tell everybody that compression ratings are outdated and that one should choose his or her ball based on the amount of spin/distance he or she wants out of it. My results have ceratinly proved that to me. I feel that due to my high-spin swing, the 1x helps me maximize my distance while still allowing me to spin it well b/c I hit irons pretty high.

Anybody else have any results similar to mine?

[Potatohead]

I've dabbled with the Penta and B330s but I keep coming back to the V1x. I really like the 2011. Maybe it's a mental thing but it just seems the most consistent to me.

[truck13]

I'm in the same boat. SS are similar and I always shoot my best scores with the pro v1x. I do like the Srixon XV also.

[njmack]

[quote name='truck13' timestamp='1318742078' post='3678329']
I'm in the same boat. SS are similar and I always shoot my best scores with the pro v1x. I do like the Srixon XV also.
[/quote]

heard a lot of great things about the XV.. I'd like to try it this year weather permitting...

[storm3]

While I do agree with first choosing a ball based on spin needs, compression is still an important factor. Most people will not see a big difference in distance off the tee but rather with the long irons when playing a ball that is too hard. A ball that does not fully compress spends less time on the club face which in turn creates a lower initial launch angle which can cause a decrease in carry distance.

My swing speed is similar to the OP. The ProV1x is one of the longest balls off the tee for me but I find myself losing distance with my 3-6 irons compared to balls with lower compression like the Gamer V2, NXT Tour, or B330RX. These are just my personal findings and others could find completely different results.

[ThunderBuzzworth]

tour is and iz have most distance and best/ most predictable spin for me. I also live in michigan and it seems best for me to play the iz in the summer and i(s) in fall/spring

Just curious... why would you compare ProV1/ V1X, Penta, to the "junk" callaway ball when those 2 are tour balls? unless you were pre determining what ball is best?? Of course Burner ldp and diablo tour arent going to spin on touch shots. And i notice every time i hit a "junk" ball on a wedge shot, the ball slides up the face and goes way offline... resulting in the less accurate shot you mentioned.

I found myself playing Titleist ProV1X for a couple years only because i liked the way Titleist was written on the ball... it was a comforting look. until i got over the look of a new ball i went back to titleist. Now however, i realize Callaway Tour iZ and i(s) are better balls for me and i have converted many other people to them because once you hit one side by side with a ProV you see the subtle differences

[njmack]

[quote name='LeftyBomber88' timestamp='1318789249' post='3679593']

Just curious... why would you compare ProV1/ V1X, Penta, to the "junk" callaway ball when those 2 are tour balls? unless you were pre determining what ball is best?? Of course Burner ldp and diablo tour arent going to spin on touch shots. And i notice every time i hit a "junk" ball on a wedge shot, the ball slides up the face and goes way offline... resulting in the less accurate shot you mentioned.

[/quote]

I compared this unlikely medley of balls together b/c that is what was in my bag at the time haha but to be fair, I played the burner tp previously and I think it's a great ball that's actually pretty close to some upper level balls. In my tests, when it comes to driver distance, it's a touch shorter than the 1x; driver spin is close; approach shots are about equal; and I found myself getting the burner tp to hop and stop on pitches if I hit it just right. However, when it came to delicate chips and other feel-based short game shots, it couldn't compete w/ urethane. I probably would keep playing b/c it's so much less expensive, but it's so old.. which is why I'll play the x for now.

[OhioGolfDude]

I played the Diablo Tour most of the summer, finally quit playing it because I just didn't like the way it performed for me. Cally's iS and iZ much better. I found a Penta TP yesterday and played with it for my last 8 or so holes...hit the longest drive I've ever hit BY FAR and it was very consistent. Liked it a lot. Did have my first birdie/eagle finish this year using a ProV1 so hard to debate that one too. Never played any other TM balls before so I can't compare. Was also impressed with the Srixon Q-star that I played 2 rounds with last week. For a non-tour ball, great feel and distance.

[njmack]

[quote name='storm319' timestamp='1318787782' post='3679531']
While I do agree with first choosing a ball based on spin needs, compression is still an important factor. Most people will not see a big difference in distance off the tee but rather with the long irons when playing a ball that is too hard. A ball that does not fully compress spends less time on the club face which in turn creates a lower initial launch angle which can cause a decrease in carry distance.

My swing speed is similar to the OP. The ProV1x is one of the longest balls off the tee for me but I find myself losing distance with my 3-6 irons compared to balls with lower compression like the Gamer V2, NXT Tour, or B330RX. These are just my personal findings and others could find completely different results.
[/quote]

How much distance would you say you lose off the irons playing with a higher compression ball? 1 club or so? I couldn't tell any difference in distances when I played; the 1x was giving me really consistent results. But like you said, this kind of stuff varies from player to player.