Do you have a favorite ball cover? I'm new to golf and from my looking around I see that there are different ball coverings ranging from very hard to soft.
There's Ionomer, Surlyn, urethane, lothane, and Fusablend and maybe more, I don't know.
So what do you like or do you even care?
The only thing I really know for SURE is that I HATE the Top Flight balls I've tried and they are Surlyn. Those XL 5000's are like hitting a boulder.
I get Urethane cover balls only, due to the higher spin I can get with the softer cover on my Tour quality balls. And if you think those XL5000's are hard, just be glad you don't have to play with the older XL2000 balls. I haven't played the XL5000's but I know the XL3000 was MUCH softer feeling than the older XL2000 rocks.
I hate the cost, but I just can't get comfortable with anything but the premium, urethane covered balls. I try others, but I always come back to the Tour quality balls for the short game spin. Don't misunderstand, that isn't for the ability to back them up.... it's so that I can stop them almost dead on the green with full shots, and do the hop and check with chips and pitches.
I prefer the Titleist Pro V1 balls at the moment, but that will change when the TaylorMade Penta TP becomes generally available. I was part of a test group at The Hackers Paradise and I got to try out a 5 pack a couple of months ago. In my opinion, the Penta TP blows away any ball I've used for all around playability. They are supposed to become generally available for purchase in December.
And if you think those XL5000's are hard, just be glad you don't have to play with the older XL2000 balls.
I have found both XL2000 and 3000 balls on the course and tried them. I will not buy TF balls anymore. IMO, it's a waste of money. You might as well buy one of those bags of 100 range balls, it would be the same but cheaper.
Whatever the cover is, I've been playing Titleist ProV1x for several years and love it.
The Pro V1 is urethane, as are most of the Tour balls. There are a very few mid range balls with urethane covers, but they all have other issues that I don't care for.
The cover has very little to do with the perceived "softness" of the ball, except on the shortest of short game shots and putting. The feeling of softness comes from the compression of the ball, and compression is largely a function of the mantle layer (if there is one) and the core of the ball.
In short, you can't just look at the cover material if you are looking for how a ball will "feel". The cover is a small part, but on full shots, the cover material is only a very small portion of what is felt.
I'm sure that's got a LOT to do with it. I found a Nike PD Long ball and played it and really did like it and it's got a ionomer cover. I haven't played a PD soft ball though.
I hate the cost, but I just can't get comfortable with anything but the premium, urethane covered balls. I try others, but I always come back to the Tour quality balls for the short game spin. Don't misunderstand, that isn't for the ability to back them up.... it's so that I can stop them almost dead on the green with full shots, and do the hop and check with chips and pitches.
I prefer the Titleist Pro V1 balls at the moment, but that will change when the TaylorMade Penta TP becomes generally available. I was part of a test group at The Hackers Paradise and I got to try out a 5 pack a couple of months ago. In my opinion, the Penta TP blows away any ball I've used for all around playability. They are supposed to become generally available for purchase in December.
I totaly agree with Fourputt about "always coming back to Tour Balls for their short game spin. I also look forward to the opportunity of trying the new Taylor Made Penta. Even though they (TM) have really irritated me by hyping it so long before it would be released.
mghtx. Going by your post, I doubt you have ever tried the TopFlite Gamer balls. They are excellent balls for the $20 price. NOT hard at all, but rather soft in fact. They are also one of if not the Higherst spinning NON tour quality balls you will find. And while I do play ONLY Tour quality balls most of the time. IF I HAD to play a cheaper ball, I'd be playing the TopFlite Gamer ball. It's better than ANY non tour balls I"ve tried. In the FALL, when it's easy to lose $40 tour balls in the fairways under the leaves, playing the Gamer ball isn't a bad idea at all. I really doubt YOU would notice much difference compared to a Tour ball other than some more run-out on your approach shots and pitch shots.
One should not be reading things on GR when one is really tired. When I read the title of this thread, my first thought was, you have got to be kidding...first we had to have nice covers for our drivers and fairway woods, then we were encouraged to get them for our irons, and then for our putters... and now they want us to buy covers for our golf balls?!?
Like I said, one shouldn't be reading things on GR when one is really tired.
One should not be reading things on GR when one is really tired. When I read the title of this thread, my first thought was, you have got to be kidding...first we had to have nice covers for our drivers and fairway woods, then we were encouraged to get them for our irons, and then for our putters... and now they want us to buy covers for our golf balls?!?
Like I said, one shouldn't be reading things on GR when one is really tired.
Since I'm a noob & have a seriously greater risk of losing balls into water or other hazards, I play the cheap balls...specifically the TopFlite Distance Yellow. Those balls have a softer "feel" for me than when I've tested various Titleiest or other tour balls with the exception of the Calloway Warbird ball. It's also much easier for my eyes to track and/or find the yellow ball compared to the white that's the most common on a course. That and the yellow and occasional orange covered balls are blatantly obnoxious and fit my personality!
November 21st, 2009, 02:07 PM
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