Golf Balls—Slicing Through the Hype
This is the title for an article in the May, 2006 Consumer Reports about golf balls. This is the first time I can recall seeing anything related to golf in this publication and I found the article worth reading.
Consumer Reports got a few things right: 1) The advertising and golf magazine articles about golf balls are more hype than help. 2) The ball categories are murky and the lack of industry standards makes terms like “durability,” “softness” and “feel” very subjective. I don’t know anyone who knows if 350 dimples are better or worse than 400 dimples, so why bother.
The article breaks down the golf balls into three types: 1) 2-piece, distance balls best suited for beginners and intermediate players; 2) 3-piece balls that provide some spin off iron shots for better players; and 4) 4-piece premium balls for stronger players—in this case, players with faster swings. However, there are lots of balls that don’t match these types but might offer the same benefits, e.g., Titleist NXT is a 2-piece ball that belongs in the 3-pc ball category.
The Ratings were determined using an Iron Byron to hit each brand model 48 times: 24 times at 90 mph and 24 times at 110 mph. (I found it curious that such high swing speeds were used given that that most golfers have swing speeds less than 90 mph.) CR also used golf pros to determine ball feel by putting each ball eight times a distance of ten feet.
CR points out that there’s no one ball best for every golfer or every type of golfer. The value of the Ratings is to narrow down one’s choices and go from there. CR also recommends getting fitted, preferably with a camera, radar or launch monitor.
Here are CR’s “Quick Picks”
Low-Handicappers: 1) Nike One Black 2) Callaway HX Tour 56 3) Pro V1
Although the Pro V1 was the third choice CR pointed out it was the only ball tested that earned “excellent” scores for distance, soft feel, accuracy off driver and iron spin. (I think the Pro V1 was rated 4th mostly because of price). Possibly because the Pro V1 spins so well off an iron it tested less well in accuracy off an 8 iron than the other two.
Most golfers: 1) Nike Power Distance Super Soft ($16/dz) 2) Callaway HX Hot ($25/dz) 3) Pinnacle Gold Distance ($13/dz)
I was surprised at the QP list for “Most Golfers” because the HX Hot is the only ball on it in the mid-priced (3-pc) category. In fact, the HX Hot is the only current 3-pc ball over $20 in the top 12 ball models on the Ratings list.
At our shop the ball category comprising 3-pc/$22 to $30 balls is the slowest moving in sales. The CR Ratings confirm our suspicions that most golfers don’t see enough difference between these balls and the better 2 pc balls to upgrade.
Slow Swingers’ QP: 1) Titleist DT-SoLo ($22/dz) 2) Precept Lady ($19/dz) 3) Pinnacle Exception ($18/dz). These balls have softer cores (or lower compressions) so they are better suited to beginners, women, seniors and young teens.
The bottom of the list includes three Top Flite models (including the 3 pc Strata TL-Tour at $28/dz) and the Maxfli Noodles. Oh well, the list is just a guide. No one really expects the Top Flite XL ball (at $10/15 pack) to be a great ball anyway.
The Crystal balls, the rest of Nike’s cheap line and none of the Bridgestone Tour balls were included. At least half the balls on the Ratings list are last year’s balls, although many have been continued this year or replaced with ones that have essentially the same name.
The local library usually carries a subscription to Consumer Reports so you can read the whole article there if you want to see the Ratings list. I didn’t agree with everything in the report or even the Quick Picks, but it was easy to understand and is a good place to start if you aren’t sure what ball to use.
