Stuck in your ways or following the herd? Balls question.

[andiritchie]

I probally kill 4 dozen a year so i got a years worth of balls.

After a a round they look like they been through a lawn mower

 

[USER1999]

I would be surprised at that. He played Titleist irons (Miura, they weren't even Titleist when he was with them) for ages, and then for the first years at Nike continued to play the same irons at Nike, but ground out. Eventually Nike made some irons that were deemed acceptable (are they made by Nike?), and swapped from a Titleist ball to a nike. Again, they have had donkeys years to make a ball for him, so I would be surprised if it wasn't a Nike, but then who makes Nikes balls? Bridgstone? Who knows?

 

[Cernunnos]

I wasmainly refering to Srixon now starting to monopolize all ends of the market, much as a few years the leading balls for top end mid ground & upperbottom end were Titleists, in the form of ProV, NXT & PTS.

Loads more pros do indeed seem to be going away from Titleist, though at the moment are still the leading ball on tour...

... but for how long.

Yes Callaway have made big inroads & deservadly so. But also Bridgestone & Srixon. Its worth taking into account there are big connections between Nike & Bridgestone & yes with more players than ever playing Nike clubs & also taking on (suposedly) Nike balls it further reduces Titleists market share of the golfball world.

Just as well Titleist are making some other great gear.

At leats things will become more interesting as far as pro's using different ball.

 

[SammmeBee]

I would be surprised at that. He played Titleist irons (Miura, they weren't even Titleist when he was with them) for ages, and then for the first years at Nike continued to play the same irons at Nike, but ground out. Eventually Nike made some irons that were deemed acceptable (are they made by Nike?), and swapped from a Titleist ball to a nike. Again, they have had donkeys years to make a ball for him, so I would be surprised if it wasn't a Nike, but then who makes Nikes balls? Bridgstone? Who knows?

Nike makes nothing at all themselves...they just put a tick on it....

You do make a good answer at one of your own questions though......

 

[Cernunnos]

I probally kill 4 dozen a year so i got a years worth of balls.

After a a round they look like they been through a lawn mower

I would shred my Maxfli-Fire balls when I was using them the other year, but boy did they perform for me. Pity you can't get them as I was getting them for £15 a dozen by the time they finished.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think Srixon may well dominate the mid ball market but for Titleist that is a niche part of the industry and their focus is top end. TM have made big strides recently, probably more than other brands (especially Cally who seem to be losing market share). I think though that Titleist will continue to dominate especially now they have launched the new version of the Pro V and V1.

 

[SammmeBee]

I wasmainly refering to Srixon now starting to monopolize all ends of the market, much as a few years the leading balls for top end mid ground & upperbottom end were Titleists, in the form of ProV, NXT & PTS.

Loads more pros do indeed seem to be going away from Titleist, though at the moment are still the leading ball on tour...

... but for how long.

Yes Callaway have made big inroads & deservadly so. But also Bridgestone & Srixon. Its worth taking into account there are big connections between Nike & Bridgestone & yes with more players than ever playing Nike clubs & also taking on (suposedly) Nike balls it further reduces Titleists market share of the golfball world.

Just as well Titleist are making some other great gear.

At leats things will become more interesting as far as pro's using different ball.

So you don't want to take the bet then.....

Who apart from our Latic friend plays Bridgestone then (that bloke with the big visor who did ok in a major last year? Can't remember his name...)...?

Srixon are probabaly only up to about 10 decent players on the US Tour and then Stenson, Jiminez and AN Other (?) in the ET....Callaway have cut right back, TM are still there and Nike seem to have quite a good set of players these days, who all use the Nike Ball as far as I know....

 

[Cernunnos]

I wasmainly refering to Srixon now starting to monopolize all ends of the market, much as a few years the leading balls for top end mid ground & upperbottom end were Titleists, in the form of ProV, NXT & PTS.

Loads more pros do indeed seem to be going away from Titleist, though at the moment are still the leading ball on tour...

... but for how long.

Yes Callaway have made big inroads & deservadly so. But also Bridgestone & Srixon. Its worth taking into account there are big connections between Nike & Bridgestone & yes with more players than ever playing Nike clubs & also taking on (suposedly) Nike balls it further reduces Titleists market share of the golfball world.

Just as well Titleist are making some other great gear.

At leats things will become more interesting as far as pro's using different ball.

So you don't want to take the bet then.....

Who apart from our Latic friend plays Bridgestone then (that bloke with the big visor who did ok in a major last year? Can't remember his name...)...?

Srixon are probabaly only up to about 10 decent players on the US Tour and then Stenson, Jiminez and AN Other (?) in the ET....Callaway have cut right back, TM are still there and Nike seem to have quite a good set of players these days, who all use the Nike Ball as far as I know....

Anyone who knows me, knows I don't bet on anything even when I know I'd probably win, as there is always the chance that it might not come through.

Depends what the terms of the bet is..? & what constitues a win.

Is it players on the Tours both European & USA, or is it an entire market blanket within the UK.

I'd be happy to bet that the biggest selling Premium Ball in the UK before the time the Ryder Cup comes round in 2010 will see sales in the UK of Titleist ProV1 fall below either Srixon Z-Star varients, Bridgestone B330 varients, or Callaway X varients.

I'd have a quid on that & probably kick myself for not putting more on it.

I really think the Biggest improvement in Ball on tour over the next 12 months will certsinly be the Z-Star. And my reasoning...





....Groves.!!!
Need I say More

 

[thecraw]

I think Srixon are likely to take the Titleist crown over the next year, as judging by the amount of pro's now using Srixon & the fact that nealy all the local golf shops & proshops are stocking the entire range of srixons in shed loads on the shelves. One local shop has virtually entirely gone Srixon & Bridgestone this season,with hardly a titleist in sight on any shelf.

Couple that with the noises comming from the Tour that the Pro's are not that happy with the new Pro V1's then I cant see it being long before more and more switch to a rival ball!

I tried the Z-Star a few weeks back and I was impressed with it. Very very nice feel to it, slightly softer off the club face than the Z-URS and just as long, stopping power probably better than the Z-URS as well.

A definate improvement on a previous model, how many ball manufacturers can say that these days?

 

[Smiffy]

I received my "free" dozen Srixon Z-URS the other day for subscribing to the mag. Will give them a try tomorrow. But I will have a sleeve of my trusty Srixon "Soft Feel" along with them for the ride. I like 'em.
I've never got on with Callaway balls, always been a bit of a Titleist man myself. I enjoy playing with either NXT Tour or PTS SoLo. I'm not really too fussed what I hit, as long as it doesn't sound, and feel, like a pebble when it comes off the putter. I've got some Bridgestone B330-S kicking around as well, but find that these scuff up quite badly compared to the Srixons. Also have quite a few of my "Noodles" left...not a bad ball at all but just lately they seem to have been pushed to the back of the cupboard.

 

[birdieman]

The Callaway balls are top notch imo, the way Phil M plays short game shots is testament to that.
I loved the HX Tour ball, thats now been replaced and although I've not hit it yet I'm going to try the Tour-i this season, see how it goes.
Played the Z-urs a while last year and it didn't do much for me.
The Callaways do cut up but even when scuffed they'll still spin stop brilliantly.

 

[wackygolfer]

As you can see from my bag I am not into brands. If I had a wad of cash it would be great to test the expensive/modern equipment.
Regarding the ball situation - I have recently been trying the Callaway Warbird but it seems quite a hard ball. I have tried Pro V's but found it was like putting a pudding! At the moment I am trying to Titleist NXT Tour.

I think the main thing is if you like something stick to it.

 

[Smiffy]

As you can see from my bag I am not into brands. If I had a wad of cash it would be great to test the expensive/modern equipment.
Regarding the ball situation - I have recently been trying the Callaway Warbird but it seems quite a hard ball. I have tried Pro V's but found it was like putting a pudding! At the moment I am trying to Titleist NXT Tour.

I think the main thing is if you like something stick to it.

NXT Tour are a good all round ball.

 

[brendy]

smiffy, I found the opposite with tje b330s. the cally ix tours were spinny but awfully delicate and after 9 holes they just looked to be in a pretty bad way. the trustty prov1s dont scuff as much as look poorly and wear around the shoulder of the dimples.
Id guess different makes of irons and wedges would be the deciding factor with different degrees of groove sharpness.

 

[DCB]

I think the main thing is if you like something stick to it.

Thats what is needed to give consistency. If you aspire to play well and get the handicap down, you have to be able to know how the ball is going to respond to any given shot that you play. You can't be hopeing it comes off the way you want. You need it to come off the way you want.

I use the same ball all through a season. If as has happened this year, a new model is available, I won't go changing until I've used my exisiting stock of balls. I tend to go through about 4-5doz through a normal golf season. I know how my choice of ball responds off my putter, my wedges and my short irons. Thats where I can make a score.

I really can't understand the logic in changing from ball A to ball B from one week to the next. Would you change your putter just to see how a different one compared ? I don't think so.

Yes golf balls are expensive, but if you find one you like and it works for you, stick with it. Look around you may even get a bulk buying discount from some online shops.

 

[brendy]

Dcb you are right, consistency comes from familiarity.
consistency comes in lots of guises, coonsiistently great,good,average,poor and god awful! the key is using tools which suit you best regardless of cost i guuess this can be summed up with the old phrase "horses for courses" if you take two folk with equal ability and give one a set of low price clubs and balls, let them practice daily in a uniform manner and then give the other a different set of clubs and balls (premium) each week. Id say it was fair to assume the first guy would be the fella that shot handicap or better regularly where the other guy would be great and awful all in the one round.
apologies on any typos or grammatical errors as imm on my omnia with its tiny touch keypad.

 

[Del]

I buy and use what feels right for me, my woods and irons are Cobra, have used others but never got on with them. As to the balls I use, having used many different ones I have gone over to using Wilson PX3 soft spin and TX4 pro. I use them because I like the feel and I find them great off the tee.

 

[vig]

I use Prov1's because a) I like them b) they suit my game.
I also like TP Black & AD333 (in winter). I have some freebie Tour ix that I am waiting to try when the weather picks up to give them a proper chance. I will also buy a sleeve of the Zstars to try.
I have tried (after finding them) TP burner, B330, Pinnacle, NXT, ZURC, Precept, and many others.
The bridgestones are ok as is the ZURC but not quite to my liking and certainly not enough for me to consider changing from ProV's. Never say never though.

I have a bag full of mizzy clubs with the exception of TM 3 wood, MD hybrid and Zen putter (which is in there to groove my putting stroke ATM)

 

[pierreman]

I cannot stick Provs. They are too soft for my putting and can easily ruin a game. prefer reasonably hard titleist such as nxt etc.

I believe though for the better players where they have more feel etc round greens a softer ball may suit their game. But at the end of the day its personal preference.

 

[Imurg]

I cannot stick Provs. They are too soft for my putting and can easily ruin a game. prefer reasonably hard titleist such as nxt etc.

I believe though for the better players where they have more feel etc round greens a softer ball may suit their game. But at the end of the day its personal preference.

I use them as they're soft enough to let me chip them to a few inches and then i don't care how they feel off the putter!!