Ball choice for 3 skills

titleist make them

Here's an interesting little observation about balls, I have a chipping area in my back garden which is only about 30 yards long, it consists of a range mat on the patio, and two range mats at the end of the garden surrounded by gravel and bark chippings.

Now, it drives my wife bonkers as I spend hours out there chipping balls with my lob wedge up and down the garden between the two sets of mats - my marriage has of course suffered BUT - my short game has improved in a big way!

Anyway, to my point, I use a huge 200+ bucket of every type of ball for my practise sessions and one thing I have noticed is - when I hit a ProV or a Callaway HX Tour (or any other type of soft ball) the ball goes much much lower than say an NXT or similar, when I hit a hard ball I can easily pop them straight up in the air Mickleson style, they go as high as they are long, not so with them soft balls, I know its only 30 yards but they go much much lower, I suspect you need to hit the soft balls much harder to get the height, anyway, try it yourself next time you're round the chipping green!

So - my point is, different balls react in very different ways

John,

You make a very good point and true, I also have an Huxley green at home with a chipping area, I notice the prov1s go slightly lower but they always have great spin compared to cheaper balls that don't have any from 30-40yds.

I now only use old provs in the garden for spin control, with a good chip I can almost stop dead on the 2nd bounce a prov from 35 yds.

Ian.

Top Flite are responsible for the Strata series too. Very good ball. Urethene cover and plenty of spin and control. Couldn't tell much difference between these and the Pro V1 (I'm talking about the Strata Tour Ace model).

Check them out. They're dirt cheap and ideal for the 'capper who's looking for extra control with minimal cost.

Miffin, there's actually a brand new NXT ball out from Titleist now called the NXT EXTREME. It is still soft and spins well, but gives a bit more distance than the regular NXT or NXT Tour.

Also - it's cheaper, which is nice.

One of my last rounds of golf this season - back in october - I was on my way to the 1st tee with only 2 balls in the bag. Just for safety I popped into the pro-shop for a sleeve of balls and my Pro gave me a sleeve of NXT Extremes asking me to try them out and report back as they were brand new and he figured they might be right for my game.

Pound-for-pound the best ball I've ever played!
I doubt any hcp 8+ golfer will be able to tell the difference between the Pro V1, the NXT Tour or the NXT extreme from feel alone.

It goes like stink and stops dead on the greens. It doesn't even scuff as bad as the NXT or the Callaway HX Tour.


Funny Ads as well ... NXTube.com. Check out the videos section! John Cleese is not a sane individual!


I'm sorry if the above reads as a shameless plug. I have no connection with Titleist other than this newfound addiction to the NXT Extreme.

I WAS however "sponsored" a sleeve of free balls, which I readily admit CAN affect my opinion.

But I am of the honest belief, that the NXT Extreme is the best value golf ball for any low- to mid-handicapper that has gone past that "hitting it as far as humanly possible (and into the rough)" phase and into the "giving up 2 yards for eye of the needle accuracy" phase.

This ball GOES, it SPINS, it BENDS and it STOPS. And it's half the price of a Pro V1.

If I HAD been connected to Titleist, I would be sending every one of you a sleeve of these balls. I'm quite sure most would be back for more!



DO keep an eye out for the "old" (non-2007 version) of the NXT TOUR though. It's on sale many places and perhaps even better value (albeit not quite as long).

__________________
//Mox
2008 bag:
Mizuno MX-500 460cc 10.5* Fujikura Tour Platform 26.3 stiff. (about to be replaced by MP-600 10,5* UST Proforce V2 stiff)
Mizuno F-50 3w 15* Fujikura Tour Platform 26.3 stiff.
Wilson Deep Red 5w 18* Graphalloy Fatshaft stiff
Cleveland HALO 3i hybrid 22* graphite regular
Mizuno MP-60e forged 5i-PW True Temper Dynamic gold R300 steel
Mizuno MP Black OX raw haze 50/6 GW, 54/9 SW, 58/10 LW
Heavy Putter B3-M
Titleist NXT Extreme

Thanks for that. I will go and look them up.

Brian

miffin,
wed's game called off due to rain coming in sideways!
plaing again fri.
going to try out pro v1, hx tour & noodle. 6 holes with each and see how i get on.
also like the sound of the nxt extreme.
so if i think this type of ball will suit my new 3sk's swing , then i will experiment further.

Right. I was going to play today but the Mrs wants to go Xmas shopping. Got visitors tomorrow but if they come early will get a game late morning. Friday and Saturday are out so it will be down to the comp on Sunday failing that. When we are going around the shops, I will be looking out for the NXT Extreme and if I see any, will pop some in the bag to try them. They do sound OK though.
Brian

my thoughts exactly
im going to try a sleeve this weekend and see how they compare to my normal NXT's

I think we concern ourselves too much on ball selection as in reality they make little difference to the average handicap player. I have played with a senior that plays off 5 and always uses a yellow Donnay ball.

OK some really budget balls can be a bit solid but don't get too pulled into this idea that some balls are really soft, just drop one on your head from a foot and see how soft they feel Most budget balls are suitable for the majority of us, I would be surprised if many could tell the difference if you removed the markings (A bit like wine).

The Pinnacle Exception and it's new replacement the Platinum are excellent golf balls at a reasonable price, they are also made by Acushnet the Titleist people and are just like NXT's.

Nothing wrong with paying more if it makes you feel better though

__________________
Best Regards
Brian

________________________________
Funny o'l game!

Martin offered the answer here. The DDH is a distance ball - designed to spin less. Sidespin creates draw and fade movement - so with less spin, the ratio of sidespin to backspin for a given shot is still there, but the numbers are lesser.

Gord and I used to go back and forth over this one - working the ball with blades versus cavity backs. The conclusion drawn was that while you COULD work the ball with some extreme GI heads, you had to alter your setup much more than if you were working with a players head. It's the same if you're playing with a distance ball versus a spin ball (not that I'd call the Noodle a spin ball - it's a nice 'tweener' ball - and IMO great performance for the price!); but you have to alter your setup more to work a distance ball. So (having not exposed myself to 3sk) whatever you're doing for a draw, you have to exaggerate the movement.

But you've certainly brought up the importance of using one ball all the time. A lesser player would have thought his swing had dried up, meanwhile it was simply his choice in ball that had eliminated his draw.

__________________
True Length Technology Fitter - www.truelengthtechnology.com
It's live! - www.ShipShapeClubs.com
PCS Class 'A' Clubfitter

A new highlight: Golfing the home course on Christmas Day.

I say it too often: If it's golf club shaped, you can play with it.

For the record, I'm a club doctor, not a swing doctor.

Great input everyone. I spotted some Extremes in JJB Sports and managed to slip them in the bag, £20. Hope I get chance to try them before the comp or I will have to stick to the Noodle.

Bri

miffin,
i got to play today, on a sodden windy course.did'nt play well, was'nt drawing the ball but hitting it out at 1'oclock straight.
anyway, my thoughts on the 3 balls i tested.
noodle(long&soft) nice feel ,flew at a nice hieght, stopped fairly quickly on the greens & putted well, so overall i was impressed.
callaway hx tour, felt 'dull' & flew lower, stopped very quick on the greens, bur could'nt putt with it , always left it short, did'nt get on with this ball.
prov1, felt ok , stopped quickly on the greens , but again i could'nt putt it to the hole.
so as it stands, i think a maxifly noodle , with its slightly harder cover gave me the best distance, did draw(when i managed a decent strike) stopped on the greens much better than the ddh's, and i putted well with it , so this type of ball seems to suit my game.
as i said , did'nt play that well ,so not a great test, but food for thought!

That is great, thank you. I will not get out before the last comp on Sunday. It is 10 rounds of 12 holes but only the best 6 count. My partner and myself are new to comps so no experience. At the moment, we are second from bottom out of 65 pairs. But, if we have a really good round we could be fourth from bottom. We would be really pleased with that as we were bottom in same comp last year. So, from your suggestions, I am going to set off with the Nxt Extreme. If it doesn't work for me, I will swap to the Noodle. I will let you know what happens. Our playing partners do not mind us swapping balls as none of us are going to win anything!

Here goes then, ball report. I played the NXT Extreme. It played great. I could draw and work the ball a bit. For a player of my ability that has to be a great ball. It cost me a few shots at first as it seemed to ping off the putter until I got used to it, all early putts a bit long. Then it was very true. Noodle was also great. I felt that I could draw the noodle a little bit more although it did not seem quite so long. So, I get on great with both of these balls and these are the ones to go on my Xmas list.
Bri