Callaway HEX Chrome Ball

One of two new high end golf balls from Callaway this year is the HEX Chrome. It’s a 3 piece ball that Callaway claims is the best it’s made. I’ve had good luck with Callaway’s three piece Hex designs before—the original HX Hot likely is my favorite ball ever—so I’ll be interested to try a box of these when the arrive at the stores in March.

Here’s the press:

This is the best 3-piece urethane ball we’ve ever made. It’s noticeably softer, more durable, has the best HEX Aerodynamics that Callaway has ever developed, better accuracy, more spin around the greens and penetrating Tour distance.

• “s-Tech Core ™
• With its low compression, it provides extremely soft feel off the clubface and generates low driver spin to maximize distance” “DuraSpin™ Cover
• A proprietary formulation that produces the soft feel and the exceptional short-game spin necessary in a high performance golf ball
• Significantly improves durability” “Mantle Layer • Ionomer tri-blend provides a protective layer around the core and optimizes the driver spin to keep it low for more distance
• Allows the ball to have better resiliency to maintain its energy for hot ball speeds” “New HEX Aerodynamics™
• Refined pattern provides the best aerodynamic performance ever in a Callaway golf ball, reducing drag and promoting a stable, penetrating ball flight that holds its line in the wind”

NIKE Crush Ball

Grade: B
Teacher’s Comments: Nothing to write home about.

The Nike Crush is billed as a ball designed for players with lower swing speeds. As I fall into that category, I thought I’d give a box a try.

A two piece distance ball, the Crush has what Nike calls a softened high-energy core that’s supposed to provide high velocity and reduce excess spin. An ionomer cover is designed to enhance greenside feel. Meanwhile, the 312 dimple design, says Nike, “optimizes lift for longer carry and consistent ball flight.”

For my game, the overall effect was decent, but not great. I got more distance by 5-10 yards with the Nike PD Long, a ball I used as a comparison on alternating holes (and sometimes played two on each hole). The problem for me was that the Crush flies too high, exaggerating my already high ball flight and losing potential roll. I am able to keep the PD Long on a more penetrating flight path.

Around the greens, I think it plays somewhat better than the PD Long, but not enough to overcome the distance loss. The Crush putts as well as anything I play these days.

For the Fall, I think I’m going to stick with the Nike Power Distance Long Balls. They’re long and they’re cheap (and that makes a difference when you expect to lose balls under leaves).

I think, however, that the Crush would be an appropriate ball for a player with a slower swing speed who has trouble getting the ball high enough.

I’m still looking for the perfect ball (although the now out-of-production Snake Eyes Tour Performance II is as close as it comes for me). I want one that’s designed for slower swing speeds, with a lower ball flight and a durable cover. High spin around the green is optional, since I tend to pitch and chip rather than fly a ball in with the wedge. I’m used to landing it short and letting the ball run up.

A reader forwarded these photos of some balls he bought at a yard sale, hoping to find out something about them. They’re a Sears ball, stamped Riviera. No information on the date, type, etc. There is a number on end flap. # 6_ 82158 solid state. I assume they’re a wound balata, but beyond that ... If you can help, leave a comment below.

SRIXON Q Star Golf Balls

I ran across an online video ad the other day for these Srixon Q Star balls. It featured Peter Jacobsen making the argument that a Tour ball will hurt the amateur with its excessive spin. The solution, he says, is the Q Star.

However, when I went shopping for the ball, it looks like it’s still aimed at players who can handle a Tour ball, “designed for mid to high swing speeds.”

Has anyone out there tried this ball?

NIKE Power Distance Long Balls

Grade: B+
Teacher’s Comments: Long, but as expected, lacking in the short game.

I bought a box of the Nike PD Long on the recommendation of a friend, and at around $16 a dozen, I’ve found them to be an exceptional buy.

As advertised, these balls are long. They’re easily the equal of anything I’ve played, and longer than most. I especially appreciate the low to mid ball flight, which maximizes the carry and roll that I get from the driver. Too often, the amateur level balls I play produce a high ball flight, which results in my drives falling out of the sky and leaving a crater in the fairway. I lose a lot of distance that way. I track my drive distances with my GPS, and over the past two rounds with the Nike PD Longs, I’ve hit four of the longest drives of the summer.

The down side is that there is for me a noticeable loss of stopping power around the greens. I don’t have the game to spin a ball back to the hole, so I try to land it short and roll up. The PD Long has required an adjustment. Once on a green, it rolls farther than other balls I’ve used recently, like the HX Hot and several Bridgestones.

In the past, I’ve had issues with the durability of Nike balls, but I’m not seeing that with the PD Long.  I played an entire round with one recently with only minor scruffs.

The feel of the balls is for me softer than I’d expect from a pure distance ball. I don’t get the stinging feeling that I sometimes get when hitting a distance rock, and it’s responsive to the putter. I’ve putted as well with this as with anything I’ve played recently.

Here are the Nike talking points from their press center:

- Longer distance off the tee and from the fairway.
- Responsive feel off irons.
- Penetrating ball flight and added roll.
Core: High velocity core
Cover: Durable ionomer cover. Low drag, 402 dimple aerodynamics.

I agree with all those points: Longer. Responsive. Penetrating. Roll. Durable.

For the bogey golfer, I think Nike has a good value ball here. I’m getting another box.

MACGREGOR MT Golf Ball

Grade: B+
Teacher’s Comments: Solid; nothing spectacular, but where else do you get a three piece ball for under $12?

I picket up a box of the Macgregor MT golf balls at my local GolfSmith when I noticed that they were priced at just $11.98. I’ve not read anything about them, but the promise of a three piece ball for under $12 was just too much to pass. And, I was hoping that the MT would turn out to be a hidden gem like the Snake Eyes Tour Perfomance II.

The Macgregor MT is the middle brother of a trio composed of the VIP, MT and DX. The VIP is a much more expensive “pro” ball, while the DX is a two piece distance orb.  The three piece MT is the standard issue low compression core, ionomer cover product. The Macgregor name now is owned by GolfSmith, so this is an in-house product. The clerk at the store said the ball was made by Srixon. (I can’t produce a positive identity on the Snake Eyes; some say it’s a Wilson, others Srixon).

While the Macgregor MT didn’t produce the great results I still get from the SE Tour Performance (I still have a pile of these in boxes in my garage), it was a solid ball. I got just average distance from the ball, but it shone around the greens. In two rounds I’ve played with the ball, I don’t think I’ve ever been more spot on around the greens. It lobs high, lands soft and checks quickly. Yesterday, I darn near holed out four times from off the green (of course, that begs the question of why I miss so many greens in regulation, but that’s another story).

I’m going to give this ball a conditional recommendation. While it’s not a spectacular ball, I don’t think you can go wrong with a three piece ball, produced by a major manufacturer, for under $12.

BRIDGESTONE e7 Ball

I played with a sleeve of the new Bridgestone E7 golf balls today.

Meh.

The E7 is a supposed to be a pure distance ball, but my impression is that it’s 10 - 15 yards shorter off the driver than the Nike One Vapor I played the previous two rounds. And its worlds shorter than the Snake Eyes Tour Performance II (now sadly unavailable).

On the positive side, it’s very, very straight and doesn’t do too badly on spin around the green.

I wonder if they have a money-back guarantee.