I doubt that there’s a golfer out there who hasn’t played Top Flite balls at one time or another. They’ve always been a good value for the money—although they have suffered from their reputation as “Top Rocks.”

Top Flite balls were the first I played. And—like many, I suspect—I stopped playing them because I wanted a softer feeling ball.

The XL Extreme Distance is Top Flite’s latest offering. With two piece construction, it’s billed as a soft ball with distance. The new 332 seamless dimple pattern is supposed to present better aerodynamics for more consistent shots.

TOP FLITE XL Extreme Distance

NanoDynamics’ NDMX Golf ball has been approved for use by the USGA.

The ball features a hollow metal core and a cover that corrects its flight. How much apparently depends upon the golfer:

“It depends entirely on how good or bad the golfer is. If a recurring problem is either hooking or slicing the ball off the tee, the NDMX ball will make a significant difference according to many of our beta testers,” said Keith Blakely, CEO of NanoDynamics. “Similarly, the ball appears to offer an advantage on the putting green that just might make the difference between an ‘almost’ and an ‘in the cup’ putt.”

In flight ball correction doesn’t come cheap, though. A dozen is expect to cost $60.

I’d like to give them a try. They might help my hook.

Callaway has filed suit againt Acushnet, alleging that the Titleist Pro V1 ball violates four or more of Callaway’s patents.

The lawsuit, says Callaway spokesman Larry Dorman, was filed “only after repeated attempts to negotiate a settlement failed.” He would not specify how long the companies were negotiating, other than to say “quite a while.” According to multiple sources familiar with the situation, the two companies had been involved in discussions over golf-ball intellectual property since at least last summer.

Callaway says that it acquired the patents in 2003, when it bought Top Flite. The patents apparently have to do with the construction of multilayerballs with solid cores and polyurethane covers.

Interestingly, this is the second suit filed over golf balls against Acushnet in less than a year. In March of 2005, Bridgestone filed suit alleging that ten of its patents were violated.

The suits have the potential to be ground shaking. The Pro V1 has generated a billion dollars in sales, and is the number one ball on tour.

The Maxfli Revolution EXT Distance is a good distance ball with a nice, soft, feel. I played it quite a bit this last fall, and grew to like it. Golfsmith currently has it on sale for $11.99 a dozen, and at that price, I don’t think that you can go wrong.

MAXFLI Maxfli Revolution EXT Distance

The new Dimplet Golf ball sports an amazing 1070 dimples: 656 small ones, and 414 large. (for comparison’s sake, a normal ball has anywhere between 300 and 500 dimples, with 336 being a common number).

The company (Dimplet) says that the dimples allow the ball to fly longer and straighter than any on the market. The large dimples provide lift, while the small ones keep it straight. The combination also is supposed to minimize sideslip while increasing overspin on wedges and other short shots.

And its USGA approved.

This is one I’d like to try.

You can get them at The Golf Warehouse: Dimplit Golf Ball

TaylorMade and Maxfli are both part of the Adidas group, so it was a surprise when I saw this bit about Kenny Perry playing with a new TaylorMade ball at the Target World Challenge.

The ball apparently had a Maxfli logo, but Perry said it was supposed to be a TaylorMade mark.

I wonder what’s up.

Ridiculous golf item of the week.

Dale Earnhardt #3 NASCAR Driver Logo Golf Balls by Callaway Golf - 1 Dozen