NIKE NDX 2 Feel

I’ve always been torn on the Nike golf balls. I really like the way they play and feel, but absolutely hate their durability. I feel like I have to replace them every couple of holes because of how quickly they scruff.

The description of the NDX Feel doesn’t give me any hope: “softened Surlyn cover for enhanced iron control”

Softer than the rest of the line? Replace them on EVERY hole.

Bridgestone E7+ Golf Ball

Not one of the bigger names in American golf shops, Bridgestone has quietly been putting together a very nice lineup of balls for a variety of swing types and speeds. I’ve been playing the E6+ for most of the summer, and have been pretty satisfied with the results.

But now Bridgestone is offering a ball that seems tailor made for me: the E7+.

The E7+ is designed for players with higher ball flights, and is supposed to encourage a lower, more penetrating trajectory. That’s just perfect. I lose a lot of distance going up, instead of out. When this ball comes out in October, it’s likely it will be too cold to really give them a go, but they’ll be first on the list next spring.

BRIDGESTONE Tour B330-RX

Here’s an interesting concept from Bridgestone: a “Tour Caliber” ball that’s designed for players with a slower swing speed. It’s a three piece design, with a gradational core, a mantle, and a 330 dimple soft urethane cover. Bridgestone says it’s the softest multi-layer urethane ball on the market.

Bridgestone says that it developed the ball after their ball fitting program found a gap in current offerings. Their research apparently revealed that there was no ball that offered tour-level spin and performance on the greens while also offering a softer compression that allowed moderate swing speed players the ability to compress the core in the same manner a high swing speed player does with other TOUR-level balls.

So it comes down to the short game with these. If its true, these should be popular for mid to low handicappers.

I’m going to try a sleeve.

CALLAWAY Tour ix

This is the ball that so many seem to be talking about. Rocco Mediate says that the Callaway Tour ix is so good, “it should be illegal.”

The Tour ix is a FOUR piece ball, adding a tungsten infused outer core that’s supposed to shift weight away from the center (and adding tungsten certainly would do that), for reduced driver spin and straighter shots. The inner core is still soft, though, for the feel that players today seem to prefer. On the outside is a urethane cover with Callaway’s excellent hex pattern “dimples.”

I’ve been meaning to review the Tour ix, but at $45 a box, it may be a while before I give it a go.

BRIDGESTONE TreoSoft

The Bridgestone E6 has been one of my favorite balls over the last couple of years, so I was intrigued to see that Bridgestone has a new ball out: the TreoSoft.

The TreoSoft is designed for players with moderate swing speeds. Bridgestone says that it has a “gradational” core that offers distance and prevents it from ballooning in flight. It’s also got the seamless 330 dimple design.

I haven’t been able to find a press release on the ball so the specifics are a little fuzzy. It doesn’t say that it’s a three piece ball, but the name certainly suggests that (treo = three). On the other hand, if it was a three piecer, you’d think that they would brag about it.

TAYLORMADE Burner

Grade: C
Teacher’s Comments: They feel dead.

I played the TaylorMade Burners in two rounds last week and was less than impressed. My overall impression is that they are “dead” balls.  It’s not just that they’re soft (and they do indeed have a nice soft feel)—it’s that they just don’t seem to have the “pop” of some others I’ve played recently. They certainly don’t have the crisp feel of the HX Hot or the Bridgestones I like so much. And the distance seems to be off also; I’m convinced they’re a club shorter for me.

On the positive side, they do seem to be very straight, especially off the driver. And there’s plenty of spin for those who like to stop the ball on a dime off the wedges.

But that doesn’t offset the distance issue for me. Your own mileage may vary, but I don’t think I can recommend these.

PRECEPT iQ 180 Distance

Looking for a low spin ball to reduce the ballooning on my drives, I recently bought a box of the Precept IQ 180 balls on the recommendation of the local pro.

Precept touts the Distance IQ 180 as being ideal for players with a moderate swing speed, which describes my swing exactly. They also advertise less spin for straighter shots and MORE DISTANCE with a seamless cover.

More distance? That’s exactly what I need. More out. Less up.

I’ve played 45 holes with the balls now, and like them very much. They get good distance, are pretty straight and have a decent soft feel. I’ve also found that they wear pretty well. I hit a couple of trees (very easy to do on the forest courses here in Michigan) and they didn’t show any scruffs.

Overall, the Distance IQ works pretty well for my game. I like to land my shots in front of the green and let them roll up toward the hole; I don’t carry a sixty degree wedge; my short game is all pitch and chip. My guess, however, is that players who are used to a more premium three piece ball, or who are used to flying balls into the green aren’t going to like it as much.

Still, it’s not bad for a ball under $20.

The only thing I don’t like about the balls is the way they look. As absurd as it sounds, they look a bit ugly to me. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there’s just something about them. Maybe it’s the shade of white, or the blocky PRECEPT logo. But they somehow just look different.

A note about the Precept brand: Precept is owned by Bridgestone, and apparently is a much bigger deal overseas than in the United States. Interestingly, Bridgestone also manufactures Nike’s balls.