Over the winter, I received a surprise package from Maxfli. Inside was a box of their new Black Max Golf Ball with the words “Prototype” on the box (see the photo).

It was then that I knew that The Golf Blogger had arrived. 

I’m sure that the intention was that I try the balls early in the season and then report to you before their official release.

Unfortunately, I live in Michigan. It’s only been in the last couple of weeks that I’ve been able to get out on the course. And now, the ball is out in a regular box:

So I’ve lost my exclusive. But I’ve played the Black Max golfball for five of the seven rounds I’ve gotten in.

And I like it. I get decent distance with it (although I don’t think as much as with my DT SoLos) and it flies straight (I had a round where I hit every fairway). The distance issue is, no doubt due to my slower swing speed. It’s a high end ball for higher swing speeds.

I’ve also been able to get a lot of spin for those wedge shots (ok, except on the nightmare round of last week). It stops on a dime, and I actually backed it up twice.

And—to me—most important of all, I like the way it rolls with my putter.

This last is always the key for me. To be frank, it really doesn’t matter if a ball gives me five or six more yards off the tee; I’m going to be hitting a longer club than most to the green. (No driver-wedge holes for me. Its more driver-seven wood.)

But when I get near the green, my game gets going. And once I get it on the green, my putting will save my round more often than not.

So, for me, a ball’s behavior when putting is critical.

The Black Max has a good feel and it rolls true. I’ve heard that it makes a “different” sound when struck, but being quite deaf, this makes no difference to me at all.

I think that this ball compares very favorably to other high end balls like Titleist’s Pro V. But in the end, I think that you’ve got to have a higher swing speed to take advantage of it.

You can buy the Black Max here.

I’m interested in what you have to say. Add your own review by clicking on the comments link below.

I’ve favored a heavier putter for quite some time. I think that it encourages a smoother, less handsy stroke. I also use it in place of a wedge from the rough close to the green (there’s a whole lot less that can go wrong with a putter.) and can accurately run it up to the green from 30 yards out in the fairway.

A typical Ping Anser style putter head weights 300 - 330 grams. The Snake Eyes Strike-Line Putter Headhead I use (shown above) weights 400 grams.

Apparently I’m not the only one who has this idea. The’s a company called Heavy Putter, which makes ultra-heavyweight putter heads that weight between 450 and 550 grams. There’s a picture below:

I’d get one of these, but they’re horribly expensive for a putter: $259.

If you want to try a heavy putter, you’re much better off getting one of the Strike Lines. You can put one together for less than $50.

I’m doing my taxes right now on the computer and taking a break by crusing the golf sites—dreaming about what I’m going to do with the rebate. I keep coming back to this one: the Big Bertha 454 Driver.

It’s a beautiful looking club. Here’s Callaway’s official blurb:

Maximized weighting along the back ribbon of the club makes it ultra-resistant to twisting and deadly accurate off the tee. Massive two-piece, 454cc all-titanium clubhead construction for a high Moment of Inertia with more resistance to twisting on off-center hits. Huge effective hitting area on the club face for more forgiveness. Patented Callaway Golf technologies include Short Straight Hollow Hosel (S2H2) design that repositions weight from the hosel area to the perimeter. Plus, Thru-Bore technology provides improved feel and club head control. Lightweight, ultrathin titanium face designed right up to the new USGA Characteristic Time (CT) test.

I’m interested in what you have to say. Add your review by clicking on the Comments link below.”

Golfsmith has dropped the price on new TaylorMade R7 drivers by $100 to $399.

r7 Quad HT Driver

Like many golfers I’ve talked to, I occasionally have dreams of starting an equipment company and taking the golf world by storm.

And then I come to my senses. I’m a writer, not an inventer. And my business acumen is, well ... the less said the better.

But there are people out there who have taken the leap. David Whitlam has founded a company called Gauge Designs that specializes in putters and has made an impact on the Japanese Tour.

They have some beautiful clubs that deserve a look.

You can read more about Gauge Designs in an article in the Milwaukee Channel.