Srixon Men’s Z-STAR Tour Yellow Golf Balls - 12 pack

Golf Galaxy is running deals on all of the Srixon golf balls. Here’s the skinny from Srixon:

The new Z-STAR golf ball’s proprietary thin urethane cover is extremely soft for added spin control without sacrificing distance. The 324 aerodynamic dimple designs, combined with the large Energetic Gradient Growth core, produces a penetrating ball flight that is unyielding to the wind.

Wilson DUO Golf Balls

Grade: A
Teachers’ Comments: A very nice ball.

Wilson says that with a compression of 40, the Duo is the softest ball on the market. Wilson also claims that the Duo the longest. While I can’t vouch for the superlatives, my impression of the ball is quite favorable.

The low compression rating initially attracted me because early season (and late season) rounds here in Michigan often are chilling experiences. In 40 degree temperatures, balls simply feel harder than in mid summer and I often switch to a model that has a softer reputation, such as a Noodle. Conventional wisdom says that softer balls will compress more and produce more explosive distance. I need all the help I can get, so I buy into that line of thinking.

My experience with the Duo is that it really hits the sweet spot of “long and soft.” For the irons, it’s as long as anything I’ve recently played. Maybe longer. Ball flight is relatively low, which works for me. They also seem to have a bit less spin off the irons. The combination means that I’m hitting shorter irons into greens, watching them kick forward ... and then watching them roll off the back.

I realized quickly that I had to adjust my planning. But I’m still rolling them off the back. I’ve got to learn to land them short and watch them run up.

I get the same roll around the greens. That’s ok, though, because I’ve never been one to hit a flop. I like to chip and let it run. I’ve always felt better about getting the ball rolling.

The feel of the balls is very nice. Off the clubface, I get a distinct sense of purpose. The Duo is indeed soft, but not mushy. I make contact, and they go.

Off the driver and fairway metals, on the other hand, I don’t think I detect any appreciable distinctions. It performs for me just about as well as some of the other balls in my rotation.

This is a good ball, and one I’ll keep playing.

Snake Eyes Tour Golf Balls

At the end of the 2010, I happened across a display of heavily discounted Snake Eyes Tour Performance II Golf Balls at my local Golfsmith. I bought a couple of boxes, figuring that a three piece ball priced at $10 a dozen couldn’t possibly be a bad deal. After playing them, I was so impressed that I went back and bought more. Its been my favorite ball for a year now. You can read my initial review here.

GolfSmith didn’t produce a similar ball last year, seeming to focus instead on its newly acquired MacGregor line. But I just noticed on the website that they’ve released a three piece “Tour Ball.” I’m hoping that it’s a rerun of the Tour Performance II model.

They’re priced at $24 a dozen, but right now on the website, there’s a deal for 2 boxes for $22 or 3 boxes for $30. I may bite on this one.

Wilson DUO Golf Balls

I saw an ad for these the other day, and was intrigued. The Wilson Duo is a two piece ball with a compression of 40!

Wilson claims they’re the longest ball they’ve ever made and the softest on the market. I can believe the second just from the numbers. The first will have to wait.

I’m going to try some of these as soon as the weather warms up.

TaylorMade RocketBallz Golf Balls

TaylorMade’s new RocketBallz golf balls are a three piece model that are actually pretty reasonably priced at around $27. It’s still early in the season, too. They’re bound to get cheaper.

The balls promise the usual extraordinary distance and spin around the green, affecting a “Bomb With Bite” monicker. I’ll give these a try when the weather here in Michigan improves.

From the release:

TaylorMade Golf Introduces RocketBallz Golf Ball
A 3-piece Multi-Layered Golf Ball Delivers Bomb with Bite

CARLSBAD, Calif. (January 4, 2012) – TaylorMade Golf today introduced the new RocketBallz, a three-piece multi-layered golf ball engineered for insane distance and exceptional short game performance. With a name synonymous to its performance, the Rocketballz golf ball rounds out the new franchise which also includes a line-up of drivers, fairways, hybrids and irons. 

“The new Rocketballz golf ball is for the golfer who wants to add a little distance and swagger to their game,” said John Kawaja, TaylorMade executive vice president. “Golfers of all abilities will add distance to all facets of their game without having to compromise performance around the greens. RBZ is the ultimate “bomb with bite” golf ball.

The ball speed and distance gains from RocketBallz, comes from a proprietary REACT™ core technology and new SPEEDMANTLE™ for increased velocity and added iron spin for all swing speeds. Combining this REACT core and SPEEDMANTLE technologies together, TaylorMade is able to make golf balls that push the velocity limit and maximize distance. 

Great feel with improved spin and control around the greens comes from the company’s proprietary thin and soft IOTHANE™ cover. Coupled with the softer SPEEDMANTLE material this ball will provide increased short game spin with mid and short irons, allowing the ball to bite and hold the greens. 

The new RocketBallz golf ball will be available at retail on February 3, 2012 for $26.99.

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.