Professional Golf Expert

Golf Balls

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There are so many types of golf balls on the market these days that selecting the correct one for your swing can be a daunting task. Some of the newest golf balls have a solid core and one cover while others have several layers wrapped around the core so your choice is basically between a two-piece ball and a multi-layered ball.

Here are some considerations to help you choose.

1. Cover: A two-piece ball with a softened cover is best for players who have a hard time penetrating to the core i.e. golfers with slow swing speeds and steep swings. These golfers [e.g. some women, juniors and non-flexible seniors] may find that the two-piece ball gives them maximum distance. High velocity players do well with the Multi-layer balls.

2. How well you play. If you have a double digit handicap, a multi-layer ball won't hamper your game but may not increase your performance either. Basically, the better you play, the more you'll benefit from a multi-layer ball.

3. Cost. Two-piece balls are much less expensive, about half the price of multi-layers.

4. Feel around the greens. Multi-layer balls provide different spin properties on soft shots around the greens. A two-piece doesn't spin as much.

5. Distance off the driver. Multi-layer premium balls have thin mantle layers just under the cover which provide various launch properties – including the angle the ball leaves the driver and its spin rate. You can find the ideal launch stats for you game by testing various balls using a launch monitor.

6. Layers: Players with high swing speeds [95 plus] should try a multi-layered ball. The concept is simple; the more layers, the better the ball responds off both your irons and woods, but the more force necessary to penetrate to core.

7. Compressions: Compression is a measure of how much the ball resists being crushed on the face of your club. If its hard to compress, you'd better have a high swing speed [95+] otherwise the ball will feel like a rock when you hit it. On the other hand, if your swing speed is too high a low compression ball will feel like a marshmallow.

Compression is all about feel and not about distance (i.e., a higher compression ball doesn't go farther). How can you tell what it is? Some golf balls have compression [70 to 110] marked on ball while others list it on the packages - some don't even use the term. In any case, let feel be your guide.

Each major company has a number of premium balls in their line that differ in design and playability so, to keep this review manageable, we have limited our analysis to the one ball from each company that warrants the designation "Best of the Best". Once you choose a brand, use the guidelines in the introduction to customize your selection.

What you pay for in the premium market is a ball that performs well in all aspects of the game - off the tee, from the fairway and around the greens. And when you finally find your best buy, I recommend you go for it no matter what the cost. Please remember: a good ball is magic and if you want magic, you've got to pay for it!

Medical Doctor and Golf Expert T. J. Tomasi Reviews the Best Golf Balls at the best price.Choose from best brands Titleist Pro,Callaway,Wilson,Top-Flite.

Best Golf Balls by T. J. Tomasi

The Best You Can Get

Titleist Pro V1 Golf Balls

T. says: Titleist is the most popular ball on the PGA Tour. Good players want less spin off their driver so the ball hangs in the air but more spin off the irons so the ball holds the greens. Here is were the new ball technology is worth the money: High performance balls such as the Titleist Pro V1, have several layers that create spin when you strike them with an iron velocity and a special core that is only activated at the higher clubhead speeds of the driver. It's the best of both worlds - you can curve the ball with your irons and kill the ball with your woods.
- New, higher coverage 392 dimple design - penetrating trajectory for long, consistent distance
- New alignment guide for improved putting aim
- Soft compression for outstanding feel
- The most durable of all Titleist Tour-played golf balls
Srixon Z-URS Golf Balls

T. says: The best part of the Z is that the exceptional control built into the ball does not come at the expense of distance. That's because the large core provides exceptional ball velocity combined with ideal launch angle.

While distance with the driver is a very important factor, its by no means the only one to take into account. How the ball reacts off short irons and around the greens also makes a major contribution to lower scores. If you played any golf at all you know that control around the greens is the best way to lower your scores. And The Z - URS is just the ticket when it comes to this type of playability, especially in the wind.
- Srixon Z-URS features the softest urethane cover Srixon has ever created. This formulation provides the ultimate in control-shot shaping spin control, pinpoint distance control and stroke saving short game control.
- The large Energetic Gradient Growth core provides exceptional ball velocity combined with ideal high launch angle, low spin launch for greater carry and distance.
- 330 dimple pattern provides a strong and penetrating trajectory in all wind conditions.
Bridgestone B330 Golf Balls

T. says: Bridgestone built the New Tour B330, for the serious players and Tour professionals seeking superior consistency and reliable performance with exceptional distance and enhanced greenside control. Seamless dimples are slightly deeper than the previous generation for a lower flight. And an efficient, injection-molding process means you get the premium you pay for because it allows more balls to be made from fewer cavities and that means greater manufacturing consistency.
- Unique Seamless Cover Technology? produces uniform dimple coverage on the entire ball surface, delivering superior aerodynamics.
- The Speed Elasticity Core produces an extremely high initial velocity at impact. Once airborne, the 330 seamless dimple design provides a piercing trajectory and maximum ball speed.
- Soft Urethane Cover for Increased Touch and Control
Callaway Tour i Golf Balls

T. says: The Tour i is very long because of the tungsten-infused outer core and a high-density mantle layer designed to shift weight farther from the dual core to minimize adverse spin [too many rpm's ruin the flight]. The purpose is to reduce spin for straight tee shots and optimal distance. And the HEX dimple pattern can't be beat in the wind!

Is it the ball for you? If you don't have access to a launch monitor but you're concerned about getting more distance, look for a ball that reaches its apex (highest point) early in its flight then levels out. This type of flight gives you more carry and therefore added distance and that's what this new Callaway is all about. What you don't want is a ball that starts low and shoots up like a jet airplane taking off. Up-shooters indicate too much spin resulting in shorter shots and the tendency to hook or slice.

Durable, hot, it spins, and you can chip, pitch and putt with it - don't miss trying this ball.
- 4 piece
- Tungsten infused outer core shifts weight away from the center of the ball, reducing driver spin for max distance and straighter shots.
- Soft core formulation provides tour-level feel
- Urethane cover generates excellent short game spin
- Refine HEX pattern increases distance through reduced drag and better stability
TaylorMade TP Red Golf Balls

T. says: The story here is in the dimple pattern and how it effects spin. The dimples on the TP vary in depth and diameter and are arranged in a symmetrical pattern in an anti-sidespin pattern. And dimples make a tremendous difference. The USGA research laboratory tested two golf balls under the same launching conditions, one smooth and the other with standard dimples. The smooth ball traveled 120 yards while the dimpled ball traveled 260 so pattern is important.

Fred Funk, the Tour's straightest driver, swears by the Red and he doesn't swear that much so you know it's good!
- 4-piece multi-layer construction promotes 15% softer feel than original TP Red
- uses several dimple designs arranged in a pattern that produces lift even on off-center hits
- 360-dimple configuration limits drag for increased hang time and distance; plus it delivers extraordinary stability in crosswinds and headwinds
- New core technology boasts low compression and softer feel yet generates high rebound for faster ball speed and increased yardage
- Advanced cast Thermoset Urethane cover promotes controllable spin off the short-irons and around the green while also delivering supreme shear-resistance

You will be happy with any of these

Titleist NXT Extreme Golf Balls

T. says: This ball is rugged. If a Titleist NXT Extreme is cut through the normal course of play with a golf club, Titleist will replace each returned golf ball with three new Titleist NXT Extreme golf balls free of charge.

The New NXT Tour golf ball is designed for mid handicap golfers seeking the combination of soft feel, high performance control and long distance. It's another typically well-designed and engineered Titleist product with the "can't-go-wrong" tagline.
- The New NXT Extreme is designed for
- New higher coverage 392 dimple design
- Advanced, 1.580
- New, Tour-validated A.I.M. side-stamp to help line up putts.
Pinnacle Platinum Feel Golf Balls

T. says: Basically this ball is designed for distance - its super long off both the driver and the irons. Pinnacle was always hard as a rock but now because of the new cover this ball is the first of two new flagship products for golfers seeking a softer feel around the greens.

It won't be confused with the feel of say the Pro V1 but The Platinum Feel with a soft, thin cover is a big improvement. If you love your Pinnacle [and a lot of golfers should] you'll love The Platinum Feel even more.
- The revamped and larger 1.595-inch-diameter core makes for a slightly thinner Surlyn cover that is designed for a softer feel and high performance control.
- Alignment guide to promote better putting accuracy
- New, high coverage 332 Icosahedral dimple design
Wilson ZIP Golf Balls

T. says: With the launch of the 50 compression in 2006, Wilson® Golf clawed its way back into the ball market. Wilson engineers created a rubber-rich core that is extremely soft and highly resilient - and that spells "hot" off the driver.

At the heart of its performance is the small core and thin mantle that equals good feel and great carry. Good in the wind.
- Uses a polybutadiene mix that produces a rubber-rich core that is extremely soft and highly resilient.
- Inside, a zero compression core is so soft that it registers the lowest in the industry on compression testing equipment.
- The Zip gets its power from a mantle layer made of a resilient DuPont HPF polymer.
- An ultra soft ionomer outer cover delivers the touch and spin expected from a high performance multilayer ball costing much more.
- Unique flat-bottomed, shallow dimples for a stable, penetrating flight
Srixon Trispeed Golf Balls

T. says: The all new Srixon Trispeed brings multilayer performance to a broad audience of golfers. Core, Mid and Cover - three layers, each designed for the one thing that directly translates to distance – Exit Speed off the clubface.

Made for swing speeds of 70 miles per hour or more, the ball features a core designed to produce more initial velocity and a higher launch angle. And it can help golfers who put a lot of side spin on the ball. Sidespin wastes so much energy that the ball doesn't have much left to move forward toward the target.
- Energetic Gradient Growth core provides highly efficient energy transfer from ball to club for a wide range of swing speeds.
- The mid-layer is made of highly resilient Rabalon? HR blended ionomer for enhanced ball speed
Top-Flite D2 Feel Golf Balls

T. says: Before the one ball rule [throughout your round you must play only the make and model of ball you start with] I can remember playing in professional tournaments and starting with a balata wound ball then switching to a Top Flight [solid core, Surlyn cover] on the long par threes because the ball was unbelievably hot off a long iron - and it tracked in the wind.

Well the Top Flight is still hot but now they've found a way to soften the cover so it's playability is much improved around the greens.

Still when the Stimp goes up the Multilayer ball comes out.
- The D2 features a unique dimple pattern that maximizes control and distance for a wide range of swing speeds.
- It features a slightly firmer cover providing increased ball speed.
- The key to its new playability is a softer thinner cover that provides superior feel allowing you to attack tight pins something unheard of with the old ball.
- A special coating that minimizes sidespin, and decreases hooks and slices.