Golf Clubs n Tips

Maxfli Tour Series Balls Are Engineered to Your Swing Speed

The new Maxfli Tour Series, available in February after the PGA Show, are a winner. The series is comprised of the Tour, Tour LC, and Tour XD. The three multi-layed designs use the tour proven urethane cover and are engineered for specific swing speed ranges.

Tour LC – For swing speed between 90-100 mph, the Tour LC has extra distance with a soft feel and good short iron spin.

Tour – For swing speeds between 100-110 mph, the Tour proven urethane cover provides the short iron feel and spin the faster swingers seek.

Tour XD – For swing speeds over 110 mph, the Tour XD provides a penetrating ball flight without sacrificing feel and spin.

The Tour Series uses a Multi-Blend isomer mantle with a core designed to promote a high initial velocity and lower spin rate off the driver for optimum distance. The tour proven urethane cover provides an unmatched combination of short game control and workability.

Our senior staffer swears more distance with the Tour than the Pro V1’s he’s been playing without sacrificing any feel or spin and the street price will most likely settle a bit lower. We believe that these are worth a try.

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Titleist Does It Again

In February, Titleist is scheduled to release the fifth version Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls. The new Pro V’s golf balls can be identified by two dots next to the arrows on the straight line side stamp that can serve as an alignment aid. Each box of the new Pro V1’s will contain a comparison chart with the previous version.

Long, longer, longest? How can Titleist claim a longer version Pro V1 with the new regulations that limit golf ball performance? We think that large incremental gains will not be achieved, but the guys like this ball. Our staff says it may be a little longer and certainly is more resistant to scuffing with a wedge.

Here is the skinny. Pro V1 definitely has more resistance to scuffing and better durability overall. It feels soft and has a high spin rate off short irons. The Pro V1x seems a bit longer and softer than the 2007 version. Our senior staffer, who occasionally takes time off the course to contribute, loves the new Pro V1x and claims it improved his driving distance to an average 285 yards. We think he is prone to exaggerate, but even 265 yards would be an improvement for him. Our test balls are gone and we are trying to determine where he got his prototype sleeve of Pro V1’s to test, because we really want some more.

We’re told by the Titleist guys that both have a larger core and redesigned inner covers or mantles. The outer layer is a refomulated urethane cover. While the suggested MSRP is $58 per dozen, we think the price will settle at $40-45 per dozen. And yes, if we can’t get any more test balls, we will break down and actually buy some.

Tags: Golf Balls by Golf Clubs N Tips Staff
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Long Off The Tee and Short Game Spin

Callaway introduced two versions their new tour golf ball recently and have publicized immediate tour acceptance and testimonials. We had our staff professionals compare them on the range, the practice green, and most importantly “in play”. Both balls share a similar construction with a low density inner core and a tungsten infused mantle, but the engineers made subtle differences for alter spin characteristics at different swing speeds. They share a hex or what the company calls a sub-hex dimple design. The dimple design is made up of deep depressions in the cover pattern that make for an optimized aerodynamic flight. The result is a very thin cover that provides maximum distance off the tee and still offers tour caliber spin in your short game.

Tour i For Short-game Spin and Control

The Tour i Golf Ball, according the company’s marketing, provides the perfect balance of breakthrough distance and control. A softer core formulation provides unparalleled tour feel and the softer urethane cover generates more short-game spin for precision control and aggressive shot-making. We found that the low compression inner core does provide good distance due to reduce spin with a driver.

Around the green, it stops predictably on chips and pitches. The higher compression outer core provides high shot spin around the green. Our recommendation is that if distance is not your primary concern this a golf ball you should try, especially if you are having difficulty holding your pitches on the green.

Tour ix For Maximum Distance Off The Tee

The Tour ix Golf Ball features 4-piece inertia technology and dual core construction designed to optimize distance. The ball’s high-density outer core moves weight away from the center of the ball for increased moment of inertia (MOI) resulting in even more reduced driver spin for increased distance and accuracy. Callaway claims this is the longest tour ball they have ever made.

It is long. Our pros said longer than what they have been playing (both play Titleist Pro V1x), but not by all that much. They estimated 8 yards longer, but that is not a scientific estimate. It is longer than the Tour i by a couple yards.

The key is always in our humble opinion from 100 yards in. Predictable spin control is more important to many low handicap players than distance off the tee (assuming they can already carry the ball 240 yards or more off the tee).

Our recommendation is to try the Callaway Tour ix if your tee shots average less than 240 yards. The ball reacts well on chips and pitches. It is predictable off your short irons. It just spins less than its sister the Tour i.

Tags: Golf Balls by Golf Clubs N Tips Staff
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