new Top Flight Gamer ball

[Tanner25]

There's a new Gamer ball and it comes in yellow. It reminds me of the gamer soft, 70 compression. The description says it is 3 piece. One of the reviewers cut the ball open and it is two pieces. 

 

https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/top-flite-2024-gamer-golf-balls-24tflu2024tpfltgmgbl/24tflu2024tpfltgmgbl?Product=ProductSuggest

 

2 for $30 in store

Edited April 22, 2024 by Tanner25

[wantacigar]

17 hours ago, Tanner25 said:

There's a new Gamer ball and it comes in yellow. It reminds me of the gamer soft, 70 compression. The description says it is 3 piece. One of the reviewers cut the ball open and it is two pieces. 

 

https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/top-flite-2024-gamer-golf-balls-24tflu2024tpfltgmgbl/24tflu2024tpfltgmgbl?Product=ProductSuggest

 

2 for $30 in store

The picture on the box shows a 2 piece ball.  Wondering if this is a re-iteration of the D2 Feel.  The description seems indicate this.

[Tanner25]

8 hours ago, wantacigar said:

The picture on the box shows a 2 piece ball.  Wondering if this is a re-iteration of the D2 Feel.  The description seems indicate this.

 

You're right. D2 Feel would be a good comparison or Hammer control. 

[Roejye]

It does appear to be a 2 piece, and they seem to have bulk pricing on it as well. I picked up 4 dozen of the previous generation because I've been wanting to try 3 piece surlyns and the price was good. If it's basically a hammer control in a different box, I could probably use them, but at this point I probably should use up my stockpile of other stuff lol.

[munichop]

I played the new gamer after playing some hammer distance balls.  The HD balls actually have better manners on wedges and pitches than the gamer.  The gamer launches a little higher but doesn't seem to spin as well on short irons.  It is mid compression but not as consistent for me as the HD has been.  Both are less predictable in wind so I have played supersoft my last 3 mens club events.   Was hoping the new gamer had the old gamer soft magic for me but not the case...

[wantacigar]

11 hours ago, munichop said:

I played the new gamer after playing some hammer distance balls.  The HD balls actually have better manners on wedges and pitches than the gamer.  The gamer launches a little higher but doesn't seem to spin as well on short irons.  It is mid compression but not as consistent for me as the HD has been.  Both are less predictable in wind so I have played supersoft my last 3 mens club events.   Was hoping the new gamer had the old gamer soft magic for me but not the case...

I played the crap out of the old Gamer, Gamer Urethane and the D2 Feel.  Ever since they got rid of those balls I haven't played a Top Flite.  Sad because they were such good balls.

[Song Dog]

On 4/24/2024 at 6:09 PM, munichop said:

I played the new gamer after playing some hammer distance balls.  The HD balls actually have better manners on wedges and pitches than the gamer.  The gamer launches a little higher but doesn't seem to spin as well on short irons.  It is mid compression but not as consistent for me as the HD has been.  Both are less predictable in wind so I have played supersoft my last 3 mens club events.   Was hoping the new gamer had the old gamer soft magic for me but not the case...

You’d think the Gamer would have more than the HD. Now I may need to tinker lol and try them

[munichop]

Gamer update at elevation- 5000 ft.  I used it yesterday trying to find a ball that behaves between the supersoft and superfast.  This ball behaved very well at elevation- better tha earlier this year at lower elevation in the Vallry of the Sun.  So I got 2 dozen for $25 and will mix them with the others depending on the wind.   The Hammer Distance did not perform as well up here so I was a little surprised the Gamer did so well.

[NHpro]

Callaway designed the TF Gamer to be its flagship golf ball in the TF lineup.

DSG has destroyed this brand to what end I don't know, by making it a cheap ball with little feel and no spin.

Also, it was once a 3 piece ball with a urethane cover and it performed very well.

It's now a 2 piece ball with a cheap Ionomer cover.

 

Callaway did a fine job engineering a great ball for the masses.

 

DSG has sent Top flite back 30 years.

 

Not smart.

[PhilsFanDrew]

3 hours ago, NHpro said:

Callaway designed the TF Gamer to be its flagship golf ball in the TF lineup.

DSG has destroyed this brand to what end I don't know, by making it a cheap ball with little feel and no spin.

Also, it was once a 3 piece ball with a urethane cover and it performed very well.

It's now a 2 piece ball with a cheap Ionomer cover.

 

Callaway did a fine job engineering a great ball for the masses.

 

DSG has sent Top flite back 30 years.

 

Not smart.

 

Yeah it's time for Top Flite to just die off already.  I see no reason why DSG needs to make two brands of "house" golf balls.  It's clear more of their effort is in the Maxfli brand with the Tour models and offering budget distance models like the Softfli, Straightfli, and Trifli.  There isn't a single Top Flite ball that offers different characteristics and performance than those 3 already cover.  

[Tanner25]

They got rid of the gamer soft, that was a mistake.

[grm24]

On 7/26/2024 at 11:18 AM, NHpro said:

DSG has destroyed this brand to what end I don't know, by making it a cheap ball with little feel and no spin.

To be fair the Top-Flite brand, when owned by Spalding, long before they were owned by Callaway or the the TF name being owned by DSG produced many many cheap golf balls with little feel and no spin. Hence them being known as Rock Flites. Same as some versions of the Kro-Flites, Molitors, etc that were produced. I despise DSG as much as anybody at WRX but they didn't destroy the TF brand. And TBH the TF name/brand didn't do much for Callaway as well. It was destroyed well before Callaway owned it.

 

ETA: At one point DSG did have a 3 piece TF Gamer that was a urethane covered ball. 

Edited July 29, 2024 by grm24

[NHpro]

9 hours ago, grm24 said:

To be fair the Top-Flite brand, when owned by Spalding, long before they were owned by Callaway or the the TF name being owned by DSG produced many many cheap golf balls with little feel and no spin. Hence them being known as Rock Flites. Same as some versions of the Kro-Flites, Molitors, etc that were produced. I despise DSG as much as anybody at WRX but they didn't destroy the TF brand. And TBH the TF name/brand didn't do much for Callaway as well. It was destroyed well before Callaway owned it.

 

ETA: At one point DSG did have a 3 piece TF Gamer that was a urethane covered ball. 

 

It's about moving forward, Callaway did an outstanding job with repositioning Top flite golf balls in the market.

DSG destroyed the ball and set Top-flite back 30 years.

 

Very poor decision, management should be fired.

[grm24]

5 hours ago, NHpro said:

It's about moving forward, Callaway did an outstanding job with repositioning Top flite golf balls in the market.

And Callaway did such a great job of that that Callaway dumped the TF brand rather quickly. The reality is that Callaway outbid TM for the TF brand mostly so they could get the TF ball plant in Chicopee, MA first and TF patents second. The brand new Callaway ball plant in California was a disaster for Callaway from the get go hence their purchase of the TF brand. 

[drb1956]

Playing a TF XL now is like playing the RockFlites of the past. And also they have the XL Control, which is a softer version of the XL. So, they have done away with the Hammer, which was a spinoff of the old D2. I have played the D2 Feel, and the Hammer Control, which to me, is the same ball. So, they have discontinued the Hammer line, and now the Gamer has the "dimple in dimple" design. I basically think it was a marketing decision, as more folks align with the Gamer name, and the Hammer was not as recognizable. Personally should have stayed with the D2, and the Gamer. The old Gamer being a 3-piece ball, now a 2-piece, is more likely a cost cutting decision, as marketing decided to bring back an old name. Also, not seeing "15" ball boxes either! All are a dozen. My golf buddy has been playing the Hammer Control as of late, and said he went to buy some at Dicks, and the clerk told him they weren't making it anymore. Obviously, no one told him about the new Gamer, and possibly he doesn't know about his product line. If you work in the golf dept., you should have product knowledge. I know they don't hire golf pros to work there, but if you do work there, in that dept., knowledge of the products would be a big help. I bet I could work there, and not just take up space like a lot of their clerks do. I guess management did some cost cutting, and marketing made a decision to help sales. 

[Tanner25]

1 hour ago, drb1956 said:

Playing a TF XL now is like playing the RockFlites of the past. And also they have the XL Control, which is a softer version of the XL. So, they have done away with the Hammer, which was a spinoff of the old D2. I have played the D2 Feel, and the Hammer Control, which to me, is the same ball. So, they have discontinued the Hammer line, and now the Gamer has the "dimple in dimple" design. I basically think it was a marketing decision, as more folks align with the Gamer name, and the Hammer was not as recognizable. Personally should have stayed with the D2, and the Gamer. The old Gamer being a 3-piece ball, now a 2-piece, is more likely a cost cutting decision, as marketing decided to bring back an old name. Also, not seeing "15" ball boxes either! All are a dozen. My golf buddy has been playing the Hammer Control as of late, and said he went to buy some at Dicks, and the clerk told him they weren't making it anymore. Obviously, no one told him about the new Gamer, and possibly he doesn't know about his product line. If you work in the golf dept., you should have product knowledge. I know they don't hire golf pros to work there, but if you do work there, in that dept., knowledge of the products would be a big help. I bet I could work there, and not just take up space like a lot of their clerks do. I guess management did some cost cutting, and marketing made a decision to help sales. 

 

They should bring back the Gamer Soft and in yellow. 

[bortass]

Any recommendations on possible replacement balls for the old three piece Gamer? I'm very leery of buying them anymore after reading about the new version. I've been using them for a long time and the price was right since I tend to lose a ball or two each round.

Edited August 28, 2024 by bortass

[holdem75]

I have never tried the gamer or TF ball in genral. Sounds like an option. 

[NHpro]

18 hours ago, bortass said:

Any recommendations on possible replacement balls for the Gamer? I'm very leery of buying them anymore after reading about the new version. I've been using them for a long time and the price was right since I tend to lose a ball or two each round.

 

I have been using Top flite golf balls for over 10 years, the D2+ Feel and then the Hammer Feel,  I just can't understand why DSG would destroy such a great ball.

I can only recommend that you try the 2024 TF Gamer and decide for yourself. They are not the same golf ball as in years past, but you may decide to accept them for play.

All the other 2024 Top-flite golf balls are junk now.

Edited August 28, 2024 by NHpro

[Tanner25]

16 hours ago, bortass said:

Any recommendations on possible replacement balls for the Gamer? I'm very leery of buying them anymore after reading about the new version. I've been using them for a long time and the price was right since I tend to lose a ball or two each round.

 

I assume the old Gamer. Maxfli TriFli? Another 3 piece dicks house brand ball. 

[bortass]

2 hours ago, Tanner25 said:

 

I assume the old Gamer. Maxfli TriFli? Another 3 piece dicks house brand ball. 

Yes, the old three piece ones. I'm about to run out of my stock of them. I updated the post to clarify. Thanks for the suggestion.

[drb1956]

Back in the day, it seemed like each new iteration of the TopFlite XL seemed to get a little softer. The 1000, 3000, than the 7000, which was soft, but lively off the clubface. I wonder if the new '24 version of the TF XL Control is something like that.. I loved playing the XL 7000, if only for a short time. 

[wantacigar]

For a inexpensive brand, Maxfli has obviously taken the place of Top Flite in the DSG/Golf Galaxy world.   I haven't played the Softfli, Straightfli or the TriFli but I do game the Tour which are OUTSTANDING golf balls.  Also have heard really good things about the other three models. 

[Striker Ace]

Trifli needs to be about a 60 or 70 compression and in yellow.

[NHpro]

The Top flite Gamer, designed by Callaway, was once an excellent budget ball and won many gold awards from Golf Digest.

The original Gamer was a 3 piece ball with a urethane cover.

The 2024 version from DSG is a 2 piece ball with a cheaper ionomer cover.

The top ball below clearly shows the cheaper 2024 2 piece Gamer and the bottom is the 2021 3 piece Gamer.

 

DSG acquired the brand from Callaway and has systematically destroyed it.