Next shootout!!! Soft Tour Balls!

[ScooterMcTavish]

Yes, title says it all.  

 

Been playing the Z-Star/XV for the better part of the last decade, and although it is a very good ball, it is also a bit "meh".

 

This was highlighted by recent play of the Mizuno Pro S, a ball which had a different feel, and launched differently with higher spin than the Z-Star does for me.  This was interesting, as despite the ball being both soft and hard at the same time, it was a lot of fun to play.  Durability was crap, which is why it will not become my permanent gamer, but it highlighted I maybe need to try a few more balls out.

 

I also noticed when I went to my Mizuno irons this spring, I no longer liked the XV.  It went from feeling firm to hard, and I do not like hard. 

 

Wish list:

- "Tour" ball with a urethane cover

- Softer feel, so no X balls

- Will play white, but prefer yellow

- Excellent greenside spin

- Higher launching off irons

- Goes on sale regularly for stock-ups

 

So thinking it would be fun to do a "soft" tour ball shootout, and see how we do with those.  To me, soft in a tour ball means around 80 compression or under, which would include the following:
Callaway Chromesoft

Mizuno Pro S

Wilson Staff Triad (2024)

Titleist AVX

Z-Star (a stretch at 85 compression, but good to include a Srixon)

TaylorMade Tour Response

Bridgestone B-RX

Bridgestone B-RXS

 

Any other ideas?  Am actually a bit impressed at how many balls are here in the "soft tour" space, not even counting balls that are harder for me to access, such as Maxfli Tour S and Vice Pro Air.

 

Maybe get this started next week some time.

 

Edit: Eliminated the "sale" requirement.  Who am I kidding.  I've lost a grand total of 1 ball in my last 108 holes, and take balls out of play due to damage.  In doing my 2-piece ball test, I lost only one ball in the seven different balls tested.  So really, I'm at a point where the right ball is more important than just price. 

 

 

Edited July 30 by ScooterMcTavish
Changed criteria

[ScooterMcTavish]

Holy heck, looks like I've been out of the ball market for some time!

 

$73 CAD for a dozen Chromesoft?

$65 CAD for a dozen AVX?

 

Think I got a bit lazy just buying Z-Stars whenever they went BOGO, ordering 6 dozen at a time.

 

May have to go to the store and buy sleeves if I don't want to have to sell a kidney.

[ahenderX]

Deleted. Redundant. 

Edited July 31 by ahenderX

[DiscoStu35]

I enjoyed following the first test you did so I'm very interested in this one as well. I know you included the Z Star but maybe think about adding the Q Star Tour as well/instead of? It's lower in compression than the Z Star and it's often compared to the Tour Response which I saw on the list. Just a thought!

[rsballer10]

@ScooterMcTavish The mad tinkerer is back at it again! Good luck with your testing, I do find your golf ball testing to be quite detailed.

 

I too am considering moving on from the Srixon XV. It was a great ball for me in the beginning of the year, but since adding about 10mph to my 7 iron speed I'm getting a lot of weird ball flights downwind. There was a very gentle breeze on Wednesday, which translated to my gap wedge flying 25 yards farther than anticipated, and a 200 yard 7 iron that was supposed to fly 180. 

 

Into the wind, the XV can't be touched though. Thinking about trying the standard Z-star or diamond. I do like the Srixon covers. They last a long time, but when they go the seam shows.