33 replies to this topic

[rickeyg]

Which of these balls do you find the longest off of driver and which spins the most off of irons?  Thanks.

Rick

[Bensdad]

I will qualify this by saying I have not hit the XV, TP5, or B330.  I have compared the Hex Black and Pro V1X.  For me the Hex Black was more consistent in its spin than the Pro V1X.  The Black tended to stay around its pitch mark (or a foot or two) while the Pro V would sometimes stay close and others zip back about 10-15 feet.  I just didn't get a consistent spin off the irons from the Pro V.

Distance wise both balls were within a couple of yards of each other but my primary criteria for ball is its performance around the green.  I prefer the Hex Black.

[cantill2]

I'm sure you will get a lot of varying opinions here in reply to your question.  Everyone's swing is different - launch angle, ball speed, spin, etc. can all factor in for how the ball travels.  Course conditions, temperature, wind all play a part in that too.

I have compared these balls pretty extensively and they are all really good.  I know that is probably not the answer you were looking for but it's the truth.   I think the Callaway, Bridgestone, and Srixon are superior in the wind.   the Hex black is very similar to the Pro V1x in terms of greenside spin and distance off the tee.   The Pro V1x feels the best off the putter and for short chip shots around the green.   I play Titleist because it seems to give me the most CONSISTENT distance from all of my clubs.   Remember that you only hit your driver, at most, 14 times in a round of golf.   Picking up 5 yards is not going to mean a whole lot if you don't stick the ball on the green close to the pin.    I would advise you to get a sleeve of each and experiment with the balls by practicing approach shots, chips, flops, pitches around the green.   Putt with all the balls as well - you'll notice difference in sound/feel.   For me a lot of it is mental as well and i just like the class look of a titleist ball.   Good luck.

[morebeerbettergolf]

I personally find the XV and Hex Black to be the longest off the the driver with consistent short game spin, the HB having more spin than the XV and the XV being slightly longer off driver. I've played them extensively and feel confident in that assessment.

[SHIVAN]

The B330 and the Hex Black are nearly equal for driver distance to me.  The Hex Black was a better wind ball, and far better spin in to greens.  The B330 is a better distance ball, and seems to be more consistent for me -- not to mention more durable overall.

That being said, I use the SM2 wedges still (amateur), and they ripple the cover of the Hex Black on just about every wedge shot that isn't a bump and run.  Anything above 1/2 wedge swing, and I can count on a smiley ripple on the Hex.

The B330 will do it too, but only if I go full wedge, and really try to spin it.  Thought I rarely hit 100% full wedges.  Oddly, the NXT Tour just had paint removed, no ripples with a 100% wedge.

Just my experience.

[MadGolfer76]

Longest - XV

Spin off irons - ProV1x

[+Church]

I can only comment on the srixon's and hex blacks.  The XV is a little longer off the driver but the hex black definitley has more spin on the greens.  The Hex Black is pretty much right in between the regular Z-Star and the XV.  I like it.

[Sniperman]

From my experience with the balls listed above, here's what I found...longest to not as long as the others

XV
V1x
Hex Black
TP5
B330

For whatever reason, I just could not get the same distance with the B330.  It was always well short of the others (based on GPS and course markers).  I was going to blame it on compression but I think the XV has a higher compression rate.  Swing? Maybe, but with a consistently bad or good swing it is still shorter ... Not sure what it is.

[golfdad907]

If you're playing 'tour' balls, which all of these are, is distance really the main factor, or is overall performance?

Those are are good balls, just need to find what feels best and performs best overall, including full and partial wedge shots, chipping and putting.

Overall, I like the Hex Black and Penta (new one, not so much the original).

V1 is too spinny off irons, XV not enough around greens.


Hex Black is best in wind, then Penta/330

[jp5612]

I find these topics interesting.  There is little difference in driver distance for me among tour balls.  From the longest (Srixon XV/Hex Black) to the shortest (ProV1/B-330S/ZStar), it's three or four yards at the most.  I read often on these forums where somebody tried a new ball and gained 10-15 yards.  I'm happy if I gain 15 inches.
Maybe that's a function of my swing and angle of attack. As I've gotten older, my swing speed, of course, has decreased. It's right around 101-102 mph now.  I've tried the lower compression balls, like the B330 RX, but find they are not any longer and don't perform for me as well around the greens. So, I choose my ball based on short-game performance and feel off the putter.

[golfdad907]

jp5612, on 30 October 2012 - 09:58 PM, said:

I find these topics interesting.  There is little difference in driver distance for me among tour balls.  From the longest (Srixon XV/Hex Black) to the shortest (ProV1/B-330S/ZStar), it's three or four yards at the most.  I read often on these forums where somebody tried a new ball and gained 10-15 yards.  I'm happy if I gain 15 inches.
Maybe that's a function of my swing and angle of attack. As I've gotten older, my swing speed, of course, has decreased. It's right around 101-102 mph now.  I've tried the lower compression balls, like the B330 RX, but find they are not any longer and don't perform for me as well around the greens. So, I choose my ball based on short-game performance and feel off the putter.

Well said, when peeps finally figure out that you score with irons, short game and putter, and distance isn't the entire game, they'll do as we have and choose ball based on overall performance.

I have to agree, I think that since USGA limits how far any ball can travel, it comes down to matching your swing to ball that performs best for that swing.  I've tried about every tour ball ever released, at least 2 sleeves, and ultimately they are all pretty close on well struck drives when it comes to distance.

[Redhill]

Distance - Probably the XV

Spin -  Probably the B330

I like the XV and the B330 in the wind best .  I playerd the ProV-1X for many years and found it to be a great ball for both of the above.  Actually all the balls that you mentioned are great balls and can perform for anyone as each swing is so very different.

The thing for both distance and spin for me is the quality of the contact.  If I'm hitting it pure I find that the ball I play doesn't make a lot of difference.  I played some rounds in the low 70's with Slazengers and done the same the next day with a XV.

[ceasterb]

If durability is an issue, the XV if amazing.  The distance is excellent and the spin is more than adequate.  With the current pricing of buy 2 and get one free (essentially $30 a dozen), I don't think you can find a better ball.

Edited by ceasterb, 31 October 2012 - 07:42 AM.

[goobers80]

Maybe not *premium* but i finds the Q-Star ball best in wind. And Yellow Srixon Balls and Titleist NXT S Yellow balls are very durable covers. Most of the rest scuff off irons wedges and stuffs. NXT S Yellow feel nice too. Saw more control off those than Pro V1s , callaways. Bridgestone is okays too and Noticed Taylormade Penta TP went a little furthers than alls of these for me. And 20XI S were most spinning for me.

I just prefer yellow balls.

Edited by goobers80, 31 October 2012 - 08:16 AM.

[phase3golf]

Durability has always been an issue for me - 9 holes per prov1x is the norm. So I switched to the XV and it has amazing durability! Is longer (not what I needed tho) and because I'm such a high spin player, is drop and stop for me instead of 5 meters backspin on full wedges!

Loving the XV and will not switch back!

[JaxBeachNole]

longest - 20XI-X for me by far. I live near the ocean and wind is always a concern, the 20XI-X has the least amount of spin around the greens, but I fall in the Stan Utley type of thinking - get the ball rolling.

[stage1350]

Longest for me is Bridgestone B330, but I can't spin it around the greens at all.

For me a good compromise has been Srizon XV

[thejuice]

JaxBeachNole, on 05 November 2012 - 10:27 PM, said:

longest - 20XI-X for me by far. I live near the ocean and wind is always a concern, the 20XI-X has the least amount of spin around the greens, but I fall in the Stan Utley type of thinking - get the ball rolling.

This is a love it or hate it ball.  I thought it didn't fly as far as the V1X.  I have found the XV do everything just right.

Longest: V1X, Hex Black
Greenside: V1, TP5
Feel off Irons and Wedges: TP5, XV
Best all around: XV hands down!!!  It's not the top ball in any category for me but is a solid performer in all categories and can hold its own with the best of 'em.

[greasepin]

For me XV fell out of the sky, low trajec.  V1x relatively long, but not much workability to speak of.  Didn't like the original penta, lost distance.  Never tried the callaways or Bstones.  For me distance is the last thing I look for.  My home course I only hit driver 3 times on the front, and 7 on the back.  I prefer the V1 over the v1x for the spin around the greens and feel.  Choose a ball you like, not one based on those 12-14 shots a round.

[JaxBeachNole]

thejuice, on 06 November 2012 - 11:50 AM, said:

JaxBeachNole, on 05 November 2012 - 10:27 PM, said:

longest - 20XI-X for me by far. I live near the ocean and wind is always a concern, the 20XI-X has the least amount of spin around the greens, but I fall in the Stan Utley type of thinking - get the ball rolling.

This is a love it or hate it ball.  I thought it didn't fly as far as the V1X.  I have found the XV do everything just right.

Longest: V1X, Hex Black
Greenside: V1, TP5
Feel off Irons and Wedges: TP5, XV
Best all around: XV hands down!!!  It's not the top ball in any category for me but is a solid performer in all categories and can hold its own with the best of 'em.

It is very polarizing

[justodd]

Hex Black IMO.

[myronm]

Interesting.  Especially those that like the Hex Black in the wind.  For me, the spin on the Black was by far the best but in the wind, I found it moved right or left way more than some of the others.  In fact, that's why I decided to not play it - I play a lot of courses in the wind and having the ball cut thru the wind was important.

Pro V1X was longest (except for Black) on Irons and Woods.  Almost half club with  7 iron than Srixon and Nike.  3-5 yards difference even with SW.  Penta feels good and smooth with driver but Wedges don't react consistently.  Bridgestone is way shorter and no spin or feel.  Hated it.

So I go with the PRO V1X as it has the best overall feel with reasonable distance.  If don't need extra distance, then PRO V1 due to short game improvement.  I don't spin a ball a lot (seldom back one up) but do hit drop and stop (within 2 feet) shots and hit lots of short pitches where feel is critical.  Typical old fart - up and down, up and down.

[endy]

B330 has been the longest off the driver for me as well as the most durable. The spinniest iron shots came with the prov1. The best putter feel has been with the prov1x. With these costing so much, I usually game the B330 because they last the longest haha.

[G-Bone]

Longest for me is TP5 and next is XV.

Most iron spin for me is Hex Black and V1x.

Lowest iron spin for me is XV and next is TP5.

[WRXClarky]

Any great deals out there currently on the XV or the Black?

[tinman]

Check out Amazon for the XV's.They had buy 2 get one free @ $29/dozen.

[Anvil59]

Has anybody else noticed how the xv struggles in the wind? I really liked everything about it but it was getting slammed in the wind

[golf9596]

I think all of the primium balls are great. Each one will perform better for different swings, for me the Titleist Pro-v1x is the longest on a consistant bases. I getting a little long in the tooth and would like them to add a color option...

[mr smith]

Anvil59, on 09 January 2013 - 07:39 PM, said:

Has anybody else noticed how the xv struggles in the wind? I really liked everything about it but it was getting slammed in the wind

Never really noticed this, Ive found it to be a good wind ball. Its relly low spin off driver so should handle wind. Maybe not as good a wind ball as cally iz though, they were incredible in the wind.

[SpenceT47]

It's so interesting to me that there isn't a consistent conscnensus on length. It goes to show as someone mentioned above there are so many variables to distance--launch, spin, SS. I have hit all of these and I've hit them all long--and short. Depended on the day. I feel the B330 had the most "jump" off the face, followed by the Hex Black. But consistently I hit the ProV1x and XV the straightest, so they end up being the longest off the driver. For whatever reason, the TP5 is the longest from 4 iron down though.

I get though why the OP wants to know about distance because, for me, I can spin all of these to a degree, so picking up a few yards would be nice as well. Truthfully, I'm such a ho I never buy the same dozen of one ball consecutively. They are all good in one respect or another.

Edited by SpenceT47, 13 January 2013 - 11:43 AM.