Equipment
MaxFli adds two new U6 golf balls, the U6 LC and U6X, to its line
Last year, Maxfli turned heads in the golf industry with the introduction of the its U6 golf ball, the first-ever six-piece design to hit retail shelves.
The idea behind the ball was a good one: to offer golfers a lower-spinning option in the tour ball category for maximum distance and improved accuracy. That was achieved by giving the U6 a very low compression core, with layers that became gradually heavier as they moved outward toward the cover. That increased the ball’s moment of inertia (MOI), giving it even more stability and thus an even straighter flight. And like other tour-level golf balls, the U6 had a urethane cover to provide maximum spin and a soft feel on short shots around the green.
According to Ray North, director of product development for MaxFli Golf, the biggest problem with the U6 launch was that it wasn’t broad enough. That’s why Maxfli has added two new U6 models for 2014 — a lower-compression U6 LC and a higher-compression U6X — to maximize the ball’s performance for golfers with slower-than-normal and faster-than-normal swing speeds.
Like the U6, the U6 LC and U6X have low-compression cores, urethane covers and intermediate layers that gradually get heavier as they move from core to cover. That maintains the ball’s stability and low-spin performance. But the U6 LC was made with a lower-compression than the U6 to give golfers with slower swing speeds, between 80 and 95 MPH (with a driver), more distance off the tee. The U6, which will remain in the line for 2014, is better for golfers with swing speeds between 92-to-102 MPH, while the higher-compression U6X will be the longest U6 ball for golfers with swing speeds in excess of 102 MPH.
“We’re trying to make a straighter tour ball,” North said. “This might not be for Bubba [Watson], who likes to work the ball a lot off the tee, but for the majority of golfers it’s going to flight a little lower, spin less and roll out a little more. It’s a fairway-finding ball, and golfers are loving the spin they’re getting around the greens with it.”
All three U6 series golf balls have MaxFli’s Tri-Dimple design, which offers improves their aerodynamics, and will sell for about $40 a dozen when they hit shelves on March 6.
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Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
…The Jailbird craze hasn’t really slowed down in 2024, either. According to Odyssey rep Joe Toulon, there are about 18-20 Jailbird putter users on the PGA TOUR.
Most recently, Akshay Bhatia won the 2024 Valero Texas Open using a broomstick-style Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter and Webb Simpson is switching into a replica of that putter at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Now, Fowler, who essentially started the whole Jailbird craze, is making a significant change to his putter setup.
Fowler, who has had a couple weeks off since the 2024 RBC Heritage, started experimenting with a new, custom-orange Jailbird 380 head that’s equipped with a standard 35-inch putter build, rather than his previous 38-inch counter-balanced setup.
According to Fowler, while he still likes the look and forgiveness of his Jailbird putter head, he’s looking to re-incorporate more feel into his hands during the putting stroke.
He told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Championship that the 38-inch counterbalanced setup “served its purpose” by helping him to neutralize his hands during the stroke, but now it’s time to try the standard-length putter with a standard-size SuperStroke Pistol Tour grip to help with his feel and speed control.
Although Fowler was also spotted testing standard-length mallets from L.A.B. Golf and Axis1 on Tuesday, he confirmed that the custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 is the putter he’ll use this week at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Head over to PGATour.com for the full article.
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- Akshay Bhatia what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. Bhatia is deciding between drivers. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Callaway Rogue ST Max LS (9 degrees @7.2, 2 grams lead tape heel, 4 grams toe)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X (44 7/8 inches, tipped 1 inch)
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (15 degrees @13.9)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X (43 inches, tipped 1.5)
Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW Prototype (19 degrees @17.8)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 10 X
Irons: Callaway X Forged UT (21 degrees) Buy here, Callaway Apex TCB Raw (5-PW)
Shafts: KBS $-Taper 125 S+
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (50-10S @49, 54-10S, 60-08C @61)
Shafts: KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 135 X
Putter: Odyssey Versa Jailbird 380
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Split
Grips: Iomic
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour
More photos of Akshay Bhatia’s WITB in the forums.
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- Emiliano Grillo what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (9 degrees @10)
Shaft: Project X Denali Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (15 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 70 TX
5-wood: Cobra LTDx Prototype (18.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 70 TX
Irons: Callaway Apex TCB (4-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Wedges: Callaway MD3 Milled (46-08S), Callaway Jaws Raw (50-10S, 54-10S, 60-08T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Flatso 1.0
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Emiliano Grillo’s clubs here.
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Richard
Feb 12, 2014 at 12:08 am
I agree with llamont. I tried all the Maxfli U series balls and haven’t found anything I like as much as the U4x. I sometimes play Titlelist pro v1 and 1x balls too and they don’t have anything over the U4x. I went to Dick’s to buy a few dozen and they were all out so I bought a couple dozen U4 balls which are pretty good too but maybe 8-10 yards shorter off the driver. Hopefully they keep selling the U4x balls as well as the U6 series
N
Jan 15, 2014 at 9:57 pm
Has anybody played these balls and how are they, really?
llamont
Jan 15, 2014 at 11:25 pm
I played the original U6 for a short stint and in my opinion, it is an okay ball. The whole “6 piece” ball thing may be a bit overplayed though. The spin was decent (definitely nothing special for a ball that’s supposed to be tour caliper) but the durability of the U6 left a lot to be desired. I’ve been playing the U4X since September and I really like that ball. For the money, I haven’t played anything close. I get decent length off the tee and the green-side spin rate is adequate (for me).
ericb
Jan 16, 2014 at 7:46 am
I played the U6 sample pack. They stay on line pretty easily. Solid feel off the driver, kind of clicky off the wedges but spun nicely with quick stops.
Billy Maddux
Feb 7, 2014 at 3:34 am
I tested golf balls last Spring and the U6 easily beat out all the big names. I found minimal difference in length over the TM Lethal, Nike XI or Pro V1 but they went straighter on the simulator and on the course in actual play. The REAL difference for me was in how they played around the green. Very similar feel to the Pro V1. When you factor in that one could buy them at a discount at Dick’s quite often, it was a no brainer decision. The reason I am at this site tonight is I just went to Dick’s site to see if they had any specials. I buy balls several dozen at a time and am almost out (I play 3-5 times a week). I was shocked to see they were not listed and went to looking for reasons why. Thanks to the author for letting us know and it looks like I will be buying a couple of dozen of something else until the rollout in early March. Probably some Nike XI as they are currently on sale. But I will be going back to the U6 and will never run out again.
JJ
Jan 15, 2014 at 3:24 pm
The relevant swing speed is driver swing speed I take it?
Zak Kozuchowski
Jan 15, 2014 at 5:28 pm
Yes.