Which is the softest "Balata" ball?
hu...@ibm.net
balls. The consensus, as I remember, was that Titleist "Tour Balata" and
Maxfli "HT Balata" are actual (albeit synthetic) balata rubber and Top-Flite
"Z-Balata" was not. I don't remember what was said about other brands.
Due to a recurring problem with my right foot, I haven't been able to take
full golf swings all summer. Instead, I've been going to a local Par 3 course,
both to play and to use their excellent putting/chipping practice green.
A few weeks ago, I started taking some old Titleist "Tour Balata" balls that
have been picked up around various golf courses. I love the way they let
me take a more aggressive putt and chipping stroke (compared to Titleist
"DT 2-piece" balls I usually play). Since I'm not taking anything fuller than
a 1/2-swing with a 7-iron, I certainly don't notice any extra slice, loss of
distance or anything like that.
Yesterday, I bought a dozen X-out Wilson "Ultra Tour Balata" balls and took
them to the Par 3. These seem harder than the Titleists. For instance, when
I putt, they feel and sound closer to a "DT 2-piece" than a Titleist Balata
ball, although they still let me take a firm chipping stroke without rolling
clear off the green like a 2 piece ball. Are these Wilsons like the Top-Flites
and "Balata" in name only? I'd appreciate any guidance on whether the
Titleists are softer than anything else on the market, or maybe its because
my had been laying in the woods for a while before they were picked up.
David Gray
: I'd appreciate any guidance on whether the Titleists are softer than
: my had been laying in the woods for a while before they were picked up.
I've played quite a few brands of balata balls. My personal opinion is that
the Slazenger balata is really soft. I liked the way it felt, especially
from 100yds. and shorter. But they are not durable, even for balata
balls they get torn up quick.
The Titleist Professional is a good ball.
-Dave
Blairs
: -Dave
Personally I feel that the Titleist Professional is an expensive ball,
and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who plays on a course that has deep
grass, trees, or water. At $4.17 a ball retail (You'll more likely only
pay about $3.25 if you shop around) they're just too expensive to lose.
Titleist Tour X-Outs (if you're lucky enough to find them) on the other
hand I've seen for $16 a box - a splendid value at $1.34 a ball. The
downside is that most people shred them after one round, perhaps less.
I've been using Titleist Tours for about two months - rather had been,
until last week.
I recently switched to a two piece Surlyn ball for the winter. I hated
the thought of doing it, but by the grace of God I selected the Precept
EV Extra Spin. I'm thrilled with them - they feel nearly identical to
the Titlest tour when putting (I'm using a 300g zinc head with a 34"
aluminum shaft, however - not much feeling can get through that, though
Top-Flites and the like still feel like ball bearings) and I've noticed
quite a bit of spin out of them (in my opinion the main reason to use
balata). If you like Balata, but don't like the price of wear & tear,
and can't afford Professionals, try these. They're about $21 a box if
you look.
Paul.
--
Stephen, Ann, & Paul Blair bl...@teleport.com
The T H R E E Blairs Home: 1 503 653 5901
Milwaukie, OR A M O P R O B O S
Todd Anderson
: A few months back there was quite a bit of discussion about "Balata" golf
: balls. The consensus, as I remember, was that Titleist "Tour Balata" and
: Maxfli "HT Balata" are actual (albeit synthetic) balata rubber and Top-Flite
: "Z-Balata" was not. I don't remember what was said about other brands.
: me take a more aggressive putt and chipping stroke (compared to Titleist
: "DT 2-piece" balls I usually play). Since I'm not taking anything fuller than
: a 1/2-swing with a 7-iron, I certainly don't notice any extra slice, loss of
: distance or anything like that.
BTW, Titleist DT are "wound" 3-piece balls, basically the same core as
the tour balata balls with Suryln covers. The Titleist HP2, HVC are
2-piece balls. The Titleist Professional is a 3-piece ball with their new
"soft plastic" lithium cover that feels like balata to me, but doesn't
cut or scuff when you look at it funny. But a some god forsaken price of
~$30 a dozen, I only hit the ones I find or win.
Top Flite Z-Balata hit like felt covered rocks to me, so do the Wilson
Ultras and the Slazengers. The Maxfli HTs are ok, but nothing beats a
Titleist for my game - this is an unsolicited endorsement.
Dr. Odd
Michael Reagan
I disagree about the Slazenger balata not being durable. Titleist is a ball
that is not very durable. If you sneeze on it it smiles back at you.
Mae Fitzgerald
are Titleist Tour Balatas. Hey, the pros use them, the last pretty long
too. Professionals are good balls too if you want to spend mucho dinero.
-
MIKE FITZGERALD ZKD...@prodigy.com
Fred Tormala
jw...@lehigh.edu
tes:
>hu...@ibm.net wrote:
>: A few months back there was quite a bit of discussion about "Balata" golf
>: balls. The consensus, as I remember, was that Titleist "Tour Balata" and
>: Maxfli "HT Balata" are actual (albeit synthetic) balata rubber and Top-Flite
>: "Z-Balata" was not. I don't remember what was said about other brands.
>: have been picked up around various golf courses. I love the way they let
>: me take a more aggressive putt and chipping stroke (compared to Titleist
>: "DT 2-piece" balls I usually play). Since I'm not taking anything fuller than
>: a 1/2-swing with a 7-iron, I certainly don't notice any extra slice, loss of
>: distance or anything like that.
>
>BTW, Titleist DT are "wound" 3-piece balls, basically the same core as
>the tour balata balls with Suryln covers. The Titleist HP2, HVC are
WRONG!!!! Tour Balatas have a "liquid" center (the core is a hollow rubber
ball filled with some liquid) DT wound balls have a solid core.
Ed Threet
Gray) wrote:
>
> I've played quite a few brands of balata balls. My personal opinion is that
> the Slazenger balata is really soft. I liked the way it felt, especially
> from 100yds. and shorter. But they are not durable, even for balata
> balls they get torn up quick.
>
> The Titleist Professional is a good ball.
>
> -Dave
Ditto on the Slazenger Balatas. I think they're the best for a combination
of feel, distance, and spin. I also play Titleist X-OUT balatas because of
the price and think they are very good also. EV Xtra Spins are in my bag
too.
--
"Work is for people who don't hunt, fish, or play golf."
Mike McTigue
cutting, they will go out of round very easily when miss-hit.
Carry that ball gauge!
Pascal Jasmin
-> "Balata" golf : balls. The consensus, as I remember, was that
-> Titleist "Tour Balata" and : Maxfli "HT Balata" are actual (albeit
-> synthetic) balata rubber and Top-Flite : "Z-Balata" was not. I don't
-> remember what was said about other brands. : have been picked up
-> around various golf courses. I love the way they let : me take a more
-> aggressive putt and chipping stroke (compared to Titleist : "DT
-> 2-piece" balls I usually play). Since I'm not taking anything fuller
-> than : a 1/2-swing with a 7-iron, I certainly don't notice any extra
-> slice, loss of : distance or anything like that.
Maybe I should keep quiet about this, but my favorite balls are the old
swiftflite and old softcover topflites. I'm not sure what the cover on
these balls are, but they are much softer than anything currently on the
market. You can only find these balls in the forest, or the refurb
bins.
I get more consistent distance with my irons, and much more accuracy (I
hit mostly a straight shape with my irons) because the ball gives less
resistance to the clubhead at impact, and its easier to make a fuller
follow through, and to square the club through impact, and to keep the
club stable on off center hits. This more than compensates less yardage
with the woods.
Why don't they make these balls anymore?