GOUGE: When's the last time you tried a new golf ball? Given what I do for a living, I'm trying new stuff every time out. Some weeks, the golf ball is a constant, and some weeks, we're looking at the latest options out there. It's a pleasant surprise every time out because every golf ball is consistently good, save for the occasional bouts with scuffing you see with some of the high-end balls. (Of course, in an odd way, that makes sense because those balls are designed for tour players, who can switch to a new ball every hole if they like. And they often do.) The thing is, how much difference is there among ball brands? Truthfully, not gigantic swings. A two-piece ball feels either hard or soft and in most instances the hard balls (Top Flite XL, Pinnacle Gold, Callaway War Bird, etc.) do the same things the same way. Softer compression two-piece balls feel softer, but don't expect them to give you the capability to hit a Geoff Ogilvy U.S. Open chip shot. The tour-style urethane covered balls again can be grouped in a similar way: The shades of difference among the top balls is remarkably slight, and that's why you see several manufacturers being used by top players. Titleist has the most balls in play, certainly, but players are using and winning with Bridgestone, Callaway, Nike, Srixon and TaylorMade, too. Personally, though, it's the emerging third category of balls that I think are the best in the game for the most players. It's a small group, but the multilayer construction balls offer unique distance and feel benefits that average golfers will benefit from. I'm talking about balls like market leader Titleist NXT Tour, but in particular the inner-mantle designs like Bridgestone's e6, Callaway's HX Hot and Nike's new Ignite. Even Callaway's HX Pearl, designed for women, might be a worthy option for the less-Bomb-like among us. It's just me talking, but I'm willing to bet that if the green fee on your course is less than $50 and your handicap is closer to 20 than it is to scratch, you won't miss the tour balls at all.
BOMB: True, those mid-level balls are acceptable behavior for most players for most rounds—like those where you’re raking in four-footers for par and begging for the mulligan off the first tee. You probably want a water ball in your bag, too, for those shots over hazards. But when you’re playing real golf for a real score, I have these words for you. In fact, next time we play, you go ahead and use one of those pellets, and instead of the Nassau being $2-$2-$4, I say we up it to car-car-house! Bottom line: there’s a reason those high-end urethane balls are called “performance” golf balls—they’re just better. For you, for me and for virtually every golfer on the planet. If buying them means you have to steal from the kids college fund, then the other balls will do just fine. But if dipping for the extra $15 only means the wife has to tone down her QVC addiction, and you’re looking to shoot the best score you can, the high-end balls are worth the extra dough.
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