No, it’s not the surface of the moon (right), it’s a super-close-up shot of a golf ball. In golf’s modern era, the small, round dimpled orbs that fill the pockets of your golf bags are truly the sum of their parts. From the materials that make up their covers to how it’s filled inside, a golf ball’s composition greatly affects its behavior on the course. Among other things, it determines how high or low it launches off your clubface and spins around the green and how much it compresses when hit. In short, the modern golf ball is a technological masterpiece, with a number of different varieties built specifically for players of varying skill levels. They’ve truly come a long way since a bunch of feathers were sewn inside a piece of leather.
Of course, great technological advancements always meet some resistance. In Ohio, there’s a limited-flight ball that has been integrated into competitions, and worldwide numerous legends of the game have bemoaned the modern ball’s DNA for making old courses obsolete and eliminating shotmaking from the game. While the best in the world may take advantage of the newer ball technology, that still leaves the rest of us to duke it out with “Old Man Par.” And we’ll take all the help we can get.
Which Ball Is Right For You?
Late last year, the Golf Tips editors had the privilege to visit Hot Stix, a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based golf lab. While there, we visited with some of the industry’s most knowledgeable clubfitters, scientists and technicians and asked them which steps golfers should take to improve their game. They suggested a lot of things, including shaft upgrades, loft, lie and grip adjustments, but they also brought the conversation around to those little white balls that go a mile. Choosing the right golf ball, they said, was vital for golfers of all skill levels. (They also said it was the cheapest and fastest way to see important results.) Translation: Even though your favorite player tees up a thin-covered, high-spinning ball every week, it might not be the right one for your game, especially if you’re an average golfer. Take particular care when perusing the offerings for ’07—they might change your life.
Understanding Our Charts
Features: The primary characteristics of the golf ball, including an overview of the cover, core and spin qualities.
Advantages: How this ball separates itself from the others; its dominant features.
Benefits: What type of golfer would most likely benefit from playing this ball.
What We Like: We have our preferences, too, and share what we like in the particular ball.
Lineup: Lists the balls available in the manufacturer’s line.
Construction: Two-piece, three-piece, multi-layer.
Cover: Urethane covers tend to be the dominant material in premium golf balls, yielding a soft and grippy feel around the greens. Surlyn and other polymer blends are more affordable, but slightly less responsive and have a firmer feel.
Core: Polybutadiene dominates most cores, but it’s worth noting those that don’t.
Midlayer: Ionomer midlayers aid in adding spin with iron shots and reducing spin with driver and fairway wood shots.
Dimple Pattern: Note the varying dimple patterns in several models. If supplied, dimple counts are in parentheses.
Trajectory: High, Mid or Low
Spin: High, Mid or Low
Feel: Firm or Soft
| Bridgestone e5/e6 bridgestonegolf.com (800) 358-6319 | $25/doz.
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Bridgestone Tour B330/B330-S bridgestonegolf.com (800) 358-6319 | $40/doz.
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| Callaway HX Hot callawaygolf.com (877) ELY-BALL | $25/doz. 
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Callaway HX Tour/HX Tour 56 callawaygolf.com (877) ELY-BALL | $39/doz.
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| Maxfli Powermax maxfli.com (800) 456-8633 | $15/doz.
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Maxfli Fire maxfli.com (800) 456-8633 | $19/doz.
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It’s the customized performance, driven by the latest in urethane and core technology, that makes the new e5 and e6 golf balls the ones to watch.
These two Tour-validated golf balls from Bridgestone just got better. 
For the distance-obsessed golfer who needs extra yards with every club in the bag.
Callaway’s premium golf ball model gets significant improvements.
With John Daly on the box, do we really need to explain what this ball is designed to do?
Maxfli’s latest entry into the distance market is backed up by none other than the original long bomber, John Daly.
| Nike Juice nikegolf.com (888) 799-NIKE | $20/doz.
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Nike One Platinum/Black nikegolf.com (888) 799-NIKE | $39/doz.
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| Pinnacle Pinnacle CLR White pinnaclegolf.com (800) 225-8500| $18/doz. |
Precept XP3 preceptgolf.com (888) 358-6319 | $30/doz.
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| Srixon Z-URC srixon.com (888) 4-SRIXON | $40/doz.
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TaylorMade TP Black/Red taylormadegolf.com (800) 888-CLUB | $45/doz.
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You have to check out the latest commercials online. Nike Golf blows up a lava lamp.
The reinvented One Series is better than ever. 
Known for being the popular choice among long drivers, Pinnacle shows it can also make a golf ball that looks nice too. 
A high-performance two-piece model designed to provide all golfers with Tour-like distance and feel. 
The second-best player in the world uses this ball. 
Designed with Tour professionals in mind, the TP Black and TP Red are already making a huge impact across several professional Tours.
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| Tech Talk Choose Wisely For the industry as a whole, it’s fairly evident that solid-core golf ball technology and three-piece urethane cover construction have had the biggest impact. Bridgestone was the first company to introduce a solid-core performance model (back in the early ’90s when Nick Price was winning his Majors), and has continued to be a leader in refining the technology to meet the demanding needs of today’s golfer. For Bridgestone Golf, in addition to the solid core and other materials advances, the Seamless Cover has been a significant technological breakthrough. Seamless Cover Technology allows players to experience unparalleled flight consistency, regardless of whether they strike the ball on the equator or on one of the poles. The biggest mistake that I’ve seen is that the average golfer doesn’t always buy the best ball to maximize their game. Some may choose a model based on what their friends use or what guys on Tour are playing. Another mistake we see is that the ones that do choose a ball based on their swing only look at swing speed. In order to get the best ball for your game, it’s important to look at the total equation. For instance, launch angle and the optimal spin rate should also be a consideration for golfers. Every golfer should be fit on a launch monitor to find out what ball is best for them. In 2007, we’re introducing the Bridgestone Golf Challenge, which will provide consumers the opportunity to get fit on our Science Eye launch monitor at various golf courses and golf retailers across the United States. For a schedule of when the fitting is available in specific areas, visit www.bridgestonegolf.com. |
Could Titleist really improve on arguably the most popular golf ball ever? 
Golf accessories run aplenty in the 
illumination, which refers to the wearer’s ability to better see the ball in the air as well as to contrast against green grass conditions. Other features include an Enhanced Visual System that decenters the lens for distortion-free clarity. Style featured: Stelvio
Golf shoes are just as vital as any club in your bag. They stabilize you, help you leverage your body against the turf and, most importantly, provide gripping support and comfort to protect your feet for the duration of the round. Today’s golf footwear features the kind of technology previously reserved for hiking boots, running and walking shoes and even climbing shoes–all wrapped up in one advanced piece of golf equipment.
The catchphrase in footwear right now is “fusion”: building comfortable shoes with the added bonus of fashion. In golf, we see that idea evolving even further by incorporating the best performance attributes found in different segments of the market–waterproofing, comfort, traction and stability technologies, along with fresh new styling. It’s similar to how hybrid clubs have re-energized the wood category.
As is the case with all categories of golf equipment, new materials and technologies have vastly improved the quality and feel of modern grips, and there now are a number of cord-style grips that feel as soft as velvet models, but with the added tack cord provides. For golfers with sensitive hands, or who simply prefer a soft feel, a buffed, velvet-style grip still is the top choice. In addition, there are grips that feature a combination of durometers (degrees of firmness) in different sections of the grip or in separate layers. These “multi-density” models represent the hot trend in grip design, and they’re fantastic. 
Most golf instructors believe the upper hand should dominate the golf swing, and the lower hand is essentially just hanging on for the ride. So does Avon, which designed its new Pro D2x to lend firm support on the top region of the grip, while lending a soft grip for the lower hand to prevent it from interfering too much with the swing. Ridges and channels make the Pro D2x a solid all-weather option, and the oversize model is great for those who require a more secure grip. 
Golf Pride’s Dual Durometer has been one of the most popular over the last two seasons, thanks to its ingenious designs and cord and non-cord models with the velvety feel. But golfers aren’t the only ones taking notice. The Arthritis Foundation has bestowed upon the Dual Durometer grips (along with Golf Pride’s Whisper models) their Ease of Use commendation for their ability to minimize the painful effects on joints while swinging a golf club. The secret lies in the design, where two layers of synthetic rubber combine for gripping traction and comfort. The inner layer stabilizes the hands, while the outer layer provides excellent traction and a soft feel. The corded version is an excellent choice for golfers who play in wet conditions and prefer a slightly firmer feel with or without a glove. Dual Durometer Lite and Dual Durometer Putter models are also available.
Every golfer is familiar with Golf Pride grips, as they’ve been around seemingly since the beginning of time. The common belief that Golf Pride offers only traditional grip styles will soon be put to rest by the New Decade MultiCompound model. This innovative grip features a combination design with a velvet-cord section in the upper portion of the grip for firm, all-weather control. The lower portion is made of soft rubber to provide optimal comfort and feel. It’s a superb model for golfers who want the best of both worlds.
Innovative colors aside, these grips are actually infused with negative ions to help golfers not only better grip the club, but also relax and concentrate. The unique proprietary material is designed for supreme durability and crack resistance, especially when playing in mixed weather (wet/dry) conditions. These grips are already a sensation in Japan, so it’s just a matter of time until the U.S. market heeds notice. Sure, they’re a far cry from all-leather, wrap-style grips, but they’re right in step with golf’s modern focus.
The X-tack line from Karakal is designed for all-weather comfort and support by using Karakal’s proprietary X Factor process, which is made to preserve the grips’ tackiness and comfort in all weather conditions. The X-tack II features a perforated top section (for a firmer top-hand grip) and a smooth velvet pattern bottom section for increased feel and feedback on short-range shots. With each Karakal grip, it’s safe to say vibration is a thing of the past, as each grip absorbs unwanted vibration with ease. For players who struggle with any type of arthritic condition or joint pain, a grip with this type of performance benefit is highly recommended, particularly if you tend you play in hot, humid or otherwise wet conditions. 
The Crossline name has become synonymous with Tour-like performance. The Dual Density Crossline is no exception, featuring a firm, torque-resistant underlisting and a soft outer layer produced from a blended multi-material compound that makes for a unique product. This combination is aimed at providing both enhanced tack and feel with the added benefit of shock absorption.
Arguably the most radical and different grip produced in the last 10 years, the Dual Density Torsion Control has a micro screen-like surface texture that’s unlike any other grip. Combined with ridges that help better align grip positions, firm up and support the grip, prevent slippage, and combat rain and perspiration, the DDTC has the makings of a Golf Tips Tech Award frontrunner.
The new PTO (Pro Tour Only) is a texture-heavy, technologically rich grip from Sharpro. The upper-corded region is firm for support, and the lower region is designed more for comfort and control. Across both ends of the grip are a series of perforations, including a rugged channel designed to wick away water and debris. The design makes the PTO a high-performance model that offers a secure grip in all weather conditions. Three colors denote sizes: pink for ladies, red for standard and blue for midsize. 
The G8 series from Winn Grips are the company’s best-looking and best-performing to date. The unique design of the G8 provides a uniform feel despite the fact that they’re constructed from multiple materials. Winn’s Advanced Integration (AI) technology varies the grip materials in key areas where extra support is needed. This grip is tackier and more durable than previous iterations, and actually absorbs moisture for added tackiness in wet conditions. 
Winn’s proprietary, high-performance grip material, V17, is said to provide a firm feel and slip-resistant performance for the life of the grip. The V17 material is combined with the company’s Advanced Vertical Seam (AVS) construction to form the velvet-style Arrow grip. The AVS construction creates but one vertical seam up the back of the grip. This design offers golfers who don’t like the feel of a wrap a solid option in the Winn family of grips. New velvet-like arrow perfs complete this high-tech package. Wrap-style Arrow is also available. Choose between Regular Firm and Extra Firm models.
Golf ball fact: Most of the multi-layer, urethane-covered, high-performance models won’t provide significant benefits for anyone who swings the driver less than 100 mph. These models are built with cores and mantle materials that require a lot of compression in order to create the desired high velocity.
The Tour-quality flagship model in the Ben Hogan line of golf balls.
The LoCo Motion not only has one of the most fun names in golf, it’s also one of the most enjoyable balls to hit.
Maxfli’s newest low-compression model comes in a variety of neon colors.
A distance-oriented ball with a soft feel to complement the Tour-designed BlackMAX.
For those who demand big distance off the tee but also require some shotmaking capabilities around the green.
The reinvented One Series is better than ever. 
A new and improved version of Srixon’s low-compression performance model.
Srixon’s premium-quality, three-piece golf ball provides more spin than the companion Z-UR.
Still the benchmark for premium three-piece golf ball models.
Expected Titleist performance in a low-compression golf ball.
A new line of Top-Flites, each of which focuses on providing a specific performance trait at a reasonable price. 
A distance model directed at slower swingers who prefer a colored golf ball.
Top-of-the-line four-piece model directed at better players who demand Tour-caliber performance.
