AD333 versus ProV1

ShriekingSheet

To revist an old discussion, does it really make sense that such a massive percentage of handicap players are using ProV1 golf balls? I'm speaking about the good, but less than elite players from maybe 3-12 handicap, roughly speaking.

I'm buying some new gear online here, and the difference in price is quite mad.

I was using the Srixon AD333 during the winter as a cheap, off-season alternative. I have to say I found very little difference between it and the ProV1x which I usually use. It's very slightly harder in feel, but still in the "tour ball" category of softness, and nowhere near as hard as the NXT &co. It spins about the same, and flies a tiny bit further with drives and irons. Durability-wise, it's a bit tougher but can shred on clean square grooves, just like the Titleist.

Overall difference this is going to make to the afore mentioned golfers? The AD333 could actually be better suited than the ProV1. In reality though, there's probably no difference whatsoever, and the slight loss in softness is likely to be counter-balanced by the extra few yards in distance.

Then of course there's this...

Titleist ProV1 €36
Srixon AD333 €17

stockdam

I don't really know. I don't play enough with the ProV1 due to its price. Plus I've never been able to link a better score with playing with a better ball.

I've played with Precept Lady a lot and it's a good soft ball that is much cheaper.

In winter I play with whatever ball I have in my bag (lots of "crappy" balls won as prizes).

Zardoz

As a 5 handicapper I rarely play with ProV1 balls ,they are just too expensive.
I use a relatively cheap ball,Wilson Smartcore,Nike NDX,or Maxfli Noodle or whatever I find on my travels.
I find all those balls to be pretty good .
I have a dozen ProV1's at home and to be honest I think they are an overrated ball,I didnt see much difference between it and the Smartcore .
I must get a dozen of the AD333 ,look a very nice ball .

ShriekingSheet

Yeah the AD333 is fine. I've been trying out the TaylorMade Penta and Callaway Tour ix, the former being a carbon copy of the ProV1, the latter very similar to the Srixon - though both are much more expensive.

I keep saying I'm going to play a season with a Molitor, or TopFlite XL - just to prove a point... provided I shoot some scores

The_Architect

Ten years ago, the Pro-V1 was a huge advancement in ball technology by bringing spin and distance together, and I have to admit that I take advantage of it whenever playing a competition. I am not sure how the other balls match up.

There is a big movement to reduce the distance that the ball travels though. Unfortunately, what is good for the game is not necessarily good for the equipment manufacturers and it's the latter that have most money and therefore sway.

We can but try.

f22

I have been really impressed with the new Bridgestone Tour B330-RXS, great performance and spin without cutting up after every wedge shot.

About e35 a dozen

Mister Sifter

How many 3-10 handicappers actually pay for them though? I'd imagine most make enough in 2s money and pro shop vouchers to pay for them.

ShriekingSheet

The_Architect wrote: »

Ten years ago, the Pro-V1 was a huge advancement in ball technology by bringing spin and distance together, and I have to admit that I take advantage of it whenever playing a competition. I am not sure how the other balls match up.

That's my whole point. While 10 years ago there was little to match the ProV1, these days there are balls that have the same "spin and distance", but for half the price.

I'm not one for scrimping on quality in pretty much anything in life (buy cheap, buy twice etc) but at the same time, if I'm spending more, I want to be clear what I'm getting for my cash. So it's a simple question - what are you getting from the ProV1 that's worth double the money?

f22 wrote: »

I have been really impressed with the new Bridgestone Tour B330-RXS, great performance and spin without cutting up after every wedge shot.

About e35 a dozen

Yeah I liked it too - again though - double the price of Srixons on www.golfstoreeurope.com.

Mister Sifter wrote: »

How many 3-10 handicappers actually pay for them though? I'd imagine most make enough in 2s money and pro shop vouchers to pay for them.

Very true, but at the same time it's a bit of a misconception, where guys see 2's as "free balls", but then go and spend money on golves, shoes, grips, tees, visors, shirts etc because their pro-shop credit is used up on balls.

It's a valid point, but at the same time, those who really do keep themselves in prov1s with twos and prizes year in year out are in the minority

ThunderCat

Absolutly love Srixons and very rarely play with anything else. I usually play with the soft feel in general play and the z-stars for more important rounds. Both quality balls with the z-stars spinning more. Lovely feel off the irons with the soft feel though.

L.O.F.T

ThunderCat wrote: »

Absolutly love Srixons and very rarely play with anything else. I usually play with the soft feel in general play and the z-stars for more important rounds. Both quality balls with the z-stars spinning more. Lovely feel off the irons with the soft feel though.

+1: Ive said it many times here that I use the Z stars. They are more expensive than the AD333 but cheaper than the Prov-1, only slightly, and for me I think they are a superior golf ball to the ProV and cut less. However others here have tried them and found the exact opposite regarding durability and don't like them at all.
http://www.golfstoreeurope.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=532
http://www.golfstoreeurope.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=1557 (Tim Clarke Yellow)

The_Architect

Shriekingstreet,

I know it was your point but I don't really know the quality difference. I suspect there is little. I was just using this thread to again get on my hobby horse about the fact that the Pro-V1 (and everything that followed) has damaged the game.

Mister Sifter

The_Architect wrote: »

Shriekingstreet,

I know it was your point but I don't really know the quality difference. I suspect there is little. I was just using this thread to again get on my hobby horse about the fact that the Pro-V1 (and everything that followed) has damaged the game.

Like a broken record. A broken record that's about to be put on 'ignore'. I can't handle any more of your sanctimonious crap.

The_Architect

Mister Sifter wrote: »

Like a broken record. A broken record that's about to be put on 'ignore'. I can't handle any more of your sanctimonious crap.

It isn't meant to sound self-righteous although I fully understand how it can be taken that way. I'm just trying to ask people to question the direction the game is heading in certain aspects. Again, I'll bow out of this thread because i'm moving it off-topic.

ShriekingSheet

jebus

jimjo

Mister Sifter wrote: »

How many 3-10 handicappers actually pay for them though? I'd imagine most make enough in 2s money and pro shop vouchers to pay for them.

I've got to buy some today or tomorrow as it goes, dreading it, will give golfstoreurope some money once more. Got a few vouchers but putting it towards wedges or if someones else hears about them worst still dinner!

Hacker111

Srizon Z Star (yellow)..is my ball of choice.... 100 euro including postage on EBAY for 36 balls.... 60% of cost of Titleist....great durability compared to PRO V 1...they tear up soo easy... no durability at all.. Ad333 are okish but are too hard for me.... last for ages but touch around green and irons just not as good as Z Star....... u need a good ball that will last and has decent distance and most importantly feel.... value is not too bad....thats the Srixon.....

ShriekingSheet

Hacker111 wrote: »

Srizon Z Star (yellow)..is my ball of choice.... 100 euro including postage on EBAY for 36 balls.... 60% of cost of Titleist....

Eh... not the case!

A dozen ProV1s costs 36 quid x 3 = 108 euro - free delivery from golf store europe.

You can't compare online Srixon prices with Pro-Shop Titleist prices

You're saving 8 euro.
Don't spend it all in one shop

Hacker111

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

Eh... not the case!

A dozen ProV1s costs 36 quid x 3 = 108 euro - free delivery from golf store europe.

You can't compare online Srixon prices with Pro-Shop Titleist prices

You're saving 8 euro.
Don't spend it all in one shop

Ok, fair point....they last almost twice as long (if not more) so my real saving is at least a €100... c. 60%

ShriekingSheet

Hacker111 wrote: »

Ok, then I make 8 quid profit, I'll take that they last almost twice as long if not more so my real saving is at least a €100... c. 60%

For the same amount of balls, I spend €51, they last longer than the ProV1, and the ZStar and the difference in "touch & feel" is marginal, and offset by the extra few yards the ball flies.

The only thing that matters is taking less shots. Are you taking less shots by spending the extra 50 quid?

For the exact same price (or even less) you could have...
36 Srixon Z Star Balls
or
36 Srixon AD333 Balls + a short game lesson

Which will get you a lower score in the next Medal?

Hacker111

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

For the same amount of balls, I spend €51, they last longer than the ProV1, and the ZStar and the difference in "touch & feel" is marginal, and offset by the extra few yards the ball flies.

The only thing that matters is taking less shots. Are you taking less shots by spending the extra 50 quid?

For the exact same price (or even less) you could have...
36 Srixon Z Star Balls
or
36 Srixon AD333 Balls + a short game lesson

Which will get you a lower score in the next Medal?

I'd take the decent balls please.... feel is critical..... AD333 are just too hard..... BTW I'll take the short game lesson as well! lower scores in medal is feel, confidence and practice... spending 50 quid on a lesson or high spec balls won't compensate for that... I don't mind spending the cash on better balls, thats all, personal thing, I did try the Ad333 for a while and they are fine, just not for me...... I think u need every possible advantage in this game so I take it.... 36 for a 100 quid is ok value for me...they are cheaper for a reason....

IITYWYBMAD

Good points made, but I fell that we are overlooking one area, which is the "mind". I use Callaway Tour I(x), have used Callaway for about the last 8 years. I play off 7. I buy them online for about €30 a box, incl delivery. I've tried Pro V1's and 1x's, but did not like the way they cut up or sounded off the putter. I think using a "harder" ball would make a huge difference to my game, but only around the greens.

But I also know that most golfers who have a ball, are a lot more comfortable with that ball. I feel a bit more confident hitting my 7 iron into a par 3 when I know that I'll get two hops and a stop with a Callaway. If I was to start changing that to a Srixon or whatever, I know that I would start blaming the ball for bad shots etc, and probably erroneously.

Yes I know that I can get different balls and cheaper balls too. And I don't doubt that some of them are as soft as the one I play, but I also believe that the extra €1.30 per ball I pay, is worth it.

Yes I appreciate that they are overpriced, but that's capitalism for you!! I use, on average, 1.5 balls per round (no smart comments) in that a dozen will normally get me through 2 months golf, so no big monetary pressure there. I spend more on the water before the round, maybe I should start filling my bottle from the tap at home...?

Hacker111

IITYWYBMAD wrote: »

Good points made, but I fell that we are overlooking one area, which is the "mind". I use Callaway Tour I(x), have used Callaway for about the last 8 years. I play off 7. I buy them online for about €30 a box, incl delivery. I've tried Pro V1's and 1x's, but did not like the way they cut up or sounded off the putter. I think using a "harder" ball would make a huge difference to my game, but only around the greens.

But I also know that most golfers who have a ball, are a lot more comfortable with that ball. I feel a bit more confident hitting my 7 iron into a par 3 when I know that I'll get two hops and a stop with a Callaway. If I was to start changing that to a Srixon or whatever, I know that I would start blaming the ball for bad shots etc, and probably erroneously.

Yes I know that I can get different balls and cheaper balls too. And I don't doubt that some of them are as soft as the one I play, but I also believe that the extra €1.30 per ball I pay, is worth it.

Yes I appreciate that they are overpriced, but that's capitalism for you!! I use, on average, 1.5 balls per round (no smart comments) in that a dozen will normally get me through 2 months golf, so no big monetary pressure there. I spend more on the water before the round, maybe I should start filling my bottle from the tap at home...?

Totally agree. its easier to cut costs elsewhere... its all about feel and confidence and if a certain ball gives you that well then feck it, pay the extra 1/2 euro.... I can get second hand PRO V1s 70 for €50 quid, collected from courses in excellent condition... still use Srixon tho.....

fullstop

ShriekingSheet wrote: »

To revist an old discussion, does it really make sense that such a massive percentage of handicap players are using ProV1 golf balls? I'm speaking about the good, but less than elite players from maybe 3-12 handicap, roughly speaking.

You do realise there's a massive difference between 3 and 12 handicap in terms of ability and ball-striking. Anyway, it's always Pro V1 for me. I've tried several other of the top of the range balls, including Callaway, Srixon, Brigestone, Taylor Made and Maxfli and nothing can rival the Pro V1 overall IMO, especially around the greens.

forkassed

24 nike one balls for 50 quid in mcguirks.

I think they're as good as the pro v1's and they dont cut up as easily.

aster99

Anybody know where someone could buy a 3 pack of the Srixon Z star yellow? i'd like to give them a try without having to buy a dozen

DonkeyPokerTour

Ok before I start this "speach" I want to appologies because I can guess its going to come off slightly "holier than thou", thats not my intention so try and humour me.

For pritty much all of last year I was a pro V1 man, wouldn't play with anything else, which was pritty expensive for me considering I was off of 16 and I was a bad 16 at that so could sometimes lose 3 balls in a round. For the winter this year I changed to the Callaway Warbird, seeing as the greens were soft there was little need for spin since most of my shots were plugging on the green and then taking one hop out of it. I was going to change back to the ProV1's for the summer but I decided I'd try some other balls aswell so I tried the Srizon Z-Star, Srizon AD333, Callaway iz, Callaway ix and Taylormade Penta. I found the ix and iz, aswell as the z star to as durable or maybe slightly less durable than the Pro V1 and the price for them was almost identical to the price for Pro V1's. I found the Penta's to be much more durable and almost identical to the Pro V1's in every other way. At first I wasn't keen on the AD333's however they kept growing on me, and every time I'd end up going back to them, all my best scores this year have been with the AD333.

What I suggest alot of people do is Buy a sleve of all the premium balls and a sleve of some of the 2nd teir balls. Take them and using a black marker cover all the identifiable markings. So effectively your hitting unbranded balls, then go nuts and hit them all with the driver multiple times, hit them all with your irons multiple times and most importantly hit them all with your wedges, for full shots and partial shots and see how you get on with them. Then play the ball which you liked best out of those. If it happened to be the ProV1 so be it, but it may end up being the NXT Tour or the AD333 in which case you've saved yourself considerable money.

As an aside, when I did that I came out liking the AD333 the best, when I gave them all to a friend to try out, a guy who swore by ProV1's, he couldn't tell the difference between any of them but he ended up prefering the 2nd teir balls because of the increase in distance and as a result he now only used NXT's and AD333's unless he happends to find a ProV1 or simular out on the course.

Regards
Ian

GreeBo

ProV1 PRACTICE balls ftw!

jimjo

After reading this thread I'm going to buy 2 dozen AD333 balls, and will report shortly back after a few rounds. Two dozen balls for €32.30 on golf store europe, you cant really go wrong at that price. Over €10 cheaper than even the NXT tour balls not to mention Pro V's. Some of you guys must work in sales!

Trekker09

AD333 by far for me. I used to like the TM Red but my game went to pieces for a while and I was losing too many, (that was too many beer vouchers going astray)!

I have recently used some Pro V1s for the first time in a while and got on really well with them, but not enough to switch from the AD333's.

Morrisseeee

In the beginning I thought that all golf balls would be the same, or very similar, but after ~10 years practicing/hacking (ahem!;)) you begin to realise that there is a difference in each ball. I now always play with the AD333's in winter, as they're a hard ball & I find they travel better and straighter in this weather, I find that they don't spin as much as other balls, ie. hooks/slices (make of that what you will) !! I've never warmed to the Pro V's, slightly prefering the V1x, but my ball of choice in summer is the Taylor Made (black), its serving me well atm. I tried a new Wilson Staff FG Tour ball there recently, and it cut up (badly) after 4 holes !:eek:

1united

I find the Srixon soft feel ball an excellent all round ball and much prefer to AD333, have some boxes of the ProV1x Practice balls at home which I'm starting to use now the weather has improved. As mentioned above 2 doz. Nike One for €50 is great value

danthefan

I ordered some of these AD333s from ebay, 2nd hand ones. They were nice and cheap and I tend to lose maybe 2 balls a round (links rough ) so not really going to pay a huge amount for balls that will inevitably get lost. On top of that I got 2 of the Cleveland CG15 wedges which really cut up the ball.

Adiaga 2

What's very interesting about the AD333 is the price. 2 years ago they were €30(I know because I bought some at the time) a dozen in McGuirks, now they are nearly half that price(€16.95 on mcguirks site). Someone was having a good laugh and making a fortune by the looks of it. The price difference is not limited to McGuirks but other online stores that I've seen too.

Irishvillian

Has anyone on here used the Precept Laddie Extreme,if so what do they think of them??

mag

been using the ad333s for a few yrs now. feel as good as provx/tm/etc to me & dont get that pain in my pocket as they scratch or fly ob