2023 Season - What ball will you be playing?

username?! · 14-02-2023 11:35am #1

Simple really, what ball will you be playing during the 2023 season and why?

I'll start, will stick with Supersoft as I love the feel, but I am searching for something a little spinnier around the greens that offers the same level of softness.

14-02-2023 11:39am

Seed The Pro X1

big_drive · 14-02-2023 11:47am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120239150#Comment_120239150

Must try those out, getting great reviews

I have some Bridgestone tour B xs to use up first. They were on offer in mcguirks last year, very nice ball

kod12 · 14-02-2023 12:27pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120239150#Comment_120239150

Sold out on the Seed site at the moment. Got great reviews but haven't tried it before. The My Golf Spy gave the Titleist Tour Speed great reviews. Do people who use the Pro V1 see much significant difference between brand new and the pearl grade balls you see online for sale. Low handicappers would but would a 14 handicapper for example

coillcam · 14-02-2023 12:31pm

Seed Pro X1 (Yellow) will be my ball whenever it's back in stock. Have a dozen white left from last year too, they're also out of stock atm.

Have a few Chrome Soft X left over from an amazon deal at Christmas. They're a great ball too IMO. However, if I can't get Seeds I might well try a few different options or see what other DTC deals are available.

charlieIRL · 14-02-2023 1:00pm

Round white ones!!

Will probably stick with the Srixon AD 333 or whatever I find in my bag!!!

TrueDub · 14-02-2023 1:12pm

Usually, a provisional.

AyeGer · 14-02-2023 1:18pm

Pro V’s I bought about 50 of them recently. Used but in good condition. I like the Srixon AD333 too.

srfc d16 · 14-02-2023 1:19pm

Callaway chromsoft with the truvis football design. I like that it is easier to identify and the feel

big_drive · 14-02-2023 1:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120239597#Comment_120239597

Nice looking balls, easy to identify your own. I've only used a couple I found on course and they felt great. Gone very expensive to buy new

username?! · 14-02-2023 1:49pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120239656#Comment_120239656

Played these when they first came out but have been priced out of them. They seem to be more than Prov1s these days

big_drive · 14-02-2023 2:06pm

Ya you're definitely looking over €50 a dozen from what I've seen. In general most balls are expensive at moment

Russman · 14-02-2023 2:09pm

I've about a dozen and a half Z Star XVs left from last year that I'll use. They were recommended to me by a fitter and I tried them towards the back end of last season. They seem good, but what premium ball doesn't these days. I did get a couple of dozen Pro V1s when Elvery's had a buy one get one half price offer before Christmas. Between both, they should see me right for the season I hope.

billy3sheets · 14-02-2023 2:44pm

Seed SD-05 The Pro Soft

Have a subscription for a box every 3 months. Like the feel and they seem to travel further for me.

Playing any ould yoke during winter but when qualifying comes back I will try to stick with the Seed.

coillcam · 14-02-2023 4:26pm

Pinged a message to Seed live chat today about restocking and got this response:

"We have just organised a restock shipment, so it shouldn't be too long now (Pro X1). We do have our new SD-01 coming back in white and Yellow very soon too. That shipment should be arriving in Dublin Port this week then with us asap. So not too long until we are all stocked up again."

So looks like next 1-2 weeks they'll have the new version of the SD-01 model for sale. I'd guess the Pro X1 is probably 6-8 weeks away if it's on a container from China. They're potentially missing out on some X1 sales with the season starting to kick off.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120239597#Comment_120239597

Another fan of the Chrome Soft Truvis here. Both the football and shamrock. They do feel lovely and soft off the face but agree with other posters that they are expensive (same as Pro V1). I liked the pattern on the ball as it goes through the air. I found them quite spinny on chips and short pitches, not that it was a bad thing for me tbh. The visual feedback of the pattern does appear to seem spinner but I just noticed them stop faster on pitch shots.

willabur · 14-02-2023 4:48pm

I have started off the year with the truvis also - just shot my lowest score ever with it.

I've a few boxes of prov1 which I will probably switch to in the summer. I have back up boxes of Wilson Triad Raw, Snell Blacks and some Seed SD02 - my name is willabur and I have a problem

blue note · 14-02-2023 5:25pm

Seed x1 at the start of a round. Another premium ball for provisionals - I've a box of srixons or will use what I find. If I play a second seed with a different number for a provisional I start to doubt myself when I'm walking up to it.

And after I lose a few I'll play whatever I found recently.

I'm still not convinced playing a premium ball as opposed to an ultra makes a huge difference. But I do prefer it. I'm certain a premium ball makes no difference to me compared to a kid range one, like an AD333.

big_drive · 14-02-2023 7:16pm

€60 a dozen now for Pro v1's in Mcguirks. You wouldn't want to be losing too many at €5 a ball

gypsy79 · 14-02-2023 8:28pm

I think I am gonna try stick with the Taylormade RocketBallz. 82 compression seem to be the sweet spot for shorter distance guy like me (circa 200 yard drive)

I had played with the Seeds but I honestly dont think they are as good for me

Also 2 dozen for €32

Ivefoundgod · 14-02-2023 10:16pm

Pro V1s for me, used Bridgestone Tour BX last year and was happy enough but the deal I got for them is gone and they're not far off Pro V1 in price now. For anyone in the market for Pro V1s the 4 for 3 will be back this year, starting early March. I'll get that 4 dozen and it should last me the season unless I go through a bad spell, still have a dozen bridgestone after buying 4 dozen last year so will probably use them over the next month or so while waiting for counting rounds.

Seed are very good but they're not as good value as they used to be IMO and their quality control is really poor compared to the bigger brands. Srixon Z Stars are excellent too if you can get a deal.

bmay529 · 14-02-2023 10:48pm

I have been using the Titleist Tour Speed ball for the past year (2 dozen on offer in McGuirks for €75). While ProV1 has always been my preferred choice in the past I read that balls are designed to suit different swing speeds and the Tour Speed better suits a slower swing speed (i'm circa 90mph). I find it soft to play and as long as the ProV1 is for me.

plumber77 · 14-02-2023 11:00pm

Snell Black. Bought 5 dozen last year and have 3 dozen left. Really like how they feel and perform..

willabur · 15-02-2023 9:22am

Looks like callaway have stopped making truvis? They are out of stock in alot of places

Snell are a super golf Ball. Mtb-x is the closest thing to a prov1 I've played

Ivefoundgod · 15-02-2023 9:32am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120242737#Comment_120242737

I think this often happens around this time of year when the new ball is about to be released. I'd assume they'll become available again once the new ball is out.

benny79 · 15-02-2023 9:56am

I listened to a really interesting golf pod cast recently and a big tip they gave to improve was using the same ball weather thats a Top Flight or a Pro v. As you will learn how the ball reacts in different situations/conditions/lies etc

RoadRunner · 15-02-2023 10:12am

I'm happy with whatever urethane ball the different manufacturers come out with. I'll try get a few boxes around this time of year. TP5 pix I like. I like having the odd little design on my ball helping me identify it before I get to the ball.

username?! · 15-02-2023 10:25am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120242883#Comment_120242883

Big believer in this.

Better to use the same non premium ball than to use a random bunch of different premium balls IMO. Find one and stick to it.

enfant terrible · 15-02-2023 12:55pm

I used to lose a lot of balls with my driver off the tee so used the cheapest ball I could find. Playing better this year after a lot of practice over the winter and didn't lose any with driver recently. Should I change ball, still have tons of the cheap ones.

Using these ones

https://ie.sportsdirect.com/slazenger-v300-soft-golf-balls-24-pack-875058#colcode=87505812

Rikand · 15-02-2023 4:12pm

I'll play whatever decent ball I find on the course while searching for my playing partners golf balls. Usually prov1s if I'm lucky enough

spacecoyote · 15-02-2023 6:41pm

What was it the MyGolfSpy guys said...play the most premium ball that you can afford to play.

So if budget not an issue, play a ProV1 or ProV1x as they're comfortably the highest rating ball in their testing

But if that's too steep, and you're around the 30ish euro, think the Tour Speed actually was their best performer.

The Big Easy · 15-02-2023 9:13pm

Have tried most premium balls at this stage. Have a seed subscription, but as has been said their quality control leaves a lot to be desired and their new balls scratch and scuff far too easily.

Surprised by so few mentions for the TP5, it's probably my favourite ball to find now surpassing the Pro V.

Bought 20 for €30 on adverts and very happy with them, think they're the best premium ball currently, at least for my swing.

16-02-2023 12:07am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120239191#Comment_120239191

The Seeds have gone up in price, but are still great value compared to the Pro-V which is the ball they are targeting.

I was buying Pro-V, but my home course is a links and I can be fairly wild off the tee, so I just got sick enough of losing the price of a pint every time I lost one. Reaching that age and stage where I know it ain't going to be the ball that makes the difference to my game.

redzerdrog · 16-02-2023 12:20am

Pro V1x like the firmer feel compared to the Pro V

The Guru 123 · 16-02-2023 12:33am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120246063#Comment_120246063

Seen a couple of people mention quality control in relation to the seeds, I’ve never had any issue with them. Just wondering what you’re referring to with this?

blue note · 16-02-2023 7:08am

Neither have I. I've never had a problem with them scuffing either, but I very rarely here through a round with the same ball.

The Big Easy · 16-02-2023 10:28am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120246900#Comment_120246900

Exactly this, some batches are good and some just scuff and even cut after just a few shots. I've played seeds a number of years and since they've gone to the new version of the balls, their durability is severely lacking. I think the X1 is better than the new SD02 which is what I have my subscription for.

Ivefoundgod · 16-02-2023 12:31pm

For me with seeds is you can often feel a difference between a batch of balls in a dozen. Take 3 or 6 out on to a putting green and I’d be confident at least one will feel and sound quite different to the others. If you actually look at the finish on them as well, the logo is often all over the place with blemishes too. They tear up fairly easily too, have found Srixon a bit like that too. TM and Titleist durability is very good across their ranges. It might all be in my head but I’ve had others say the same so I don’t think so.

They are good balls though and I don’t think there’s anything better for their price.

dan_ep82 · 16-02-2023 12:45pm

TP5x usually

Prov1x if I can’t get them.

Used to a ball that spins in the greens and the quality control means you never get a bad ball.

I’ve tried srixon z stars for about half a season but seen a few oddities that shook my confidence in them. The article years ago on chromesofts coupled with the price hike put me off them aswell.

Rarely lose a ball and found both TP5 and Prov1 hold up well through a few rounds.

benny79 · 16-02-2023 12:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120248217#Comment_120248217

I find Pro v's tear up easily great ball though. Not great in winter.

spacecoyote · 16-02-2023 1:02pm

This tool, I find is a good option for a quick reference.

Unbiased (their claim) and a relatively broad range of balls covered

https://mygolfspy.com/ball-lab-golf-ball-quality-comparison-tool/

Ivefoundgod · 16-02-2023 7:33pm

I might have been lucky so but generally find them quite well wearing. Only scuffing when I’m the trees. Have had plenty last me over 36 holes and not a bother. Never use them once we go non counting and generally once it gets softish in September I put them away for the year. Winter golf I don’t really care what ball I’m using, generally just buy whatever’s on offer.

spacecoyote · 16-02-2023 7:40pm

Pretty sure that they're basically coming out of the same factory as the likes of Vice Golf too, somewhere in Thailand maybe?

So the reality is they're not going to have the same quality control as either Titleist, TM, or Callaway (who invested massively on that side of things after the bad press a couple of years ago)

coillcam · 16-02-2023 7:54pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120250304#Comment_120250304

Well I can tell you that Seed and Honma balls are in the same factory. I got a Honma ball in one of my Seed sleeves last year.

higster · 17-02-2023 3:12am

Am I alone in liking the AVx?

willabur · 17-02-2023 11:31am

Do golfspy factor in what the balls are like to putt with. Tee to green the prov1 is Miles ahead of everything else but nothing that I've played with comes close to truvis for putting

Ivefoundgod · 17-02-2023 11:43am

Not a big fan of mygolfspy stuff on a lot of equipment. The testing just seems totally arbitrary but is presented as very scientific. They do good stuff on durability though but i'm not convinced of their views on how the ball performs on the course. A lot of it seems to be just get a machine to hit a ball 10,000 times on a trackman and use the results to determine what ball is best.

If you read some of their equipment reviews they seem a bit all over the place. TXG on youtube i find a much better resource for gear reviews.

@higster I like them in the time i used them but I think they need a rebrand to get more use. People think they're a cheap Titleist ball rather than basically a low spin ProV1 which it is. If it was called ProV1 LS or something like that they'd get more use IMO.