By S. Dee Davis

The new Nike RZN Platinum golf balls incorporates a 4-piece construction with the new Speedlock Technology, the interlocking RZV (polymer resin) core design that delivers more energy between the layers of the ball, producing a faster ball speed, thus longer distance off the tee. This new generation of RZN is softer, lighter, and has better greenside control than previous versions, while still having the urethane cover that better player’s desire. Our testers thought this golf ball was far better than previous Nike designs, and was a serious contender for best new design. The performance characteristics and price point at $45.99 puts this golf ball in the premium category, but many amateurs would benefit from using a better golf ball.

As an avid golfer and tennis player for most of his life, he enjoys researching the latest in golf and tennis technology as well as analyzing his own game. He has been a writer and reviewer for a dozen years and his work has appeared in numerous publications including CBS, the San Fransisco Chronicle… See more about S. Dee Davis

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By S. Dee Davis

Srixon Z-Star XV uses a coating on the thin urethane cover to increase friction for that grab to increase spin on wedge shots and chipping to really enhance your scoring game. The first thing our testers noticed was the softer feel over the previous Z-Star. The Second Generation Spin Skin coating technology on this golf ball, along with the new 324 Speed Dimple design provides long, penetrating distance. The new coating increases frictional force by 18% and overall softness by 21%, compared to previous versions. Srixon also added a Dual Energetic Gradient Growth Core to make your drives just as responsive as your chips around the greens. This golf ball truly has it all in innovation and performance. Our testing crew loved the Z-Star XV, which also comes in a high-visibility yellow.

As an avid golfer and tennis player for most of his life, he enjoys researching the latest in golf and tennis technology as well as analyzing his own game. He has been a writer and reviewer for a dozen years and his work has appeared in numerous publications including CBS, the San Fransisco Chronicle… See more about S. Dee Davis

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By S. Dee Davis

The new little brother of the DUO ($19/dozen), the breakout ball of 2013, the 2015 Wilson Duo Spin is, at 35 compression, the absolute softest multilayer golf ball. You’ll get similar distance and the soft feel characteristics of the previous DUO golf ball, except they’ve added greenside spin for the player who likes more control and action on their scoring shots. We found the DUO Spin to be way more versatile than the DUO, and at $27/dozen you pay a little more for a lot more performance. Both DUOs have always been long off the tee, but the new DUO Spin gets your short game right where you want it.

As an avid golfer and tennis player for most of his life, he enjoys researching the latest in golf and tennis technology as well as analyzing his own game. He has been a writer and reviewer for a dozen years and his work has appeared in numerous publications including CBS, the San Fransisco Chronicle… See more about S. Dee Davis

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By S. Dee Davis

At $29/dozen, the Bridgestone E5 has got you covered for your round, without breaking the bank. Made for a higher ball flight, the unique urethane cover in a 2-piece golf ball helps your short game as much as your distance off the tee. The feel is excellent for what is considered technically a distance ball, as most distance balls are hard and not very responsive. We loved the E5 for the price, versatility, and stability in windy conditions. The mid-point pricing of the E5 allows exacting better players to enjoy top performance at a good value.

As an avid golfer and tennis player for most of his life, he enjoys researching the latest in golf and tennis technology as well as analyzing his own game. He has been a writer and reviewer for a dozen years and his work has appeared in numerous publications including CBS, the San Fransisco Chronicle… See more about S. Dee Davis

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By S. Dee Davis

The new Bridgestone Tour B330 features a 330 Dual Dimple cast urethane cover & a 4-piece construction that performs on the same level as Pro V1 in the distance category, but the new, patented Hydro Core Technology helps reduce spin off the tee for more accuracy. The Hydro Core Technology construction makes the core gradually firmer from the inside out for better feel, lower spin and longer distance. The soft, tour-proven cast urethane cover provides exceptional greenside control. Our testers loved the durability of this ball and the workability of the ball on mid-iron shots.

As an avid golfer and tennis player for most of his life, he enjoys researching the latest in golf and tennis technology as well as analyzing his own game. He has been a writer and reviewer for a dozen years and his work has appeared in numerous publications including CBS, the San Fransisco Chronicle… See more about S. Dee Davis

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By S. Dee Davis

Introduced in December 2014, the new Callaway Chrome Soft takes our top spot for great new innovation for the mid-$30 price point golf ball that delivers exceptional all-a-round performance. The Chrome Soft is a three-piece construction, 65-compression, urethane cover golf ball that feels softer, but delivers maximum distance along with awesome wedge spin and greenside control. The Chrome Soft delivers virtually all of the performance characteristics that the more expensive Titleist premium golf balls deliver, but at a significantly lower cost.

As an avid golfer and tennis player for most of his life, he enjoys researching the latest in golf and tennis technology as well as analyzing his own game. He has been a writer and reviewer for a dozen years and his work has appeared in numerous publications including CBS, the San Fransisco Chronicle… See more about S. Dee Davis

Prices

By S. Dee Davis

The new TaylorMade Aeroburner Pro ($27/dozen) is engineered to explode off the face faster, stay in the air longer and go flat-out farther, without skimping on feel or control. The extra speed comes from the high-energy REACT core that stores and releases energy with incredible efficiency. The extra hang-time comes from a gravity-defying, computer-modeled 342 HIGH-LIFT, LOW-DRAG dimple pattern. The spin-control and soft feel come from the interface of the Spin Mantle and proprietary Iothane cover. For the value, the Aeroburner Pro played like a more expensive golf ball, and delivered great performance for the value. The Iothane cover feels much like a cast urethane cover, but seemed to be more durable. Our testers had impressive distance and felt they could stop the ball effectively with long irons, due to the higher launch and softer cover. Overall, the Aeroburner exceeded our expectations.

As an avid golfer and tennis player for most of his life, he enjoys researching the latest in golf and tennis technology as well as analyzing his own game. He has been a writer and reviewer for a dozen years and his work has appeared in numerous publications including CBS, the San Fransisco Chronicle… See more about S. Dee Davis

Prices

By S. Dee Davis

Fit your swing speed to the ball? Cant be a bad idea and that is what the new Speed Regime ball offers. Our links below go to the moderate swing speed ball. Callaway’s contention that this will increase your performance is plausible enough. The urethane covers have a tour soft feel and are engineered to attempt to separate low driver spin from higher spin needs around the green. I dont know how a golf ball can know these things, but I’m willing to give it a try. The moderate ball is engineered for swing speeds of 90mph and below. The HEX pattern is engineered specifically to optimize low speed lift with long, stable, penetrating ball flights.

As an avid golfer and tennis player for most of his life, he enjoys researching the latest in golf and tennis technology as well as analyzing his own game. He has been a writer and reviewer for a dozen years and his work has appeared in numerous publications including CBS, the San Fransisco Chronicle… See more about S. Dee Davis

Prices

By S. Dee Davis

Wow, a 3-layer golf ball with tons of great technology available at Amazon for $24 bucks a dozen and free shipping. That’s a smoking deal and why this ball is our Best Value pick. For plus 8 to 20 handicappers this ball is a great choice. The cover seems to last longer than the Pro Vs and the feel is similar. Distance is great, especially the bounce off the irons. People often compere this ball to the Pro V1x after trying it. I dont think it’s quite as tight around the greens, but I like it a lot. Technology-wise let’s let Taylor made fill us in:
-LDP (low-drag performance) dimple pattern promotes improved distance on driver mis-hits
-Soft cast-urethane cover construction delivers great feel and tour-caliber greenside spin
-High-speed core engineered to generate fast ball speed off every clubface
-3-Layer technology promotes penetrating driver flight and maximum shot-shaping control

As an avid golfer and tennis player for most of his life, he enjoys researching the latest in golf and tennis technology as well as analyzing his own game. He has been a writer and reviewer for a dozen years and his work has appeared in numerous publications including CBS, the San Fransisco Chronicle… See more about S. Dee Davis

Prices

By S. Dee Davis

What’s cool about this ball (and some of Bridgestone’s others) is that the company really makes an effort to tell you exactly where this ball fits in to the golfers goals in terms of swing speed, spin and level. The B330RXS is optimized for under 105 swing speeds from the amateur golfer that wants good distance but maximized spin for this swing speed. The ball has a dual-dimple design which is designed to help with wind performance as well as aerodynamics for distance. The cover is very soft (urethane) for control around the greens. Even though my swing speed is 110 with a driver I sometimes prefer a ball like this when I’m struggling and go to a shorter backswing. Cost is around $45 per dozen – pretty steep for a dual layer ball.

As an avid golfer and tennis player for most of his life, he enjoys researching the latest in golf and tennis technology as well as analyzing his own game. He has been a writer and reviewer for a dozen years and his work has appeared in numerous publications including CBS, the San Fransisco Chronicle… See more about S. Dee Davis

Prices

By S. Dee Davis

Titleist’s newest entry into the golf ball market – the Velocity has a couple of new technologies to respond to tough new competition from Bridgestone, TaylorMade and Callaway. The new LSX core technology combined with the NaZ2 cover are designed to give the ball some zip when initial contact is made, yet remain responsive in the short game. I’m looking forward to trying a few of these next to the TP3 from Taylor Made as these two balls are in the same price range and it may be difficult for the Velocity to compete with a cast urethane cover ball in overall playability. By the way, what’s the NaZ2 cover makeup? Anyway, I believe the Velocity will produce the better distance off the tee and with long irons. Second question, are they really all branded #11 like the ads would have us believe? A dozen priced between $32 to $35.

As an avid golfer and tennis player for most of his life, he enjoys researching the latest in golf and tennis technology as well as analyzing his own game. He has been a writer and reviewer for a dozen years and his work has appeared in numerous publications including CBS, the San Fransisco Chronicle… See more about S. Dee Davis

Prices

By S. Dee Davis

Taylor has made what I would call a high end value ball with the TP5 for 2014. This is a 5 layer ball that does a good job of handling spin from various club segments – more spin for longer irons and medium spin on the Driver and wedges. The cover is very playable Cast Thermoset Urethane. It’s got a soft fee and nice click to it. Distance is good off the tee due to a lower spin inner core. TaylorMade advertises this ball as the only Tour quality ball with a urethane cover in its price range. Prices start at around $30 to $35. I would not hesitate to play this ball.

As an avid golfer and tennis player for most of his life, he enjoys researching the latest in golf and tennis technology as well as analyzing his own game. He has been a writer and reviewer for a dozen years and his work has appeared in numerous publications including CBS, the San Fransisco Chronicle… See more about S. Dee Davis

Prices

By S. Dee Davis

At $13 a dozen for the yellow, or $15 a dozen for the white, the Taylor Made Burner ball is still our #1 Budget ball. Great ball for higher handicappers. This two layer ball will surprise you with its soft feel around the greens and off the putter face and yet very long carry off the tee and with long irons. At least that was the impact it had on me during a recent golf trip. I was very impressed and put aside my ProV1x for much of the time after “locating” one of these balls in the woods. It has a new core (REACT) and (Iothane) cover which I found surprisingly responsive for this price point ball. Speaking of price points, try $21 per dozen for a great value. Remember how soft the Noodle was? Well, this Iothane cover is a flow through technology from that ball and while I did find the cover just as soft, the distance seems a lot better.

Technical Specs

• Relentless durability and distance at an awesome value
• Durable iothane cover lasts and lasts – use it till you lose it
• Low-drag aerodynamics promotes maximum lift for added carry and distance
• React core engineered to promote fast ball speed for awesome yardage

As an avid golfer and tennis player for most of his life, he enjoys researching the latest in golf and tennis technology as well as analyzing his own game. He has been a writer and reviewer for a dozen years and his work has appeared in numerous publications including CBS, the San Fransisco Chronicle… See more about S. Dee Davis

Prices