The Poor-Man's Pro V1

[Berg Ryman]

3 hours ago, MrShowbiz999 said:

Yes, that's why I as asking about the Avant 55 vs. the Elixr, if the Avant was a good choice for me?

As a two piece ball without urethane, it really doesn't meet the "budget" ProV1 category, but it doesn't claim to either. Elixr would be more what you're looking for if that's the style you seek from Oncore.

[NC Golfer]

You already have a good one in the soft feel. Srixon runs sales twice a year or use your $10 off coupon at Dicks during black friday or Christmas.

Edited June 30, 2021 by NC Golfer

[wwaldo]

First of all, congrats on taking up golf, even at the young age of 59 (I'm 61 but have been playing for over 40 years). You're already taking lessons so I'll skip that suggestion but I've had around 6 friends take up golf in the last 18 months mainly because of the restrictions related to Covid and it is the one way to get out of the house. I've told them all to at least get a four (4) lesson beginners package to learn grip, stance, alignment, etc., The Basics. 

Now, on to my ball suggestion which is the same I gave my friends. Buy cheap balls that are even cheaper on sale. At this point don't worry about the cover, the spin, the hardness or softness, etc. Really the only ball  physical factor I suggest to them is the color. Most of my friends that I golf with are 50+ and have a hard time seeing white balls. Find a color (mine is yellow or the Vice Lime Green) that is easy to follow. A ball that I really like and still play year after year when the ground is soft and balls plug is the Maxfli Straightfli Orange or green. Once (sometimes twice) a year in the winter, Dicks will have a sale if you buy 3 dozen, you get them for $10 a dozen. At that price, if you are losing a lot of balls, it doesn't hurt as much. And for a beginning golfer, these balls actually play well. No, they don't spin off a wedge shot to the green (you're not going to do that anyways) but they have some distance. 

All of this is just my suggestions and as my Ex will tell you, I'm not that smart so take a little advice or don't take it but remember one thing about golf. Your Tour Card is not in the mail so just go out and have fun. That's what it is all about. And maybe carry a flask of Bourbon..it helps with the losing of balls.. 

Take Care

[Tom D.]

Top Flite Gamers were an MGS test subject.  Take a look at those mostly positive reviews. 

They go on sale for two dozen at $35.  You do have to get rid of the goofy looking box as soon as possible, and now that it's summer you'll have none of the only issues which the testers had, which was that the balls didn't perform well when it was cold.  Great price performance equation on this one.

[MrShowbiz999]

Thank you so much to everyone for your input. I have started to purchase some of the balls that you fine folks have been suggesting, and throwing them into my bag and blindly pulling them out hole by hole to see how they perform. I expect they will all be similar in performance in this type/price category, which if good for me then good for me!

So one follow-up question . . . any experience with lostgolfballs.com? Their prices even for their MINT (5A) level balls is reasonable, but I've heard some nightmare stories about buying used balls . . . never know if they've been sitting in water for months or what. Any thoughts? Thanks as always . . . 

 

[RickyBobby_PR]

14 minutes ago, MrShowbiz999 said:

throwing them into my bag and blindly pulling them out hole by hole to see how they perform. I expect they will all be similar in performance in this type/price category, which if good for me then good for me!

So you aren’t doing any side by side comparisons?

[MrShowbiz999]

22 hours ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

So you aren’t doing any side by side comparisons?

Thought I had replied to this. I am doing a comparison, but I am not working against a baseline. I am using different balls on different holes so no preconceived notions as to one being better than the other simply by name. After the round I would have gotten thru all the different balls in my bag a few times so I can judge if any performed better than any others. I even have a couple ProV1's just to see if I hit aby better with those without knowing it until after I complete the hole.

[BMart519]

23 hours ago, MrShowbiz999 said:

Thank you so much to everyone for your input. I have started to purchase some of the balls that you fine folks have been suggesting, and throwing them into my bag and blindly pulling them out hole by hole to see how they perform. I expect they will all be similar in performance in this type/price category, which if good for me then good for me!

So one follow-up question . . . any experience with lostgolfballs.com? Their prices even for their MINT (5A) level balls is reasonable, but I've heard some nightmare stories about buying used balls . . . never know if they've been sitting in water for months or what. Any thoughts? Thanks as always . . . 

 

I buy 4A, have always been pleased with the quantity and haven't noticed any issues. 

[RickyBobby_PR]

41 minutes ago, MrShowbiz999 said:

Thought I had replied to this. I am doing a comparison, but I am not working against a baseline. I am using different balls on different holes so no preconceived notions as to one being better than the other simply by name. After the round I would have gotten thru all the different balls in my bag a few times so I can judge if any performed better than any others. I even have a couple ProV1's just to see if I hit aby better with those without knowing it until after I complete the hole.

Maybe I’m misunderstanding what you are saying but this doesn’t sound like a side by side comparison. That’s more of just hitting different balls and see what they do.

By side by side I’m talking hitting each ball from the same tee and seeing how they perform. Then picking an approach distance and seeing how they perform for that shot. Then testing some short game shots and finally putting and seeing the performance in this shots. The name in these doesn’t matter. It’s you hitting the same shot with the same club in the same circumstance and comparing each one under those conditions 

[GregB135]

On 6/21/2021 at 1:28 PM, MrShowbiz999 said:

Given my current skill level, should I even be entertaining a Pro V1-like ball? Maybe I need to dial-back my enthusiasm and find something else like the ones I am already playing?

At the early beginner skill level, you're not likely to be able to realize any true performance differences between Pro V1 or similar 'tour level' ball and whatever ball you're playing. 

Talk with your teaching pro and get a gauge of where your driver swing speed is, and if possible what your typical spin rate is, and then look for a ball that will match your swing performance. A good coach should be able to assess your swing and see when and where a ball change would make a difference.

Until you get to the level where you are consistently compressing your iron shots, and making clean, solid contact on short game shots, the effects of the multi-layer constructions and different cover materials are going to be between minimized and irrelevant.

I like gaming the Vice Pro. It is comparable to the Pro V1 in performance for me, at a much lower price point. There are plenty of other value brands out there offering three-piece and even two-piece () options that should serve through improving your game. Waiting for the ball test results to publish, but early opinions on the Maxfli Tour line balls have been positive.

[orangelover1973]

On 6/21/2021 at 11:23 AM, Curtis Atkinson said:

I would suggest going to lostgolfballs.com and getting mint graded balls. I've been playing the titlieist tour soft and they come in a BRIGHT neon and seem pretty solid for the price used. 

It would appear that the recent ball test will blow this out of the hazard water. 

[Feelthestretch]

Taylormade soft response is another option, but Snell is the best bet. Pro They range in firmness from soft to firm, and finding them is a cinch because of their bright neon colour and ability to be seen quickly. The TOUR, on the other hand, was really good. Keep it up!