Best wind ball?

[Thin2win]

So I have hit a lot of shots in the sim and I can talk launch angles and spin rates all day about the various balls on the market. But I have nothing as far as knowledge of wind effect on various dimple patterns. So Spies, which of you play in a wind swept area and have learned that "X" ball tends to work better? From tour pro talk it sounds like maybe Srixon does better then some. But I have nothing to back that up. What have you all found for the best ball in the wind?

[GolfSpy TCB]

This should be an interesting thread of responses.  I am a "play my gamer and take my lumps from the wind while trying to flight my ball depending on wind direction" type of player, but that isn't saying there aren't better ball solutions.  I would probably have a different opinion if I was in west Texas.

Edited February 16, 2022 by Tiftaaft

[GolfSpy AFG]

I can only confirm having heard the same feedback concerning Srixon's...Koepka just gave an interview that's posted on Golf.com (and now I can't find the link) talking about how impressed he was with it.  Not sure if that's the Z-Star, the XV, or the Black Diamond he's using, and who knows how much stock you can put in an interview once the guy's on contract.  That said, I do think I remember Tony Covey confirming that attribute in a write-up on the Z-Star on the main page.

I play a ProV1X so I can't really provide my own perspective.  Personally, once you get into the premium ball space I'm not sure how much stock I would put in the ball to fight the wind versus mastering the technique to knock it down.

[RickyBobby_PR]

Will vary for each player. The Prov1 has always been the best for me in all conditions. The left dash works fine because of the lower spin. The tp5 worked but want as good as the Prov1.

Not taking full swings and taking spin off on iron shots will work too

[GregGarner]

I've found the Srixon balls (Z-Star and XV specifically) to really perform well in the wind. Best of any ball I've tried, in my experience. The 2019 ProV line wasn't amazing in the wind and I'd have some issues with ballooning, but the new covers on the 2021 line are outstanding. Much more stable and I have no qualms about gaming them on a windy day.

While it's easy to see when a ball is getting blown by a cross-wind, I personally find more satisfaction knowing that my front-to-back dispersion will be less affected. I absolutely love the Maxfli Tour, but it gets demolished in the wind. I've noticed significant differences. Crushed a 3-wood the other day into a headwind and it came up 20 yards short. Dropped a ProV1 and made comparable, even slightly worse contact and it flew the number I was expecting: 20 yards longer than the Maxfli. I'm not tossing out my Maxflis, but I'm much more cognizant of the wind with them. Having gamed Srixon all last season and not thinking twice about a gentle breeze, this is something I'll watch out for when tournament season gets here...

[revkev]

I agree with the statement that it depends upon the player.  The premium balls all should be pretty good - if there were one that didn't work you'd see tour guys/gals run away from it in a heartbeat on windy days.  

I'm not seeing that.  

[Shankster]

I have been gearing up to play, and looking back at all of my best rounds over the past few years, which included some pretty windy days.  I’m going to advocate for the AVX, for me at least it is probably the ball I should use.  Planning on stocking up before it starts to warm up.

[Middler]

Wouldn’t any low spin/low trajectory ball be better in the wind? Whatever you play regularly, whatever spins less would be better? Of course a ball that stays lower into the wind, will also fly lower with the wind - so I play my regular ball and tee it lower *** off the tee or flight it lower with irons.

*** why I never use stepped tees

[BMart519]

Pro V1 Left Dot is noticeably lower flight than any other ball I've used which will give it a natural advantage especially into a head wind. My vote beyond that is Bridgestone balls, I feel their dimple pattern really helps in the wind. I've played Z stars, TP5 and 5x for extended periods and tested all Titleist other than Left Dash and AVX. I haven't used Callaway or Snell balls. 

[GregGarner]

2 hours ago, Middler said:

Wouldn’t any low spin/low trajectory ball be better in the wind? Whatever you play regularly, whatever spins less would be better? Of course a ball that stays lower into the wind, will also fly lower with the wind - so I play my regular ball and tee it lower *** off the tee or flight it lower with irons.

*** why I never use stepped tees

This is a really interesting point! In general, yes, low-spin balls will perform better into a headwind or cross-wind. HOWEVER, they can struggle downwind. (I can't play the Vero X1, no matter how much I like it because it just falls out of the sky for me off driver, downwind.) But, you note teeing it lower, which will actually help generate more spin than a standard shot, not due to ball design but rather swing mechanics and clubhead design. This is where the physics gets really fun, because the relative shot angle/trajectory vs the angle/direction/speed of the wind creates an optimization matrix. A high-spin shot with a flatter trajectory may perform more or less optimally than a lower-spin shot that flies higher, depending on what angle/direction/speed the wind is at. (I'll spare everyone the vector sketches...)  

[SlikHands]

I live in West Texas....not sure if any ball would help fight our wind! 

[RickyBobby_PR]

24 minutes ago, SlikHands said:

I live in West Texas....not sure if any ball would help fight our wind! 

Trevino and lots of greats in Texas did it. Fleetwood swing is built for it. It’s not as much about the ball as it is the ball flight

[Thin2win]

3 hours ago, greggarner said:

 (I'll spare everyone the vector sketches...)  

Umm.. I want the vector sketches. thanks. 

[fixyurdivot]

On 2/16/2022 at 12:15 PM, Thin2win said:

So I have hit a lot of shots in the sim and I can talk launch angles and spin rates all day about the various balls on the market. But I have nothing as far as knowledge of wind effect on various dimple patterns. So Spies, which of you play in a wind swept area and have learned that "X" ball tends to work better? From tour pro talk it sounds like maybe Srixon does better then some. But I have nothing to back that up. What have you all found for the best ball in the wind?

Spoiler

... gloss, not matte 

[DiscipleofPenick]

I've played the Z-Star for a few years now. Can confirm it's a solid wind ball.

[SlikHands]

4 hours ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

It’s not as much about the ball as it is the ball flight

That's what I tell people when I hit worm burners that trickle up to the putting surface!

[Kenny B]

I think everyone is probably better off playing their normal shot, even when it's windy.  For most of us the brand of ball probably doesn't make that much difference.  Unless we are very good at hitting a "stinger" if we have high swing speed, or as I like to call a "punch driver" for those of us with a slower swing speed, a normal well-struck shot generally ends up in the best spot.

[Londo]

12 hours ago, BMart519 said:

Pro V1 Left Dot is noticeably lower flight than any other ball I've used which will give it a natural advantage especially into a head wind. My vote beyond that is Bridgestone balls, I feel their dimple pattern really helps in the wind. I've played Z stars, TP5 and 5x for extended periods and tested all Titleist other than Left Dash and AVX. I haven't used Callaway or Snell balls. 

Will echo that Left Dot is the best ball I have ever hit in the wind. Low trajectory was super penetrating, handled into the wind and crosswinds better than any other I have used. Srixon XV and Snell MTB-X have been solid as well

[Tsecor]

On 2/16/2022 at 2:15 PM, Thin2win said:

So I have hit a lot of shots in the sim and I can talk launch angles and spin rates all day about the various balls on the market. But I have nothing as far as knowledge of wind effect on various dimple patterns. So Spies, which of you play in a wind swept area and have learned that "X" ball tends to work better? From tour pro talk it sounds like maybe Srixon does better then some. But I have nothing to back that up. What have you all found for the best ball in the wind?

do  you mean downwind or agaisnt the wind?   the 2 scenarios are so different on how it effects drag, any answer you get in this thread will not be applicable to your situation on any given day.

in my experience, a real low spin ball has worked best for me.....any production of spin over 2000 rpms agaist a headwind will balloon unless you know how to hit stingers and flight the ball really low

left dash worked well in the wind for me......bridgestone BXS, BALLOON BALL!!!!

11 hours ago, Londo said:

Will echo that Left Dot is the best ball I have ever hit in the wind. Low trajectory was super penetrating, handled into the wind and crosswinds better than any other I have used. Srixon XV and Snell MTB-X have been solid as well

left dot is the best ball ive ever played, but i do not have experience in big wind with it...only nice calm days 

[Thin2win]

Playing in the wind is one thing. And deserves its own thread of tips and tricks for people to read through then break their own game trying out 46 different ways to hit a wind shot.  My real curiosity is if anyone found that one of the OEMs had a dimple pattern that just seemed to do better over all. Low trajectory, low spin balls are going to do better into the wind and the opposite for with the wind. I was more intrigued by Brooks's statement that the ZStar Diamond was better into the wind then anything else he had played. It is not a low trajectory low spin ball. More mid to high on both categories. Again, could just be marketing fluff as he is now on staff there. But it caught my ear.

As for my personal method to break your swing in the wind: It was something that I developed when I was working/playing on the Oregon Coast. And granted, I was playing at a series of links style courses, so this method was great for that. But I would take 2 extra clubs then choke down 1" and take a not quite full swing. 

so if my stock 150y was a 7i, I would grab my 5i, choke up an inch(which makes it a little shorter then a 7i) then take a slightly toned down swing. This would result in lower shots that performed about the same into, across or with the wind. It did play a shot that would land short then roll onto the green, so not a good idea for a forced carry. But you get the idea. And while this is what I used, I'm sure someone much more famous and better at golf has a video or book about doing the same thing, so give them credit

[juspoole]

On 2/16/2022 at 2:15 PM, Thin2win said:

From tour pro talk it sounds like maybe Srixon does better then some.

Funny you say that - when seeing the title of this one, I came here to write that Srixon has been good for me over the years.  I'm not a major srixon guy, but have always found this to be the case in windy conditions.

 

4 hours ago, Tsecor said:

bridgestone BXS, BALLOON BALL!!!!

Agree with this as well, but I love this ball in summer conditions with minimal wind.  Always get good distance with driver, yet plenty of spin on wedges with great feel.  Problem has been durability for me. 

[ChuckZ]

I play Prov1s in all conditions.  Just adapt to wind by hitting the ball lower.  Played in twenty mile per hour winds today.  Two clubs.  Hit it low off the tee with great results.  Would say that any ball that spins less.  The AVX is a less spinning premium ball.    

[RickyBobby_PR]

20 hours ago, Kenny B said:

I think everyone is probably better off playing their normal shot, even when it's windy.  For most of us the brand of ball probably doesn't make that much difference.  Unless we are very good at hitting a "stinger" if we have high swing speed, or as I like to call a "punch driver" for those of us with a slower swing speed, a normal well-struck shot generally ends up in the best spot.

Exactly those that add spin because they add loft at impact are going to see worse results into the wind or with sideways movement on cross winds. Trying to manipulate the shot is only going to make it worse. Teeing it’s lower for some is only going to make it worse and more than likely are going to hit lower on the face with driver and add even more spin 

[thekingtcb]

I remember the TP Blacks were great during windy conditions back in the day. I now use the AVX "when the gales of November come early."

[Tyler86]

The only ball that I've ever felt like was “cutting the wind” was bridgestone tour bx/brx. Its actually why i played them for a year or so. I accidentally played one for a few holes and everyone was commenting on how the wind (15+ mph) wasn't effecting me as much as them that day. Didnt realize i was playing one till the turn. Dont even know how it ended up in my bag as i had never played one before that day. It is quite possible that its more of how the ball performs for me, good or bad, than the balls “design” not being effected by the wind. 

[MisterT]

I have found the Z-Star XV to be the best in the wind. It’s what Hideki plays and what Brooks commented on when joining Srixon.. although he plays the Z-Starr Diamond - a ball he helped design. My regular gamer is Pro V1x. 

[GaDawg]

The Srixon balls my perform better in the wind, the few that I have tried feel like rocks to me. Maybe I am just not used to playing them????

[GregGarner]

On 2/18/2022 at 8:46 PM, GaDawg said:

The Srixon balls my perform better in the wind, the few that I have tried feel like rocks to me. Maybe I am just not used to playing them????

The XVs are pretty firm and the new Diamonds are the same compression as the XVs. But the regular Z-Stars are even softer than the B-Stone BXS, which is softer still than the ProV1. I haven't tried any of the ionomer Srixons to know how they perform in the wind, but if the Z-Star is too firm for you, so is every other Tour-level ball and the soft-feel/low-spin profile of an ionomer ball might be a better wind ball. 

[chisag]

... I still remember the first wind shot I hit with the TM Lethal ball after getting a dozen at the pga show. I had 150 with a pin just over a bunker into a strong 15-20 mph wind and hit a knockdown 5 iron that was low and cutting through the wind when a gust hit and I thought "Not gonna make it over the bunker" but it did and my ball mark was little past the pin. Instantly became my ball and was awesome in Chicago winds. That ball has just gotten better through the years and the new TP5x is the best wind ball I have played. To be fair I have not played any of the special diamond or dash balls. I am playing the Maxfli Tour at the moment but have not had many windy rounds, but that will change by March/April when Phoenix can get pretty windy. 

[funkyjudge]

On 2/20/2022 at 3:04 PM, chisag said:

... I still remember the first wind shot I hit with the TM Lethal ball after getting a dozen at the pga show. I had 150 with a pin just over a bunker into a strong 15-20 mph wind and hit a knockdown 5 iron that was low and cutting through the wind when a gust hit and I thought "Not gonna make it over the bunker" but it did and my ball mark was little past the pin. Instantly became my ball and was awesome in Chicago winds. That ball has just gotten better through the years and the new TP5x is the best wind ball I have played. To be fair I have not played any of the special diamond or dash balls. I am playing the Maxfli Tour at the moment but have not had many windy rounds, but that will change by March/April when Phoenix can get pretty windy. 

TM's Lethal, along with the TP Red and TP Black, were my favorite wind balls in the last 20 years.