New (2023?) Maxfli Tour golf balls

[ole gray]

 

2 hours ago, chisag said:

 

... I haven't heard anything about discontinuing. The 2023 versions were not supposed to be released until March so hopefully the yellow is released then, especially in the Maxfli Tour S. 

 

2 hours ago, GaDawg said:

You and I most likely shop at the same Dick's since we live very close to each other. Not sure if the yellow has been discontinued, but this store is not my favorite. It was several months before they even had the tour model in stock. Hopefully they will get the yellow ball back for you.

I have six dozen Tour yellow from last year's model so I'm good for at least a round. 

[chisag]

47 minutes ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

Unfortunately I have seen articles saying that only the Tour S will be available in yellow. Hopefully Maxfli changes their mind. I loved the Tour ball in yellow.

 

... I played the Tour S my last few rounds and it is pretty impressive. We have had strong winds and cool temps so not a good comparison to the Tour (also my favorite) but it is a much better ball than I was expecting. Unfortunately after 76* today, it's dropping 20* and the cold temps and high winds are scheduled starting tomorrow and for the rest of the week. 

[Tom the Golf Nut]

1 hour ago, chisag said:

 

... I played the Tour S my last few rounds and it is pretty impressive. We have had strong winds and cool temps so not a good comparison to the Tour (also my favorite) but it is a much better ball than I was expecting. Unfortunately after 76* today, it's dropping 20* and the cold temps and high winds are scheduled starting tomorrow and for the rest of the week. 

It will be interesting to hear your thoughts on the Tour S compared to the Tour on a side by side comparison on a different (decent) day. 

 

[GolfSpy TCB]

1 hour ago, chisag said:

 

... I played the Tour S my last few rounds and it is pretty impressive. We have had strong winds and cool temps so not a good comparison to the Tour (also my favorite) but it is a much better ball than I was expecting. Unfortunately after 76* today, it's dropping 20* and the cold temps and high winds are scheduled starting tomorrow and for the rest of the week. 

When you say better than you were expecting... in what ways?

[chisag]

6 minutes ago, Golfspy_TCB said:

When you say better than you were expecting... in what ways?

 

... Like most soft balls I expected them to have less green side spin, be shorter off the tee and I don't really like a very soft feeling ball like the Bridgestone RX. Now again, it has been cold and windy but they don't feel that much softer than the Tour, green side spin was very similar and I didn't really notice any loss off the tee. All of that may not be 100% accurate when it warms up and the wind is back to normal, but I am looking forward to finding out. 

[GolfSpy TCB]

4 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

... Like most soft balls I expected them to have less green side spin, be shorter off the tee and I don't really like a very soft feeling ball like the Bridgestone RX. Now again, it has been cold and windy but they don't feel that much softer than the Tour, green side spin was very similar and I didn't really notice any loss off the tee. All of that may not be 100% accurate when it warms up and the wind is back to normal, but I am looking forward to finding out. 

Weather aside, anytime we can be happily surprised on the course is a win!!  Looking forward to hearing your experience in more benign (or normal for you) conditions. 

I actually like the feel of a softer ball... I just don't like the distance loss I experience... so if Maxfli cracked that code.... color me very interested.

 

[chisag]

39 minutes ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

It will be interesting to hear your thoughts on the Tour S compared to the Tour on a side by side comparison on a different (decent) day. 

 

... Unless I can get out after a round and play a few holes to compare, it may be several months before I can do a head to head compare. We have to wake up or stay up til midnight to get one of the first 3 twilite tee times 9 days in advance because the course is sold out every day. Even 12:05am means well past twilite and we won't finish. Obviously the folks behind us want to finish before dark so walking and chasing 2 balls isn't possible. Paradise is always crowded.   Late spring or summer when it gets to triple digits I take a cart and sometimes have the course to myself and it's perfect to play two balls and compare. 

[hohjoe]

On 2/12/2023 at 11:33 AM, GaDawg said:

You and I most likely shop at the same Dick's since we live very close to each other.

Is the the Dick's on the Oconee Connector?

[GaDawg]

36 minutes ago, hohjoe said:

Is the the Dick's on the Oconee Connector?

Yes Sir.....

[hohjoe]

11 hours ago, GaDawg said:

Yes Sir.....

That's the location I visit. Unfortunately, it's about the only place to shop for golf supplies in the area. Academy's golf section is pitiful.  

[GregGarner]

On 2/12/2023 at 4:17 PM, chisag said:

 

... Like most soft balls I expected them to have less green side spin, be shorter off the tee and I don't really like a very soft feeling ball like the Bridgestone RX. Now again, it has been cold and windy but they don't feel that much softer than the Tour, green side spin was very similar and I didn't really notice any loss off the tee. All of that may not be 100% accurate when it warms up and the wind is back to normal, but I am looking forward to finding out. 

This begs the question... if it's not softer and spins about the same, in what ways is it different from the Tour? It just flies lower?

(I know, I know, this was just a hot-take and you can't really give a full comparison review yet. Just musing...)

[GolfSpy SAM]

1 hour ago, GregGarner said:

This begs the question... if it's not softer and spins about the same, in what ways is it different from the Tour? It just flies lower?

(I know, I know, this was just a hot-take and you can't really give a full comparison review yet. Just musing...)

I mean, it has an "S" on it. So, duh

[Tom the Golf Nut]

I have been looking and I have not seen an actual compression reading anywhere. We know the Tour is 85 but what is the Tour Softs number? Has anyone else been able to find it? 

Never mind for 2023 the Tour is a 95 compression, and the Tour Soft is at 85. This came directly from Maxfli. So, this year's Tour is 10 points higher than last seasons and the Tour Soft is now the compression of last season's Tour.  Interesting.

 

[chisag]

3 hours ago, GregGarner said:

This begs the question... if it's not softer and spins about the same, in what ways is it different from the Tour? It just flies lower?

(I know, I know, this was just a hot-take and you can't really give a full comparison review yet. Just musing...)

 

... GS/Sam was joking but there are plenty of golfers that will buy a ball labeled Tour Soft over a ball labeled just Tour. So on that alone it makes marketing sense. My guess is green side spin will be no more than 1 foot difference, if any. But off the tee they certainly may spin a little less and fly higher which would help the higher index that slices. Again probably more a selling point than an actual obvious visual difference. But if it spins a few hundred RPM's less and curves a little less it can mean the difference between the water and the rough. 

... The S is a little softer feeling than the Tour off the putter, but I think you need a direct comparison to really tell the difference. It isn't like the difference between a Chrome Soft and a chrome Soft X. 

... My hot-take is the better the golfer the less difference they will find between the Tour and Tour S. But the higher index, inconsistent ball striker may find less curve along with better green side performance. 

[chisag]

1 hour ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

Never mind for 2023 the Tour is a 95 compression, and the Tour Soft is at 85. This came directly from Maxfli. So, this year's Tour is 10 points higher than last seasons and the Tour Soft is now the compression of last season's Tour.  Interesting.

 

... Let me make this even more confusing Tom. Off the putter the 22' Tour sound/feels juuuuust a little softer than the 23' Tour. However there is a bigger difference in sound/feel between the Tour S and the 23' Tour. So is the Tour S really 85 compression? 

[Tom the Golf Nut]

29 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

... Let me make this even more confusing Tom. Off the putter the 22' Tour sound/feels juuuuust a little softer than the 23' Tour. However there is a bigger difference in sound/feel between the Tour S and the 23' Tour. So is the Tour S really 85 compression? 

Or is the 2022 Tour ball just rebranded to the Tour S?

[chisag]

2 minutes ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

Or is the 2022 Tour ball just rebranded to the Tour S?

 

... Nope, like I said there is at least a different in the feel/sound between those two balls. If they are both 85 compression, there is something else going on in the layers or cover of the Tour S. Plus the Tour S has a blue number so they can't be the same! 

[sirchunksalot]

38 minutes ago, chisag said:

Plus the Tour S has a blue number so they can't be the same! 

Does that mean it's the Tour Smurf?

I'm all honesty, it'll be interesting to see if anyone does a comparison to the three of them or if they compare them against the 22 and see how they line up. 

[JohnSmalls]

I'm starting to think @chisag is our residential Tony Covey aka forum ball guru.  Keep up the good work Sam 

[jjfcpa]

I've been testing the Tour S against the Chrome Soft for the last couple weeks.  Even played a couple rounds with the Tour S in early January in Palm Springs.

I have some Maxfli Tour (prior version) and the Tour S does not have the same feel so it appears to be a different configuration.

I've found the performance of the Tour S and Chrome Soft to be almost identical.  I don't feel like the Tour S competes with the AVX because it seems to fly just as high as the CS and the AVX is a lower ball flight.  I'm also getting similar spin to the CS and the feel off the putter is very, very close... CS seems to be just slightly softer.  I'd have to guess that the compression of the Tour S is around 80.

I need to play a few more rounds with it to see if I can replace the CS in the bag.  Headed back to Palm Springs in just over a week and I'll get a chance to test it outside in good conditions.  

[highdraw_osu]

This is all very interesting bc I started gaming the Tour last year and my only dislike was how it played in the wind, if the Tour S flies lower without any distance loss...that would be awesome.  The AVX has been interesting to me but I don't want to pay $50 a dozen, so even if this isn't a direct comp if it is between the Tour and AVS I might have to give it a try.  Have a cube of Tours from Xmas...wonder if I can exchange for S if I find I like them more?

[chisag]

21 minutes ago, highdraw_osu said:

This is all very interesting bc I started gaming the Tour last year and my only dislike was how it played in the wind, if the Tour S flies lower without any distance loss...that would be awesome.  The AVX has been interesting to me but I don't want to pay $50 a dozen, so even if this isn't a direct comp if it is between the Tour and AVS I might have to give it a try.  Have a cube of Tours from Xmas...wonder if I can exchange for S if I find I like them more?

 

... I exchanged a dozen 2022 Tours for a dozen 2023 Tour S and it was an even exchange. 

[GolfSpy SAM]

8 hours ago, jjfcpa said:

I've been testing the Tour S against the Chrome Soft for the last couple weeks.  Even played a couple rounds with the Tour S in early January in Palm Springs.

I have some Maxfli Tour (prior version) and the Tour S does not have the same feel so it appears to be a different configuration.

I've found the performance of the Tour S and Chrome Soft to be almost identical.  I don't feel like the Tour S competes with the AVX because it seems to fly just as high as the CS and the AVX is a lower ball flight.  I'm also getting similar spin to the CS and the feel off the putter is very, very close... CS seems to be just slightly softer.  I'd have to guess that the compression of the Tour S is around 80.

I need to play a few more rounds with it to see if I can replace the CS in the bag.  Headed back to Palm Springs in just over a week and I'll get a chance to test it outside in good conditions.  

Super helpful info - thank you! I bought 2 doz Tour X two weeks ago ($35/doz at my local Dicks), and then bought a cube of them this past week when they finally went on sale for $30/doz, and was going to return the two boxes I bought previously.  

But now I'm curious about the other offerings, so maybe I'll just exchange them for a box of the Tour and a box of the Tour S - just to be able to have all three and see if one is preferable to the others. I was fitted into the "X" line at my most recent fitting, but I definitely prefer the feel of a softer ball, so interested in how they'll shake out. 

Let us know how it goes when you play more with the S!

[GolfSpy_APH]

Been on the hunt for these the last little while here and they are no where to be found. I think I may have to head into Germany or France to find any. 

[Jcosta]

 

[RDel90]

Been gaming the prior model Tour for a while. Love the ball. Recently picked up 2 doz of the 23 Tour and just played 6 rounds in Phoenix a little over a week ago for WMO. Almost identical performance for me. The 23 tours did feel slightly firmer and seem a few yards longer off the tee to me. Maybe going to from the 85 to 95 compression helps there (108 SS), or that was just due to the thinner more dry air playing at 1200’ elevation in Phoenix compared to sea level/dense air at home in Florida. Irons/wedges/putter really no noticeable difference to me. Still love the Maxfli Tour and will continue to be my gamer!!

[GregGarner]

On 2/16/2023 at 9:52 AM, jjfcpa said:

I've been testing the Tour S against the Chrome Soft for the last couple weeks.  Even played a couple rounds with the Tour S in early January in Palm Springs.

I have some Maxfli Tour (prior version) and the Tour S does not have the same feel so it appears to be a different configuration.

I've found the performance of the Tour S and Chrome Soft to be almost identical.  I don't feel like the Tour S competes with the AVX because it seems to fly just as high as the CS and the AVX is a lower ball flight.  I'm also getting similar spin to the CS and the feel off the putter is very, very close... CS seems to be just slightly softer.  I'd have to guess that the compression of the Tour S is around 80.

I need to play a few more rounds with it to see if I can replace the CS in the bag.  Headed back to Palm Springs in just over a week and I'll get a chance to test it outside in good conditions.  

This is really interesting, I wouldn't have thought about comparing to the standard Chromesoft. Though, that does almost immediately remove it from consideration for me  (I don't like the low-compression, low-spin combo, so I'm not likely the target market for Tour S anyways)

[chisag]

5 minutes ago, GregGarner said:

(I don't like the low-compression, low-spin combo, so I'm not likely the target market for Tour S anyways)

 

... Never worked for me either. But if anything, the Tour S is a tweener not really low compression and not really low spin but lower than the Tour and Tour X. How much for different swing speeds is the real question. Again just a hot take but I won't play Chrome Soft or the BRX but so far the Tour S is playable. It will be interesting once the temps get in the upper 70's and the greens dry out a little from all the rain we have had in Phoenix and my body can perform without being tight and cold. 

[GregGarner]

1 minute ago, chisag said:

 

... Never worked for me either. But if anything, the Tour S is a tweener not really low compression and not really low spin but lower than the Tour and Tour X. How much for different swing speeds is the real question. Again just a hot take but I won't play Chrome Soft or the BRX but so far the Tour S is playable. It will be interesting once the temps get in the upper 70's and the greens dry out a little from all the rain we have had in Phoenix and my body can perform without being tight and cold. 

Both my wife and the 5 dozen balls in my cabinet say that I do NOT need to buy a dozen of the S's for testing. Buuuuuut....

[chisag]

9 hours ago, GregGarner said:

Both my wife and the 5 dozen balls in my cabinet say that I do NOT need to buy a dozen of the S's for testing. Buuuuuut....  the 5 dozen balls in my cabinet say that they WANT me to buy a dozen of the S's for testing.

 

... Finished it for you.