Maxfli Tour Series Golf Balls - 2023 Forum Review

[GolfSpy_APH]

Testers Announced!

One of the Forums most played golf ball series has gotten a member test. We are very excited to announce our 5 Testers for the Maxfli Tour Series of golf balls with the following members!

Testing the Tour
@David Leighton Reid
@CSiders12

Testing the Tour S
@thechrisgibbs

Testing the Tour X
@Micah T
@cjeffs12

Please welcome and congratulate our testers! 

[David Leighton Reid]

Good morning, Spies.    

Yes, I was one of the lucky ones selected to test the Maxfli Tour golf ball.  This is my first opportunity at being a tester so please let me know if you have specific questions regarding the Maxfli Tour ball.  

A little background on myself.  I am 63 years old, live in Lebanon, MO, and work for an Anheuser-Busch distributorship.  My wife, Lesli, and I have been married for almost 42 years and we have been blessed with 3 children and 10 grandkids.  My first sport passion was baseball and then moved on to slow-pitch softball.  I started playing golf in my late 30's and currently play to an 8 handicap.  I am very passionate about golf and obsessed with getting better.  Does that ring true with many of you?  I have a golf shop in my basement where I work on clubs and tinker with my personal sets.  Over the past several years, I have played Titleist ProV1, ProV1x, TaylorMade TP5, TP5x, and Callaway Chrome Soft.  As you can tell, I like playing a premium ball and I am not particularly loyal to only one.  If I had to select a favorite, I would go with the ProV1.  If I have ever played a Maxfli Tour ball, it would have been a good condition ball I found on the course.  I definitely have never purchased a Maxfli golf ball, so I am excited to try something new.  If you are interested in what clubs will be used in this test, please refer to my signature below.  The last time I had my driver swing speed checked, it was 93 mph with my Ping driver.  I am a member of the Otto Phlex group and will be using both drivers during the testing period.  I do not have access to a launch monitor, so my review will be based on personal observations of distance, feel, performance, and durability.  

Since I know nothing about the Maxfli golf balls, like any curious golfer, I conducted a google search to see what I could find.  Initially, I was surprised to find the Maxfli golf ball company is owned by Dick's Sporting Goods.  According to Google, the Maxfli golf balls are made by Foremost in Taiwan, which is among the most reputable of Asian top-tier factories.  Foremost also produces balls for Vice, OnCore, and Wilson.  Also, I found this link with interesting information on Maxfli golf balls at our very own MyGolfSpy.com https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/maxfli-tour-tour-x-and-tour-s-golf-balls/.  My current impressions of Maxfli golf balls are they are less expensive and probably not a top shelf ball like I have been playing.  My plans are to test the Tour ball on the course; on the practice chipping green; and on the practice putting green.  I also plan on sharing a Maxfli Tour ball with each member of my playing group and gather their reviews as well.  For my choice of a golf ball, there must be a balance between distance, feel, control, and spin.  I am skeptical that the Maxfli Tour will kick the ProV1 out of my bag, but we shall see.  

I hope to begin testing this weekend.

 

Further Google research about the Maxfli Tour golf ball.

From MyGolfSpy.com posted on 3/1/23 by Chris Nickel.

The Tour ball is a three-piece ball with mid-flight and mid-spin characteristics and measures 91 on the compression scale.  According to Maxfli's internal testing, the 2023 Tour ball is slightly faster off the driver (+1.1 mph) and with irons (+0.6 mph).  Increased distance with the driver of 1.2 yards and with irons and increase of 2.7 yards.  

From GolfCircuit.com updated on 4/18/23 by Jake Dalton

Initially, Maxfli was a premium golf ball company before switching their focus to making excellent distance balls.  John Daly used Maxfli golf balls when he led the PGA Tour in driving distance.  

Features of the Maxfli Tour ball are:  (1.)  designed for players of all skill levels and abilities; (2.)  a core made from Hyper Speed Core technology, making it easier to control; (3.)  softcover for increased distance;  (4.)  318 dimple pattern; and (5.)  strikes a balance between distance, feel, and control.  

Below is a picture showing the 3 piece construction of the Tour ball and some features posted online. 

 

Hopefully, the Maxfli Tour golf balls will arrive today!

The Maxfli Tour golf balls arrived Friday.  

Checking the size of the Tour ball showed the same diameter as the ProV1 and Callaway Chrome Soft.  Just out of curiosity, I measured the diameter of TaylorMade TP5x.  Even though this is a different model of ball than what I am testing, I found it interesting that the TP5x measured slightly smaller. 

 

Marked and ready for testing.

My first test was on the chipping green where I used 3 ProV1's and 3 of the Maxfli Tour's.  The clubs I used were LW through 9 iron.  My method of testing was to chip 1 ball of each brand to 3 different flag locations, with each club, for a total of 30 chip shots.  I could not tell any difference in sound, feel, or spin.  On the putting green, I used one ball of each brand and I couldn't distinguish a difference between sound, feel, or roll.  

I gave each of my playing partners a Maxfli Tour in order to gain their feedback.

Chico - a Callaway Chrome Soft loyalist, said the Maxfli Tour felt and played the same as his Chrome Soft.

Long Jon - a golfer who will play any good condition ball, said the Maxfli Tour played great.

Ricky Ticky Tavi - typically uses a Wilson Staff golf ball, gave the ball a thumbs up.

Cross Fit Joe - favorite ball is the Titleist AVX, but said he had found a new favorite in the Maxfli Tour.  

Following are some of my own conclusions after 36 holes of play with the Maxfli Tour.  I learned the Maxfli Tour, like other quality golf balls, do not float.  Also, the Maxfli Tour makes a great solid crack of the baseball bat sound when errantly hitting a tree.  In all seriousness, I was impressed with my first weekend of testing the Maxfli Tour.  Distance was normal to other balls I have played and the feel, and spin rate were good.  I planned on taking a picture of the ball after 2 rounds to show signs of wear, but the first ball only made it through 29 holes before finding a watery grave.  

The next outing for the Maxfli Tour will be Wednesday Night League.    

5/18/23

The Maxfli Tour was in the starting lineup last night for league play.  Prior to league, I spent some time on the chipping and putting green, using Maxfli Tour and Titleist Pro V1 balls.  The chipping green was a little soft and both balls were checking up quickly.  On the putting green, I could not tell any difference between the two balls.  The Maxfli Tour performed perfectly on the course, except on a few occasions that we will blame to "operator error".  Just like the Pro V1 and Chrome Soft, I can also hit the occasional driver hook with the Maxfli Tour.  More on-the-course testing planned for the weekend.  So far, I am impressed with the Maxfli Tour.  

 

5/22/23

This Gloss White ball was played for 36 holes and shows very little visual wear.  My permanent marker shows more wear than the ball does.  I added a 50 yard pitching test to my trial using the Maxfli Tour, Titleist ProVI, and Callaway Chrome Soft.  I hit 15 pitches with each ball using LW, SW, and AW (5 each).  I could not determine any difference in feel, spin, or control between the three balls.  I played 2 rounds over the weekend using the Maxfli Tour and I am was very satisfied with the results.  

 

May 26, 2023 update

I played two 9 hole rounds of league this week and continue to be impressed with the Maxfli Tour.  I conducted some comparative research on the Maxfli Tour, Titleist ProV1, and Callaway Chrome Soft.

 

1.  Retail price of the Maxfli Tour is considerably less than the ProV1 and the Chrome Soft. 

2.  The compression rating is very close for the Tour and ProV1, but several points less for the Chrome Soft.

3.  All 3 balls have a urethane cover.

4.  There is a considerable difference in the number of dimples between the three balls.  What effect does the number of dimples have on a golf ball?  According to the all knowing Google, "The more dimples on a golf ball, the greater the drag, which leads to a lower trajectory."  In my experience, I have not noticed a difference of launch trajectory between the 3 balls.  

I have 3 rounds of golf scheduled for the weekend, so more on the course comparisons to come.  

 

5/30/2023

I played 54 holes over the long weekend and I continue to be impressed with the Maxfli Tour ball.  During my rounds, I alternated playing with the Maxfli Tour, a ProV1, and a Chrome Soft and I couldn't tell any difference in the balls.  

 

Star Date 6/1/23

This unfortunate little pearl encountered a devastating head-on collision with a pine tree during league last night.  The little pearl was able to shake off the collision and soldier on to make bogey on the par 5 ninth hole.  The pine tree left a brown spot but the urethane cover withstood the impact.  

 

Final Review Maxfli Tour

Okay, it is time for my final review and conclusions regarding the Maxfli Tour golf ball.  If you have been following my post, you know that I have completed tests on chipping, pitching, putting, and compared distance on the course.  All my results are based on personal observation.  For the grading system, I am comparing the Maxfli Tour ball to Titleist ProV1 and Callaway Chrome.  Please refer to pictures I have previously posted. 

Aesthetics (10 out of 10)

The appearance, graphics, and packaging are all exceptional and comparable to other golf ball companies.

The durability of the gloss white Tour ball is very good.  My home course does not have sand bunkers, so I was not able to determine how sand affected the cover.  I can tell you that concrete cart paths do leave a nice skid-mark on the ball.  The Tour ball has a nice soft feel and sound, which is very similar to the ProV1 and Chrome Soft.  When paired with a forged iron, shots struck in the sweet spot have a pure, buttery feel.  Also, good feel and sound with the driver, fairway woods, hybrids, and putter. 

 

The Numbers  (19 out of 20)

I have always played premium golf balls, but never completely loyal to just one.  If given a choice, I would always pick the Titleist ProV1.  Without having access to actual data using a launch monitor or Arccos/Shotscope, my test results are strictly subjective.  After several chipping, pitching, and putting tests, as well as several rounds played, I give the Tour ball “2 thumbs up”.  I could not tell any difference in spin, control, or distance between the Tour ball, a ProV1, or a Chrome Soft.

 

On the Course  (19 out of 20)

Off the tee, the Tour ball performed admirably with driver, fairway woods, hybrid, or irons.  Working the ball left and right is possible, and I can hit the dreaded duck-hook the same way as other premium balls.  The center of gravity line for better performance was not proven by me.  I found very little difference in performance of balls struck aligned toward the target or not aligned. 

The mid-spin characteristics of the Tour ball hold greens quite nicely on approach shots and do not balloon up causing a lack of distance.  It is easy to hit accurate knock-down shots with this ball. 

I conducted several chipping, pitching, and putting tests, comparing the Tour ball to the ProV1 and Chrome Soft.  In every test, the Maxfli Tour performed as well as the other premium golf balls.  I always mark my gamer golf balls with a black alignment line and did the same for the Maxfli Tour.  Distance control was the same as the ProV1 and Chrome Soft.

In an on-line review by Chris Wallace for Golf Monthly, Chris noted a lack of distance for the Tour ball with driver and irons.  I did not notice a loss of distance while playing the Tour ball.  This could be explained by the Tour ball being a good fit for my swing speed and game. 

 

The Good, the Bad, and the In-between   (19 out of 20)

I really can’t find anything negative to say about the Maxfli Tour.  My original perception about this golf ball was that it is a sub-premium golf ball at a decent price.  I believe many golfers will not play the Tour ball because it is not a Titleist, Callaway, or TaylorMade.  Many golfers are brand conscious and believe in the marketing of the big-name golf companies.  For this reason, it is very smart business tactic of Dick’s Sporting Goods to price the Tour ball considerably less than ProV1 and Chrome Soft golf balls.  Please refer to my attached spreadsheet showing retail prices for the Maxfli Tour, ProV1, and Chrome Soft.  One of my golfing partners that tested the Tour ball said it was very comparable to his Chrome Soft, but I am sure he will continue to buy Callaway’s. 

 

Play it or Trade It  (20 out of 20)

The Maxfli Tour ball is a keeper….no trading here. 

 

Conclusion

I started out this test thinking the Maxfli Tour would not be comparable to the ProV1, Chrome Soft, or TM TP5 that I would normally play.  I asked several golfers to try one of the Tour balls and did not receive a negative comment from anyone.  I also requested a comment from fellow Spy and low handicapper @chisag because I had read in one of his posts that he played the Maxfl Tour ball.

@chisag quote.

“I am a middle of the road player with equipment and balls. Everything is kinda MID for me. Spin, trajectory, distance all somewhere in the middle of the curve. So any premium urethane ball usually works OK for me. Some better than others of course but there are several balls I can play and not notice any real difference. TP5x, Z Star and ProV1x to name a few. The Maxfli Tour fits in with those and compliments my game as a ball that just does everything well for a great price. Not sure I can give you anything quotable other than it just does everything really well at a great price to boot.”

 

I now must admit that my original perception of a sub-premium golf ball was incorrect.  Through all my tests, the Maxfli Tour performed as well as the Titleist ProV1 or Callaway Chrome Soft.  The Maxfli Tour gives you a less expensive option for a premium, top shelf golf ball. 

Maxfli Tour scores a 97 out of 100. 

[CSiders12]

05/09/2023 - Introduction

Hello everyone!

I first want to say thank you to the Mods for choosing me as a tester, and to the entire MyGolfSpy community for making opportunities like this happen. I am a first-time tester, so I am really excited to get the ball rolling on this test! 

I am 24 years old and live in Iowa City, Iowa. I have been playing golf consistently since my Junior year in high school, but have taken it more seriously the past few years. In high school, I didn't really care about golf, I just played it because my friends were on the golf team. Back then, I typically shot in the high 80s or low 90s. When I got into college, I started focusing more on the game and put a lot of work toward improving. I worked my way down to an 8 handicap, then a 5, and now I am between a 2-3 handicap. I now take golf pretty seriously and have devoted a lot of my time to the game. Outside of golf, I am a special education teacher and currently working toward my Master of Educational Administration degree. I also coach football, basketball, and golf, which I absolutely love. I have a soon to be wife (July 1st) that takes up the other part of my time, and we enjoy doing pretty much anything outdoors. 

I have cycled through a lot of golf balls in my time, but Maxfli golf balls have never been in my bag. I currently rock the Vice Pro Plus along with Callaway Chrome Soft, so I think the Maxfli Tour will be a good comparison. I plan on testing the ball out on the course, chipping green, and putting green. I also plan to do a long drive comparison with the Maxfli Tour balls and compare them to my current Vice Pro, Callaway Chrome Soft, and will probably sneak in the ProV1 as well. With little background information about Maxfli golf balls, I am excited to see how these perform. I am expecting some strong competition with other big-name brands. With an attractive price tag, if these balls perform just as well, or better than my current balls, they could just find their way into my bag. 

Updates very soon!

05/12/2023 - Unboxing and First Impressions

I got the golf balls delivered today and I will say, I was highly impressed with the quick turnaround. When I got my notification that the order had been shipped, the balls were at my house in two days! I was excited to get to the contents of the box and see how they look.

 

The boxing was neat, packaged well, and uniform. A couple of wrinkles at the edges of the sleeves, but nothing torn or messy. I like the simplicity of the boxing and the white with gold accent as it looks sleek and professional. 

       

Overall, the ball fresh out of the box looks like a nice, premium golf ball. The cover feels soft and the dimples look really nice. My only wish for these balls would be a better alignment aid on the golf ball. My current golf ball, Vice Pro, has a solid black line on the ball that makes putting alignment easy. Obviously, with these balls, I can manually mark the ball, but a more definite mark would have been nice. Planning to play with these balls tomorrow and Tuesday. 

Mid-Testing Thoughts

So far, I have been relatively impressed with the ball. Is it the best ball I have ever played...? Well, no. However, for the price difference between this ball and the ProV1s and TP5s, I would play this ball more often. The cover has held up nicely and I have generated good spin with the ball. When playing this ball alongside a ProV1, the ProV1 edges this in terms of distance, but they feel very similar off of the club head. 

I was also able to give my groomsmen all a sleeve of the balls and they really liked the feel of the ball. One of them plays a lot of golf and typically plays ProV1 and he really liked the overall appeal of the Tour ball. We used them while playing 63 total holes of golf and the balls all held up really well. I plan to do more testing, focusing on the overall performance of the ball in comparison to my current gamer - Vice Pro Plus. Updates soon!

I played another round last night with the Maxfli Tour last night. Played solid overall, but I finally got the test of the longest drive and the ProV1 won the test. I carried the ball about 8 yards further with the ProV1, however, I also understand that there are a lot of factors that go into how far a ball travels. Overall, I played well with the ball and felt good standing over it. Excited to get some more rounds in soon!

Final Review

Over the past few weeks, I have been able to thoroughly test the Maxfli Tour balls and I will have to say, I've been impressed. I reviewed the golf balls on and around the putting green, on the range, and on the course. This experience was a great one, as I can currently hold my hands up and say that I would have never played a Maxfli golf ball, unless found in the bushes, before this test. However, here we are after weeks of testing and I have a lot of good to say about this ball - let's dive into it. 

- Aesthetics (8 out of 10)

Overall, the Maxfli Tour is a good-looking golf ball. When the balls arrived, I thought the packaging was nice and sleek, nothing fancy, but overall looked professional. When taking the golf balls out of the package, they looked and felt like premium golf balls. All of the balls were uniform and didn't seem to have any defects. The balls were not too soft, but not clicky when hit. You can tell a cheap ball when you hit it and you get the high pitch clicking noise, but these did not sound that way. Overall, they sounded nice off of all of my clubs, especially the putter. 

I took two points away for personal opinions, however, important details when I look for a golf ball. One thing that I did not like was the alignment aid on the golf ball. When comparing this year's model to the 2021 model, I think they took a step back. As you can see in the picture posted below, the 2021 model has two bolded lines that help with alignment, the 2023 version does not. Personally, I prefer the 2021 alignment better. 

 

(Citation)

Secondly, the Maxfli Tour has a glossy white finish that I wasn't the biggest fan of. When comparing the finish of this ball to the finish of my current gamer, Vice Pro Plus, or other balls that I play, ProV1, Chrome Soft, etc, the ball is quite a bit whiter. Although that has its advantages, it also has disadvantages, one being the wear and tear that it shows. The picture below is after a practice session working with wedges and pitch shots. As you can see the cover shows a good amount of wear, when a duller finish wouldn't have. 

- The Numbers (18 out of 20)

When put head-to-head with the other premium balls on the market, the Tour held its own, even upending some of the higher-named brands. Without access to a nice launch monitor, most of these results are subjective, however, when looking at my numbers from my Rapsodo MLM, all of my distances were the same with my clubs give or take 2-3 yards. Although that might be important for a professional, I am not concerned about it. My point differential would be off the tee, when put head-to-head with the ProV1, it lacked in distance, but not by much. The ProV1 consistently went around 5 yards further than the Tour, however, given the price of each, I think I'll take the loss of 5 yards on most occasions. 

- On the Course (18 out of 20)

As aforementioned, this ball can game. On the course, there are 5 categories - driving, iron play, approach, short game, and putting - that I am testing, each category scored out of 4 points for a total of 20 points. Off the tee, this ball held its own against the big dogs. As mentioned, it didn't go as far as the ProV1, however, it didn't lack behind a ton either. The distance was very similar to my current gamer, Vice Pro Plus, so I have no real worries - 3 out of 4. 

For the iron play and approach game, this ball felt really nice. The flight was penetrating but also got good height. It could hold the green on pretty much any well-struck iron or wedge. I could flight the ball up or down and felt like I could shape the ball with relative ease, something that is often taken for granted. I got plenty of spin on approach game and could often play the shot 5 yards short of the pin, knowing I could get one hop and stop most of the time. For both of these - 4 out of 4. 

Short game and putting performance were good, however, the durability of the cover is my area of concern. Out of bunkers, the cover just seemed to get torn up more so than other balls. As you can see in the picture below, the cover has been beaten quite a bit after 10 bunker shots. Aside from the cover, the performance felt nice and I got good spin around the greens. Purely off of feel, the putting was good. No concerns feel wise or performance - Short game - 3 out of 4 - Putting - 4 out of 4. 

 

The Good, the Bad, the Inbetween (17 out of 20)

Let's start with the good - price and overall performance are two key takeaways from this ball. The fact that this ball holds up against the biggest brands for considerably cheaper is impressive. The overall performance was good and the price is exactly where it should be. Personally, the takeaways are the alignment aid, the glossy finish, and the durability out of bunkers. Those three factors caused me to take three points away. However, I would say that I am willing to meet this ball in the middle because of the price point. I may get better durability out of a ProV1, however, if the ProV1 is only lasting me a couple of extra holes but they cost $20 more, I'm not sure if the ProV1 is the top choice. 

Play it or Trade it (17 out of 20)

This ball is good, really good. There is no need to trade this ball if I have them in my bag. Now, would I choose this over a ProV1 or a Chrome Soft..? Well, no. However, if I take my own money and go buy a ball, this ball is getting my money before the others. I am partially biased toward my current gamer, Vice Pro Plus because I love the alignment aid, the packaging, the price, etc. However, the Maxfli Tour sits right with it for performance. 

 

 Conclusion

Overall, this is a great golf ball with a great price point. When looking at the meat and potatoes of this ball, it stacks up against the other big names. My biggest concern with the ball is the durability of the cover, as it got pretty beat up out of bunkers, but other than that, this ball is great. I think anyone, regardless of ability, could, and should, play this ball. I really enjoyed testing this ball and I think everyone that is looking for a new ball should consider the Maxfli Tour. The on-course performance was really good, the overall feel and look is good, and the price is perfect. I think the best offering is the fact that it allows amateur players the option of playing a tour performance ball without paying a tour performance price. I would highly recommend this ball to anyone looking for a good golf ball.

 

[thechrisgibbs]

Final Review

Aesthetics - (6/10)

Beyond my early descriptions below, I have a few notes to add. The Maxfli balls, well, they look like a golf ball. Do I feel as confident or professional playing a Maxfli as I would playing a Pro V1? No, but that’s such a small part of the game. I think the two things I have to say about looking at the ball over the past month in a dozen rounds is that the ball has two things that keep it from being a 10 out of 10:

The first is that the ball has just a slightly different hue than a Pro V1, TP5, etc. I’m being very nit-picky here, but the gloss and the shade of white are ever so slightly different than the balls I’ve played from Taylormade and Titleist over the years. Is it a showstopper? Not at all. Is it something that I notice when I place the ball on the tee? Yep.

The second, and unfortunately the aspect I want to bury in this review as it makes me feel snobby, is that the ball isn’t tour validated and has a less premium brand associated with it. You’ll see when I get to the numbers that this isn’t that important, but when someone is helping you identify your ball on the course, it’s objectively less cool to say, “I’m playing the Maxfli.” You can always explain to them that it’s the Pro V1 killer, but when they look down and see the Maxfli logo, they may think less of you until you wipe the floor with them on the course.

With that said, with the mountains in the back and on the tee here, the Maxfli is still a solid-looking ball that does look and feel premium. 

The Numbers - (19/20)

This is where the rubber (urethane?) meets the road. I don’t want to spoil my final conclusions, but the charts speak for themselves. I put the Maxfli Tour S up against my Titleist AVX (as well as a number of other Low Spin ball options), and it has to be said, the ball performed well beyond my expectations. I can completely understand why the Tour is considered a Pro V1 killer. 

Virtually the same numbers and consistency using the GC3. My testing indoor was on a Fiberbuilt golf mat (more consistent numbers with outdoor testing) with my Vokey wedges, Mizuno MP-20 Irons, and Stealth Plus driver. The driver testing I did outdoors on course. I took 10 consistent shots with under 5% variance in launch angle, club head speed, and smash factor. I wanted to get the closest numbers I could with my swing. The driver testing was tricky to get 10 shots so I took an average of 4 drives each with my gamer swing. I wasn’t trying to get max drives, rather, hit the fairway. Even with a low spin shaft and my Stealth Plus cranked down to 6*, I’m still getting a good amount of spin with the driver. The launch is in the range I like it to be though. 

Again, I’ll save my full conclusion for the end, but if the price of each of the above balls were the same, I would likely still choose the Maxfli Tour S based on the numbers from the test. This obviously doesn’t take the full on-course testing into account though.

On The Course - (16/20)

I played around 15 rounds with the Maxfli Tour S. I was also able to play 5 rounds (three 9-hole and two 18-hole rounds) with two balls at a time and I have a few findings:

Driving - For some reason, the AVX was out-distancing the Tour S. I switched which ball I hit first, tried to put the same swing on the ball, and rarely tried to crank one out there as I typically don’t get more distance when doing that. The AVX did fall shorter on a handful of drives, and I could throw a blanket over the balls a few times, but more times than not, the AVX was 10-20 yards further. If I had only played one round and found this, I would just say it was happenstance. With 5 rounds playing two balls, it was a trend. Was it because I felt more confident over the AVX and thus swung more freely? I couldn’t tell you. Just my observations.

Approach Shots - In this category, I couldn’t tell you if there was any difference between the balls. I played a few of the best rounds I’ve ever played with the Maxfli Tour S, but it’s also just been a breakout year for me. The consistency was exactly what I wanted from a premium ball though. 

Around the Green - I give the Maxfli a +1 in this category over the AVX. Nothing against the AVX, the Maxfli kept a solid low flight and the spin was actually where I would expect a Pro V1 to be, not the AVX. It also felt buttery soft with the wedge in hand!

Putting - My putting has been lights out this year, and the Maxfli performed well. I do mark the ball up, so it’s hard to say much about the aesthetics here. The feel was great off the B.2 putter face.

I would say as a final note, my scores were largely unaffected by switching to the Maxfli, which has to be said, is half the price of the AVX. I didn’t lose anything in my scoring using the Tour S. This is a pretty solid marker. The only thing dinging the score from being higher is the AVX was just slightly longer on the Tee for me.

The Good, the Bad, the Inbetween - (16/20)

The Good - The ball is as durable as a Pro V1. For the first time in my golfing career, it has to be said that I don’t lose golf balls much anymore. I still have 20 of the 24 golf balls that Maxfli sent me. I used the same one on my sim to push it through a durability test. It has to be said the ball was about the same level of marked-up as the Pro V1, EVEN WHEN I PUT IT UP AGAINST THE MOREGOLF MOD 1 WEDGE! For the price, I did NOT expect this much durability.

The Bad - I hate saying this, but the only thing keeping the ball from being the best ball in the market is just the lack of Tour validation it has received. I get that the pricing probably couldn’t be this competitive if they were paying a PGA Tour Player to play the Tour golf ball, but until it can mark down a win or even a popular player (I’m thinking a Joel Dahmen type), it feels disingenuous to put “Tour” in the name. It’s not exciting to shout back that your ball is a Maxfli to the guy looking at a ball in the shared rough from another hole.

The Inbetween - Someone said it best, but a ball doesn’t fix your mistakes! No marks down for Maxfli here as it’s the man behind the sticks, but the ball looks like any other plugged in a hard-pack bunker. Pictured Below: A budget fried egg.

Play it or Trade it? - (17/20)

Since Maxfli sent me 24 brand-new balls, I’ll be playing Maxfli Tour S for the rest of the year, god willing. The two big questions that have to be answered in this section:

If you are at a Pro Shop on vacation, don’t have any balls with you, and need to buy something? I’m buying the Maxfli Tour S over the AVX all day. I’m probably already renting clubs and spending too much, so I’m going with the ball I know performs a the price I want to pay.

If you’re asking for a gift from your in-laws, what ball are you asking for? This question is like asking if you were to have a choice between each ball and they were both free, which one would you go with? I hate to say it, but I’m asking for the AVX since it’s not coming from my budget!

Conclusion and Final Score (74/100)

We made it here already. I just want to thank Maxfli and MGS’s Forum for letting me join the Maxfli ball testing. I love being a part of this community and this opportunity was so fun.

74 out of 100 being a C in school doesn’t really give credit where credit is do for the Maxfli Tour S. C’s get degrees, but we’re not in school, and the Tour S deserves much more than a C. When I think about the Maxfli, I think about the type of person I’m golfing with a lot. An example, I have a buddy who has everything Kirkland sells including the glove, the K-sig ball, the putter, the wedges, and eventually the irons if they ever actually hit the shelves. Knowing the K-sig is too spinny for me, he’d be impressed I was playing the Maxfli instead of overspending on the AVX. Then I have my friend who is a member and has grown up playing at country clubs his entire life where the AVX isn’t expensive to him, but the Maxfli seems like a budget option.

Both friends are fun to golf with, but it’s a different type of vibe golfing with them. With my Costco-centric buddy, the Maxfli gets a perfect 100. With my Country Club friend, the Maxfli gets a 50. I really like the ball. If I’m not paying for it, I’m asking for the Titleist. But if I’m paying for it, I’m likely going with the Maxfli all day.

If you've made it this far, enjoy my new course friend, Fred the Fox, who was VERY interested in the Maxfli ball.

 

Initial Thoughts and Unboxing (First Impressions 8/10)

I want to first say that I'm putting the Maxfli Tour S through the wringer both on course and on my simulator. My first impressions have been really good, but at first glance, not enough to call it a ProV1 (AVX in my case) killer just yet. I'll start with my thoughts on the ball as packaging is less important to me. 

The ball itself is excellent. I like the design quite a bit, and the new line Maxfli is using absolutely makes it feel less like a range ball as Micah calls out below. The urethane cover is super soft and passes the bite/fingernail test. The blue number is quite nice too. I thought I would dislike the Maxfli logo in person, but I think it looks pretty smart on the ball itself. I'll give it a true rating on looks in my final review, but it's off to a good start.

On to the packaging. I'll throw this phrase out that I use when talking about bosses. I don't dislike it, so it's good. It's simple, they call out the low compression piece, and they don't use too much hyperbole in their marketing. The only feedback I have on the packaging is that it's not the most genuine comparison chart if they are saying the Tour S has the same spin characteristics in the Driver and Greenside as the Tour and Tour X. More on that in the full review!

Introduction

My name is Chris Gibbs, and just like Micah on the Maxfli Tour X test, I am also from Salt Lake City, UT (we'll have to get a round in together). By day, I manage a team selling software, by mid-to-late afternoon, I'm all golf! I’ve been playing golf now for about 6 years much to my wife’s chagrin. I’m 31 years old and have a 20-month-old son named James -- my wife vetoed Eldrick Tiger Gibbs and also hates this joke. 

During the past 6 years, golf has become a bit of an obsession as you all here can relate, I’m sure. I’ve gone from an 18+ handicap to a 4.7 with countless hours of practice, coaching, and analyzing. The obsession leaked into my garage 3.5 years ago with a home sim setup that I'll call my firstborn. I have noticed a marked improvement in all aspects of my game with the garage sim as it allows me to stay in golf form through the long Utah winters. That, and the occasional Jan/Feb trip to Pheonix!

 I'm super excited to be testing the Maxfli Tour S golf ball. I've actually started A SMALL JOURNEY thread on the forum to find the perfect golf ball for my game this year. I have found myself in the world of mitigating the high swing speed with (too) high spin. My clubs are all fit to have low-spin, low-launch shafts, and my driver is even turned down to 6*. My current gamer is the Titleist AVX, but I have played the ProV1, TP5, and a few others before starting the journey to lower my spin numbers. The Tour S piqued my interest as the closest competitor to the Titleist AVX without the $50 price tag! The Tour S isn't just competing against the AVX though. This is the current low-spin lineup in my garage undergoing testing:

I'll be doing indoor and outdoor testing on the Tour S looking at on-course performance along with getting real numbers from the GC3. I have a country club where I use their practice facility (no one asks for I.D. if you're wearing nice golf gear!) that I will really be able to use to test out the greenside spin and feel extensively. My "Around the Green" strokes gained is one of the best parts of my game, so I have high standards for this area when we talk about swapping golf balls. Very excited to see the performance.

Let the games begin!

 

[Micah T]

What’s good, spy fam?!

 

I’m Micah, and I live in Salt Lake City, Utah. My wife and I live that D.I.N.K lifestyle(dual-income, no kids) which leaves plenty of time for golf. I picked up the game in 2016 after getting married, and was more or less instantly hooked. My wife realized pretty quickly if she was going to see me on weekends she better learn to play: and now that she’s also a golfer, I don’t have to come up with a good story every time a golf club shaped box shows up on the doorstep. Besides golf, I love to travel, cook, and snowboard, probably in that order. I’m a certified club-ho, exotic shaft snob, golf stat geek sort of golfer. Also a member of the push-cart mafia, but I’m not supposed to talk about that…

 

About my golf game:

I’m a high speed, high spin player who’s prone to hitting the occasional tee shot off the planet: as such, I’m definitely interested in saving money on golf balls. My progression thru golf balls was as follows:

Wilson 50/50

Chromesoft truvis(quickly switched after discovering MGS)

Snell Mtbx-x

Srixon z-star xv

Bridgestone tour BX

Titleist prov1x

Maxfli Tour X

 

I had resigned myself to paying $50 a dozen as I improved for premium balls: but it stung each time I sent my one thru the wardrobe into Narnia. Then I stumbled onto the maxfli tour x while at golf galaxy  with my wife. “Don’t tell anyone how good that ball is, or the price will go up” said the associate who was letting my wife demo 3 woods. I thought, “how good could a $30 a box ball be?” As I tee’d up on my first hole with the tour x, I decided if it was as good as a q-star tour, I’d be satisfied with the purchase. Suffice it to say my expectations were blown away! I checked MGS to see if a ball lab had ever been done on this steal of a ball, and yep there was: 91 total score. There was already a thread up on the forum of course, you can check that out here:

 

I’ll be putting the new tour X thru it’s paces against the ‘21 tour X, as well as the Titleist prov1x, widely considered to be the benchmark in ball quality.  And what good would having a stat geek be a part of this test if he wasn’t going to post GCquad numbers? So I’ll be doing just that, and we’ll all get to see if the ‘23 tour x measures up to, in my opinion, the greatest deal in golf: the ‘21 maxfli tour X. Stay tuned!

 

1st Impressions:

Getting product shipped from DSG/GG is hassle free: boxes are well packed and arrive in good condition. Maxfli definitely improved upon the previous iterations in terms of how premium the new box looks.

Sleek, all-black box definitely looks premium to me. But I never buy 1 or 2 dozen, and I’ll wager most here don’t either, so how do the cubes look? Just as sleek, IMO: here’s the new head to head with the old:

Some subtle changes with the statements/claims on each sleeve as well:

I’ve always appreciated the the frank nature of Maxfli’s claims: nothing too crazy there. Interesting to see Maxfli call out the CG balancing; definitely a premium feature there. The only huge change I see straightaway is the alignment aid:

I’m not sure how I feel about it yet: on the one hand, I loved using the alignment lines on the ‘21 model, on the other, the alignment aid kinda made it look like a range/practice ball.  Time to get on course and see how this new Maxfli performs!

Final review

Aesthetics: 19/20

The ‘23 Tour X loses one point for the alignment aid: I’ve decided I don’t like the new one and I feel like they took a step back personally. I liked the double line and found it more helpful in lining the ball up on putts and tee shots. The packaging is premium and looks sleek.

The sound off the putter is clicky, but I’ve grown accustomed to that playing very firm balls. Might be a turn off for some, but it sounds/feels very much like a         -prov1x on partial wedges and putts.

Durability: no issues here: the average ball lasts about 4 rounds(unless I send it to Narnia 1st) before being retired. As durable as a Titleist? No: but really I don’t think any other ball is as durable as a prov1 or prov1x. Well struck wedges will leave a scratch as well as most bunker shots. Most of us have seen the MGS report on scuffed balls, so I’m pretty quick to retire a ball. But at $2.50 a ball, you can afford too!

 

The numbers: 19/20

Ball flight characteristics 

Spin - the 23 ball has less spin on short/green side shots for me.

I didn’t notice a difference 7 iron thru drive compared to the ‘21 tour X,  but the loss of spin on partial shots for someone like me who basically has nothing but partial shots into greens is a potential issue. The ‘23 tour X spins significantly less than a prov1x - some will enjoy that off driver and woods and find it problematic when trying to hold a green with a 7 iron.

There are distance gains to be had off the tee with driver compared to the ‘21 tour X. On the GC Quad I don’t see a difference in distance, but on course, I’d say a prov1x is about 2-3 yards longer for me. Not enough to justify paying double!

Launch/flight- virtually identical to the ‘21 tour x, but significantly higher than a prov1x, most notably on wedges and driver. I tend to launch my drives too low, so now worries there, but some will not like their wedges in a slighter higher window…

 

 

On course testing: 20/20

The 23 tour x is long off the tee: some of my longest all time drives have been during testing!

The low spin characteristics of the ball off the driver are really impressive. The low spin characteristics of wedges? Maybe less so…

Love the feel off the face on all shots, sounds great to my ear. The ball does what I expect it to, and I can move it the direction I intend to.

 

The good and bad: 18/20

 

This ball is a fantastic value! For 1/2 the price of a prov1x you get a ball 98.5% as good. Sound/feel, looks and workability are all top notch for me. Where I deduct points is for a slightly higher launch and a significant reduction in spin. As I mentioned before, while I enjoy the higher launch off the driver, the higher launch off my wedges is alarming. The ‘21 tour x is the equal of the prov1x, but the ‘23 is a step behind. Is a step behind worth saving 50%? 

 

Play it or trade it? 20/20

If I wasn’t very familiar with the ‘21 version, this ball would receive even higher marks: as it stands, it’s a remarkable ball for the price. Would I trade these in? Only for more of the ‘21 tour x! I will be on the lookout for any liquidation sales on the ‘21 tour x, but when those are gone, I’ll happily switch to the ‘23!

 

Conclusion:

For all those that feel like they “aren’t good enough to play a premium ball/ can’t feel the difference between urethane and ionomer covers / don’t know how to make their wedges spin, why not  play this premium ball that cost what non premium balls cost? It’s literally the best of both worlds: a premium ball you can afford to lose! 
 

Final score: 96/100

 

[cjeffs12]

Howdy, this is cjeffs12, or Corbin. I am a Director of an Advance Driver Training Program for a Commercial Driving Academy, here in College Station, Texas. I grew up always wanting to play golf, but living in the country and working with animals’ golf was not feasible. Once in college I took a golf class, and from there I was hooked! It was not until about 4 years ago when I started getting more serious about improving at golf, and that is when I found MYGOLFSPY. I wanted to add speed to my game, and I was researching Superspeed when I saw the forum testing reviews. Their testing results and reviews not only gave me confidence in purchasing the product, but also becoming apart of this community. I am currently playing off a 4 handicap, but my goal is to get to scratch. I also try to play in Amateur tournaments when I can.

I have many tests prepared (just waiting for it to stop raining). Off the course, I want to test its greenside performance, how it reacts from chip shots and how it performs from 40 yards. A durability test where I hit 10 bunker shots with the same ball to see how it holds up. Then I really want to drive down to Houston and get Trackman numbers on partial Wedge shots, full 7 iron and Driver. All these I plan on testing in comparison to my gamer Callaway Chrome Soft X and Srixon Z Star XV because I am interested in what spin range this ball is considered.

My on-course testing is where I really want to see this ball perform. I play in Texas, and my course does not have a lot of trees so wind performance will be tested. The biggest requirements on ball performance are how it reacts on the greens. I like to play many different shots around the green and I want a ball that allows me to do them all. I have decent swing speed with plenty of height, so I want a balance of distance and control into greens and if the Maxfli Tour X can do that as good or better than what I have this can easily go in my bag.

I am excited to test the Maxfli Tour X because of how well it does in Ball Lab. Ball Lab is where I go first when thinking about trying a ball, if I am going to put it in play for a tournament, I want to trust it won’t let me down. I am also interested in testing the CG line, I want to see if I can see any performance difference while using the CG line vs not using the CG line. As many know ball prices have gone up again, so this ball was at the top of my list to try this year. I have heard so many good things, so I am expecting to see a great performance to match its great price.

 

Thank you for allowing me this amazing opportunity!

 

FIRST IMPRESSION (9 out of 10)

My first impression of Maxfli Tour X is very good. The packaging has a heavy-duty quality feel to it, not flimsy or cheap like you would imagine for a lower price point golf ball. The detail lines are not just for aesthetics they are textured which blew my mind!

                       

As for the specs on the box, they do a good job of detailing the differences of each ball in their lineup. I could easily pick up any of their boxes and decide which ball is best for my game. One thing I think they could do better of marketing or educating, is the “CG Alignment Aid.” I would like them to show the consumer how to get the best out of this technology. It took me a lot of searching to find how to use the CG line because it is not on the box or on their description for Dicks/Golf Galaxy websites. It is such a good way for them to set themselves apart from the competition, and it will educate consumers that do not know about Center of Gravity and how the Alignment CG Line can help our games.

What I first noticed when taking a ball out is that it felt firm which is a comfort for me. The cover had a nice sticky feel that reassures me that it will spin around the green. The dimples are wide and shallow which makes me think will make the ball go higher.

First round out and the firm feel caused a subtle explosion off the driver. I did not notice it to be clicky or overly firm, nor was it squishy like a marshmallow. My one-word description would be solid. The Tour X flies high, it will be interesting when I get on a launch monitor to see if it does fly higher. My irons stop well, and my wedges were more one hop and stop, not over spin that lands then rips back off the green. One major point in favor of this ball is that it is the ball I used to shoot my first ever EVEN par on 9 holes. One thing I am unsure of at the beginning is its greenside control, I am seeing a little more rollout than I would expect, so that is going to be a big area of testing for me going forward. The ball held up good durability-wise, only thing I saw is that my wedges take off the paint, but a wet towel and it somewhat cleans up, but nothing that would affect performance. Overall I feel the Maxfli Tour X is a very quality and good performing golf ball that I am enjoying on the course.

                                             

Aesthetics (8 out of 10)

The appearance of the Maxfli Tour X is fierce. The packaging is cool, and the ball is bright white which looks great in the sunlight. I did see some durability issues, I would have some balls I could play for 18 holes with minor wear, and then some would only take one wedge shot. There were many rounds where I would go through a full sleeve or more without losing a ball.

I feel like the cover is soft enough to where I could get my fingernail to puncture the cover, but the ball is firm to have an explosive feel off the clubface. Being a firm ball, and my swing speed the ball is a good loud whack sound. The Tour X has a very solid feel off the putter, and springy/explosive feel off irons and drivers.

The Numbers (19 out of 20)

The Tour X convinced me to sell my remaining Chrome Soft X golf balls. I went down to Houston to the Golf Galaxy and went through a Professional ball fitting on Trackman. It was an amazing experience. The Tour X was in the top 2 against all the major OEM’s. I hit the Titleist Pro V1x, Srixon Z Star XV, Callaway Chrome Soft X, and the Taylormade TP5X. My numbers were really good with the XV, Tour X, and Pro V1x. The Srixon and the Maxfli just had another gear that the other balls did not have, my bad strikes were where the rest of the balls good shots were, and my good ones were carrying 10 yards more.

7 Iron

40 Yard (60*)

On the Course (16 out of 20)

I really wanted to give this a higher rating due to how well the ball performed. Using this ball I shot my first EVEN par 9 hole round!!! I just had a hard time with the cover, and honestly that is my only knock on this golf ball.

            Off the tee: I started using the Alignment Aid as suggested to line up my shots, and this really helped me find more fairways, and by doing so I saw my scores fall just by having more fairway shots. Distance is great, most of my round’s half of my drives were over 300.

  Bombed 335 down the Fairway!

            Approach: I would use the Alignment aid on par 3’s and it helped me here as well. This ball would fly high and straight, and on full shots would stop on a dime. I saw yardages that were right where I wanted them.

 6 Iron release. 

            Ball Flight: The Tour X was fun to watch in the air. The ball just flew high and straight and seemed to just fly forever with the driver. It did take some adjustment for me with the wedges, I like to flight my wedges down and it would just want to get up in the air. After one practice session I was able to get my swing in a better position to hit that lower window.

            Around the Green: As I was just saying I needed a practice session, but once I did I could hit the low spinner and bump and runs. I just wish the cover would hold up to my wedges around the green.

            Putting: I really liked the feel off the putter, it wasn’t like a rock or a marshmallow. It felt solid. I would draw a blue line in line with the alignment aid, and it would roll end over end very nicely. I could really see it was a balanced ball.

The Good, the Bad, and the In Between (16 out of 20)

I really loved the performance of Tour X on the course, and I shot my lowest score so far. It felt great, had amazing distance and control with irons and wedges. It is just hard to avoid the bad, and my issue with the cover.

Play it or Trade it (15 out of 20)

If I did not play in tournaments, I think I could play this ball despite the cover issue. I just do not want to carry a dozen balls each round and must worry about if I will have enough or if I will have to play a scuffed ball. But during the off season I could easily see myself playing with this ball. During the season and in tournaments, I will be playing Srixon ball.

Conclusion

The Maxfli Tour X is an extreme value for a high performing golf ball. I put it to the test on Trackman in a professional fitting and it held up and was in the top 2 against all the major OEM’s. It was long off the Tee, held the green with ease with irons and wedges as any Tour golf ball would do. My only negative for this ball would be the cover. During several rounds I would go through 3 or 4 balls, some even on the first hole it was used, due to the cover scuffing from my wedge face. This is the only thing preventing me from playing this ball full time and in tournaments. It is very bittersweet saying that, because of it helped me shoot my current low score, but I do think it could help you shoot yours as well.

Final Score (83 out of 100)

[GolfSpy_APH]

Looking forward to hearing what you all have to say about these golf balls. 

I know many other members use these as their go to golf ball and will be curious if they end up being yours as well! 

Happy testing! 

[brogies]

Definitely interested to hear the feedback, especially how the new models compare to the previous generation. Big fan of the Maxfli Tour.

[Josh Ross]

Following very closely here, interested in hearing your thoughts on the new models and hopefully how they compare to the old model if anyone has played them.

[GolfSpy_KFT]

Congrats, testers! I just put the 2023 Tours in play and early impressions are very good against my ProV1s. Can’t wait to hear how the different models perform. 

[Splatt]

15 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Testers Announced!

One of the Forums most played golf ball series has gotten a member test. We are very excited to announce our 6 Testers for the Maxfli Tour Series of golf balls with the following members!

Testing the Tour
@David Leighton Reid
@CSiders12

Testing the Tour S
@Manny
@thechrisgibbs

Testing the Tour X
@Micah T
@cjeffs12

Please welcome and congratulate our testers! 

Congrats, guys.

Enjoy the Pro-V1 beater 

[rkj427]

Congrats. to those selected, looking forward to the comments / reviews as to how these compare to previous generation version as well as other manufacture models.

[Bogeys ov]

Congratulations. Definitely looking forward to feedback on this one. Should be interesting!

[JeremyD]

I love my Maxfli's. Can't wait to see the reviews

[Kenny B]

Congratulations testers!!  I think you all will like your ball.  I started playing the Tour X last year and still like it; however, I tried the Tour S a few weeks ago. and I think it's the ball I'll be playing this year.

Looking forward to see what @Manny and @thechrisgibbs think about it.

 

[cjeffs12]

I am so pumped to test the Maxfli Tour X!! I really appreciate this opportunity and I have so cool things planned for this test. This could not have come at a better time as I was just about to order a dozen to try out. I will be posting my intro in a few days, but if anyone has things they would like to see post them and I’ll do my best. 

[JohnH1]

Interested to hear how the different models perform for real people, not PGA pros or YouTubers.

[ScramblinMan]

Congrats testers. Hope to hear some exciting feedback about different wind conditions/temperatures for these tests. Good luck 

[Jake-mediocre]

Congrats guys. Maxfli Tour X might be favorite golf ball right now, I’m anxious to hear others thoughts on them. 

[Preeway]

Congrats! Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on how they compare to other balls. 

[Daniel Carrier]

Congrats to all you guys. Looking forward to read you. Surely a great ball. You like them to be easier to get in Canada to try them out.

[OdinSnipes414]

17 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Testers Announced!

One of the Forums most played golf ball series has gotten a member test. We are very excited to announce our 6 Testers for the Maxfli Tour Series of golf balls with the following members!

Testing the Tour
@David Leighton Reid
@CSiders12

Testing the Tour S
@Manny
@thechrisgibbs

Testing the Tour X
@Micah T
@cjeffs12

Please welcome and congratulate our testers! 

Congratulations can’t wait for a new ball to move in on the block

[StrokerAce]

bought 2 dozen of the Tour X a couple of weeks ago and so far I've been impressed.

will be interested to read these reviews. this ball has some serious potential and is at that sweet spot from a price point.

good luck guys!

[RickR]

Congratulations everyone!!!

[Tom the Golf Nut]

Congrats everyone. You going to love these balls. 

[Jonesie]

Congrats everyone!  I tried these last year and “Saw the light!”  I’m looking forward to reading your results!

[JerBooth]

Congrats to all testers.

This will be an interesting test.

May be interesting if anyone is going to test them against their gamer or something a little more expensive.

[Bulldog]

Congrats testers! I’ve been playing the Maxfli Tours and look forward to seeing how all the models compare.

[funkyjudge]

18 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Testers Announced!

One of the Forums most played golf ball series has gotten a member test. We are very excited to announce our 6 Testers for the Maxfli Tour Series of golf balls with the following members!

Testing the Tour
@David Leighton Reid
@CSiders12

Testing the Tour S
@Manny
@thechrisgibbs

Testing the Tour X
@Micah T
@cjeffs12

Please welcome and congratulate our testers! 

Congratulations to all of the testers!  I can't wait to read all of your reviews and final assessments (especially for the Tour X, as that has always been my favorite ball in the Maxfli Tour series).

[Smackey17]

Congratulations to those who were selected!

I play both the Maxfli Tour and the ProV1X. Will be very interested to seeing what the testers think, especially those who are were playing ProV1 or ProV1X previously. I have my opinion on the matter, but withhold comment until the results are in.