Golf Ball Reviews

Titleist NXT Golf Balls

The Titleist NXT golf ball promises extreme distance off the tee with a straight flight, coupled with great golf ball durability.  This ball was released in March 2010, so is a relative newcomer to the power golf ball category.

The features of this golf ball include:

A high velocity, low spin, solid polybutadiene core

A durable cut-proof ionomer cover

An advanced dimple design

An Alignment Integrated Marking sidestamp

The sidestamp on the golf ball really helps me to line up my putts, as I sometimes have trouble striking the ball towards my predefined target.  It is a really nice touch, and one which is now becoming increasingly popular with other power golf balls, due to the assistance it provides on the putting surface for those who may struggle with their alignment.

The Titleist NXT golf ball is softer than other balls available, with a real feeling of compression off the tee.  I also feel more able to manipuate this ball with draws and fades (at least when it comes off!!) and am able to generate a good degree of spin with my shorter irons, adding a level of control to my approach shots.

What does all this mean for the golfer?  Well, the Titleist NXT golf ball WILL give you greater distance off the tee and on those mid to long iron approach shots to the green.  You’ll also find that it has a soft feel too.  Couple this with the fact that the cut-proof cover will give a longer life to the golf ball, and you have a formula for a power golf ball which falls firmly into the category of “up there with the best”.

The one drawback with this golf ball?  Nothing to do with the ball itself, but expect to pay out more than the average price for these balls.  But at the end of the day, you’re getting exactly what you’re paying for, and these power golf balls are definitely amongst the highest quality you’ll play a round of golf with.

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Do you play with Titleist NXT golf balls?  Feel free to leave your own comments below!

Nike Power Distance Soft Golf Balls

Like its “cousin” (the Nike Power Distance Long golf ball), the Power Distance Soft golf ball delivers longer distance with those tee shots and long irons than regular balls.

The added bonus here though, is that with the soft version, the golfer can easier manipulate the golf ball to shape the type of shot required for the occasion, i.e. drawing or fading a shot as required by the approach.

Also, the feel of this golf ball on and around the greens is more pronounced than the Long ball version, leading to increased feedback and control.

This is a 2-piece ball, with a low-compression core and a softened ionomer cover.

I would say that the Nike Power Distance Soft golf ball is for those golfers who can maintain a handicap which hovers around the 15 mark, i.e those who can maintain a steady consistent swing off the tee and on the fairways.  The Power Distance Long golf ball will squeeze a little more yardage out of your shots than the soft version, but sacrifices the feel which better golfers may require for the pitching and chipping aspects of the game.

I’ve also found that the Power Distance Soft golf ball seems to provide excellent durability.  I’ve used the same golf ball during the course of 18 holes (not unheard of, but still a rare occurence!!), and found that upon inspection, there are little or no scuffs on the cover.

These power golf balls come in at the same price as the long version, around $18 for a dozen – decent value for a very decent golf ball.

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Do you play with Nike Power Distance Soft golf balls?  Feel free to leave your own comments below!

Wilson Ultra Ultimate Distance Golf Balls

The Wilson Ultra Ultimate Distance Golf Balls are an excellent brand of power golf balls, marketed at the golfer with a medium to high handicap, or those just starting out with the game of golf.

This golf ball has an improved titanium core, which leads to a longer carry distance off the tee, and  the low spin rate generated by ball-striking affords the golfer a higher degree of control – excellent for those who may be less than perfect with every tee shot.

The trade-off, though, is that you will not be able to shape your shots as well as you may be able to with other types of golf balls, due to the decreased spin rate.

Likewise, the feel of the ball on the green isn’t anywhere near the level of a “Pro V1″, but at the same time, a lot of golfers are happy with the feel of this ball compared to others – I’ve certainly played with worse.

The cutproof ionomer ball cover also gives the ball a longer “shelf-life”, adding extra value on top of the already excellent RRP price for a pack of these power golf balls.  You can pick these golf balls up for less than a dollar a ball – buy more of them (i.e. a 24-pack) and you’ll pay even less per ball.  These are definitely up there with the top-value balls in the power golf ball category.

There are higher quality golf balls available on the market, but for sheer value and playability for the average golfer, the Wilson Ultra Ultimate Distance golf ball is hard to beat.

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Do you play with Wilson Ultra Ultimate Distance golf balls?  Feel free to leave your own comments below!

Nike Power Distance Long Golf Balls

The Nike Power Distance Long golf balls are made for those with a medium / high swing speed both off the tee and on the fairways – and these golf balls really, REALLY travel when struck!  There are specifically designed balls out there which have been manufactured, and are marketed at, those looking for extra power and distance - and Nike have managed to deliver what they have promised where others have failed.

This isn’t necessarily a slur on other power golf balls – what I mean is that the Nike Power Distance Long golf ball is an extremely satisfying ball to strike off the tee – it has managed to merge the combination of delivery of extra distance, with a soft feel on contact with the ball.

For those full-blooded short iron shots, you’ll have a bit of trouble gaining any back-spin on the green (unless you’re up there with the Tour players in terms of consistent ball striking), but the ball will happily land, bounce once or twice, and come to a stop without rolling an extra 10, 15, or 20 yards to the back of the green and into the fringe, or, god forbid, a greenside bunker.

Once you’re dancing, the ball actually feels quite nice when putting.  There is no “clunkiness” off the putter head during the stroke – I know different golfers prefer different feeling while putting, but I like a ball which doesn’t “clack” off the head, or feel too hard.  Softer balls give me greater confidence when putting, and the Nike distance ball gives me exactly that.

The specifications behind the Nike Power Distance Long golf ball include:

A high-velocity core, leading to a faster ball speed;

A 432-dimple pattern, which cuts down on the drag experienced off the tee;

A durable ionomer ball cover, for increased distance.

These max power golf balls will cost you around $18 for a dozen brand new, which represents decent value for a ball which will work with you and not against you, from teeing off to putting out.

If you are after a similar golf ball which provides a little more control while at the same time giving excellent distance with those tee shots, then the Nike Power Distance Soft golf ball may be better suited to your game.

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Do you play with Nike Power Distance Long golf balls?  Feel free to leave your own comments below!