Tour Equipment

[neil]

I think we all know that tour players clubs are not "off the shelf",but what about golf balls?
The reason I raise this is that I was given a half dozen ProV1x's by a tour player.
I tried Pro v's in the past and just did not get the increase in yardage everyone else was claiming,but these "tour" balls were 20yds longer{with driver} than any other ball I have hit.I was told that sidespin was also reduced.Now it may have been psychological, but I have used one ball for my last 3 rounds.It is very difficult to hit a fade/draw but if you want to hook /slice deliberately then the ball will move.
I was told by the guy who gave me them that they are "not for sale in the shops".
Any of you Pro's any comment's?

[efnef]

Do you think that if any of the ball companies came up with a product that the average Joe could hit 20 yards longer, they would sit on it? They could charge $200.00 a box and rule the market. Even if you had to have a 100 mph swing speed, everyone would pay up, in the hope that maybe, just maybe...

[neil]

efnef ,What is an average Joe?-I am not going into the"I can hit it 300yds" stuff.ALMOST EVERYONE -with an Ego, can hit it that far{in their dreams} .I can only say- I'm not short off the tee.
I do not think that anyone on this forum is stupid,but I do think that a lot of people are unaware of the reality of the equipment manufacturers' MO.
Does anyone think that the .083C.O.R. drivers that they use are the same as the Pros?
I Don't. Some do.
So why do we pay $600 for "tour preferred " Drivers.? The Pros don't use them.
A lot of Pros used to play "prototype"balls , and I believe these have been replaced by "tour"balls -same name -[on the box]-different ball.
Would a manufacturer recall a ball named "prov1" when they have a new "super duper Pro v 1" being used on tour and 400,000,000 of the old ones on the shelves in pro shops around the world-of course not,they would call it the "new"Pro v1 -AFTER they had sold all the old stuff.[or most of it].
Maybe it's just me

[efnef]

Neil, I don't disagree with you. I think we are not understanding each other very well, so I will restate my thoughts. First of all, I have owned dozens of tour clubs, and yes, many are obviously different. The TM 200 Tour FW Woods were definitely way different from the retail models, the 300 Tour and R500 drivers were night and day compared to their retail counterparts, just to name a few of the more famous examples. In both cases, they were prototypes of new technology that found their ways into later TM retail models. Yes, I would not be surprised if the pros are always one step ahead of us in playing prototype balls as well as clubs. I thought you were implying or stating that this technology would never see the light of day at the retail level. Of course it will. The Super Duper ProV1 will hit the shelves in due time.

[Hennybogan]

Tour balls must be listed on the "Conforming Balls List." The ball must be marked exactly. For instance, <proVI> vs <<proVI>> While they may not yet (if ever) be available, I don't think companies would risk altering ball composition with the standard markings. Tour balls might have to pass tighter quality control. They are not so restricted with club markings.

You may have found a majic ball to fit your driver. Launch and spin, etc. Or maybe Gulbis talked to your balls before they got in with the other ones.

By the way, I hate my player to change clubs, but I would rather he change all fourteen than turn up with a new ball. Esp, mid season.

[neil]

Neil, I don't disagree with you. I think we are not understanding each other very well, so I will restate my thoughts. First of all, I have owned dozens of tour clubs, and yes, many are obviously different. The TM 200 Tour FW Woods were definitely way different from the retail models, the 300 Tour and R500 drivers were night and day compared to their retail counterparts, just to name a few of the more famous examples. In both cases, they were prototypes of new technology that found their ways into later TM retail models. Yes, I would not be surprised if the pros are always one step ahead of us in playing prototype balls as well as clubs. I thought you were implying or stating that this technology would never see the light of day at the retail level. Of course it will. The Super Duper ProV1 will hit the shelves in due time.

I totally agree with you-but "we"will always be one step behind

[neil]

Tour balls must be listed on the "Conforming Balls List." The ball must be marked exactly. For instance, <proVI> vs <<proVI>> While they may not yet (if ever) be available, I don't think companies would risk altering ball composition with the standard markings. Tour balls might have to pass tighter quality control. They are not so restricted with club markings.

You may have found a majic ball to fit your driver. Launch and spin, etc. Or maybe Gulbis talked to your balls before they got in with the other ones.

By the way, I hate my player to change clubs, but I would rather he change all fourteen than turn up with a new ball. Esp, mid season.

Thanks Henny -Gulbis could talk to my balls anytime she wants!

[Uppndownn]

By the way, I hate my player to change clubs, but I would rather he change all fourteen than turn up with a new ball. Esp, mid season.

Another real eye-opener from a guy who "does it for a living"!

Between my bag and my shag bag, there must be every ball made for the last 5 years in there.....

UPP in good enough to play today Ohio

[golfgnome]

I think we all know that tour players clubs are not "off the shelf",but what about golf balls?
The reason I raise this is that I was given a half dozen ProV1x's by a tour player.
I tried Pro v's in the past and just did not get the increase in yardage everyone else was claiming,but these "tour" balls were 20yds longer{with driver} than any other ball I have hit.I was told that sidespin was also reduced.Now it may have been psychological, but I have used one ball for my last 3 rounds.It is very difficult to hit a fade/draw but if you want to hook /slice deliberately then the ball will move.
I was told by the guy who gave me them that they are "not for sale in the shops".
Any of you Pro's any comment's?

Neil,

When you tried prov1 in the past did you try the regular prov1 or the x? The prov1x spins less and will go farther with a driver than the std prov1. I use the x for this reason and because I tend to spin the regular prov1 to much with short irons.

Jeff

[12 piece bucket]

Thanks Henny -Gulbis could talk to my balls anytime she wants!

Please . . . you got a better chance at beatin' Ted in a race to the last cicken fried chicken biscuit than to have "Neil" and "Ballz" pass across her lips in the same sentence, or paragraph or solilaquy. So don't take that Rosanne Bar poster off your wall just yet . . . you got a face that even Ted's momma couldn't love.