I personally have lost in the water every one of these. I like the way the TM-TP5 makes the splash better. It seems like the ripples are closer together. Must be the spin. 👍🏼
Tp5 pv1 Bridgestone tour are really a matter of preference and your swing. I played the pv1 for 9 yrs then Bridgestone for 1 yr. now tp5 for about 6 months. For me the tp5 flys further with mid to long irons. Spin around the greens is about equal. Buy a sleeve of each and play a round with each. You can’t go wrong
I just play what ever ball I end up finding, since I find random balls easier than I can find mine. However I did notice I have played a Vice better than any ball so far.
Rick is trustworthy: I've hit the Pro V1 and the TaylorMade balls & they are different, but they are both the best balls I've ever played with. I played the TaylorMade balls at the Raven Golf Club in Phoenix, AZ because the pro said, "For our golf course, these balls give you a slight, but noticeable edge. He was right. I've also bought the Cobra 2019 driver on Rick's recommendation: I think he's honest & has good judgment. So many people out there are full of $hit, but not Rick. Cheers, mate.
Chester Micek I agree with you. I have also made the purchase of a Cobra 🐍 F8 3 wood due to Ricks recommendations. He is a diamond in the ruff. Cheers mate.
What was the noticeable edge the taylormades gave you over a Pro V1 at raven golf club? For the life of me I can’t see the difference when I hit different premium balls ! Lol
Not sure where you're buying them but most pro shops have better deals on ProV1 when buying 2 or 3 dozen. I paid $39.95 per dozen last season. Haven't had to purchase any yet for this year.
Srixon ZStar and XV usually has a BOGO free sale each year... Got 20 dozen Zstar @ around $25 (CDN) a dozen last year... For that price, it's my go it to ball!
Joe Earley was just going with one dozen price for each. The pro shop deals definitely help but Z-Stars are Buy 2 get one free on their website, so price is around $26 per dozen
The durability test is where I believe there have been substantial improvements in value over the last 10 years with premium golf balls. I remember the Nike Tour Accuracy, Strata, earlier Callaway balls and even the earlier ProV1 balls always getting deep cuts after a few wedge shots, especially when square grooves were the thing in the earlier 2000’s. I don’t think modern balls dance on the green like they used to, but they sure do last a long time, even if you bounce them down the cart paths.
Dennis Swaney I have played the vice now for 2 years, previously played Pro v1. Found no noticeable difference in length or spin. The only issue is the vice do scuff up more and are not as durable, however they save me around $5 a ball. Well worth the switch.
Tony Appelgren sorry bout that, the video was actually from his buddy Peter Finch. Here’s the link if you’re interested ruclips.net/video/opZl7PLAYw0/видео.html
@@hyattthegolfer8936 LOL, you have no clue what youre talking about. Bridgestone and Srixon are the only big oem companies that make a ball that can compare with the Pro V1.
Love the vid as always Rick, but here's my two cents worth (and by the way, i'm a weekend golfer, single-digit handicap, who swings his driver around 100-105 mph): I agree that there isn't that much difference in performance of the balls, but the durability question that you answered could go a little further --- of course these balls still look good, they're being hit off a mat, into a screen. In my experience, when hitting these balls at a real golf course, the ProVI is top notch BUT it's durability is dramatically lacking. Same for the TP5. When those things go through the rigors of landing on real fairways and greens, they hit dirt with sand, mineral particles, etc. that is very abrasive to them. The ProVI (my favorite and i'd hit it every chance i could if i could afford it) just seems to wear quicker than most. Same with the TP5. The Srixon Z-star seems to last a little longer. I can't speak for the chromesoft, i don't play it. And i haven't gotten my hands on this year's Bridgestone yet, but the prior ones (the B330's) seemed to wear out fast too. Performance around the greens comes at a price, i suppose.
MSsive massive respect for putting a video out there that isn’t you rushing to the golf course to play golf. The kinda video everyone should watch before they rush to the course before they play. 👍
Solid review and really interesting data. I recently played a Titleist pro v1 yellow ball and was really impressed with the durability of the ball, particularly given the amount of trees, rocks and cart paths that I normally hit in a round of golf
Great review as always. Good to know all the expensive balls that I can't afford to hit in the woods will all perform the same when I do lol. I truly think these are priced way to high on average.
Bridgestone replaced a really good $32 ball with pretty much the same ball (new box!) For $45 a dozen. Meh. The BX330s were GREAT balls, no matter the price point!
@@GP-yc2it The Tour BX/BXS are the best balls I've found. The new BX is a massive improvement over last years but I cant tell a huge difference in the BXS.
Is it really that good...I've gamed most of the big premium balls, prov1, and 1x, both tp5s and both chrome softs and am currently testing out the srixon...I surprisingly haven't heard much from my golfing buddies at my club about the Bridgestone but people seem to be impressed with it in the comments
@@MarkSmith-lz5rk Depends. I like a high spinning golf ball with soft feel on the putter face. The BXS is as long as my ProV1X but not as clicky. BX is longer but a bit firmer (similar to V1X) and not quite as spinny.
Rick, would love to see a comparison of the next level down in cost vs. the premium ball - Bridgestone e6, Callaway Supersoft, TM Project (a), Titleist Velocity and Srixon Q-Star. Thanks for keeping the content coming!
You might have done this already, but you should do a test for the entire selection for each brand. Like Titleist prov1, prov1x, avx, tour soft, etc.. maybe to see if the price is worth it? Thanks!
Loved the review/comparisons. I have played the Chrome Soft for about 5 years. I like the older version before they added Graphene to it. The new balls seem to be firmer to me. I’ve played the TP5 Tru-Vis and like the feel.
@Tucson Jim No, the only ball he left out that compares to the pro V is a bridgestone tour b/bx. ERC is a 2 piece distance ball, not comparable to a pro v. I wouldnt even put chrome soft in this comparison, their quality control issues are terrible.
I play all 4 plus the Bridgeston Tour B. Whatever is on sale really (or I find in the trees) I load up about 6 dozen and I am good for the whole year typically. You are right that the balls are a lot similar than dissimilar. However if I am playing in a tournament, I am playing a ProV1. In my observation, with the way I play and swing, the ball trajectories are different and spin characteristics are different on partial shots. That is where ProV1(and Bridgeston Tour BX) excels. It has nice mid trajectory for me, and has good check on partial pitches and chips. TP5 flies too low, and Srixon and Chrome too high. For that reason, I prefer ProV1 and Bridgestone. If I have to buy Taylormade, I usually go for TP5X as the trajectory is what I like seeing but it doesn't behave the same on partial shots. Great review.
Over a span of 15 years in big box retail, it did not matter were the Titleists were displyed on an end cap or in the rafters, for those that desire Titleist, they'll pay throough the wazoo for them. Doesn't matter if it's a 20 handicapper that wants a Pro V that can hardly hit a ball beyond their shadow- They can pay for it, they'll play it.
Fantabulous video, Rick, thank you! I'm in Spain, confined in a XVI c. castle (long story), and these videos just give that little something I need to keep going until I'm free to play again. I don't think you are aware of how much you are helping many of us. Thank you again!
Lamarcus Brown You should care because that makes the whole thing pointless about him getting a much cheaper price. Are you dumb? If it’s the previous model year he is not saving a dollar. All stores have that price.
Great video Rick you should also do videos on a bunch of mid range balls and a bunch of very cheap balls. As a beginner high-handicapper ,who loses a few on a bad day, the balls I use are Slazenger 300 softs at £18 for 48.
I really appreciate the fact you lined up the shots with the music (specifically 7:00). I feel that touch of editing made it that much better and I really enjoyed it and didn't want it to go unnoticed!
What would also be interesting would be to see the difference between pro-v1 and say the mid range. Like Wilson Duo Soft, Callaway Super soft and the Taylor Made Tour Soft.
Great review but I would've liked to see the difference in green side shots or half swings. Being a high ball hitter and generally playing on softer greens I usually have no problem holding a green with a full swing no matter the ball but greenside control is important to me but if these balls actually don't spin anymore than a medium range ball than I'll just start playing those.
The TP5 is likely the shortest due to the increased spin on each of those shots. It was also disappointing how much damage the TP5 had. I’m most surprised by the Callaway, which prides itself on being a soft ball, but it having the longest 7 iron carry distance and tying for the longest driver carry distance-plus having no visible damage after the endurance testing. Very surprised.
I play the chrome soft with the triple track on it. The triple track is new on the chrome soft for 2020 after it did so well on other Callaway balls last year.
Yes all 4 of them pretty similar. But here in Asia, TP5 and ProV1 are the one with rarely giving price offer. Chrome Soft and Srixon often giving good price discount.
Quarantined in hotel for the next few days. Just got done with helping administer Covid-19 tests in Northern Illinois. Figured I’d work on my putting speed.
@Tucson Jim Can't group the Snell ball in with Vice. Dean Snell is acrually a ball engineer. He was with Titleist and Taylormade before starting his own company. His name is on several of their patents.
The Snell ball is comparable to the 4 balls he tested, the only real difference is driver distance, it falls off a few yards (not a big deal really). They are just as durable and actually for me, they spin more off my irons than any other ball. I have been playing Snell for about a year and as long as they are $15 cheaper than the market premium balls I will stick with them.
@@dahlflynn2431 I have found the mtbx to be longer off the driver actually. In Aus and the snells work out to 42 dollars a doz where the best price for any 'premium' balls is 65-70, its really a no contest
I’ve used the Pro V1 for quite a long time. I’ve tried all the premium balls out there and have always gone back to the Pro V1. I bought a box of Bridgestone Tour B X and took it out to put it up against Pro V1 and AVX. I smoked three drives with each ball and the Tour B X was a tad longer than both. The AVX was second. The differences in distance were negligible and wouldn’t be a defining factor for me, but the Tour B X felt the best off the face. In the end, for me, the Tour B X felt better.
Sometimes I feel like people just like to say that they are playing with a Pro V1. Me: what ball you playing with Friend:Oh I’m playing with a Pro V1. Then proceeds to slice it into the trees and it’s gone forever 😂
I've played all those golf balls except the Srixon one. All of the Pro V1 balls that I have played were from lost balls that other players have lost, and I liked it a lot, had a tendency to not slice it as much. Chromesoft I didn't like off the tee because it spins too much, but for 2nd shots it fared pretty well. TP5 is my current go to right now (I usually go for the previous generation pix because it's 30$ per dozen at the moment), it provides me with good spin, good distance off the tee, and I can play my baby fade with mostly no issues, not to mention it's the ball that got me my lowest round of golf ever. With that being said if I had to choose I would play the Pro V1 all day...if I could afford it, but TP5 pix does the job for me.
Prov1 all the way for me. I've tried them all. Playing 600 feet above sea level on a windy downland links nothing beats the stability of ball flight on the prov1. Slightly flatter launch angle and sidespin helps in 25 mph wind. 🌬️⛳
I would like to see you do a similar video but focusing on slightly cheaper golf balls...as examples, Titleist TourSoft versus TaylorMade Tour Response versus Vice Pro versus Callaway ERC Soft...something like that
I may have missed this in the comments but....Why was there such a difference in Launch Angle on the driver test between the Titleist and the other 3 brands? Titleist was just over 12 degrees while the other three were all around 15 degrees. Almost looked like a different driver was used.
Good video, I have started playing the Callaway chrome softs and I really like them. Not used the Pro V1 but doesn’t look like there is much point in changing really
Hey Rick. Just wanted to mention that your tips and instructional videos have helped tremendously with my game. Today was the first day out in 2020, I live in Canada so I don't get to golf year round. My driver let me down, but for the most part, I hit my irons with great contact all day. Thank you for the advice!
I too play the ProV1 but like you I've tried the TP5 and the Chrome Soft. Never hit the ZStar. For me, it seems like the ProV1 is just a bit more durable in live course conditions when you hit the occasional tree branch, cart path etc. the cover just seems a bit more durable than the Chrome Soft and the TP5 but I agree, they're all great balls!
Very interesting. Love the numbers. I’ve always struggled with too much spin on my driver, but of course want the high spin on irons and wedges. So for me the Pro V1 seems just perfect. Average spin with wedges, high spin with irons and low spin with driver. TM’s more spin, but also with the driver which deffoes is not a trade off I’m willing to make. Pro V1’s best of both worlds to me 😍
Not played golf for a few years but when I played off 4 I used to use any ball I could find and people were perplexed by that. Its round and it flies !!
Thank you Rick for all you do!!! I've come to terms that I won't be able to play sports my whole life, so golf will be the last one I'll be able to do! I just picked up this sport last month and have been watching ALL your videos to improve in anyway possible! Got a Cobra F9 speedback;) I started out shooting a 110 and now down around 80-87 consistently!! THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!!
This is why I enjoy Rick so much. Even if he is bias, it does not come through on video. He is fair with all reviews. One of my go to sources when I am researching.
I discovered your channel last week and I am addicted!! Just getting back into golf seriously and this is ALL fantastic content!! Keep up the great work!!
Just a thought... do the balls perform better when struck with clubs from their own manufacturer? For example, do Pro V1's do better with Titleist clubs? Do TP5's perform better with TaylorMade clubs? My thinking is that manufacturers test their clubs with their own golf balls and test their golf balls with their own clubs, so maybe the "cross engineering" for lack of a better term, produces equipment and golf balls that work better together. I doubt that there is a significant difference given that many tour pros cross brands between clubs and golf balls, but it would be an interesting idea to test. Keep up the great video's Rick.
I think that the biggest difference for me is the penetrating ball flight and interaction with the green. That is where I tend to see the biggest difference between all the leading brands. Perhaps once lockdown is done you could do another comparison video in this regard?
I use Calloway super shots but best ball I’ve ever used is MaxFli Revolution. They’re SO good and cheap, you should do a video on them. Feel great, forgiving, and soft but still bomb off a drive. Played 18 holes today and on the last hole found a brand new proV1 left in the rough.
I've never purchased them, but I've found a bunch in ponds and the woods and I gotta say that I like their feel off the driver and especially the putter.
Rick have you thought about doing what a average golfer may use vs a premium golf ball? And showing the major difference and why spending a little more makes or doesn’t make a big difference ?
Rick! I shoot the Callaway chrome soft, tp5, and occasionally the prov most games I’m using the callaway But that’s personal opinion. I have seen ads about this cheapest “premium” golf ball by the brand vise I would love for you to do a video and if you have a minute take a look at this ball. I was way more surprised than I thought I would be with them!
Golf monthly did fairly extensive robot testing in a series of you tube videos. The pro v was unbelievable consistent with almost no dispersion across irons and wedges.
I usually didn't care what ball I hit then I started using Pro V1 went to the AVX for awhile and loved them but they didn't spin enough around the greens went back to Pro V1 and can actually feel the difference now. I've played with the TP5 and to me they feel like you said like rocks off the tee they were great but putting they were awful on feel. Keep up the great content this one got me thinking.
I play on a Nashville metro course. I find far more balls than I lose. I only keep them if they are in excellent condition. Can't remember the last time I purchased balls. I have a bag full of found Pro V1's, Chrome Softs, and Z-Stars. I don't run across many TP5's for some reason. I can't tell the difference between these balls. However, I do prefer the Pro V1's and Chrome Softs because I have found them to be more durable.
Hi Rick i am playing the Snell MBT-X and performance wise it's equal to the Pro V1, however i pay 50% less. I would love to see you test this golf ball!
Okay that's a great comparison for great golfers who really dial in on ball performance. What I would really like to see is what is the best of the cheaper balls? Which ball is the best to keep and which ones are the ones you dont keep when you find them playing a round? 13 handicap btw. Thanks
Unpainted golf balls like the Vision by Bozgolf, these are dyed not painted, last a looong time, and always look great. I've discussed with Boz the peculiar preference we have for ProV1 balls. Sound is the difference imho, and Boz agreed with me. I think ProV "feels" better around the green. However, that is pretty silly, I think a blind test would prove I can't tell the difference, but the sound around the greens might explain our preference... Boz makes a ball the equal of anything on the market, the dyed ball stops differently than the painted ball, but the feel or sound around the green kills it. Although my eyes like the Vision by Bozgolf at 60... The other premium balls miss the around the green feel as well.
I just picked up 3 dozen Z-Star Balls for $79.98 (buy 2, get 1 free). I've never played them before but I'm pumped to see they're as good as a ProV1. I also think a lot more highly of the TP5 and Chromsoft now too. Great video Rick!
Rick, wouldn’t you like to verify these balls outdoor, to see the difference in ball flight, real behaviour of balls during chips, etc? Simulators are just simulators, balancing parameters, without real test on the golfcourse, it’s a mathematical comparison (apart from durability check :)
Enjoyed this comparison video but how about doing a follow-up comparing the pro-V1 with its contemporaries from when it was released? You talk about it being a game changer, so it would be interesting to get some stats to show that being the case.
So many good balls out there now. I changed from Z Star to Z Star XV. It provides me with better feedback on chips from tight lies. What happened to Volvik? I loved the S3 and S4.
Could you do a video comparing the performance of a premium golf ball (ProV1, TP5, etc.) to the performance of a cheap, low-quality ball? I think that would be very telling and give a better idea of what you get when you buy a top-dollar ball.
What ball do you play?
Just any I can find.
Tp5 pix
Probably need to settle on one and stick with it for awhile. I'm now into the AVX and am liking it a lot. We'll see how long that lasts, haha!
I shoot in the low to mid 70s playing top flites haha. They're cheap and they're pretty good. In tournaments I play Callaway chrome softs
Brigestone rx
I personally have lost in the water every one of these. I like the way the TM-TP5 makes the splash better. It seems like the ripples are closer together. Must be the spin. 👍🏼
That's fucking funny!✔️
Lmao!
😂😂😂
Hahaha
When theres a hole with a water pattern or anywhere the ball can get lost, I always pull out the top flights i found in the woods.
I would have loved to see Bridgestone make this comparison list. I need to know how Tiger's ball compares!
Tp5 pv1 Bridgestone tour are really a matter of preference and your swing. I played the pv1 for 9 yrs then Bridgestone for 1 yr. now tp5 for about 6 months. For me the tp5 flys further with mid to long irons. Spin around the greens is about equal. Buy a sleeve of each and play a round with each. You can’t go wrong
It is pretty bad that you think that tiger plays a bridgestone that is a titleist printed with bridgestone
Just like the clubs: miura
@@warriornotworrier6125 no it's not lmao. Tiger plays Brisgestone tour B XS. It's a phenomenal ball.
@@TheGoldenriff it is marketing so dumb people like you believe in that
I use the +6 Bridgestone. Best ball in my opinion.
Overrated? No.
Overpriced? Absolutely.
Everything in golf is overpriced. It’s just that the brands that have prices 15-20% under other brands appear reasonably priced.
@@vika0194 Take a look at at Snell golf balls. I think they are in the Vice golf ball category was well. Well worth it
Pat Hunter I would like to see them compared to a medium price range ball
@@vika0194 Absolutely. Then you will see the $$$ performance difference. I like that
@Tucson Jim them balls are definitely overpriced cocker.
I just play what ever ball I end up finding, since I find random balls easier than I can find mine. However I did notice I have played a Vice better than any ball so far.
Rick is trustworthy: I've hit the Pro V1 and the TaylorMade balls & they are different, but they are both the best balls I've ever played with. I played the TaylorMade balls at the Raven Golf Club in Phoenix, AZ because the pro said, "For our golf course, these balls give you a slight, but noticeable edge. He was right. I've also bought the Cobra 2019 driver on Rick's recommendation: I think he's honest & has good judgment. So many people out there are full of $hit, but not Rick. Cheers, mate.
Chester Micek I agree with you. I have also made the purchase of a Cobra 🐍 F8 3 wood due to Ricks recommendations. He is a diamond in the ruff. Cheers mate.
Every club in my bag has been brought on Rick recommendation. From driver through to putter. Top reviewer 👍
What was the noticeable edge the taylormades gave you over a Pro V1 at raven golf club? For the life of me I can’t see the difference when I hit different premium balls ! Lol
I’ve played Raven, one of the greatest valued courses on the West coast!
Matt Dodd All premium balls will perform so similarly that the only difference will be caused by the user not the ball.
What about testing “lake balls” compared to new balls
from the same brand?
Respectfully Rick, in the US:
Srixon: $40
ProV: $52
As a 7 handicap, I’m still choosing the Z-Star all day at that price point
With the 4 for 3 deal each year it drops to roughly 36 per dozen. I just do that once a year and am usually good for the season.
Not sure where you're buying them but most pro shops have better deals on ProV1 when buying 2 or 3 dozen. I paid $39.95 per dozen last season. Haven't had to purchase any yet for this year.
I agree, with my high spin rate they work out perfect for me. Also its cheaper when I loose a ball. Haha
Srixon ZStar and XV usually has a BOGO free sale each year... Got 20 dozen Zstar @ around $25 (CDN) a dozen last year... For that price, it's my go it to ball!
Joe Earley was just going with one dozen price for each. The pro shop deals definitely help but Z-Stars are Buy 2 get one free on their website, so price is around $26 per dozen
The durability test is where I believe there have been substantial improvements in value over the last 10 years with premium golf balls. I remember the Nike Tour Accuracy, Strata, earlier Callaway balls and even the earlier ProV1 balls always getting deep cuts after a few wedge shots, especially when square grooves were the thing in the earlier 2000’s. I don’t think modern balls dance on the green like they used to, but they sure do last a long time, even if you bounce them down the cart paths.
Agreed. But when you hit it into the woods or water it’s no fun at these inflated prices
I would like to see a review on the Vice Premium Golf Ball
and Snell
Yes, put it against the Snell. Dollar for dollar or pound for pound, Snell tops the list. Wilson Staff Urethane Balls are way over looked!
Dennis Swaney I have played the vice now for 2 years, previously played Pro v1. Found no noticeable difference in length or spin. The only issue is the vice do scuff up more and are not as durable, however they save me around $5 a ball. Well worth the switch.
And the Inesis 900, £20 a dozen and excellent balls for the price...
And Cut
As fer as questions of durability, let me hit a few, I can test the durability from trees and cart paths to see how they hold up.
I play the Vice Pro, loved this review but would be nice to see some lesser known makes and see how they stack up. Things like Vice, Snell or Seed
Been rocking the Vice Pro for probably 3 or 4 years now. Seem to be the same quality but half the price.
Snell MTB-X!
Tucson Jim you comment a lot in a way that makes it seem like you think every other weekend warrior’s opinions are complete and utter manure
I've tried all 3, all were good but the Snell cut up really badly, and I had to throw it out after only 1 round. Probably prefer the seed over all.
Cant believe you left Tiger's Bridgestone ball out........disappointing.
Here, here! You are literally wearing a tiger hat.
Rick "Next video will be me cutting my hair with the golf ball splitter" Shiels
I’d love you do one for the £20-£25 for a dozen range best mid price one 👍👍 great video though.
Rick, have you tried the Vice Pro ball? I would love to see you review that one? I play it and consider it up near the pro v1
tried em , noticeably poor durability imho
@@The_Tokoloshe They're good though. I lose a ball or 2 per round so worth it for me.
Rick Shiels, would love to see you test the Vice balls and compare to the other premium golf balls.
I think he did that last year! I was super interested as well. SPOILER: Vice held its own against Pro V1’s
TheKingKC3 i have searches for it But could find it. I’ll look again then. Thanks
Tony Appelgren sorry bout that, the video was actually from his buddy Peter Finch. Here’s the link if you’re interested ruclips.net/video/opZl7PLAYw0/видео.html
How could you leave Bridgestone Tour B out? It is the only ball with a new material in it.
I love the Bridgestones, they are "Squeshy" but that is a personal preference which I have heard a few of my mates dislike.
Bro you crazy Bridgestone horrible
@@hyattthegolfer8936 you mean the ball made over the course of years with Tiger Woods?
Chromesoft has a sub razor thin graphite layer. By far the most impressive material ever used in a golf product.
@@hyattthegolfer8936 LOL, you have no clue what youre talking about. Bridgestone and Srixon are the only big oem companies that make a ball that can compare with the Pro V1.
Callaway has had some manufacturing issues in the past. Inconsistencies. Do you think they've overcome them?
I've noticed they've taken their golf ball production out of China and moved it to the United States and Taiwan. Maybe that's helped some.
Rick I'm surprised you didn't include the Bridgestone tour Bx. I think is the best ball in golf.
You are absolutely right, they are hands down the best I love them
Are they really that good? Ive been thinking about a box
Thats what I came here to say. Bridgestone is the most under rated ball out there. Fantastic quality.
Same here... I’ve been playing PV1 forever and recently picked up Bridgestone tour and I like them a lot.
Weird to think that the ball Tiger uses is considered underrated
Love the vid as always Rick, but here's my two cents worth (and by the way, i'm a weekend golfer, single-digit handicap, who swings his driver around 100-105 mph):
I agree that there isn't that much difference in performance of the balls, but the durability question that you answered could go a little further --- of course these balls still look good, they're being hit off a mat, into a screen. In my experience, when hitting these balls at a real golf course, the ProVI is top notch BUT it's durability is dramatically lacking. Same for the TP5. When those things go through the rigors of landing on real fairways and greens, they hit dirt with sand, mineral particles, etc. that is very abrasive to them. The ProVI (my favorite and i'd hit it every chance i could if i could afford it) just seems to wear quicker than most. Same with the TP5. The Srixon Z-star seems to last a little longer. I can't speak for the chromesoft, i don't play it. And i haven't gotten my hands on this year's Bridgestone yet, but the prior ones (the B330's) seemed to wear out fast too. Performance around the greens comes at a price, i suppose.
I was going to comment this same thing I play z stars and noticed the durability compared to other balls
MSsive massive respect for putting a video out there that isn’t you rushing to the golf course to play golf. The kinda video everyone should watch before they rush to the course before they play. 👍
When are you going to give the Snell MTB-X a chance? Give some direct to consumer balls some love.
Solid review and really interesting data. I recently played a Titleist pro v1 yellow ball and was really impressed with the durability of the ball, particularly given the amount of trees, rocks and cart paths that I normally hit in a round of golf
Great review as always. Good to know all the expensive balls that I can't afford to hit in the woods will all perform the same when I do lol. I truly think these are priced way to high on average.
Would’ve been interesting to see the Mizuno ball in the mix. Great test!
Are we going to sleep on the Bridgestone Tour B xs while you're wearing that hat?
Bridgestone replaced a really good $32 ball with pretty much the same ball (new box!) For $45 a dozen.
Meh.
The BX330s were GREAT balls, no matter the price point!
@@GP-yc2it The Tour BX/BXS are the best balls I've found. The new BX is a massive improvement over last years but I cant tell a huge difference in the BXS.
Is it really that good...I've gamed most of the big premium balls, prov1, and 1x, both tp5s and both chrome softs and am currently testing out the srixon...I surprisingly haven't heard much from my golfing buddies at my club about the Bridgestone but people seem to be impressed with it in the comments
@@MarkSmith-lz5rk Depends. I like a high spinning golf ball with soft feel on the putter face. The BXS is as long as my ProV1X but not as clicky. BX is longer but a bit firmer (similar to V1X) and not quite as spinny.
Mark Smith i was always a massive pro v1 advocate and I tried the tour bxs last summer and have never thought about going back to a pro v1
Rick, would love to see a comparison of the next level down in cost vs. the premium ball - Bridgestone e6, Callaway Supersoft, TM Project (a), Titleist Velocity and Srixon Q-Star. Thanks for keeping the content coming!
Aerodynamics of golf balls in a range setting may have impact and interesting results
You might have done this already, but you should do a test for the entire selection for each brand. Like Titleist prov1, prov1x, avx, tour soft, etc.. maybe to see if the price is worth it? Thanks!
Did you forget about the bridgestone ball Rick. An amazing and very over looked ball. Even good enough for Tiger Woods
@Tucson Jim what do you mean just because tiger uses it. It is a good ball and he should compare it. And tiger swing isnt specially shallow?
You shoukd do a video on the differences of a premium ball a cheap ball and a range/practice ball like so Rick sees this
Great review! I'd love to see how the Vice Pro/Pro Plus compare against our modern day premium golf balls.
Loved the review/comparisons. I have played the Chrome Soft for about 5 years. I like the older version before they added Graphene to it. The new balls seem to be firmer to me. I’ve played the TP5 Tru-Vis and like the feel.
Rick do a review on the Wilson staff duo soft golf ball please
I've played that ball a few times, I'm no pro, but I liked it.
Their new urethane tour ball is really nice. A bit pricey for a new entry to premium level, but it I really liked the feel of it. Similar to ProV1
@@scottpaul9979 Most of the balls now feel really good and perform well, so many to choose from.
Fair testing... Thanks for the information on what people like to hear from a non sponsor channel. Rock on Rick
I can't believe you didn't add a Bridgestone Tour B X into the mix :-(
Super disappointed as well love the Bridgestone
@Tucson Jim No, the only ball he left out that compares to the pro V is a bridgestone tour b/bx. ERC is a 2 piece distance ball, not comparable to a pro v. I wouldnt even put chrome soft in this comparison, their quality control issues are terrible.
I play all 4 plus the Bridgeston Tour B. Whatever is on sale really (or I find in the trees) I load up about 6 dozen and I am good for the whole year typically. You are right that the balls are a lot similar than dissimilar. However if I am playing in a tournament, I am playing a ProV1. In my observation, with the way I play and swing, the ball trajectories are different and spin characteristics are different on partial shots. That is where ProV1(and Bridgeston Tour BX) excels. It has nice mid trajectory for me, and has good check on partial pitches and chips. TP5 flies too low, and Srixon and Chrome too high. For that reason, I prefer ProV1 and Bridgestone. If I have to buy Taylormade, I usually go for TP5X as the trajectory is what I like seeing but it doesn't behave the same on partial shots. Great review.
Over a span of 15 years in big box retail, it did not matter were the Titleists were displyed on an end cap or in the rafters, for those that desire Titleist, they'll pay throough the wazoo for them. Doesn't matter if it's a 20 handicapper that wants a Pro V that can hardly hit a ball beyond their shadow- They can pay for it, they'll play it.
Hey, that’s not fair I’m a 20 handicap and I hit it way past my shadow. It just swings a little left before making a right turn into the trees! Lol
Fantabulous video, Rick, thank you! I'm in Spain, confined in a XVI c. castle (long story), and these videos just give that little something I need to keep going until I'm free to play again. I don't think you are aware of how much you are helping many of us. Thank you again!
The Walmart down the road from me has ZStars for $25 a dozen. Naturally I cleaned them out
Are you sure it’s not the previous model year?
@@vika0194 Who cares
My favorite ball
Lamarcus Brown You should care because that makes the whole thing pointless about him getting a much cheaper price. Are you dumb? If it’s the previous model year he is not saving a dollar. All stores have that price.
@@vika0194 No they don't are you dumb. Find a previous year Z star for $25 dollars
Great video Rick you should also do videos on a bunch of mid range balls and a bunch of very cheap balls. As a beginner high-handicapper ,who loses a few on a bad day, the balls I use are Slazenger 300 softs at £18 for 48.
My favorite is the Bridgestone tour b xs
Agreed
Hands down the softest feel
I really appreciate the fact you lined up the shots with the music (specifically 7:00). I feel that touch of editing made it that much better and I really enjoyed it and didn't want it to go unnoticed!
I'm curious if the vice golf ball could be in this conversation as well.
What would also be interesting would be to see the difference between pro-v1 and say the mid range. Like Wilson Duo Soft, Callaway Super soft and the Taylor Made Tour Soft.
Would love to see a vice ball on this list
Great review but I would've liked to see the difference in green side shots or half swings. Being a high ball hitter and generally playing on softer greens I usually have no problem holding a green with a full swing no matter the ball but greenside control is important to me but if these balls actually don't spin anymore than a medium range ball than I'll just start playing those.
I still have a couple dozen Nike Platinums. I love them but don't want to use them because they're not made anymore.
Good balls
Same here.
No, lol. I guess I just like knowing I have them.
Thank you both! I will start to use them and maybe just keep one of them.
Found a nike when playing last round... Should i use it, or save it? Played good rounds with that brand... ha ha!
That’s why I watch your channel! Honest opinions with no bias.
The TP5 is likely the shortest due to the increased spin on each of those shots. It was also disappointing how much damage the TP5 had.
I’m most surprised by the Callaway, which prides itself on being a soft ball, but it having the longest 7 iron carry distance and tying for the longest driver carry distance-plus having no visible damage after the endurance testing. Very surprised.
I play the chrome soft with the triple track on it. The triple track is new on the chrome soft for 2020 after it did so well on other Callaway balls last year.
Loving the long hair through the cap 😂
This lock down has affected us all in mysterious ways. Lol.
Yes all 4 of them pretty similar. But here in Asia, TP5 and ProV1 are the one with rarely giving price offer. Chrome Soft and Srixon often giving good price discount.
If I had a sim like this in my house I’d be on tour by now
Quarantined in hotel for the next few days. Just got done with helping administer Covid-19 tests in Northern Illinois. Figured I’d work on my putting speed.
Love my Snells...
@Tucson Jim Can't group the Snell ball in with Vice. Dean Snell is acrually a ball engineer. He was with Titleist and Taylormade before starting his own company. His name is on several of their patents.
The Snell ball is comparable to the 4 balls he tested, the only real difference is driver distance, it falls off a few yards (not a big deal really). They are just as durable and actually for me, they spin more off my irons than any other ball. I have been playing Snell for about a year and as long as they are $15 cheaper than the market premium balls I will stick with them.
@@dahlflynn2431 I have found the mtbx to be longer off the driver actually. In Aus and the snells work out to 42 dollars a doz where the best price for any 'premium' balls is 65-70, its really a no contest
I enjoy playing the ChromeSoft over a ProV1 mainly for the Truvis soccer ball design in yellow.
Very non-committal on the question of if the Pro V1 is overrated ! 😂 I’d say yes based on this video 🤷🏻♂️
I’ve used the Pro V1 for quite a long time. I’ve tried all the premium balls out there and have always gone back to the Pro V1. I bought a box of Bridgestone Tour B X and took it out to put it up against Pro V1 and AVX. I smoked three drives with each ball and the Tour B X was a tad longer than both. The AVX was second. The differences in distance were negligible and wouldn’t be a defining factor for me, but the Tour B X felt the best off the face. In the end, for me, the Tour B X felt better.
Sometimes I feel like people just like to say that they are playing with a Pro V1.
Me: what ball you playing with
Friend:Oh I’m playing with a Pro V1. Then proceeds to slice it into the trees and it’s gone forever 😂
Don't make fun of us 10 handicappers who only use Pro Vs!!!! Lol.
SO? haha. It's always the archer not the arrow.
I've played all those golf balls except the Srixon one. All of the Pro V1 balls that I have played were from lost balls that other players have lost, and I liked it a lot, had a tendency to not slice it as much. Chromesoft I didn't like off the tee because it spins too much, but for 2nd shots it fared pretty well. TP5 is my current go to right now (I usually go for the previous generation pix because it's 30$ per dozen at the moment), it provides me with good spin, good distance off the tee, and I can play my baby fade with mostly no issues, not to mention it's the ball that got me my lowest round of golf ever. With that being said if I had to choose I would play the Pro V1 all day...if I could afford it, but TP5 pix does the job for me.
Prov1 all the way for me. I've tried them all. Playing 600 feet above sea level on a windy downland links nothing beats the stability of ball flight on the prov1. Slightly flatter launch angle and sidespin helps in 25 mph wind. 🌬️⛳
Try TP5x - it's an AMAZING wind ball.
Hey Rick, would love to see a review of all the Direct to Consumer balls! Vice, Snell, Cut, and OnCore to be specific!
U have to test the Vice Pro. In my testing, there is almost no difference from pro v and they are half price. Would love to see u do a comparison
Play tp5x and the only thing I notice over every other brand is how it’s seemingly less affected by the wind. Which is a bonus for Lancashire links
Protip: skip the first 7 mins of any Rick Shields video to get to the meat
I would like to see you do a similar video but focusing on slightly cheaper golf balls...as examples, Titleist TourSoft versus TaylorMade Tour Response versus Vice Pro versus Callaway ERC Soft...something like that
Everybody else’s R & D department’s job is to replicate a Titleist..
I may have missed this in the comments but....Why was there such a difference in Launch Angle on the driver test between the Titleist and the other 3 brands? Titleist was just over 12 degrees while the other three were all around 15 degrees. Almost looked like a different driver was used.
Good video, I have started playing the Callaway chrome softs and I really like them. Not used the Pro V1 but doesn’t look like there is much point in changing really
Hey Rick. Just wanted to mention that your tips and instructional videos have helped tremendously with my game. Today was the first day out in 2020, I live in Canada so I don't get to golf year round. My driver let me down, but for the most part, I hit my irons with great contact all day. Thank you for the advice!
I too play the ProV1 but like you I've tried the TP5 and the Chrome Soft. Never hit the ZStar. For me, it seems like the ProV1 is just a bit more durable in live course conditions when you hit the occasional tree branch, cart path etc. the cover just seems a bit more durable than the Chrome Soft and the TP5 but I agree, they're all great balls!
Very interesting. Love the numbers. I’ve always struggled with too much spin on my driver, but of course want the high spin on irons and wedges. So for me the Pro V1 seems just perfect. Average spin with wedges, high spin with irons and low spin with driver. TM’s more spin, but also with the driver which deffoes is not a trade off I’m willing to make. Pro V1’s best of both worlds to me 😍
Not played golf for a few years but when I played off 4 I used to use any ball I could find and people were perplexed by that. Its round and it flies !!
Thank you Rick for all you do!!!
I've come to terms that I won't be able to play sports my whole life, so golf will be the last one I'll be able to do! I just picked up this sport last month and have been watching ALL your videos to improve in anyway possible! Got a Cobra F9 speedback;)
I started out shooting a 110 and now down around 80-87 consistently!!
THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!!
This is why I enjoy Rick so much. Even if he is bias, it does not come through on video. He is fair with all reviews. One of my go to sources when I am researching.
I discovered your channel last week and I am addicted!! Just getting back into golf seriously and this is ALL fantastic content!! Keep up the great work!!
Just a thought... do the balls perform better when struck with clubs from their own manufacturer? For example, do Pro V1's do better with Titleist clubs? Do TP5's perform better with TaylorMade clubs? My thinking is that manufacturers test their clubs with their own golf balls and test their golf balls with their own clubs, so maybe the "cross engineering" for lack of a better term, produces equipment and golf balls that work better together. I doubt that there is a significant difference given that many tour pros cross brands between clubs and golf balls, but it would be an interesting idea to test. Keep up the great video's Rick.
I think that the biggest difference for me is the penetrating ball flight and interaction with the green. That is where I tend to see the biggest difference between all the leading brands. Perhaps once lockdown is done you could do another comparison video in this regard?
I use Calloway super shots but best ball I’ve ever used is MaxFli Revolution. They’re SO good and cheap, you should do a video on them. Feel great, forgiving, and soft but still bomb off a drive. Played 18 holes today and on the last hole found a brand new proV1 left in the rough.
I've never purchased them, but I've found a bunch in ponds and the woods and I gotta say that I like their feel off the driver and especially the putter.
Rick have you thought about doing what a average golfer may use vs a premium golf ball? And showing the major difference and why spending a little more makes or doesn’t make a big difference ?
Rick... great video. I use pro v1s and find them the best “feeling” . Mabe you could do a video in the best mid range balls ... .
Rick! I shoot the Callaway chrome soft, tp5, and occasionally the prov most games I’m using the callaway But that’s personal opinion. I have seen ads about this cheapest “premium” golf ball by the brand vise I would love for you to do a video and if you have a minute take a look at this ball. I was way more surprised than I thought I would be with them!
Golf monthly did fairly extensive robot testing in a series of you tube videos. The pro v was unbelievable consistent with almost no dispersion across irons and wedges.
I usually didn't care what ball I hit then I started using Pro V1 went to the AVX for awhile and loved them but they didn't spin enough around the greens went back to Pro V1 and can actually feel the difference now. I've played with the TP5 and to me they feel like you said like rocks off the tee they were great but putting they were awful on feel. Keep up the great content this one got me thinking.
I play on a Nashville metro course. I find far more balls than I lose. I only keep them if they are in excellent condition. Can't remember the last time I purchased balls.
I have a bag full of found Pro V1's, Chrome Softs, and Z-Stars. I don't run across many TP5's for some reason. I can't tell the difference between these balls. However, I do prefer the Pro V1's and Chrome Softs because I have found them to be more durable.
Surprised Bridgestone wasn’t part of this test. I love hitting the BX model series balls
Interesting test. Would have liked to see the Bridgestone and Mizuno "premium" balls thrown into it as well. They're around the same price point.
Hi Rick i am playing the Snell MBT-X and performance wise it's equal to the Pro V1, however i pay 50% less. I would love to see you test this golf ball!
Okay that's a great comparison for great golfers who really dial in on ball performance. What I would really like to see is what is the best of the cheaper balls? Which ball is the best to keep and which ones are the ones you dont keep when you find them playing a round? 13 handicap btw. Thanks
Unpainted golf balls like the Vision by Bozgolf, these are dyed not painted, last a looong time, and always look great.
I've discussed with Boz the peculiar preference we have for ProV1 balls. Sound is the difference imho, and Boz agreed with me. I think ProV "feels" better around the green. However, that is pretty silly, I think a blind test would prove I can't tell the difference, but the sound around the greens might explain our preference... Boz makes a ball the equal of anything on the market, the dyed ball stops differently than the painted ball, but the feel or sound around the green kills it. Although my eyes like the Vision by Bozgolf at 60... The other premium balls miss the around the green feel as well.
I just picked up 3 dozen Z-Star Balls for $79.98 (buy 2, get 1 free). I've never played them before but I'm pumped to see they're as good as a ProV1. I also think a lot more highly of the TP5 and Chromsoft now too. Great video Rick!
Rick, wouldn’t you like to verify these balls outdoor, to see the difference in ball flight, real behaviour of balls during chips, etc? Simulators are just simulators, balancing parameters, without real test on the golfcourse, it’s a mathematical comparison (apart from durability check :)
Would love to see a ProV1 vs Bridgestone RXS!!!
Enjoyed this comparison video but how about doing a follow-up comparing the pro-V1 with its contemporaries from when it was released?
You talk about it being a game changer, so it would be interesting to get some stats to show that being the case.
Need to make a video comparing bad maintained or bad storage golf equipment on performance against new or good maintained.
So many good balls out there now. I changed from Z Star to Z Star XV. It provides me with better feedback on chips from tight lies. What happened to Volvik? I loved the S3 and S4.
Could you do a video comparing the performance of a premium golf ball (ProV1, TP5, etc.) to the performance of a cheap, low-quality ball? I think that would be very telling and give a better idea of what you get when you buy a top-dollar ball.