Consumer Focus Golf balls and rain gear: Paul Gallagher looks at the wide range of balls on the market and how they compete on price
Finally, the chance has come to talk a load of balls. This week it's the turn of the round, white dimpled sort that so many of us thrash around fairways before totting up and recording how many times we've hit it on a scorecard.
Due to their obvious necessity to play the game, golf balls form a considerable part of the overall equipment market within the sport. For that reason there is a vast range of balls to factor-in when selecting the right type for your individual needs.
After some consumer research of our own it was clear Titleist hold a very strong share in the market, particularly within the top and mid ranges. The Titleist ProV1 and ProV1x remain the most popular ball on the European and American professional Tours, just as they are with Ireland's top amateurs and lower handicap players.
"The Titleist ProV1 range walk out the door, to be honest," explains Gavin Irwin of McGuirk's Golf in Howth. "They are by far the most popular ball with the better players." A euro or two either way, the ProV1 range sells for €50 for a dozen or €13 for a sleeve of three. That could be considered expensive but then again if it's the ball of choice for the better player, they don't tend to lose as many balls as us mere mortals.
Earlier this year Callaway introduced the HX Tour 56 - replacing the HT Tour - to compete with the ProV1. With a unique hexagonal dimple design and the same soft feel for around the greens as the ProV1, the Callaway ball gained much exposure as it was the ball Phil Mickelson won this year's USPGA Championship with. The Maxfli Black Max or the Nike Platinum, the range Tiger Woods uses, also compete at the upper end of the market.
However, it isn't always necessary to spend that sort of money on golf balls and there is plenty of value to be found in what might be called the mid range. Mark Broderick from Golf Works suggests: "Titleist also have this mid range sewn up with their NXT, NXT Tour and SoLo balls."
The SoLo range start from as little as €24 (dozen) with the high street retailers we contacted and rise to around €30 for the NXT range. These balls are harder in comparison to the ProV1 type and therefore generally create less spin and will fly further.
Mick O'Kelly at Nevada Bob's brings our attention to the Precept U-Tri Distance ball. "This ball might not be as well known as Titleist but it's becoming increasingly popular. It also came out on top in the Long Ball Test carried out by Golf World magazine.
Callaway also have the Big Bertha (Red/Blue) range, as do Srixon with the AD333 and Nike Distance, to compete in the mid market.
For the beginner or player who doesn't care so much about the technicalities of spin rate, club head speed etc there is still value within the budget range. For example, Nevada Bob's sell a 15-ball box of Pinnacle Gold for €15 or GolfWorks sell the equivalent quantity of Wilson Hyper TI for €16.
These balls are made by established manufacturers and are more than adequate to play with, it's just they don't have the same high specification. But they undoubtedly comparee well on price.
With such a wide range of balls on the market it might seem difficult to purchase the right type. However, personal experience suggests buying them is the easy bit, keeping them on the fairway and away from water-hazards is the tricky bit!
