Golf Ball Review - Wilson Staff FG Tour v Mizuno MP801 v Titleist Pro V1

[petethepilot]

Hi all,

in response to the introduction of the 2010 conforming grooves, a number of manufacturers are producing balls that move away from the low spin bullets that currently dominate the market (ie Pro V1X). They have their own ways of doing that and although I will provide links to the sites, I won't get into the technology. Suffice to say, spin is coming back in vogue.
The test;
I played today at Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club in Hong Kong. It is a good course although slightly on the short side. The elevation changes and the wind make it play longer. The greens are slightly receptive to a fairway shot but not anything hit from rough. Mid irons struck well will stop in 10 to 20 feet whilst wedges generally stop within 4 to 10 feet. Very unusual to bring a ball back on them.

For those who don't know me, I am a late 40's amateur who currently plays off 3. I have been as low as scratch but work/family commitments and a slow loss of short game have seen a gradual increase in handicap. I average about 240m/265y off the tee and hit a 7 iron 150m/165y in still wind. I play Miura blades with conforming grooves. My long game is still pretty sharp. In this game in question I hit 14/18 greens and 10/12 fairways in regulation. My main needs from a ball are reasonable distance but not at a sacrifice to feel and consistency. The ball needs to spin as I have a lowish ball flight through the bag. I tend not to impart too much sideways on the ball with my bad shot being an over the top pull or fat dump left. Most importantly, I look for consistent distance control on ball with my irons. I do not like a shot jumping on me. Over the back is usually bad!

The balls played were;

Wilson Staff FG Tour (www.golfballtest.org/?p=577);
Mizuno MP 801 (http://www.golftoimpress.com/2009/09...eries-balls/); and
Titleist Pro V1 2010. (This has been my ball of choice in the last few years!)

I decided I would rotate the three balls ensuring each ball played at least 1 Par5, 1 long par4 and a short and a long par3. (each ball saw 6 holes play).

The results;

Distance.
The Pro V appears to be the longest although not by much. (a launch monitor session is needed to verify this as there are too many variables) Iron shots with the mizuno flew about the same but the Pro V gave a more penetrating flight into the wind with the driver. The wilson felt marginally shorter but not excessively.

Feel
The ProV has a hard to describe click to it. It feels more lively than the other two but also feels like it stays on the face for the shortest time. The Mizuno felt like butter and gave the sensation of compression on the face. The wilson as probably in the middle but had a slightly 'heavier' feel with the irons.

Consistency
The ProV is still the yard stick in many ways but the Mizuno appeared to match it. It never jumped off the face and it flew as I planned even on knock down shots. the Wilson had a tendency to come up short as it will balloon more than the others into a wind.

Trajectory

The ProV has a more penetrating flight. The Mizuno ever so slightly higher but very controllable. The Wilson has the highest flight and is the hardest to hit knock down shots with. Saying that, none would be considered too high!

Spin.

Without a shadow of a doubt, the Mizuno spins the most through the bag. As the Wilson feels 'mushier' I expected it to spin heavily but found the Mizuno comfortably outdid it. It was the only ball I brought back and I found I could stop 5/6 irons in 10 feet versus 20 feet for the other two balls.

Putting/chipping

again the ProV feels livelier off the face but the Mizuno felt softer yet responsive. The Wilson came a poor third as it felt dead off the putter face but didn't spin so much on chip/lob shots.

Durability

The balls only got to play 6 holes each. From experience I know a ProV will take a lot of punshment and will easily do 18 holes. The Wilson tends to scuff up and would struggle to survive 18 holes. It also has a tendency to become duller in whiteness than the other two. The Mizuno was in good shape in general but did show some groove marks from a 54* wedge shot (played with non conforming grooves). It's soft feel/spin tendencies would make it susceptible to cutting up if full wedge shots occur.

Cost

In Hong Kong, all golf balls are cheap (compared to Australia). The ProV sells at a 10% premium to the Wilson. The Mizuno is brand new and not yet available outside Asia. They have promotions of 3 Doz for the price of 2 happening so as to get some impact in the market. Once that settles down, I believe it will still be the cheapest ball but only by a small amount compared to the wilson. Probably 15% cheaper than the ProV

Summary

If you are a good player (who doesn't care about cost) with a swing speed in excess of 105 mph or you have a high launch angle and play on receptive greens, the ProV is still your ball. If you don't hit it as hard/high, like to feel the ball and want maximum short game capability, then the Mizuno is for you. The added bonus is that it is likely to be cheaper than the Titleist.
Unfortunately to me, the Wilson is a nearly ball that is OK but not as good as the other two in any category. I am happy to use the remaining balls I have from my dozen but I won't be getting any more.

These are my opinions and I hope you find them useful.

Pete

[rick3003]

Great review Pete.

Been trialling the B330S and Penta but always end up back with the Pro V1

Cheers

[TheTrueReview]

Thanks for going to the trouble of posting Pete. Great review.

[IanO]

Great review Pete. I keep looking at changing from the Pro V1x to something else because of the price, but I keep coming back. I will try some of these if I see them for sale.

[TourFit]

Great review Pete.

Interesting that Mizuno are making a foray into the ball market...no surprise they feel like butter though, Mizzy seem to specialise in that!

[dean0820]

i thought mizuno had always made balls. must be imagining things.

[macjackass]

Mizzy balls even feel like butter

Pro v still the best ball for me.

[solarman]

Does this mean I have to upgrade from my Dunlops and Top Flites....damn

[rubin]

Great review Pete.

Been trialling the B330S and Penta but always end up back with the Pro V1

Cheers

Cheers Pete, great review.

Rick, how would you rate the Penta? I've been considering giving them a go, but can't seem to pull the trigger.......

[Lucasto23]

Pete,

Very good and insightful review and very much like your golf game Now can you review the balls that spin less now to ensure no bias as i dont use the spinny ones

[PeteyD]

The review is not complete until you try them frozen ...

Frozen Balls

[Yossarian]

Petey that is bloody amazing

[PeteyD]

That's mild A-Lo.

[simmsy]

great review pete, thanks for that.

the question is though, did you bring back any of those Mizzy balls for us poor plebs here in the west?

they look like my kind of thing..

[petethepilot]

Sorry Simmsy, I only could buy 3 dozen!!!

You hit it to hard anyway. Remember, I said it suits if you swing less than about 105mph. Your not Yoss or JC!

Merry Xmas,

Pete

[petethepilot]

BTW, Mizuno have made balls before but directed at the average hacker or distance seeking golfer in the Asian market. Because they have used their premium MP label means they are serious about these balls and in my opinion, they are seriously good. They also make a lower spin ProV1X type ball, surprisingly called the MP 801X.

Pete

Just google it for more info!

[dave1]

Im the same..tried everything

pro V1 I have shot my 5 best scores with

[petethepilot]

But Dave, I shot a career low 67 at the National using a Top Flight Stratus...but I wouldn't still use one!

Pete

[matty]

Nice one Pete. Wouldn't mind trying one of the mizzie's when they arrive here.