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Date: 06 Dec 2006 23:03:48
From: Dave Lee
Subject: Golf Ball Review - Nike Power Distance Super Soft
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I finally took this one out on the course today. This ball caught my
interest for three reasons.
1) It is pretty cheap at somewhere around $15/dozen
2) My teaching pro likes the ball as well as most of the high end, 3 piece
balls that he has played
3) It got very good reviews at http://tinyurl.com/fujl8 (Consumer Reports)
I had played around with it some in our chipping/pitching area before
today's round. My fundamental conclusion was that while you could get spin
on it around the greens, compared with the Pro V1x it took a bit more
clubhead speed before you got the kind of 'check up' that I prefer. With the
V1x I can get this with a LW from 10-15 yards (not that it backs up, just a
little bit of visible check). I couldn't really do this with the Nike from
inside 20 yards (carry). I didn't rule the ball out on this basis, but was
not exactly thrilled either.
Today I played in decent weather (50 degrees at tee time - probably hit 60
sometime during the day with little wind). I found the ball to be kind of
unexciting off the driver. It had kind of a "sleepy Pro V1 (not V1x) feel"
about it. I would judge it to hit (for me) about like a Pro V1 which would
be 5-10 yards shorter than the V1x. This is kind of a loosey-goosey best
guess on my part. I feel pretty confident that it isn't longer than a V1x -
anything more specific is speculative. For me it did not have a tendency to
balloon, which is a problem that I have (rarely) encountered with some other
balls.
I actually kind of liked the way it hit with irons and hybrids. It didn't
have a particularly boring or soaring trajectory for me, which was fine.
The one time I really needed to work the ball (the more I play the more I
tend to avoid trying this) I got a nice draw off a 3W from a good fairway
lie. It was a pleasant ball to hit from the fairway.
It has a very soft feel off the putterface - as soft as any ball that I have
ever used. I don't have a particular preference in that area, but folks who
do (and like soft) will like this ball. I was having trouble getting a nice
even roll off my putter today on lag putts (not typically an issue for me).
I assume that it was my stroke and not the ball, but I guess you never know.
But the final hole kind of says it all for me. I had a tough little pitch
shot with not much green (green sloping away) to work with. I picked my
landing spot (12 yards of carry), opened up my LW a bit, and hit a really
crisp little pitch off a very tight lie. I honestly believe that if the ball
had been a V1x it would have ended 3-5' long. It ended 11 feet long.
I don't really dislike this ball. And if I played courses with tons of
ball-losing hazards, the price might well be enough. But I don't lose a lot
of balls on the courses that I play. Plus there is a place a couple miles
down the road that sells used balls and I can hand-pick my own Pro V1's (or
V1x'es or a bunch of other balls) for $18-$22/dozen depending on condition
and kings (or $10/dozen for XOUT/Practice ked balls).
So I'll be giving the remainder of my dozen to my teaching pro and will
remain a V1x guy for now.
dave
ps. In the spirit of full disclosure I am VERY picky about how balls act
around the greens - possibly more than my skill level warrants.
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Date: 07 Dec 2006 18:53:57
From: elnino10@aol.com
Subject: Re: Golf Ball Review - Nike Power Distance Super Soft
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Bert Robbins wrote:
> Don Kirkman wrote:
> > It seems to me I heard somewhere that Dave Lee wrote in article
> > <o%Hdh.8255$1s6.1443@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net>:
> >
> >> I finally took this one out on the course today. This ball caught my
> >> interest for three reasons.
> >
> > Me, too, yesterday so I'll intersperse some comments.
> >
> >> 1) It is pretty cheap at somewhere around $15/dozen
> >> 2) My teaching pro likes the ball as well as most of the high end, 3 piece
> >> balls that he has played
> >> 3) It got very good reviews at http://tinyurl.com/fujl8 (Consumer Reports)
> >
> > I bought a dozen at Roger Dunn (major LA area big-box golf store; I
> > don't know how widely they're located) a couple of days ago, but they
> > were Power Distance *Power* Soft at just under $17. I assume that's a
> > new name to fit Nike's "power family" paradigm: Power Lady, Power Soft,
> > Power Flight, and Power Long for increasing swing speeds.
> >
> > I had one of those guys I hate come up and try to tell me how good the
> > ball was and how CR had rated it and all the rest that RSGers already
> > know. I hate that in stores as much as I do on the course.
> >
>
> Next time somebody on the course tells you how good their ball is ask
> for one and then launch it into the closet water hazard or other
> location where ball retrieval is difficult. And then tell them that you
> don't really like the feel of it.
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Date: 06 Dec 2006 16:24:36
From: Don Kirkman
Subject: Re: Golf Ball Review - Nike Power Distance Super Soft
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It seems to me I heard somewhere that Dave Lee wrote in article
<o%Hdh.8255$1s6.1443@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net >:
>I finally took this one out on the course today. This ball caught my
>interest for three reasons.
Me, too, yesterday so I'll intersperse some comments.
>1) It is pretty cheap at somewhere around $15/dozen
>2) My teaching pro likes the ball as well as most of the high end, 3 piece
>balls that he has played
>3) It got very good reviews at http://tinyurl.com/fujl8 (Consumer Reports)
I bought a dozen at Roger Dunn (major LA area big-box golf store; I
don't know how widely they're located) a couple of days ago, but they
were Power Distance *Power* Soft at just under $17. I assume that's a
new name to fit Nike's "power family" paradigm: Power Lady, Power Soft,
Power Flight, and Power Long for increasing swing speeds.
I had one of those guys I hate come up and try to tell me how good the
ball was and how CR had rated it and all the rest that RSGers already
know. I hate that in stores as much as I do on the course.
>I had played around with it some in our chipping/pitching area before
>today's round. My fundamental conclusion was that while you could get spin
>on it around the greens, compared with the Pro V1x it took a bit more
>clubhead speed before you got the kind of 'check up' that I prefer. With the
>V1x I can get this with a LW from 10-15 yards (not that it backs up, just a
>little bit of visible check). I couldn't really do this with the Nike from
>inside 20 yards (carry). I didn't rule the ball out on this basis, but was
>not exactly thrilled either.
>Today I played in decent weather (50 degrees at tee time - probably hit 60
>sometime during the day with little wind). I found the ball to be kind of
>unexciting off the driver. It had kind of a "sleepy Pro V1 (not V1x) feel"
>about it. I would judge it to hit (for me) about like a Pro V1 which would
>be 5-10 yards shorter than the V1x. This is kind of a loosey-goosey best
>guess on my part. I feel pretty confident that it isn't longer than a V1x -
>anything more specific is speculative. For me it did not have a tendency to
>balloon, which is a problem that I have (rarely) encountered with some other
>balls.
I took mine out for an old timers' tournament yesterday; started with
frost and a closed range, ended about 78 degrees. Score only slightly
on the good side of my recent results, but the feel was good. A lost
ball kept me from improving my index but I felt the potential was there
based on the ball flight characteristics.
I'm an erratic slow-speed short hitter; I liked the way drives flew when
I managed to hit them flush--not noticeably longer than other balls, but
straighter with good trajectory.
>I actually kind of liked the way it hit with irons and hybrids. It didn't
>have a particularly boring or soaring trajectory for me, which was fine.
>The one time I really needed to work the ball (the more I play the more I
>tend to avoid trying this) I got a nice draw off a 3W from a good fairway
>lie. It was a pleasant ball to hit from the fairway.
I was sharp with my irons, especially wedges, developing good spin
compared to my usual results, good height, and for me excellent line and
distance control on most shots toward the green.
>It has a very soft feel off the putterface - as soft as any ball that I have
>ever used. I don't have a particular preference in that area, but folks who
>do (and like soft) will like this ball. I was having trouble getting a nice
>even roll off my putter today on lag putts (not typically an issue for me).
>I assume that it was my stroke and not the ball, but I guess you never know.
>But the final hole kind of says it all for me. I had a tough little pitch
>shot with not much green (green sloping away) to work with. I picked my
>landing spot (12 yards of carry), opened up my LW a bit, and hit a really
>crisp little pitch off a very tight lie. I honestly believe that if the ball
>had been a V1x it would have ended 3-5' long. It ended 11 feet long.
>I don't really dislike this ball. And if I played courses with tons of
>ball-losing hazards, the price might well be enough. But I don't lose a lot
>of balls on the courses that I play. Plus there is a place a couple miles
>down the road that sells used balls and I can hand-pick my own Pro V1's (or
>V1x'es or a bunch of other balls) for $18-$22/dozen depending on condition
>and kings (or $10/dozen for XOUT/Practice ked balls).
>So I'll be giving the remainder of my dozen to my teaching pro and will
>remain a V1x guy for now.
Ah, down to here you had me. :-)
I suppose our differing comments reflect both experience/skill and
expectations, but for some of us, including but not limited to us
elderly folks, it may be a worthwhile change from the balls we're using
now.
>ps. In the spirit of full disclosure I am VERY picky about how balls act
>around the greens - possibly more than my skill level warrants.
--
Don Kirkman
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Date: 06 Dec 2006 20:25:20
From: Bert Robbins
Subject: Re: Golf Ball Review - Nike Power Distance Super Soft
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Don Kirkman wrote:
> It seems to me I heard somewhere that Dave Lee wrote in article
> <o%Hdh.8255$1s6.1443@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net>:
>
>> I finally took this one out on the course today. This ball caught my
>> interest for three reasons.
>
> Me, too, yesterday so I'll intersperse some comments.
>
>> 1) It is pretty cheap at somewhere around $15/dozen
>> 2) My teaching pro likes the ball as well as most of the high end, 3 piece
>> balls that he has played
>> 3) It got very good reviews at http://tinyurl.com/fujl8 (Consumer Reports)
>
> I bought a dozen at Roger Dunn (major LA area big-box golf store; I
> don't know how widely they're located) a couple of days ago, but they
> were Power Distance *Power* Soft at just under $17. I assume that's a
> new name to fit Nike's "power family" paradigm: Power Lady, Power Soft,
> Power Flight, and Power Long for increasing swing speeds.
>
> I had one of those guys I hate come up and try to tell me how good the
> ball was and how CR had rated it and all the rest that RSGers already
> know. I hate that in stores as much as I do on the course.
>
Next time somebody on the course tells you how good their ball is ask
for one and then launch it into the closet water hazard or other
location where ball retrieval is difficult. And then tell them that you
don't really like the feel of it.
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Date: 07 Dec 2006 00:18:49
From: Dave Lee
Subject: Re: Golf Ball Review - Nike Power Distance Super Soft
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One key thing that I forgot. On full iron shots this ball holds the greens
reasonably well (you might yearn for a Pro V1 on really hard/dry greens, but
more than adequate on normal or somewhat hard/fast greens). I only found it
deficient from very shot pitch distances (10-20 yards).
dave
"Dave Lee" <DaveLeeNC@ix.netcom.RemovE.com > wrote in message
news:o%Hdh.8255$1s6.1443@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> I finally took this one out on the course today. This ball caught my
> interest for three reasons.
>
> 1) It is pretty cheap at somewhere around $15/dozen
> 2) My teaching pro likes the ball as well as most of the high end, 3 piece
> balls that he has played
> 3) It got very good reviews at http://tinyurl.com/fujl8 (Consumer Reports)
>
> I had played around with it some in our chipping/pitching area before
> today's round. My fundamental conclusion was that while you could get spin
> on it around the greens, compared with the Pro V1x it took a bit more
> clubhead speed before you got the kind of 'check up' that I prefer. With
the
> V1x I can get this with a LW from 10-15 yards (not that it backs up, just
a
> little bit of visible check). I couldn't really do this with the Nike from
> inside 20 yards (carry). I didn't rule the ball out on this basis, but was
> not exactly thrilled either.
>
> Today I played in decent weather (50 degrees at tee time - probably hit 60
> sometime during the day with little wind). I found the ball to be kind of
> unexciting off the driver. It had kind of a "sleepy Pro V1 (not V1x) feel"
> about it. I would judge it to hit (for me) about like a Pro V1 which would
> be 5-10 yards shorter than the V1x. This is kind of a loosey-goosey best
> guess on my part. I feel pretty confident that it isn't longer than a
V1x -
> anything more specific is speculative. For me it did not have a tendency
to
> balloon, which is a problem that I have (rarely) encountered with some
other
> balls.
>
> I actually kind of liked the way it hit with irons and hybrids. It didn't
> have a particularly boring or soaring trajectory for me, which was fine.
> The one time I really needed to work the ball (the more I play the more I
> tend to avoid trying this) I got a nice draw off a 3W from a good fairway
> lie. It was a pleasant ball to hit from the fairway.
>
> It has a very soft feel off the putterface - as soft as any ball that I
have
> ever used. I don't have a particular preference in that area, but folks
who
> do (and like soft) will like this ball. I was having trouble getting a
nice
> even roll off my putter today on lag putts (not typically an issue for
me).
> I assume that it was my stroke and not the ball, but I guess you never
know.
>
> But the final hole kind of says it all for me. I had a tough little pitch
> shot with not much green (green sloping away) to work with. I picked my
> landing spot (12 yards of carry), opened up my LW a bit, and hit a really
> crisp little pitch off a very tight lie. I honestly believe that if the
ball
> had been a V1x it would have ended 3-5' long. It ended 11 feet long.
>
> I don't really dislike this ball. And if I played courses with tons of
> ball-losing hazards, the price might well be enough. But I don't lose a
lot
> of balls on the courses that I play. Plus there is a place a couple miles
> down the road that sells used balls and I can hand-pick my own Pro V1's
(or
> V1x'es or a bunch of other balls) for $18-$22/dozen depending on condition
> and kings (or $10/dozen for XOUT/Practice ked balls).
>
> So I'll be giving the remainder of my dozen to my teaching pro and will
> remain a V1x guy for now.
>
> dave
>
> ps. In the spirit of full disclosure I am VERY picky about how balls act
> around the greens - possibly more than my skill level warrants.
>
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Date: 08 Dec 2006 03:15:35
From: Carbon
Subject: Re: James Baker is a gay commie hippie
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On Thu, 07 Dec 2006 19:50:59 -0500, Jack Hollis wrote:
> I'm sure that W would rather see a peaceful, pro-west democracy in Iraq,
> but if Shia and Sunni insist on killing each other, then so be it. It's
> better that having Saddam still in charge.
You're demented.
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Date: 12 Dec 2006 14:41:43
From: Steve Logan
Subject: Re: Golf Ball Review - Nike Power Distance Super Soft
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Do you mean that it does not spin enuf inside 50 yards?
"Steven Paul" <listcatcher@fastOUTmail.fm > wrote in message
news:071220062229085735%listcatcher@fastOUTmail.fm...
> In article <J5Jdh.7322$sf5.1827@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net>, Dave
> Lee <DaveLeeNC@ix.netcom.RemovE.com> wrote:
>
>> One key thing that I forgot. On full iron shots this ball holds the
>> greens
>> reasonably well (you might yearn for a Pro V1 on really hard/dry greens,
>> but
>> more than adequate on normal or somewhat hard/fast greens). I only found
>> it
>> deficient from very shot pitch distances (10-20 yards).
>
>
> That's exactly my experience. It works well on full shots, but on less
> than full shots it just won't take enough spin. Off the tee I like it
> at least as well as the ProV1s I usually play, but inside 50 yards it
> just doesn't perform well.
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