Sniff sniff… This is my newest and already most sentimental club, yet to be hit (2:30 tee time today though). This is my “Seve” wedge, also known as the Mizuno MP-T5 6006 lob wedge.
The “Seve” Wedge
This is a 60 degree wedge with six degrees of bounce, thus the “6006.” Mizuno offers custom stamping on these wedges of up to six characters and 12 different colors.
I chose “Seve” for a couple of reasons. First, my 2.5 year old son’s name is Seve. I can think of him every time I hit this club. It will give me a nice perspective. Second, the club is a small tribute to the late great Seve Ballesteros. I hope this wedge helps channel some of the Houdini-like escape skills of Seve Ballesteros. With all the places I seem to hit golf balls other than the green, I need those escape skills.
I will be putting this wedge in play right away and posting a review soon. Stay tuned for that.
Ya gotta love how funny the language barrier can be sometimes. Case in point is this review of the “White Color” S3 Golf Balls from Volvik. Volvik, I believe a South Korean company, is a maker of very colorful golf balls. I’ve seen Volvik’s transparent models, brilliantly colored models, chrome models… you name it. I guess when you make so many varied and unique colors, you have to call the white ball a white ball.
Features
The white color of this ball is vibrant and glows in light unlike other golf balls due to a hint of pearlescent blue color mixed in. The ball is easier to spot on the course than a typical other white ball.
White isn’t the only feature of this golf ball. This is actually a “tour” quality ball, meaning it is high performance with high spin and feel. The outer layer or cover of the ball is made of the material most top golf balls use, urethane. Urethane is where the ball gets its stopping and short game spin and softer feel around the greens.
The inner cover is the 2nd layer of three in this ball. This layer provides some distance qualities and also helps produce controlling spin.
Finally the core or center of the ball, yes like the core of the earth, is the power center. The elasticity or rebounding effect of the core gives the ball its distance and solid feel off the driver.
On The Course
I’ve enjoyed playing many rounds with the White Color ball. I poke fun at the name and tell my friends who are looking for my ball in the bushes to look for the “white color” one. It provides us some clean entertainment.
Seriously though, the ball performs very well in both the distance and control categories. It is a solid all-around ball.
Feel-wise the ball is a little harder and heavier than balls I typically play, but that is likely why the ball is so durable. Despite the soft “tour” cover these last forever. You’re more likely to lose one in the bushes or a lake long before you could wear one out.
Conclusion
I’d rank the White Color ball’s performance at about 80-90% of Titleist ProV1’s, Bridgestone B330’s, and other high-end golf balls. Close but not equal. The White Color S3 is a solid golf ball for mid to lower handicap golfers.
The Hooked On Golf Blog World Tour made a quick stop to enjoy the very warm weather of Mesquite, Nevada this past weekend. After enduring the largest snowstorm of the year in Salt Lake, it was time to get out of dodge. The golf was a side-trip though, as I was in town to attend and honor a golf buddy and disabled Iraq war veteran at a local fundraiser.
This trip there was more than golf gear in the HOG Tour Van. Along for the ride this time was the big hexacopter (drone) I built for capturing photos and videos of golf courses from above. I managed to snap some nice pictures ahead of the morning groups Saturday, as well as some nice video clips like the par-5 5th hole video below.
Below is a photo of the par-4 6th hole which goes into a very cool desert canyon bowl.
I recently learned a new lesson: don’t judge a golf ball by its cover. Typically I can tell if I will like a golf ball by simply feeling the cover. I can feel if the cover is soft and tacky, and if I can dig a fingernail into it a bit I know I’ll usually like it. When the Vision ProSoft golf balls came in for review they almost went to the giveaway pile because the cover didn’t feel soft. Almost.
The covers on the ProSoft are not as tacky or soft feeling to the hand, but then again you don’t hit golf balls with your hands. I’m glad I gave these a shot, so to speak. This is definitely a ball worth taking a closer look at.
Down Under
Vision Golf Balls are originally from Australia. They’re fairly new to North America. They make all sorts of highly visible balls in a few different colors, thus the “vision” name.
Construction
Typical “tour” balls, the higher-end balls with more spin, have urethane covers. The cover on this ball is what Vision calls “durathane.” As in durable. I have a ball which has gone 45 holes and it looks like new, so yes these are very durable.
The core or center of the ball uses similar technology found in golf clubs, perimeter weighting. Moving the weight more toward the outside of the ball and away from the center reduces driver spin and increases distance.
The dimple pattern of the ball provides aerodynamic qualities to the flight, carry, dispersion, and helps with distance.
Hands On
I’ve felt no drop in performance after switching from a large brand’s best “tour” ball to the Vision ProSoft. I’ve gained a ball that lasts longer as the durability of the ProSoft is remarkable.
I love the feel of this ball off of about every club in the bag, putter included. The ball compresses well on the driver, providing some great feedback. You know when it is launched. Chipping and pitching the ProSoft around the greens is nice as well.
This ball is as long as any I’ve played. Last Sunday I had a record 400 yard drive on the par-4 10th hole at Valley View with the ProSoft… Pin high in one. Yes, the ground was hard and the shot was slightly downhill, but still. 400 is 400 no matter how you slice it. No I’m not that long. No I don’t hit them 400 every time. My average is 289.
One last and cool thing: The logo and numbers on this ball are large in size and unique color/style. This ball is very easy to identify, even from a distance. “Mine’s the long one in the middle of the fairway, Bob.”
Can Vision Compete?
This ball is more durable than any tour quality ball I can think of, and the performance is not compromised as is usual with more durable golf balls. Performance-wise this ball can compete with or beat any performance ball from Titleist, Bridgestone, Srixon, Callaway or TaylorMade.
Whether the company can compete for shelf space in an already flooded golf ball market is unknown. I hope they can. At $39.99 a dozen their price point might be a little too high for regular golfers to be willing to take that chance.
HOGWire – Golf Industry News
