Ball Review ProV1 v Mizuno MP 801 v Wilson FG Tour

[Petethepilot]

Hi all,

I know that the Wilson and the ProV1 are not JDM, I thought you may be interested in my thoughts of these balls against the new Mizuno Tour ball. If so, please read below!

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

[ant]

nice review Petethepilot! regarding proV what i found out is the harder you hit it the softer it feels and the better you feel it on the face at impact. no idea what speed and compression it was designed for tho and havent tried recent incarnations of it personally. i stick with Bridgestone for their price/value.

Hi all,

I know that the Wilson and the ProV1 are not JDM, I thought you may be interested in my thoughts of these balls against the new Mizuno Tour ball. If so, please read below!

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

[+TourSpecGolfer]

Thank you for your review! I think I will be trying the new 801 very soon. I prefer softer covers in the winter time.