If you want the performance of a premium ball, but can’t justify the hefty price tag, Titleist may have come up with the next best thing.
The new NXT Tour range, which comprises two models – the standard Tour and Tour S – is designed to be one step down from the brand’s legendary Pro V1, offering high levels of distance, spin and control.
Titleist say they gave the balls new engines (cores) and new wings (dimple designs), but used the same cover material, which is known for being extremely durable.
Both balls are designed to be used by all types of player – both men and women, too – but have attributes that make them more suitable for some than others.
The NXT Tour, which is a three-piece ball with a smaller inner core than the previous model for optimal launch conditions, flies a little higher and further than the NXT Tour S and spins slightly more with longer clubs for those with slow swing speeds.
Titleist say they gave the balls new engines (cores) and new wings (dimple designs), but used the same cover material, which is known for being extremely durable. The NXT Tour S is a two-piece ball featuring a soft core and, as a result, a softer compression. It comes in a striking yellow version and will feel noticeably softer than the standard NXT Tour on all shots and will fly a little lower and shorter.
The numbers are nothing significant, though. Indeed, Titleist R&D head Bill Morgan said that both balls are between five and 10 yards longer than the 2010 NXT Tour ball.
So which one should you pick? I asked Bill Morgan about how players should go about selecting their ball of choice and he said the best way is to take them out on the course and see how it performs.
“None of this wedge tapping is enough,” he said.
“To figure out whether the ball is right for you, you need to be out there hitting shots on the course and seeing how it reacts.”
DETAILS
SRP: £34 for 12
w: titleist.co.uk
t: 01480 301 114