Shoot A 56?/Bernie Eats Some Crow
Written: Mar 17 '07 (Updated Mar 19 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Long, Workable, Feel, Puttability
Cons: Expensive, and Scuff Easily
The Bottom Line: A top notch tour quality ball. There are reasons besides money why Phil Mickelson, and Annika play this ball. It has tremendous feel.
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| berniez40's Full Review: Callaway Golf HX Tour |
Speaking of crow, I've been very busy grousing here, as seen in my reviews, about how Callaway has stolen this and that technology from Top Flite/Hogan, and slapped a Cally label on it. It's pretty obvious that the Hogan side of the company has provided Cally with lots of food for thought. My griping about how, "This HX Tour is simply a Hogan Tour Deep w/hex dimples.", or that "Callaway's clubs have gone up several notches in quality control." may all be very well and true. -----BUT-----Some of my golfing buddies are awfully tired of hearing it. (In fact, as far as Eating Crow,and Grousing are concerned, they had another bird in mind that they were fxing to give me if I didn't simmer down.) So this last week, I was given a sleeve of these at the 1st Tee Box.
You have to understand that with the guys I golf with (Moe, Larry, and Curley), or sometimes (Groucho, Harpo, and Chico), getting a free sleeve of balls is unheard of. I had to inspect them closely to make sure it wasn't a pack of those exploding suckers, or that the box wasn't ticking. All kidding aside, it was time to put up, or shut up. So----Awaaaaaaaaaaaaay we go!
They may not have been the trick kind that --blow up at impact, but I really liked the way that these babies just exploded off of my driver's club face. Yes it felt like a Hogan Tour Deep---but the hexes did actually make it fly straighter. It also flew very very far, while giving me better feedback than a Pro V1 (or gasp) even more than (put those pitch forks and torches down--I am not a monster lying to the village here) a Bridgestone B330-S. It definitely flew further than the Titleist, but not quite as far as The Bridgestone. Hmmm, excellent distance and feedback, guess I'd better put a little salt on that crow....but still... it's only the driver we're talking about so far. Who cares if it felt that good and went that far almost everytime anyways? (LOL)
Next up came the long approach shot's. That's right--plural. This particular course starts out w/a 545 yd. par 5. Kinda hurts if you start off behind the 8-ball. (Or golf ball for that matter.) My 2 wood felt like it was going to be on that day, so I hauled off and cold-cocked that little fairway egg. True to form, it took off like a rocket. These balls sport an ascending trajectory that is gradual on both sides of the apex. It neither scoots too high too quickly, but conversely, it does not flatten out at the apex and keep cruising either. It definitely looks like the Phil Mickelson Flopper, and the Annika watch out for this 7 wood type of ball flight. It became obvious, (to me anyways), as to why those two prefer this golf ball. I was well within short iron distance, but wanted to try somethin different as we were playing into a 2 1/2-3 club wind.
Off the hybrids this ball was quite fun. I have a tendency to shoot hybrids differently from most people. I prefer to put the ball slightly back in my stance, take a well timed 3/4 sing, and hit a stinger type of shot. W/this ball's even flight path I had great success guessing distances, and never having to worry about a balloon shot. This ball made a textbook flight to within 4-feet of the pin, so while my buds ended up bogey and double bogey--(they don't quite have weird enough shots that allow them to adjust for 3-club winds) I was putting for birdie.
Off of my putter, this ball was like butter. Contact was crisp--yet soft. The sound was a softer muted click. The roll was very-very true. Yesirrreee---I love starting off w/a bird---because my swing has a tendency to help me snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Four feet--no break--"Click"---"Plop"---"YEEEEEEEEEEHAW!" So the Cally helped me bag a G.I.R. and a bird.
Things went well that day, but I'm not here to brag on how I bagged my buds for a change, I'm here to tell you more about the Cally. Greenside off the putter she is a true joy--but obviously there must be a weak spot somewhere, or this ball would already own the market place. Yeah--even though Callaway bought "The Rock Flite" Corporation, Cally's are never ever going to be known for endurance. My wedges are often referred to as-"The Onion Peelers" because they sport both square grooves, and rust spots. On a good day (read--"once in a blue moon") I can backspin a range ball. These Callys definitely sport their fair share of spin. More so than The Bridgestone B330-S but not quite as much as the Pro V1. Sadly--in exchange--they sport a genuine"SCUFF-O-MATIC" cover. One wedge shot=one scuff mark.
Here's the good news. The scuffs did not effect playability, nor did any of my balls develop the infamous case of "Wedge Wobble" which I have noticed in my most recent batch of Pro V1's. Like the Bridgestones--you can wedge the dog out of these pups, and they'll still putt true. Eventually though, if you're a cosmetics Nazi, you're not going to like these scuffy little spinners. I beat the tar out of this sleeve for 18 holes, and each ball ended up sporting it's fair share of scuffs, but no strawberry rashes, or wedge wobble.
Overall I'd have to rate these higher than the Pro V1 simply because they are longer, and more durable. Yes they scuff more easily, but no--they do not develop wedge wobble. I think the Bridgestone B330-S may remain my ball of choice because of distance, and even more durability. This, however, could be a toss up for some people. The Cally actually has a slight edge in the feel and spin departments.
Recommended:
Yes
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