Starting on January 1st, 2010, club manufacturers began adhering to a new set of rules regarding club grooves. The Royal and Ancient, after a statistical study, somehow correlated reduced Driving Accuracy with a higher percentage of saving par, and determined that sharper grooves on clubs greater than 25* (5 iron and above) gave an unfair advantage to “highly skilled” players out of rough, resulting in abnormally low scores. Really? I’m not here to judge, so I won’t. The point is, that if you’ve bought a wedge since 1/1/2010 you’re playing with duller, shallower conforming grooves. So, what’s an amateur to do?
What ball are you playing?
Fortunately for you, manufacturers have responded with innovation in the ball space: TaylorMade has released the 5 layer Penta TP, Callaway has the Tour i(s) and i(x), and Titleist has recently refined the ProV1, which I’ll be discussing here. But, I’ll be blunt: If you’re still playing a Top Flite or Pinnacle, you’re leaving shots on the table. Although you may be saving scratch at the register, you’re giving it to your buddies on the course. I’ve never played a distance ball I could control, even with razor sharp wedges. I started playing the ProV1 exclusively over the TaylorMade TP Black about 2 years ago and I am glad I never looked back. If you’re looking to make the switch, the 2011 ProV1 may be your best bet.
Are they really that different?
Yes, they are. Cosmetically, as you can see, the ‘ProV1’ script matches Titleist headwear, and the alignment arrow is unbroken. Also, what may not be obvious from the photo is the arrangement of the grooves on the ball. The old ProV1 on the right has dimples arranged in a somewhat star shape, whereas the 2011 model’s dimples are, as the best way I can put it, smile shaped. From what I have been told this is to help give the ball a higher flight path and a deeper approach angle to the green (at least that’s the idea).
Do they work?
Given that I am not a scientist or engineer, I conducted my own real-world test the best way I know how: I went out late in the afternoon at my club and staked out a spot 140 yards out from my favorite hole and started hitting approach shots. 140 is a funky distance for me, and I chose it on purpose because I can either hit a soft 8 or a striped 9 and hit the same target. I hit 10 shots each with both the 8 & 9 (Titleist 710MB, which is a conforming groove), and on first impressions, the 2011 ProV1 delivers on its marketing. My soft 8 irons landed fairly steep but still managed to release 3-5 yards, and my smashed 9 irons came in like a SCUD missle, took a bounce, and nearly left tire treads from spinning back so fast. And while the 2010 model did much of the same, they just didn’t seem to pop off my clubs like the 2011 did. I would liken it to the difference in 12 and 18 year old scotch...even the most non-seasoned drinker can appreciate the difference. So, just for grins, I hit a few sand shots, where the 2011 was largely the same, and they seemed to check up a little faster from 40 yards in with a high lofted wedge. In order to check this claim of higher ball flight, I took a few to the next tee box and had at them. Not only did they seem to take a higher ball flight, they also seemed to release a little more on the fairway as well. One pleasant surprise: they’re quite durable, as I used the same dozen for my testing and the 2011s didn’t get an nearly nicked up as the 2010s.
Overall:
With a higher ball flight, more durable cover, and better performance off duller, shallower grooves, the 2011 ProV1 ball may be the answer to your short game woes. Give it a look.
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