You can’t play the game without a ball.  And there sure are plenty of them on the market.  If I spent just 20 minutes looking around I could probably come up with over 100 different golf balls spread out between nearly as many manufacturers.  But here we are at the end of week 2 of the 2009 golf guide, and after fighting my way through the irons, I don’t have the energy, or even the inclination to list half that many.  Besides, how much can you really say about a golf ball?  It’s round, it has dimples.  Maybe it’s soft, maybe it’s firm.  At the end of the day, however; there is no one ball that’s right for everyone.  I’m certainly not about to tell you which ball to play, but I did want to share some of the more popular, and most unique choices for 2009.

In the interest of packaging things up in the most familiar of ways, here are a dozen golf ball options for you to think about.

Titleist ProV1 series

Titleist ProV1

With the unpleasantness with Callaway mostly behind them, Titleist has introduced the 2009 incarnation of the most popular ball in golf; the ProV1.  We’re by no means talking about a major overhaul (why mess with success), but the newest ProV1 is, not surprisingly, the best performing golf ball Titleist has made to date.  Like its predecessors, the new ProV1, has a 3-piece design featuring a larger, softer, core for distance, and a thinner casing for better performance (drop and stop) around the green.  Quite honestly, there isn’t much more to say…it’s the ProV1.  You already know how good it is.

What I love most about the ProV1 (and to a lesser extent the ProV1x) is that so many golfers play them without any apparent consideration for their own ability.  This is awesome because bad golfers tend to lose lots of balls.  I think I have about 5 dozen at this point and I’ve never bought a Titleist ball in my life.

Other premium balls with similar performance characteristics include: TaylorMade TP Red, Bridgestone B330-S, Callaway Tour i, Srixon Z-Star, Nike One Tour.

Offering longer distance, improved scoring performance, and more durability, the ProV1 is available for the MSRP of $58.

Titleist ProV1x

Like the ProV1, the ProV1x promises increased durability.  The 4-piece ProV1x features a dual core design for lower spin, increased velocity, and of course, maximum distance.  The “speed-enhancing” cover also helps to control spin and improve distance.  While green side performance isn’t quite as strong as in the ProV1, the new ProV1x is Titleist’s best option for the golfer who put a premium on distance.

Other premium balls with similar performance characteristics include: TaylorMade TP Black, Bridgestone B330, Callaway Tour ix, Srixon Z-Star X, Nike One Tour D.

Retail Price for the ProV1x is also $58.  More information about both balls is available at www.Titleist.com.

Nike One Series

As they did with the Victory Red series irons, Nike is offering up their latest round of premium balls in a batch of 3.  Joining the One Gold in obsolescence are the One Platinum and One Black.  But fear not loyal Nike fans, stepping in to fill the void are the new for 2009 Nike One Tour, Nike One Tour D, and the brand new Nike One Tour Vapor.

One Tour

Nike can call it whatever they want, but the One Tour is quite obviously the next generation of their tour-proven One Platinum.  Though it’s hard to argue with Tiger, the knock on the previous Platinum was that it wasn’t all that consumer friendly (and I don’t mean just the price).  Some reports suggested it required a swing speed in the 110 MPH ballpark to properly compress the ball and maximize performance.  Many golfers found that they actually lost distance (when compared to other premium balls), and for some, the ball generated way too much spin off the driver.

To combat the short-comings of the previous ball, Nike engineers went to work and designed both a new core and a new cover.  They also incorporated what they call a Power Transfer Layer to further reduce side spin of the driver.   The result is the new One Tour which promises additional distance, and less spin; both without compromising performance around the greens.  The 4-piece One Tour is already in play by Nike Tour pros, K.J. Choi and Trevor Immelman, and Anthony Kim.  It’s also the ball Tiger will be playing when he’s ready to go.

Other premium balls with similar performance characteristics include: TaylorMade TP Red, Bridgestone B330-S, Callaway Tour i, Srixon Z-Star, Titleist ProV1

To get the most out of the One Tour, you’ll need a driver swing speed of 90+.  Retail price for the Nike One Tour is $58.

One Tour D

Stepping in for the Nike One Black is the One Tour D.  The newly redesigned (I refuse to call these brand new models), 3-piece ball  is intended for those with 90+ MPH swings, seeking extra distance off the tee.  The One Tour D has been re-engineered to maximize distance while still providing tour quality levels of spin and control.  Early information suggests that the One Tour D offers improved greenside performance (when compared to the One Black), which helps to explain why tour pros Stewart Cink and Lucas Glover already have put the Tour D in play.  For quite a while the Nike One Black was my favorite ball, so I’m really looking forward to trying the Tour D for myself.

Other premium balls with similar performance characteristics include: TaylorMade TP Black, Bridgestone B330, Callaway Tour ix, Srixon Z-Star X, Titleist ProV1x

Like the One Tour, the One Tour D retails for $58.

One Tour Vapor

The notion of a designing a premium ball with the average golfer in mind is a new idea for the industry.  Let’s face, we buy premium balls, and in many cases they perform very well for us, but does anyone really think that Titleist considered my needs when designing the new ProV1?  Enter the Tour Vapor, which according to Nike offers a balance of distance and control that should appeal to all of us amateurs out there.  Instead of the 90+ MPH swing speeds of the Tour and Tour D, the Vapor is designed to perform at its best for swing speeds of only 80 MPH or more.

The 3-piece One Tour Vapor offers moderate spin, without outstanding feel and durability.  Retail price for a dozen Tour One Vapors is $40.

Similar balls include: Bridgestone B330-RX

More information about all 3 new One Tour balls is available at www.nikegolf.com.

Bridgestone

I’m probably as guilty of it as the next guy, but Bridgestone simply doesn’t get the attention it deserves.  When it comes to clubs, I tend to lump them in with the likes of Srixon, Yonex, and other manufactures of perfectly good gear that unfortunately, I seldom see on the wall at any of the pro shops I frequent.  Thankfully Bridgestone golf balls are a bit easier to find.  I’ve played the occasional Bridgestone over the last few years (I’m a guy who tends to play a little bit of everything).  I’ve generally liked what I’ve tried so far (all though the e6 could have been a bit softer), which is why I’m looking forward to trying two of the ball Bridgestone introduced last fall.  Of course, that’s either going to have to wait for a trip down south, or until after all of the stupid snow melts.

e7+

The latest in the e series offers an excellent option for those of us looking for outstanding performance at a middle of the road price.  The 3-piece e7+ features Bridgestone’s seamless 330 dimple design.  It’s geared towards players with mid to high ball flights.  More specifically, the e7+ is targeted at golfers who hit the ball a little higher than they would probably like (me, me, me).  By lowering trajectory, the e7+ offers ballooners like me the promise of a bit of extra distance of the tee without having to sacrifice feel and control.

Similar balls include: Titleist NXT Tour, Callaway HX Hot, Nike Ignite, Maxfli Fire, Srixon Trispeed.

The Bridgestone e7+ can be had four around $26.95, making an absolute bargain compared to some of the other balls on this list.

B330-RX

Joining the tour proven B330, and the B330-S is the latest offering in Bridgestone’s premium lineup.  What Bridgestone did (and first I might add) is very similar to what Nike has done with the Tour Vapor.  While Bridgestone has suggested the B330-RX is designed for low-handicap golfers with moderate swing speeds (under 105 MPH), the actual result is basically a ball that offers tour level performance with a core optimized for the swing of somebody who isn’t quite Tiger Woods.  Bridgestone claims the B330-RX is the softest multi-layer urethane ball on the market today, which might explain why so many golfers have already fallen in love with the feel.  Tour level spin, and outstanding distance – those are just added bonuses.

Similar balls include: Nike One Vapor

The Bridgestone B330-RX can be had for around $42.00

More information on both the B300-RX and the e7+ can be found at www.bridgestonegolf.com.

Callaway

Last year we saw Callaway update its popular HX Tour and HX Tour 56 golf balls with the Tour i and Tour ix respectively.  As a long time fan of the HX series (I still have a couple of the original HX reds lying around), I was pretty excited to see updated versions of each.  Of course to focus exclusively on the premium balls would be selling Callaway a little bit short.  Like most of the other major ball manufacturers, Callaway’s lineup includes a ball for every type of golfer, in every reasonably price range (sorry, you’re not going to find a $10/dozen box of Callaways).  So as much as I’d love to rave about the premium balls I love so much, I’d be remiss not to take the introduction of a new Warbird and a new Bertha (the two lowest price balls in the Callaway lineup) as an opportunity to provide some 2009 alternatives for the more penny-wise among us.

Warbird Plus

Let’s get one thing out of the way right now.  If you want a soft, buttery feeling golf ball, don’t even glance at the Warbird.  I’m not going to say it’s the hardest ball on the market, but everything about the Warbird screams distance, and there’s absolutely no subtlety about it.  What’s most significant about the Warbird Plus is that it now features Callaways’ HEX aerodynamics.  That’s right, those 6-sided dimples I’m so fond of have finally filtered all the way down to the bottom of the Callaway lineup.

Apart from the HEX dimple pattern, the Warbird Plus features a new high power core, which provides maximum distance, and most thankfully, a softer feel than previous Warbirds.  The Ionomer cover is built to last, meaning your Warbird will last as long as you can keep it in play.

Similar balls include: Nike Juice, Top-Flite Freak, a small rock from your back yard.

Callaway Warbird Plus golf balls retail for $19.99.

Diablo

The Diablo is the latest offering in the Big Bertha family of golf balls.  If the Warbird was designed with distance, and distance alone in mind, the singular purpose of the Diablo is to fly straight.  The Diablo has low spin characteristics which means a more consistent ball flight with fewer hooks and slices.  Equally important is that the new high-resiliency core of the Diablo is both soft and fast, which means you won’t have to choose between distance and feel.

Like every other golf ball in the Callaway lineup, the Diablo features 332 dimple HEX aerodynamics for a more penetrating ball flight.  While this list has taught us that manufacturers are making a more concerted effort to tailor their balls to specific swing speeds and other player characteristics, Callaway claims the new Diablo performs well at any swing speed.

Similar ball include: Titleist NXT, Precept XP3, Nike PowerSoft Straight, and the Wilson Staff 50

Retail price for the Callaway Big Bertha Diablo balls is  $23.95.

Dixon Earth Ball

I’ve mentioned the Earth Ball on Qwowi before, but I think it’s worth including in the guide.  Before we I get into what makes the Earth Ball the most eco-friendly golf ball on the planet, let me clarify two things.  The Earth Ball is not made of dirt, and it is not painted to look like planet Earth.  Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way…

The ball itself is made from 100% recyclable products (someday parts of your Earth ball might end up as a GI Joe or something).  The core is made from a 100% renewable polymer that’s unique to Dixon golf balls.  The balls are packed in 100% recycled material, and for good measure, the company includes a return pouch with every dozen balls.  The idea is that you can return your spent balls for a $1 credit (per ball) toward the purchase of more Earth balls.  Unfortunately my golf ball usually end up in a pond before they’re totally spent, and I doubt Dixon is going to give me any credit for that.

Dixon claims the Earth Ball outperforms most 2-piece balls on the market, and even some 3-piece balls.

At almost $40 a Dozen it’s the most expensive ball in its performance space, but for the most environmentally conscious among us, it offers a feel-good alternative to petroleum based balls.

More information is available at www.dixongolf.com.

Chromax Metallic Golf Ball

When I came across the Chromax brand of golf balls, I simply had to include it in the Golf Guide.  Chromax has stated that their admittedly ambitious goal is to rid the world of the scourge that is the white golf ball.  I think we can all get on board with that.  White golf balls are completely evil and should be wiped off the face of…wait, what?  Are white golf balls really a problem?  I had no idea.

Fun and games aside, you’d be hard pressed to argue that Chromax balls aren’t unique.  They feature a patented, reflective finish (2 finishes actually) and are available in 6 different colors.  Chromax claims their metallic balls are more visible in the air and on the green (I feel like white balls are visible enough on the green, but anyway…).  It also stands to reason that the reflective Chromax balls would be easier to spot in high grass, and along the edge of woods and water; so I’m willing to buy into the notion that Chromax balls can speed up search time and reduce the number of lost balls (still no cure for a pond).

No word on performance except to say they perform as well as white balls (not sure which white balls specifically), and have a soft, high-energy core, and an improved dimple design for longer drives and straighter shots.  Chromax Metallic golf balls are USGA conforming and legal for tournament play.

I don’t have details on pricing, or even where your can buy Chromax balls.  Some additional information, however, is available from www.chromaxgolf.com.

Similar (albeit barely) to what Dixon does with the Earth Ball, LostGolfBalls.com is doing by offering it’s own recycling program of sorts.  You could also argue that it’s a golf ball buyback program; as in “I lost my ball in the woods, LostGolfBalls.com found it, and then I bought it back for less money than I originally paid”.  In case you haven’t figured it out yet, LostGolfBalls.com is an online store that specializes in used golf balls (they do sell new balls as well).  They offer a huge selection of balls including popular favorites from Titleist, Nike, Callaway, TaylorMade – heck everybody…except maybe Chromax.

LostGolfBalls.com rates their balls on a scale of AA to AAAAA, and provides exceptionally clear illustrations of exactly what can expect (condition-wise) at each grade level.  Their AAAAA balls, for example, are virtually indistinguishable from new.  LostGolfBalls.com refers to AAAAA balls as “one hit wonders”, because they look and play as if they’ve never been used.  I’ve left more than a few one hit wonders behind over the years, so it’s I find it heartening to know I’m definitely not the only one.  For those who are willing to play with a ball in less than pristine condition, their AAAA-rated balls are in better condition than a good bit of what’s in my bag right now.

If you haven’t already figured it out for yourself, I’m here to tell you that there are huge savings to be had buying used golf balls.  Take the uber-popular ProV1.  Actual off the shelf price for a dozen ProV1s at your local proshop is roughly $45.  Compare that to a dozen AAAAA balls from LostGolfBalls.com at less than $29, and it doesn’t take a mathematician to figure out you’re saving roughly $16 a dozen.  Step down to AAAA quality and you’ll save over $25 per dozen.  It’s not just the ProV1, however.  The math works for ball after ball after ball.

Now saving money on the balls you love is pretty cool, but LostGolfBalls.com also creates an affordable opportunity for the curious golfer to try a variety of different golf balls.  Finally, if the manufacturer discontinues a ball you happen to really like (the original Callaway HX Red, Ben Hogan Tour Deep…the list is endless), there’s a good chance you can still find those balls at LostGolfBalls.com.

If you’re at all concerned about quality quite being up to the level as advertised, the company stands behind its used balls with an unconditional 30 day money back guarantee.  If you’re not happy with what you got, send it back for a full refund.  You really have nothing to lose (except the balls you just bought).  LostGolfBalls.com was kind enough to donate a couple dozen of their AAAAA balls for our giveaway.  I’ve checked the balls out thoroughly, and although some do have logos (expected), they are, in every respect, completely indistinguishable from new.

Visit www.lostgolfballs.com to view their complete selection of new and used golf balls, as well as golf clubs and other accessories.