Stryker
#NothingFeelsLikeAMizuno
Finally getting a chance to sit down and put some things down as to my early thoughts on these balls. I spent time at my home course with them on the putting green and also doing some chipping around the putting green. I have not put them in play on the course yet but will be working on some more chipping and pitching and maybe a few approach shots with them in the next week.
I had an assortment of other balls with me when I went out to the green so I would have a base line to compare them to. I used my Cleveland HB#1 for all testing. I had with me a ProV1, Chrome Soft, Z-Star, and a Q-Star. Putting was done with some close and then moving back working on lag putting and just trying to get an overall feel for them. I play the Z-Star quite frequently and also play Chrome Softs from time to time. I have played the Q-Star in the past and also ProV1 from time to time. I have always really liked the feel of the Z-Star and Chrome Soft with all my clubs including the putter.
For me, putting is mostly about feel. I have never particularly cared for the ProV1s when I am putting. The BLUE Bridgestone ball was like that for me. It just felt a little harsh but of course rolled just fine and I could easily be happy with the end results. The problem I really had with it was the sound. It just had a sound I can only describe as hollow and dull. I find the ProV1 to be that way as well but this was a bit worse for my taste. I had a really hard time with it and it felt a bit clunky to me as well off the face of my putter. Putting is a game within a game to me and even though the ball rolled just fine, I don't think it is something I would get used to as far as sound and feel. To me it was a bit of a turn off from the first putt and I never could get over it.
The RED ball was a different story. Again it rolled great and I was seeing the results I expected based on my game. The sound and feel though were much better then the BLUE ball. I love the soft sound and feel of the Chrome Soft more then anything else I have played on the greens. The Z-Star is a close second. The Q-Stars are not horrible either but not as good for my taste as the others. This RED Bridgestone fell somewhere between the Z-Star and the Q-Star in these regards. It was something that felt nice off the putter and did not have an off putting sound. Between the two Bridgestone balls, the RED easily takes the gold in regards to putting.
All chipping was done from the fringe with my Cobra King Black 50* wedge. I tried some shorter and some longer and again had the other balls as well. I was really trying to work more on getting the ball to release to the hole and not so much one hop and stop. I typically use a 54* for those types of shots but was limited in my time to try and work on that. I will be making more trips to the range to do so soon. Again, I always prefer Chrome Softs and Z-Stars around the green. I had the same comparison balls with me while I was chipping.
I have always found the ProV1 to release a bit too much for me and was having the same results yesterday. It just kept wanting to roll right on past the hole. Generally this is not a problem as its not that much of a difference but usually I wind up 2-3 feet past the hole. The BLUE Bridgestone was the same. I could not get it to stop at or just before the hole as I could with the Chrome Soft and Z-Star. The Q-Star was stopping a little short of the hole for me. The RED Bridgestone ball was very similar to the Chrome Soft and Z-Star in these regards but just a hair less release. I could certainly game any of them for this type of shot as I had them all within a few feet of the flag. I did prefer the feel of the RED ball again vs the BLUE ball. It wasn't a huge difference in feel but the BLUE does feel a bit more firm.
So far in a BLUE vs RED competition I would have to vote RED. It just feels and sounds better to me and while I was happy enough with the results I was seeing from both balls, the RED was much closer to what I am used to playing. I honestly think a guy looking for a cheap ball that is used to a ProV1 may have a bit more success with the BLUE ball and may prefer that ball. I am excited to see some more results when I do some longer chipping from the rough, pitch shots from the fairway and rough, and some full on iron approach shots. I am guessing both will perform fairly well but the RED is going to be a better feeling ball for me off the irons as well.
I had an assortment of other balls with me when I went out to the green so I would have a base line to compare them to. I used my Cleveland HB#1 for all testing. I had with me a ProV1, Chrome Soft, Z-Star, and a Q-Star. Putting was done with some close and then moving back working on lag putting and just trying to get an overall feel for them. I play the Z-Star quite frequently and also play Chrome Softs from time to time. I have played the Q-Star in the past and also ProV1 from time to time. I have always really liked the feel of the Z-Star and Chrome Soft with all my clubs including the putter.
For me, putting is mostly about feel. I have never particularly cared for the ProV1s when I am putting. The BLUE Bridgestone ball was like that for me. It just felt a little harsh but of course rolled just fine and I could easily be happy with the end results. The problem I really had with it was the sound. It just had a sound I can only describe as hollow and dull. I find the ProV1 to be that way as well but this was a bit worse for my taste. I had a really hard time with it and it felt a bit clunky to me as well off the face of my putter. Putting is a game within a game to me and even though the ball rolled just fine, I don't think it is something I would get used to as far as sound and feel. To me it was a bit of a turn off from the first putt and I never could get over it.
The RED ball was a different story. Again it rolled great and I was seeing the results I expected based on my game. The sound and feel though were much better then the BLUE ball. I love the soft sound and feel of the Chrome Soft more then anything else I have played on the greens. The Z-Star is a close second. The Q-Stars are not horrible either but not as good for my taste as the others. This RED Bridgestone fell somewhere between the Z-Star and the Q-Star in these regards. It was something that felt nice off the putter and did not have an off putting sound. Between the two Bridgestone balls, the RED easily takes the gold in regards to putting.
All chipping was done from the fringe with my Cobra King Black 50* wedge. I tried some shorter and some longer and again had the other balls as well. I was really trying to work more on getting the ball to release to the hole and not so much one hop and stop. I typically use a 54* for those types of shots but was limited in my time to try and work on that. I will be making more trips to the range to do so soon. Again, I always prefer Chrome Softs and Z-Stars around the green. I had the same comparison balls with me while I was chipping.
I have always found the ProV1 to release a bit too much for me and was having the same results yesterday. It just kept wanting to roll right on past the hole. Generally this is not a problem as its not that much of a difference but usually I wind up 2-3 feet past the hole. The BLUE Bridgestone was the same. I could not get it to stop at or just before the hole as I could with the Chrome Soft and Z-Star. The Q-Star was stopping a little short of the hole for me. The RED Bridgestone ball was very similar to the Chrome Soft and Z-Star in these regards but just a hair less release. I could certainly game any of them for this type of shot as I had them all within a few feet of the flag. I did prefer the feel of the RED ball again vs the BLUE ball. It wasn't a huge difference in feel but the BLUE does feel a bit more firm.
So far in a BLUE vs RED competition I would have to vote RED. It just feels and sounds better to me and while I was happy enough with the results I was seeing from both balls, the RED was much closer to what I am used to playing. I honestly think a guy looking for a cheap ball that is used to a ProV1 may have a bit more success with the BLUE ball and may prefer that ball. I am excited to see some more results when I do some longer chipping from the rough, pitch shots from the fairway and rough, and some full on iron approach shots. I am guessing both will perform fairly well but the RED is going to be a better feeling ball for me off the irons as well.