titleist tour balata 90 release date

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Titleist Tour Balata Balls

Titleist tour balata balls .

Liquid-filled center wound technology For golfers seeking the highest spin and softest feel for shot-shaping workability, short game control and tour-proven liquid-filled center wound ball performance. 90/100 compression

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This article is truly amazing! I am very impressed with the depth of insight presented and the clear and easy-to-understand writing style. The content of the article is very relevant and informative, providing a deeper understanding of the topic discussed. In addition, the analysis presented is also very profound and provides a different perspective. Thanks to the writer for the effort and dedication in presenting high-quality articles like this. I am looking forward to reading more articles! Read more on: Arta4d

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Summarize your findings and offer a conclusion on whether Titleist Tour Balata golf balls are a suitable choice for golfers based on their needs, preferences, and playing style. by tstoto

No weaknesses. All very good.

This ball is a bit outdated now, but it's still the best short-game ball ever made. If you play on cheap municipal courses with hard, bermuda greens you will love this ball. | Irvine Retaining Walls

none so far

these balls spin so much please sell more

Man, these balls used to be the stuff. If you knock the stuff out of it, the drive might wind up 270 out. I really miss these balls, you truly exerience a different style of golf with wound as compared to the Pro V. I wish they still made these.

Hot dang dinglying dang these things are nice. Cold day? You've gotta have that tour balata 90 if you're going to enjoy thinning the ball with blades. There's no other ball quite like it, although I'm a big fan of the Callaway HX blue which I find almost as soft.

This ball is a bit outdated now, but it's still the best short-game ball ever made. If you play on cheap municipal courses with hard, bermuda greens you will love this ball. It would spin back if it landed on ice! Problem is, it's not durable at all and will cut & scuff very easily.

My old man had a pack of these in his garage and handed me them last week. I decided to play with them the next day and I couldnt believe I had forgotton how soft these balls were. Before the Pro V1 this used to be the ball I played. No wonder I thought the Pro V1 felt like a brick when it first came out because the Tour Balata feels like putty. The feel from around the greens is unreal and the back spin theses balls generate is remarkable. I hit an 100 yard shot with my new Vokey Spin wedge and the ball landed up the back of the green and must have spun back about 25 feet. However when I got to the green and pick up the ball, the cover was ripped to pieces. Yip the Tour Balata's are not very durable at all. I was also hitting it about 10-12 yards shorter than the Pro-V1. However for spin and fell the Pro-V1 is no match for the Tour Balata.

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Pofessional 90, Tour Prestiege 90, Callaway Rule 35 Blue, Pro-V1, Pro-V1 X, Pro-V1*,

Still use these balls occasionally , I pull out the persimmon driver and fairway persimmons. The balls feel great and spin like a top. Downside is what most players call a smile from hitting it low on the equator. That's not a smile , turn the ball over and you will see that the ball is VERY sad. Play this ball on a warm sunny day and have some fun with the old persimmon and wound ball feel.

all quality balls

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Looking Back at Balata Golf Balls (And Explaining What 'Balata' Is)

Does anyone make or sell balata balls today?

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Not so long ago in golf history , balata golf balls were the ball of choice for low-handicap golfers, and something the rest of us aspired to play. But what is balata? Why did balata balls disappear from golf? Can you buy them anywhere today?

Balata Starts as a Tree Sap

"Balata" refers to a naturally occurring, rubber-like material that was once used for the cover on golf balls. "Balata balls" were used by professional golfers and low-handicappers because the soft, balata cover allowed for much higher spin rates on iron and wedge shots, and greater control over ball flight by those highly skilled golfers.

Balata is one of the names of a tree that grows in Central and South America and the Caribbean. The tree is tapped and the soft, viscous fluid that later hardens into the rubber-like material of golf ball fame is harvested just as one would harvest sap from a rubber tree or maple tree.

First Use of Balata for Golf Balls

In the timeline of golf balls, balata balls arrived on the scene in the early 1900s. Spalding began producing golf balls with balata covers in 1903.

What Made Balata Balls the 'Pro's Ball'?

One of the main reasons balata was thought of as a "pro's ball" or "low handicapper's ball" was because that soft, balata cover cut so easily on mishits. Mid- and high-handicap golfers don't make good, proper contact on a regular basis. If you bladed a balata ball, that cover was sure to cut, rendering the ball unplayable. Nicks, dents and scratches were common, as well, on mishits, or, for example, as the result of a balata ball bouncing off a paved cart path or into rocks or smashing into trees .

In my earliest days as a golfer, a relative bought me a dozen personalized golf balls with my name emblazoned on them. But, not a golfer, he bought balata balls - thinking the pricier balls were naturally the best balls. But they definitely weren't for a beginning golfer like me. That dozen balls was cut up in no time. I probably scuffed, dented and cut a ball per hole until the balls ran out.

So balata balls were used by better golfers, while recreational golfers used golf balls made with harder, cut-resistant cover materials (Surlyn, a trademarked name and material developed by DuPont, is often remembered as the alternative to balata).

Balata balls eventually disappeared when golf manufacturers began developing alternative cover materials (such as urethane) in the 1990s, materials that offered the soft feel of balata but were far more durable.

Do Any Companies Make Balata Balls Today?

No, as far as we know there are no golf ball manufacturers, large, small or specialty, that make new golf balls today using balata covers.

Can You Buy Balata Golf Balls Today?

Why would you want to? Current golf balls are several orders more advanced technologically than the last generation of balata balls. But maybe you're just curious and want to know what a balata ball felt like. Or maybe you have some vintage golf clubs and want to go all the way with some vintage balls, too.

Unused, still-in-package balata balls are difficult to find, but not (for now) impossible. But your best bet is eBay or other online auction sites or retailers of vintage sports equipment. We recently noticed Titleist itself selling stock of Titleist Tour 100 balata balls on Amazon. They were asking $40 for a sleeve of three, so if you do find any they'll be pricey.

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Balata Golf Balls (Are They Actually Banned?)

By Charl Jooste

Updated On February 22, 2024

Technology has allowed golf equipment to improve considerably in the last 150 years and the golf ball, the only equipment used on every shot, is no exception.

The first balls dating back to the 14 th century were made by carpenters from beech wood. In the 17 th century improvements allowed feathers to be stuffed inside a leather outer to create the “featherie” golf balls.

The early 1900s saw the release of the first balata golf balls with Spalding producing golf balls with balata covers in 1903.

Balata golf balls were popular amongst professionals and the best amateur golfers as they strike the ball solidly on a regular basis which prevents the ball from scuffing and cutting frequently.

Mid to high handicap golfers often have mishits thus damaging balata golf balls quickly and rendering them unplayable.

📢 Need To Know : The balata cover generated higher spin rates on iron and wedge shots thus offering greater control over ball flight for highly skilled golfers.

When did Titleist stop making balata balls? It was in the 1990s, when the advances in technology eventually overtook the balata construction, leading manufacturers to stop producing it. Surlyn covers have become more popular and durable offering golfers of all levels a quality golf ball.

History Of Balata Golf Balls

In the late 1890s a visitor to B.F. Goodrich’s Rubber Goods factory, Coburn Haskell, had a golf appointment with Bertram Work, a Goodrich superintendent.

While waiting for Mr. Work, Haskell wound a bunch of rubber bands into a ball shape.

Playing with the ball by bouncing it on the floor, Haskell realized that it contained a high amount of energy.

This was used as a basis for the new golf ball. It was covered with a rubber-like material produced from the sap of the balata tree which is grown in Central America, Southern America, and the Caribbean.

Fortune Brands, formerly known as American Brands, brought Acushnet and its golf brands into their group in 1976.

📢 Need To Know : In the 1980s, Titleist tour balata golf balls came into play as Titleist experimented with balata golf balls again, offering an exceptionally soft feel and unbelievable control on shots on and around the green.

The price and durability factors kept the demand for the Titleist balata golf balls at a low level, making it financially not viable to continue production.

To counter the low demand, Titleist produced a “Professional” ball offering the performance of a balata golf ball covered by a more durable cover.

Why Were Balata Golf Balls Considered A Pro / Low Handicapper Ball?

Professional and low handicap golfers found that the balata golf balls generated more spin than their predecessors and the golfer could control the flight better with their irons and wedges.

Do Any Companies Still Make Balata Balls?

Do they still make balata golf balls? As far as we can ascertain, no manufacturer, whether it be a large or specialty golf ball manufacturer, still produces balata golf balls.

When Did They Stop Making Balata Golf Balls?

What happened to balata golf balls?

The introduction of urethane and surlyn used in the outer cover of golf balls spelled the end for balata golf balls.

📢 Need To Know : Towards the end of the 1990s solid golf balls, as opposed to the rubber band wounded golf ball, with the new cover materials started replacing balata balls.

The new materials are also more durable than the soft balata cover that can easily be scratched, dented, and damaged.

Were Balata Golf Balls Banned?

Balata golf balls conform to the standards as set by the governing bodies such as the USGA and the R&A so they are not banned from use.

Professional golfers and top-level amateurs used balata golf balls in competition play while it was the preferred ball from 1903 to the 1990s.

Can You Buy Balata Golf Balls Anywhere Today

While there are no new balata balls for sale , you can still buy used, special edition, or vintage balata golf balls on e-commerce sites such as e-Bay .

This will enable you to experience the look and feel of one of the biggest advances in the history of the golf ball.

Are balata golf balls legal?

Yes, balata golf balls are legal. Balata golf balls comply with standards set by governing bodies such as the USGA and The R&A, so their use is not prohibited. However, these balls are not being manufactered anymore, so it will be hard to get your hands on them. 

Do pros still use balata golf balls?

No, pros do not use balata golf balls anymore because they are no longer manufactured and are nearly impossible to find. These balls started disappearing when manufacturers started developing alternative cover materials that were much more durable. Still, it was the most preferred golf ball used by pros from 1903 to the 1990s .  

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The Balata Balls Thread

By EmperorPenguin April 2, 2022 in Golf Balls

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Emperorpenguin.

There is a forum for classic clubs, but not for classic balls, so I will start a thread here for those curious about the venerable balata ball.  When Coburn Haskell invented the ball at the Turn Of The Century, it was revolutionary enough to have made the old gutty obsolete, just like how modern balls starting with the Pro V1 made the balata ball obsolete at the beginning of the millennium.  Yes, we know how all about how today's balls go so much farther than balatas, but no matter how many urethane-covered balls you try, none of them will feel as heavenly as balatas.  For those who do not know already: the ball has a liquid center that starts with a frozen rubber sac, wound with rubber thread, and then covered with balata sap.  I read that a synthetic balata was produced to prevent the extinction of the balata tree.

I consider myself somewhat an expert on balata balls because when I first worked at a golf course way back in 1994, I used to work cleaning golf carts at a golf course.  Quite often golfers leave golf balls in their carts, but sometimes the leave behind balatas, and at the time I loved them and I wanted to keep them for myself because they were more expensive than Surlyn balls at the time, and my collection grew to about two duffel bags full of slight scuffies and one dozen dozen brand new balls packaged in sleeves with original boxes.  Aside from very special occasions when I play the new ones, I use the scuffies on retro days when I want to play with persimmons and blades.  With the driver the longest I can hit one is about 250, but to me I don't care because the guys I play with hit it fifty yards past me, but either OB, in the trees or to another hole.

So which balls are my favorite?  Quite honestly, they all feel about the same to me, and given the scarcity of balatas today, any ball with a balata cover and liquid center would be fine.  My favorites that immediately come to mind are Titelist Tour Balata 90 and 100, Royal Maxfli, Maxfli HT 90 and 100, Slazenger balata, Titleist Professional 90 and 100, and a few others, with Titelist Tour Prestige the very last model before they stopped production.  In the mid-1990's, a lot of ball companies were using false marketing to sell "balata" balls that were not really balata at all.  Wilson Ultra Tour Balata was not balata, nor was Spalding Top Flite Z-Balata, both of which were two-piece balls with a durable balata-like mix.  Those balls felt nothing like the real thing, and not even close.  Once you handled so many of these balls, you can tell just by looking at them if they are or not just because of the paint, let alone how they felt in your hand.

By the way, if you want to be an enthusiast for these balls, it will be necessary to keep a ball ring with you.  Back in the day, we had ball rings and other accessories to check if they are round.  You can even see them on old-school divot tools, with one having a spoon on the back or the butt end of it in a concave shape to test the roundness, but those are mostly disappeared.  My game is not good enough anymore to demand perfectly round balls, so I can play decently with balls that are slightly out of round as long as the bump is not on my putting line.  Of course, balls with big smiles on them I send out to the driving range or in the water.

Which balatas were your favorite?  Share with us your experiences with balata.

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April 2, 2022

The Maxfli HT and Slazenger Balata were my holy grail as a teenager and into my early 20’s.

My favorite ball was the Titleist 384 tour. It was around in the late 80’s. I played ping eye 2 irons back then so the ball was pretty beaten up after 9 holes but the feel and spin were amazing. 

April 3, 2022

It's all about $$$$. No more no less. Absolutely no way to be profitable today. Even from the top OEM's let alone a boutique company, All of the wound ball manufacturers from 2000-2001 or so got rid o

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 Spalding Dot and Wilson Staff were my favorites as a kid

Nice write up!  My only quibble would be that the Titleist Tour Pestige and Tour Professional were not balata….nor were the Maxfli HT100 oncethey switched production to South Carolina from Japan IIRC.  The Titleist were an “advanced elastomer” cover and the Maxfli were marked Urethane.

In hindsight it is also humorous to read some of the older reviews on these balls. One I read recently was on the Professional shortly after the Pro V came out.  The gist of it was the extra yards of the Pro V were nice but the feel was just way too hard for him to ever be able to play. 🤣

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Cameron Newport w/ flow neck by Lamont/ Cameron Del Mar

With the resurgence of vintage equipment being used, I’m surprised that some small boutique company hasn’t started manufacturing balata balls again. 

PlayfromtheBrain

4 hours ago, WipeyFade said: With the resurgence of vintage equipment being used, I’m surprised that some small boutique company hasn’t started manufacturing balata balls again. 

I wondered that myself a while back, but I'm assuming the method is just too labor intensive these days to make any financial sense. Likely a completely different way of manufacturing them. I would love that, however.

I've really been fascinated by the balata recently, and a very kind member on this forum (you know you you are :-). thanks again!) was generous enough to send me an assortment to try out. I think my favorite is the Maxfli HT-90, but as OP said, they kind of all feel the same. That "feeling" is GREAT from every one of them, however.

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1 hour ago, Haig said: My favorite ball was the Titleist 384 tour. It was around in the late 80’s. I played ping eye 2 irons back then so the ball was pretty beaten up after 9 holes but the feel and spin were amazing. 

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4 hours ago, hammergolf said: The Maxfli HT and Slazenger Balata were my holy grail as a teenager and into my early 20’s.

I really liked the Maxfli DDH Balata ball. It had an unusual dimple pattern. The Slazenger Balata was a great ball. I’m pretty sure Seve played that ball. 

12 hours ago, Shilgy said: Nice write up!   My only quibble would be that the Titleist Tour Pestige and Tour Professional were not balata ….nor were the Maxfli HT100 oncethey switched production to South Carolina from Japan IIRC.   The Titleist were an “advanced elastomer” cover

AKA as urethane.

14 hours ago, Shilgy said: Nice write up!  My only quibble would be that the Titleist Tour Pestige and Tour Professional were not balata….nor were the Maxfli HT100 oncethey switched production to South Carolina from Japan IIRC.  The Titleist were an “advanced elastomer” cover and the Maxfli were marked Urethane.   In hindsight it is also humorous to read some of the older reviews on these balls. One I read recently was on the Professional shortly after the Pro V came out.  The gist of it was the extra yards of the Pro V were nice but the feel was just way too hard for him to ever be able to play. 🤣

Yes, you are right.  I do remember the elastomer cover of the Professional.  Professionals felt very much like balatas, with the difference in feel almost negligible.

In the old commercials back in the 1990's, there was one of Jack endorsing Maxfli HT balls.  He said that Greg Norman turned him on to the ball and he had played Maxfli balls.  On opening day of a local club near me which he designed, he played Maxfli Revolutions--which were not balata, by the way--and they were simply marked "JACK" on them, so even Jack moved on to urethane balls.

14 hours ago, WipeyFade said: With the resurgence of vintage equipment being used, I’m surprised that some small boutique company hasn’t started manufacturing balata balls again. 

What did Titleist do to their winding machines and presses after the final run of balatas back in 2001?  Did they just dismantle them and chuck them?

I was thinking that we can make some good money finding those machines and producing balatas with the same quality controls Titleist had, but only make about, say, ten dozen dozen per day.  I don't know how much we would sell each dozen for, but I am very sure that many golfers would love to play with balatas from time to time.  Put an online or a magazine ad in and see how the response would be like.  However, if we would be immediately successful we would go out of business quickly because Titleist would compete with us and reactivate their machines and start producing more of them and undersell us quickly.

I would like to add that one can immediately notice the feel of a balata ball off the putter.  Maybe this is because the ball is on the putter face a little longer than a full-swing strike?  The softer feel of the ball in my hands gives me a better feel of  how hard to hit the putt the desired distance.

Also the balls felt way better off the wedge, and I could spin it more and check it more easily and use the spin to stop it on a dime, if needed.

Which Rule of Golf states that you must hole out the ball you teed off with?  Can we repeal that Rule and tee off with Pinnacles and putt out with Tour Balata 90's?

Finally, of course, the full swing.  Hand a youngster who has never struck balata before a soft ball and he will get hooked!

Rick Shiels compared the two types.

16 hours ago, WipeyFade said: With the resurgence of vintage equipment being used, I’m surprised that some small boutique company hasn’t started manufacturing balata balls again. 

It's all about $$$$. No more no less. Absolutely no way to be profitable today. Even from the top OEM's let alone a boutique company, All of the wound ball manufacturers from 2000-2001 or so got rid of all of that equipment to manufacture solid core golf balls.

The cost of recreating that type of ball simply from a machinery standpoint today to say nothing of the material costs for a real true balata golf ball is off the charts and will never take place again. Recall that in the late 90's that many ball manufacturers were generally moving on from true balata balls to other materials due to manufacturing costs.

If the top OEM or independent golf ball manufacturers today thought there is real money to be made from the tiny balata nostalgia market it would already have happened. 

Ah the good old days. Could move the ball at ease, spin it back for fun and watch the ball balloon into even the slightest breeze. Personal faves were the Slazenger 420 100 compression, Rextar aka Bridgestone and the awesome Titleist 384 LT. 

braincramp52

Oh how I hated Balata balls.  😅  One thin shot and it was garbage time. I can't say I ever have missed them for even a nano second. But , Titleist Professional was the ball I played most back then.

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If a person gets mad at you for telling the truth, they're living a lie.

I would love to try balata balls, but my course is very tight and it’s a good day when I only loose 3 or 4 balls. I imagine a balata ball would make a 90* turn strait into the woods 😂 . I have heard the the Kirkland Signature ball is similar to a balata in the way it spins. Can anyone confirm this?

I played the K-Sig ball a couple rounds.  For one, it feels nothing like balata.  I don't know the spin rates, but I can't see how that ball can spin more than a Tour Balata 100 with a solid wedge shot.

One ball I remember that spun way more than balata was the Spalding Tour Edition.  Wasn't that ball a two-piece ball with a cover almost as soft as balata?  Greg Norman had to carry his short-iron and wedge shots to the back edge of the green to spin it back, and often they spun to the front.

392 Hogan's, 384 Titleist, and Titleist Tour Balata 90.

The answer to better golf is work your butt off and learn how to hit it better, farther, and make more putts.

On 4/3/2022 at 10:56 AM, EmperorPenguin said: I played the K-Sig ball a couple rounds.  For one, it feels nothing like balata.  I don't know the spin rates, but I can't see how that ball can spin more than a Tour Balata 100 with a solid wedge shot.   One ball I remember that spun way more than balata was the Spalding Tour Edition.  Wasn't that ball a two-piece ball with a cover almost as soft as balata?  Greg Norman had to carry his short-iron and wedge shots to the back edge of the green to spin it back, and often they spun to the front.

The Tour Edition was the spinningest ball I ever played. Also the shortest, probably for that reason. But, it was more durable than the Pro Trajectory which if it didn’t have a smile in it would have stress cracks after 9 or 10 holes.  I remember buying the MacGregor Tourney or Golden Ram balata balls in the mid 70’s.

Cleveland Classic XL Driver KE4 5 wood 17* 43” Maltby MXU 23*  Maltby Tricept TU 5 Iron Wilson Pi5 6-PW Wilson JP 55* SW Ram Watson Troon Grind 58 Ray Cook M2 Mallet

9 hours ago, deepred said: The Tour Edition was the spinningest ball I ever played. Also the shortest, probably for that reason. But, it was more durable than the Pro Trajectory which if it didn’t have a smile in it would have stress cracks after 9 or 10 holes.  I remember buying the MacGregor Tourney or Golden Ram balata balls in the mid 70’s.

I remember Greg driving that ball approaching 280 despite the spin, and that was with his persimmon driver.

I read somewhere that the Ram ball was a Hansberger Brothers creation, which was sold under the Sportsman/Bristol/Kroyden brand.  The ball was so popular that Hansberger re-branded the entire company from Sportsman to Ram.

On 4/8/2022 at 11:59 PM, EmperorPenguin said: I remember Greg driving that ball approaching 280 despite the spin, and that was with his persimmon driver.   I read somewhere that the Ram ball was a Hansberger Brothers creation, which was sold under the Sportsman/Bristol/Kroyden brand.  The ball was so popular that Hansberger re-branded the entire company from Sportsman to Ram.

Could be on the name. Imagine an industry where making a first class product, and selling it for a lower price than your competitors puts you out of business. That’s what happened to Ram. They didn’t raise prices so they could pay tour players and since golfers equate price with quality and player endorsements with performance they got squeezed out.

Ram was the ultimate marketing disaster. Lopez, Watson, Brooks, Price and struggled to shift hardwear. ....The wedges were phenomenally popular in the UK prior to Vokey and Cleveland. The Zebra putter was also seen in a host of good players bags. Woods and irons were a niche at best. A crying shame. 

On 4/3/2022 at 1:58 AM, EmperorPenguin said: Rick Shiels compared the two types.  

Really not a fan of these sorts of tests, because the wound balls have lost so much due to age.  There's a noticeable (significant?) performance loss after only 5 years, much less 20.

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Answering the thread question...  I've been a big fan of the HT.  I've preferred the urethane versions because of their durability.  Cound them to be surprisingly long, especially when factoring spin rates; I was a higher spin tee game player when I played the HT.  

Their best aspect was their stability, especially in side winds.   Saw many shots where I played for drift that didn't happen.

No comments yet about Hogan Apex balata. All the good players in my area played them when I was younger. I especially was fond of the neon green ones. Great memories 

On 4/2/2022 at 6:57 AM, EmperorPenguin said: My favorites that immediately come to mind are Titelist Tour Balata 90 and 100, Royal Maxfli, Maxfli HT 90 and 100

... I was teaching golf back then and on staff with Titleist that of course sent me a staff bag and all my clubs along with one dozen golf balls. Getting them to send more ProV1's was brutal and finally received another dozen 3 months later. The Maxfli rep was at our range and I struck top a conversation with him and hit the HT-100 and really liked it. When I came to work the next night there were 4 dozen HT-100's waiting for me. Such a good ball. I am currently playing the 2022 Maxfli Tour and could not be happier.   

Driver:       TM Qi10 ... AutoFlex Dream 7 SF405 Fairway:    TM Qi10 5 wood ... Kai'li Blue 60R Hybrids:    Ping G430 22* ... Alta CB Black 70r                   TM Dhy #4 ... Diamana  LTD 65r Irons:         Titleist T200 '23 5-Pw ... Steelfiber i95r Wedges:    Vokey 50*/54*/58* ... Steelfiber i95r Putter:       Cobra King Sport-60 Ball:           2024 TP5x/2023 Maxfli Tour

• 1 year later...

AnimalGeorge

The most fun I had with balatas as a kid was cutting the cover off, taking the end of the rubber band and tying it to a post, unravelling the rest of it while walking 150 yards or so, pulling it tight to the point of breaking. Then letting go of the end I was holding. I estimate the speed it was traveling at 300 mph or so ( it traveled 150 yards in 1 second,  2 seconds max) 40 years later tried it and the rubber band was to brittle to stretch

              I grew up in a golf course and found 1000s of these as a kid, needless to say balata balls were a big part of my childhood

Maine Golfer

Good info on here I never thought of. I thought some company might be able to make them again but logic states they would run $100 a dozen. 

Woods: TaylorMade RBZ Tour Spoon, TaylorMade RBZ 5 Wood

Long Irons: Ping Zings 2 Iron, 3 Iron 

Iron Sets Cleveland Blacks 2012 5 To 9 , Wilson Staff Goosenecks 1988 4 to PW , Wilson X31's 1970 2 to PW , Hogan Redline's 1988  4 to E (no 7)

Wedges: Mizuno T22 (45/05) ,1969 Fluid Feel PW (52 degrees)  ,  Wilson BeCu (54 degrees),  Wilson Sandy Andy (57 degrees)

Putter: Ping Pal or Odyssey White Hot XG Marxman Blade. 

Ball:  high number Pro V1's

No point. Why make an inferior product at double the price? 

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Titleist tour balata golf balls reviews

Titleist Tour Balata golf balls might not be the latest and greatest on the market, but they still have a loyal following among golfers who crave one thing: exceptional short-game performance. Made with a different material than today’s balls, Balatas offer a unique feel and incredible spin, making them masters of stopping power on the green.

This review will dive into what makes the Titleist Tour Balata tick. We’ll explore the pros and cons of this old-school ball, helping you decide if it’s a good fit for your game. We’ll cover aspects like how much spin you can expect, how far the ball flies, and the kind of golfer who might benefit most from using a Balata.

Whether you’re a seasoned golfer looking to recapture some short-game magic or a curious newcomer interested in a different kind of ball, this review will shed light on the strengths and weaknesses of the Titleist Tour Balata. So, if you’re looking to add some serious bite to your chips and pitches, keep reading.

Titleist tour balata golf balls short reviews

Titleist Tour Balata balls are great for golfers with good skills who want to stop the ball close to the hole on the green. They are soft and give you lots of spin, but they don’t fly as far and scuff up easier than most balls.

Titleist tour balata Golf Ball Specs

• Construction:  Multi-layer
• Cover: soft
• Dimple Pattern:   Aerodynamic design
• Compression: High (around 90 or 100)

Who Should Consider Playing a Titleist Tour Balata?

Titleist Tour Balatas aren’t for everyone, but they shine in the hands of specific golfers. Here’s who might benefit most:

Skill Level:

• Low Handicappers: These golfers prioritize precision and short game feel. The Balata’s exceptional spin and soft feel allow for creativity and control around the green, which can shave strokes off their scores.
• Golfers with Strong Short Game Skills: Even for mid-handicappers with a solid short game, the Balata can further elevate their finesse. The added spin and soft feel can help them dial in their touch for chip shots, pitches, and flop shots.

Swing Speed:

• Moderate Swing Speeds: Since Balatas aren’t designed for maximum distance, golfers with moderate swing speeds won’t sacrifice much yardage compared to a modern ball. They’ll still benefit from the Balata’s superior short-game performance.
• Smooth Swingers: Golfers who focus on control and swing mechanics over raw power will find the Balata’s soft feel rewarding. It can help them feel the clubface connection better and potentially improve their overall ball striking.

Playing Style:

• Focus on Short Game: If a golfer prioritizes mastering their short game and enjoys shaping shots with finesse, the Balata’s exceptional spin and feel will be a game-changer. It allows for more creativity and control around the green.
• Course Strategy Emphasis: Golfers who rely on course strategy and shot-making over brute power will appreciate the Balata’s ability to hold greens and stop on a dime. It allows them to be more aggressive with approach shots and chip-ins.

Titleist Tour Balata Golf Balls Features

Distance: .

Sacrifice for Short Game Precision – While Titleist Tour Balatas offer good control for distance shots, they prioritize spin and feel over raw power. Compared to modern balls, golfers with moderate swing speeds might see a slight decrease in yardage.

Spin Control: 

Masterful Stopping Power – The Balata’s construction allows for exceptional spin generation. This translates to unmatched control on approach shots, allowing you to hold greens and stop the ball on a dime for pinpoint accuracy.

Feel: 

Unparalleled Softness – The Balata cover provides a noticeably softer feel at impact compared to modern balls. This can enhance feedback and connection with the clubface, potentially improving ball striking for some golfers. However, the softer feel might not be preferred by everyone.

Durability: 

The trade-off for Performance – The Balata cover is known for its exceptional feel, but this comes at the expense of durability. These balls may scuff or wear more easily compared to modern, multi-layer constructions.

• For pinpoint accuracy and stopping power around the green.
• Enhanced feedback and connection with the clubface (for some golfers).
• Ideal for golfers who prioritize mastering their short game.
• Sacrifice some distance compared to modern balls.
• The soft cover may scuff or wear more easily.
• The soft feel might not be preferred by all golfers

Titleist Tour Balata Golf Balls For Design

Unlike the solid cores found in most modern balls, the Balata features a wound construction. This means it’s built with layers of rubber-like material wrapped around a small liquid center. This construction creates a softer feel at impact and allows for more spin generation.

The key ingredient that sets the Balata apart is its cover material. Made from balata, a natural rubber derived from the sap of the balata tree, it provides an incredibly soft feel and exceptional grip on the ball for increased spin. However, balata is less durable than the synthetic materials used in modern covers.

Compression refers to the amount of squeeze a golf ball can withstand. The Balata is considered a high-compression ball, typically around 90 or 100. This higher compression contributes to the ball’s firmer feel and potential for more distance for golfers with higher swing speeds.

Traditionally, Titleist Tour Balatas were available in a classic white color. However, depending on the year of production, you might find some variations in availability.

Alternatives of  Titleist tour balata golf balls

As alternatives to the Titleist tour balata golf ball, here are three:

• Titleist NXT Tour
• Srixon Q Star
• Taylormade tp5x 

Key Takeaway

The Titleist Tour Balata isn’t for everyone. It might not be the longest ball on the course, and the softcover can wear down faster. But for golfers who crave unmatched feel and short game control, the Balata remains a legend. Its exceptional spin and soft feel let you stop the ball on a dime and shape shots with incredible precision.

So, if you’re a skilled golfer who prioritizes mastering your short game and enjoys feeling the club connect with the ball, the Balata might be the perfect fit. However, if distance is your main concern or you prefer a more durable ball, there are plenty of modern options to consider. Ultimately, the choice depends on your individual needs and playing style.

Peter Sandor

I'm Peter Sandor, with over 15 years of experience in club fitting and golf expertise. I'm here to guide you through the maze of golf equipment, offering unbiased reviews, fitting insights, and invaluable tips. My mission? To equip you with the perfect clubs, empowering you to unleash your best game, now and in the future. Let's embark on this journey together and elevate your golfing experience to new heights.

Related posts:

• Titleist tour speed golf ball reviews
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The History of Titleist Golf Balls

Titleist makes the most popular golf balls in the world. It has its roots in the Acushnet company, which was founded in 1910 by Phillip W. Young. Young wanted to make a golf ball that would fly straight. He realized that the balls he was using were not uniform, which caused them to spiral in different directions. As an M.I.T. graduate, he believed he had the know-how to fix this problem.

History of Titleist

In 1930, Young invented a machine that could spin rubber thread around a rubber core to produce a very uniform ball that could fly straight. They called this concept "dead center" and the new ball was named Titleist. It was a success until World War II, when the company concentrated its efforts on war-time endeavors. After the war, efforts began anew to improve the ball.

Balata Ball

Over the past several decades, Titleist golf balls have undergone many changes. In the 1980s, the big breakthrough was the balata ball. This ball had an exceptionally soft feel and great control. However, the soft cover was prone to splitting if hit wrong and bruising if it struck a cart path. Golfers were going through them much too quickly.

Titleist Professional

After a while, the company came out with the Titleist Professional. This ball was like the balata ball on the inside, but it had a harder cover for increased durability and distance. Titleist made other golf balls that were harder but didn't perform on the green as well. The Professional tried to capture both qualities in one. The ball’s steep price did not deter golfers. The name suggested that it was the top-of-the-line and many consumers flocked to purchase them.

Titleist Pro V1

The Pro V1 line, Titleist's highest-end balls, were introduced in October of 2000. Titleist's competitors were rapidly improving their equipment and by this time, all the manufactures had a high-performing golf ball with new dimple patterns, larger cores and better covers.

Since Titleist introduced the Pro V1 , this golf ball has changed the game. While the ball has evolved since 2000, it has been known as “The #1 Ball in Golf” for almost 21 years.

Golf Datatech co-founder estimated that the Pro V1 brand held a 40% share of the market during the first five months of 2019. According to Acushnet’s 2020 financial report, the company amassed nearly $508 million dollars in golf ball sales.

Their report stated that 75% of players across worldwide tours trusted Titleist for their ball, a number that doesn’t factor in the weekend amateurs, college and junior players. Acushnet produces about 300,000 Pro V1 and Pro V1x balls daily.

Expert Insight

You don't have to fork out the money for the top-of-the-line Titleist balls. The company makes a long list of golf balls to fit your game and budget. You can choose from the NXT, ProV1, TruSoft or Velocity line. Acushnet brands, including, Titleist, FootJoy, Scotty Cameron and Vokey Wedges , also make clubs, shoes, gloves and accessories. You can check out their line of products at most retail golf stores and golf pro shops or go online to titleist.com.

Image: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

Titleist Pro V1 ball: evolution of a legend

Charting the heritage of Titleist's Pro V1 & V1x

Derived from the word "titlist", meaning "title holder", it is fair to say Titleist lives up to its name when it comes to golf balls.

More than eighty years after the first Titleist golf ball was produced, the company now boasts the world's largest ball factory in Massachusetts with a combined workforce across four worldwide plants of more than 1,100.

Following the recent launch of its new Pro V1 and Pro V1x balls for 2017, we scroll the archives to chart Titleist's rise to the top of the golf ball category...  

Phil Young 

1932 - Phil Young, founder of the Acushnet Company, complains to his playing partner and dentist that all his triple bogeys were the fault of his golf ball. The dentist X-rays the ball and finds the core is "off centre". Young develops a machine that uniformly winds rubber string around a rubber core, making a "dead centre" golf ball. He names the ball Titleist.

1935 - It takes three years to perfect the first Titleist golf ball. The brand becomes the first to X-ray every ball and to freeze liquid centres to ensure balls stay perfectly round during the winding process. Titleist also develops the industry's first mechanical golfer to test ball flight.

1945 - Titleist adopts a numerical approach to golf ball identification and installs the first automatic mold press.

1949 - Titleist is the number one played ball at the US Open for the first time.

1952 - Titleist converts its own nameplate on the golf ball without including Acushnet.

1954 - Hurricane Carol floods the Titleist ball plant. Over 600 associates join together to move equipment and prevent further damage.

1958 - Major paint process improvements are made to significantly enhance golf ball quality and durability.

1964 - Titleist R&D team is formed to better study golf ball aerodynamics.  

1965 - Titleist conducts wind tunnel testing and computer analysis to evaluate dimple shapes and configurations for the most efficient blend between lift and drag.

1968 - Titleist is the first company in the industry to develop its own dimple molds.

1973 - Titleist makes a breakthrough in aerodynamics by introducing a new "icosahedron" dimple design, which divides the ball into 20 triangular regions.

1975 - Titleist DT is introduced as the longest Surlyn-covered golf ball. Acushnet Golf Centre is created later in the year and regarded as the "ultimate R&D indoor test lab".  

1975 - Titleist Pro Trajectory ball is launched with new aerodynamics designed for high speed, high spin players.

1979 - Titleist Trajectory System for golf balls is introduced and advances Titleist's golf ball fitting capabilities.

1983 - Titleist 384 Tour revolutionises the golf ball design.

1987 - Titleist reaches a manufacturing milestone of 100 million golf balls.

SWIPER: HOW MANY OF THESE 90S GOLF BALLS DID YOU OWN?  

1990 - A second Titleist Ball Plant opens in Massachusetts.

1992 - Titleist HVC ball introduced as the first two-piece golf ball to ever bear the Titleist script.

1993 - Liquid-filled centre wound Titleist Tour Balata ball becomes the most played ball on Tour.  

1994 - Titleist Professional ball becomes the first Tour-played urethane covered ball.

2000 - 47 PGA Tour golfers put the new three-piece Titleist Pro V1 in play at the Invensys Classic. Pro V1 user Billy Andrade wins the event. Four months later the Pro V1 becomes the best-selling ball in golf shops across the globe. Titleist add a third Titleist Ball Plant later in the year.

2003 - Following the success of Pro V1, Titleist launches a four-piece Pro V1x, a ball with 60 fewer dimples.

2007 - Titleist Pro V1 ball is played for its 1,000th win across worldwide professional Tours.

2008 - Titleist celebrates its 60th year as the number one played ball at the US Open.

2009 - Titleist NXT Tour and NXT Extreme balls designed to combine maximum yardage and responsiveness from iron and short shots.

2010 - A fourth Titleist Ball Plant opens in Thailand following demand of Pro V1 and Pro V1x.

2012 - Titleist Velocity ball is launched, the fastest solid core of any golf ball.

2015 - Building on 15 years of success, revamped  Pro V1 and Pro V1x balls are launched.

2017 - Titleist launches its "most advanced and best performing golf balls ever stamped with the Titleist script" with the 2017 Pro V1 and Pro V1x.

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Sometimes even the best putt doesn’t go quite where you would like or expect. Eighty-four years ago, a well-struck putt by Philip “Skipper” Young veered off course and away from the hole. Scratching his head, Young took the ball to his friend, a fellow golfer and dentist, for an x-ray. In the black-and-white image, they could see that the core of the ball had become askew.

Don’t have $1.23 billion in the back pocket of your FJ pants? You can still own at least a (small)  piece of the Titleist legacy  with a recycled ball (of the same brand that billionaires use) from Lost Golf Balls. 

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