When I heard about the Top Flite XL Distance, I was quite optimistic but also surprised when it didn’t pass my testing design, which was set-up for comparability.
My surprise was due to the fact that Callaway purchased Top Flight from Spalding back in 2003 and was then sold to Dicks Sporting Goods 9 years later. During this period, the golf ball went through a new design.
On the box of Top Flite XL Distance, it claims you can achieve better distance with more durability. You don’t need anymore lay-ups as you can now hit long-distance shots. Top Flight XL has been in the game for three decades and has been providing balls that are durable and go long distances on the course. This ball is designed to make your shots soar through the air without any hassle. It’s covered with a reformulated cut-proof ionomer that lets it have less spin while increasing durability.
When you look at the box, the features say that it’s designed to make your game “big” and your shots travel through great distances. The Top Flight XL Distance also comes with Dimple Technology, which gives it a high and quick launch for great playability and performance. There is also a high resiliency core construction, which optimizes compression for elevated ball speeds and distance. With all those features, it’s hard to disappoint when it comes to the test. At least, theoretically.
I concluded my testing for this ball simply because the cover of three balls cracked. After the third one broke, it wasn’t really worth my time or anyone else’s to continue. This is the one exception I had not counted on and that was the failure of the ball itself. Let’s be honest, it’s basically a rock with dimples.
After doing enough research on the topic, I know that this ball is relatively cheaper and new to the market. However, it does have a better feel than the Top Flite balls of before. With today’s advancements in technology, I expect a golf ball, regardless of the cost, should hold up better than this. Personally, I feel you would be much better off with a mid-range ball. If the ProV1 is a bit out of pocket for you, you can also go with the Srixon Q-Star.
I would only advise using this ball if you’re having a bad round of golf and you didn’t want to lose any of your high-quality balls. It’s also good to use if you were playing a course with a lot of water, as you don’t need to worry about losing it.
With a Top Flite ball, you can easily spin it enough to hold the green with a wedge or short iron, such as a par 3 from 130. But honestly, that’s pretty much all you can do. There’s really not much else that you can do except spinning full shots would be much easier. What makes urethane proline balls, such as the ProV1, special is that they can spin a lot on less than full shots.p
Considering all things said, I still feel my judgment passed on the Top Flite balls stands its ground. However, I will mention that it is possible that this was a bad batch of golf balls, but more often than not, the judgment remains the same. If you still wish to buy these balls for any of the above-mentioned reasons, you can click here. Otherwise, there are many other different brands that you can check out, review, and test.
