50 Words or Less
With Nicklaus Golf Balls you get a ball that will perform at a high level, plus you have the chance to help our a great charitable cause.
Introduction
There are many golf ball brands and dozens of different balls, and most of them perform well. Nicklaus Golf Balls go beyond good performance with a charitable mission and a simplified way to pick the best ball for your game. With three different models, Black, Blue, and White, there’s a Nicklaus Golf Ball for every player.
Long Game
Off the tee and into the green, each of the Nicklaus Golf Balls performed well. My first time taking it on the course was actually a perfect test for each ball since I was golfing with my dad and my father-in-law. I played the Nicklaus Black, my dad played the White, and my father-in-law played the Blue. Each of us felt that the ball flew our normal distances with our expected trajectory and behavior in the wind.
As I tested each of the three balls on the launch monitor, I found that the biggest difference was the feel. The Black is clearly the firmest, meant to stand up to faster swings. The White and Blue each had a little softer feeling which would allow lower swing speed players to feel some compression.
Short Game
As the testing moved inside 100 yards, the three different Nicklaus Golf Balls became more distinct, though I was very impressed with how well the White and Blue kept up with the Black. The Nicklaus Black performs every bit as well as any tour ball that you’re going to find. On wedge shots, the spin is very high and, more importantly, consistent. As for the Blue and White, they spun approximately 800 and 1600 RPMs less than the Black when tested on the launch monitor (test shot was at 70 yards). While this is a noticeable drop off by the numbers, these balls are still more than capable of stopping without running out much if at all.
Off the putter, the three balls each have a distinct feel. The Black is the softest, and it produces a low-pitched, quiet “tock.” The Blue is slightly firmer with a slightly louder, higher-pitched sound. The White is the firmest, and it also has the loudest, highest-pitched impact sound.
Who This Ball Is For
Nicklaus Golf tries to make selecting the right ball simple: pick the ball that matches the tees you play. If you play the forward tees, pick the White. If you play the middle tees, pick the Blue. If you play the tips, choose the Black. Essentially, the Black is a tour-level ball, the White is a lower-compression ball, and the Blue is something in between.
A Golf Ball That Gives Back
As I referenced earlier, a major part of what makes the Nicklaus Golf Balls unique is their charitable mission. Each sale helps to fund the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation and the St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Here’s how it works: when you order the balls through the Nicklaus website, they are listed at a “base” price, $28/dozen for the White and Blue, $32/dozen for the Black. Each ball also has a “recommended” price, $48 and $52, respectively, which includes a $20 donation. You’re free to pay the base price, the recommended price, or anything in between or higher.
Jack explains on his site that this system is designed to both grow the game (good balls at a low price) and give back (people who can afford it make a donation).
Conclusion
If you want more than just great performance from your golf ball, or your just sick of playing the same thing as everyone else, Nicklaus Golf Balls deserve a long, hard look. The Nicklaus Black is an impressive, tour-caliber ball that’s available for over $10 less than its “big name” competitors. The White and Blue are excellent balls for mid-handicappers or beginners. Regardless of which ball you choose, you can feel good knowing that your purchase supports an extremely worthy cause.
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
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Super excited to try these out, thanks Matt!
I usually play Callaway hex black. I purchased the Nicklaus blue. It performs well on the green. I prefer the feel of the Callaway off the tee. I’ll purchase the Nicklaus black the next time.
I’m a senior golfer with a 9 handicap and a 97-98 mph swing speed and not associated with the golfing industry or Nicklaus in any way. Over the years I have typically played Titleist ProV1’s and V1x’s plus Bridgestone 330RX and RXS balls. As my swing speed has decreased I’ve also played Bridgestone’s e6 quite a bit and have also tried Callaway Chrome balls as well as Srixon. Like others who play this silly game I’m always looking for something to improve my scores. The Nicklaus balls are made by Bridgestone. Even though Jack has made some specification requests that has altered his balls somewhat from the standard Bridgestone balls I could tell a similarity. The black ball plays like a 330 or a ProV1, the Blue is the longest ball of his three and plays low spin off the longer clubs and higher off wedges and short irons but feels softer. The White plays softer yet. I decided to cut open a Blue Nicklaus ball, a Bridgestone e6 and a Bridgestone 330RX. The inside of the Nicklaus Blue looks just like an e6 – two layers the same thickness and even somewhat the same color materials. The cover and dimple pattern of the Nicklaus Blue, however, is more like a Bridgestone 330RX or RXS and may be a variation of those balls. For me the ball goes as far and straight as an e6, or maybe a little longer, with the feel and greenside playing characteristics of a softer, higher spinning ball similar to the 330RXS. In short, it is a great ball at a great price that benefits a great charity.