Golf Today Equipment Special - Spring 2000

Maxfli Tour Patriot Ball

As in any market, spotting consumer fashions is crucial and with its latest ball, the Tour Patriot, Maxfli is betting on the growing trend of wound balls which, only a few years ago, appeared to be on the decline in favour of the more cost-effective (and longer) 2-piece designs.

"Wound balls have never been known for great distance," says Maxfli's R&D chief, John Calabria. "But the technology has now improved to the point where we've been able to give golfers the distance they been lacking but with the wound benefits of control and feel which even average players now demand," he says of the ball which is targetted to 5-20 handicappers

Like its stablemate the Revolution, Maxfli's Patriot indeed redefines wound 3-piece technology, shunning a liquid centre in favour of a large solid rubber core  - the 'distance' element. A thin layer of rubber windings are then sandwiched by a durable but soft-feeling cover made from the latest generation ionomer.

But Maxfli are aware of the growing competition in the wake of Callaway's high-profile debut. "The global golf 'pie' is not growing. Some companies will see their market share decline as sales get spread more thinly. Some will simply fail," explains Calabria in the wake of the Orlando deluge. "The frantic activity we're seeing will be a real test of whether companies can deliver what the consumer wants and what their products promise. We're confident that we can hang on to our share with our new line."

Meanwhile, we hear that yet another Maxfli ball is in the pipeline. Currently scheduled for mid-summer European release, the Elite has been designed with the help of Jack Nicklaus, no less, and (with its liquid center this time) will be targetted to the better player. Watch this space.

Price: £7.99 for pack of three

Contact: 01924 880000