Robert TheodorsonEarlier this month Amazon released their much-anticipated Core Soft golf ball. The ionomer-covered two-piece ball is an inexpensive alternative to other two-piece competitors, but sold in a manner that seems to take a direct shot at Kirkland Signature, comparable in price and feel.
The ball is designed and intended for mid to high handicappers who want a reliable feel, but also won’t fret too much over slicing a few into the woods or sending one to the bottom of a lake.
I set out to play 27 holes with the new Core Soft and report back my findings as well as the most important factors concerning this ball
- Does the low price impact the performance, and if so, how much?
- How does the Amazon Basics’ model stack up against the established name brands?
First Impressions
Feel and Touch: Regarding the feel of the golf ball, one of the first things you notice is that the Soft Core is a bit more slippery in your hand than its two-piece competitors.
Since I have a treasure trove of lost golf balls, I compared the Amazon ball to all the big-name brands and their various models.
The closest I could find in feel and bounce was the Callaway Superfast, a seldom-used model that gets overlooked by the popularity of its similarly named cousin, the Supersoft.
The Core Soft has a very glossy feel and while this is not an issue during your round, it does require some maintenance (see below).
Look: Even though Fall Ball is officially upon us, I opted for the Yellow Amazon Basic. A mistake I would soon regret as soon as I saw the first yellow leaf on the fairway.
The ball does look nice; however, the Yellow is more of a neon yellow and is brighter than all the various brightly themed balls I had lying around. The only comparable I could find was an older Titleist TourSoft, which was still outshined by the Amazon.
If you like neon and bright coloured balls like Top Flite’s XL Control Neon Pink colour scheme, you’ll enjoy the Amazon model. Currently, your only two options for Amazon are white and yellow.
I would opt for the white in the autumn months as I did end up losing a couple under the foliage during my testing round.
On the Putting Green
Aiming: One of the first things you’ll notice is Amazon’s patented logo, commonly referred to as the “smile”. On a golf ball, it is certainly confusing to have a squiggly line, but luckily the inventors did include a rather reliable block around the “CORE SOFT” marking which includes a bold black background with a bullet point and inequality symbols.
The basic aim design is not unlike the Callaway Supersoft. I do not make 360 markings on my ball and did not find it necessary to do with these either. The block marking is plenty for you to concentrate on and aim with.
Feel: This is where the Amazon Core Soft really started to shine throughout my testing round. I found no discernible difference between these and other balls I play with.
The only moments I really felt like the ball was a bit off was when I encountered two greens with rather steep slopes, one of which resulted in my one and only 3-putt of the round.
Unless I was putting uphill, the Amazon model had a consistent feel throughout the round and worked out well on municipal greens which always seem to be slower than greens at reputable clubs.
Regarding my troubles putting uphill, by the second round the kinks were worked out and I now wholeheartedly believe this is one of the best balls out there for putting!
Off The Tee
Driver: It might be an aberration, but I noticed less spin off the driver from the Amazon balls than their comparables. Though it was not a record-breaking round by any stretch of the imagination, I did not slice a single ball which has traditionally been the case with my game, no matter the brand.
My second day off the tee was much more successful, balls were flying straighter and sticking to the fairways rather than taking that odd one hop bounce and ricocheting to the right.
Nobody likes playing their second shot out of the rough and thankfully the Amazon balls turned into Fairway Finders.
Fairway Wood: For whatever reason, the Core Soft seemed to love being hit by my Callaway Ai Smoke Max Fast 5 Wood off the tee. Shots were incredibly straight and went for good distance.
Other than putting, this was the most enjoyable part of the round. It was certainly one of those days where I was tempted to just put away the driver since the 5 Wood was shooting laser beams and the 7 Wood came a club length away from what would have been my first ever hole in one on a rather lengthy Par 3.
Approach Shots
Fairway: I have not noticed a difference in the quality of approach shots, iron or fairway wood when comparing these to top-of-the-line models like the Titleist Pro V1.
For those of us who don’t maintain fast swing speeds, getting enough loft and ensuring the ball just sits relatively close to the divot is enough.
Rough: Choking up on the Taylormade Stealth 7 Iron was my go-to in order to get back on the fairway. The Amazon balls have a decent amount of roll, so don’t overdo it and just make sure your escape shot doesn’t go right back into the rough on the other side of the fairway!
Around the Green
Chipping and Pitching: I absolutely love the control that the Core Softs provided. A seasoned golfer can clearly tell the difference between something like a SuperSoft/TruFeel and a Chrome Tour/Pro V1 around the green.
It is probably the reason why most all pros use the top end models and are so good setting themselves up for easy putts to finish the hole. I have so say that the Amazon Basic balls were not that far off the top models.
Still astonished from what I saw, I am leaning towards putting the Core Soft closer to the top-end models that run you $54.99 a box than the cheap two-piece models.
Using my Ping Glide 4.0 52-degree wedge and Callaway CB 56-degree, I felt very comfortable around the green and put myself in a position to make par more often than not.
With the Amazon, you’re going to get exactly the type of chip/putt you’re looking for based on the wedge you use. I also felt like the Amazon balls were somehow a bit more forgiving than others if you tend to not make perfect contact in your short game, hitting an inch or so behind the ball.
Durability
Scuffing and Marks: I’m pleased to report that the Core Softs did not scuff easily. One playing partner said that some comparable brands such as Maxfli Tour tend to scuff or scrape easily after a few shots.
I noticed no lasting damage to the Core Softs after the second round. The ionomer outer layer does tend to pick up dirt a bit more easily than other models, so you will need to keep these clean after two or three holes.
Final Verdict
Buy
Putting a dozen of these in my Amazon Cart, it looks like Amazon has already realised the popularity and value of this new ball.
My initial order which was delivered on November 3rd, was a total of $14.40 for a single dozen. Today, the same dozen is $16.95 after taxes.
Despite this, the Amazon Core Soft is an absolute buy in my book.
Amazon also sells these in the two-dozen format, likely to compete with Costco’s Kirland Brand which sells in bulk only.
In the Amazon Cart, the two-dozen is currently listed at $28.25 after taxes while Kirland’s is listed at $34.99 before taxes, so Amazon is already on top for price point.
Anticipate a scramble in the R&D departments of the big manufacturers like Callaway, Titleist, and Taylormade if Amazon is able to undercut the market and secure the future purchases of double-digit handicappers.
I love Callaway Supersoft, not only for the familiar feeling but the fun matte colours as well. However, I can’t justify spending $24.99 on a dozen when I can get twice as many Core Softs for nearly the same price, and honestly, the Core Softs felt better than just about anything other than a Pro V1/x on the green.
It’s unknown how quickly these balls are going to catch on, but considering who produces them I can see the Core Softs gaining a lot of attention, and quickly, especially in the American market.
New colours and pattern schemes? A superior 3-4 piece model that goes after the single-digit handicappers and scratch golfers? Professional sponsorships showing up in a tournament near you?
What does the future hold for Amazon? I for one am excited to find out, and plan on playing these for my next round!
