Despite my best efforts to direct you to my new blog – (please take the time to go to https://www.three-off-the-tee.com/) - it seems you are still visiting here regularly. I really appreciate your
loyalty and although I really want to make the new blog a really strong and
interactive place to visit (written by an obsessed golfer for golfers
everywhere) I thought I’d post my latest product review here anyway.
In case you don't know, I've been injured
and so been out of action for a while. I've a blog covering that (Man Down) I haven't been idle while I couldn't
golf and hope you've managed to check out my tasty Ryder Cup blog and in
particular the video within the blog which was a unique behind closed doors
round table with Ian Woosnam, Peter Baker, Jean van de Velde and Thomas Levet.
Check it out here I've
also done a great product review on Go-Kart Golf MkII golf trolley. Definitely
worth a read, especially with Christmas on the horizon or if you need a golf
trolley or fancy a change. Again you can check out the review here
Apologies
if this feels like a trip to the cinema and you've sat through the adverts for
the local curry house and all the other film previews but rest assured we're
ready for the main feature. Here is my review of the AD333 golf ball.
Let
me start with the basics. I have received no payment or remuneration from
Srixon for this review and they have had no input into the video or this blog.
If you are familiar with my previous blog (also imaginatively called Three Off
The Tee - check it out here), the you'll know I
don't use launch monitors or gadgets and simply go out and play with it.
If
you want to see the ball in action on the course, I've done a video review,
playing over three holes (a par 3, par 4 and a par 5) as well as putting it
through its paces with an array of short game shots including chips, pitches
and bunker shots as well as a few putts. See the video and my initial thoughts
here (AD333 Golf Ball - Video Review)
Let
me start with the basics. I have received no remuneration or payment from
Srixon for this review and they have had no input into the content of the video
or this blog. If you are familiar with the previous version of my blog (also
called Three Off The Tee - check it out here) then you'll know my ball reviews contain no
technical specs from launch monitors and is just me playing three holes,
hitting some short game shots and putts and coming back with my thoughts on how
the ball performed.
The
AD333 golf ball is now in it's tenth incarnation and it remains a two piece
golf ball with an ionomer cover this ball is aimed at delivering value and
performance and Srixon claim to have added some of the technology from their
premium balls. Srixon say the next generation will bring golfers more distance
and forgiveness than previous versions thanks to a slight reduction in
compression and reformulated FastLayer Core.
Let
me give you the marketing spiel from their website.
The
new Srixon AD333 is a premium, lower-compression golf ball that delivers
superior, balanced performance for golfers who demand exceptional distance,
feel and green side control. With
a reformulated Fast Layer Core, it features a lower compression for a
straighter, more sustainable ball flight, especially for players with moderate
swing speeds.
Fast Layer delivers exceptional feel and ball speed for maximum
distance, and is combined with the 338 dimple pattern that provides less drag
and more lift to boost overall distance and accuracy, even in the toughest wind
conditions.
A
new SeRM Sprint Skin has a coating with flexible molecular bonds digs deep into
wedge and iron grooves, maximizing spin for more control and more stopping
power.
NEW FastLayer Core: Features a lower compression for a
straighter, more sustainable ball flight, especially for players with moderate
swing speeds. Fast Layer delivers exceptional feel and ball speed for maximum
distance.
NEW Spin Skin with SeRM: A coating with flexible molecular
bonds digs deep into wedge and iron grooves, maximizing spin for more control
and more stopping power.
338 Speed Dimple Pattern: Less drag and more lift boosts overall
distance and accuracy, even in the toughest wind conditions.
So
the big question is how does it play and how do these claims stack up. If you
are a regular to the Three Off The Tee youtube channel you'll know I've done a
number of golf ball reviews before. Check them out here in my product reviews and while you are on my channel
please make sure you subscribe for all my video content and please give the
video a thumbs up as well. Youtube really likes a thumbs up and so it all
helps.
As always
with the golf ball reviews, I've done a video playing a par three, a par four
and a par five and I've hit some short game shots (pitches, chips and bunker
shots) and hit some putts with the AD333 and so check out the video (AD333
review) to see how a mid-handicapper (12.7 handicap index) fared. See what I
think of the ball out on the course.
I
have been doing product reviews for many years now, starting on this blog incarnation and as always
with this fuller review I'll mark the AD333 ball over a number of criteria.
It's
easy to see why the Srixon AD333 has been such a hugely popular golf ball for
so long, leading the way for two-piece models in the UK. As a mid-handicapper I
tend to play a more premium ball in competitive rounds especially Spring
through to the Autumn (personal choice), but I'll play Winter rounds with an
AD333 because it's such a solid performer, impressively durable and one of the
best value balls around.
As always, I conclude these reviews breaking the ball and the way it
performed into a number of key components and mark each separately out of ten
and then give an overall score. Again, this is subjective to how I found they
performed and please bear in mind these may not hold true for all standard of
golfers and is based on how this mid-handicapper found them over just a few
holes and hitting a number of short game shots.
Looks: The AD333 looked a nice bright white
colour and Srixon have called it "pure white". There is also a
"tour yellow" version if you prefer a coloured ball. The "pure
white" was in marked contrast to the more matte finish, or myriad of
colours (including two coloured balls) that seems to be en vogue from some
companies at the moment. 9/10
Flight: I have used some of the well known
two piece balls on the market, in particular the Vice DRIVE and previous
versions of the AD333 especially in winter conditions. As a self-confessed
short hitter, I want a winter ball for the higher flight which in turn means
more carry. Perfect when the fairways are wet. I found this version of the
AD333 gave a pleasant mid-height flight, and as the fairways were still firm,
there was an impressive amount of run on landing. With iron shots the ball
didn't feel hard or "pebble like" as some two piece balls can do.
Again it was a mid-height flight but I didn't feel it would affect approaches
into the green. 8/10
Control: Now, while it’s one thing to throw a
two piece ball onto damp winter greens and expect a level of stop, hitting the
Srixon AD333 onto firmer green would provide a sterner test. It actually
performed reasonably well in the array of short game shots I played although if
I am being honest, while Srixon say "A new SeRM Sprint Skin has a coating
with flexible molecular bonds digs deep into wedge and iron grooves, maximizing
spin for more control and more stopping power" I didn't really see too
much of this. There was some initial check from the bunker on a first bounce
and then it released. As I state on the video, I have been out injured and so
some of it may be down to inconsistent strikes and the firm green I was playing
onto. That said, while some pitches and chips did produce an element of check,
there was more run out than I hoped. I accept most two piece balls won't spin
and react like their three and four piece equivalents, and by choosing an AD333
or other two piece you'll have to accept a compromise in control but ultimately
I was left a little disappointed.
I
was going to mark this as 6.5/10 from the initial performance in the video and
my test but since filming I've had a chance to use the ball around the course
on several occasions following periods of rain which made the greens more
receptive. I have found that when playing in more Autumnal conditions
especially on a damp green there is certainly more check and spin. I'm still
unconvinced about using the AD333 on harder greens but I saw enough in the last
few weeks to make me think there is definitely potential to get some control
with the ball in the next few months and I've adjusted my marking to 7.5/10
Durability: Playing just three holes, including a
shot from a bunker and heavy rough, there were no blemishes on the ball which
is as I'd expect. Having then subjected the three balls in the pack to a
reasonable number of short game shots including a number from sand, I can
report that they stood up to my somewhat suspect short game well. One had a
small blemish as a result of the shots from the bunker (arguably from the
couple I knifed over the green) but aside from that there were no discernible
marks and the balls retained their bright white finish. 8.5/10
Feel: This brings me neatly back to the
most subjective category of all. How do you mark “feel” as it differs from
player to player subjective to the strike put on the shot? All I can really do
is compare it to the other two piece balls on the market. I think the fact that
this is the tenth version of the AD333 and it is arguably the best selling and
performing ball of its kind then it must strike a chord with a lot of golfers
who enjoy playing with it (and by default like the feel) Well struck shots felt
soft of the face (but so do range balls if you hit them right) but there wasn’t
any discernible click or nasty hard feeling off any club face including the
putter.
Clearly
as a two-piece it’s never going to be the softest ball on the market but Srixon
do make some strong claims about the Spin Skin with SeRM and more stopping
power. It did outweigh my personal pre-conceptions I had. If anything, it felt
firmest off the driver and ultimately if that’s going to help lead to a few
more yards, that would be a trade-off I’m happy to accept. I didn't think it
felt as hard as many two piece balls on the market and and certainly felt more
than acceptable off the club around the green even if I didn't see the
discernible spin in the marketing 8/10
Price: As to be expected being a two piece
ball, these come in far cheaper than three and four piece balls. This makes
them ideal for price conscious golfers on a budget and those that aren't
interested in more spin control or are looking for a ball to give more distance
with a lower compression (it comes in as a 72 compression ball) and moderate
swing speed. It is priced in the UK around the £21-£24 mark although with some
searching I am sure there are some deals to be had. For a decent ball that
doesn't break the bank it does (in my opinion) give good value for money. 9/10
Overall
I
described the AD333 in my video review as being ideal for relatively new
golfers now looking for a regular ball reasonably priced ball to use regularly
and that it would suit both mid and high handicap golfers. It’s a ball designed
to be both part of the Srixon range as a whole and capable of standing on its
own merits. It fits both parts of the criteria well. It definitely ticks a lot
of boxes, particularly in terms of distance, especially for golfers who may
swing at a slower speed to some, which may be a buying decision for you However
it also delivers in terms of durability and as you will have seen, going into
damper conditions I have changed my view on the level of spin and control. As
far as a two-piece ball goes, this is right up there with any of the market
leaders in my opinion if not right at the top of the tree and given it's now in
its tenth incarnation Srixon must be doing something right with the AD333.
I
think I need to talk briefly about pre-conceptions and I think we all suffer
from this whenever we try new gear. Once I get out there and film any product
review and sit down to write the more in depth blog review I try and be as open
minded as I can and each and every product review is an honest and unbiased
opinion on what I really thought. Having used previous versions of the AD333 I
knew to some degree what to expect, or at least had an idea in my head (a
sub-conscious pre-conception if you will) but I was pleasantly surprised just
how well the tenth incarnation performed.
The
AD333 is a very strong performer in the two-piece sector of the market. I’ve
tried several of the AD333 offerings over the years and as the leader
(arguably) in a crowded two ball market place they’ve really created a place
for themselves as well as a renowned reputation. The latest AD333 performed
really well and I was very impressed. In fact, I was so impressed I will be
switching to these as my winter ball of choice. I don’t think you can give a
better recommendation than that. 8/10
