Okay, so I got my hands on some Nitro 3 golf balls the other day. Wasn’t really planning on it, just saw them cheap somewhere and thought, “Why not? Let’s see what these are about.” You know how it is, always curious about different gear, especially balls, ’cause they can actually make a difference, sometimes.
First Look and Feel
Pulled them out of the box. Nothing fancy, just your standard golf ball packaging. The balls themselves felt… well, like golf balls. Maybe a little harder on the cover than the premium stuff I sometimes play, but not like hitting rocks either. The dimple pattern looked pretty standard. Honestly, just looked like a basic, no-frills golf ball. White, clean, ready to be hit (and probably lost).
Hitting the Range
Took a sleeve out to the range first. Didn’t want to waste them on the course immediately if they turned out to be duds. Started with the wedges.
- Wedges: Feel off the face was okay. A bit clicky, maybe? Not that soft feel you get from a urethane ball, obviously. Spin wasn’t massive, they tended to hit and run out a bit more. For short chips around the green, they felt predictable enough, just needed to account for the extra roll.
- Irons: Moved up through the bag. Mid-irons felt pretty solid. Ball flight seemed decent, maybe a little lower than my usual ball? Hard to say definitively on the range. Distance felt alright, didn’t notice a huge drop-off or anything surprising. Again, that slightly harder feel was there on impact.
- Driver: This is where budget balls sometimes fall apart. But honestly? They weren’t bad. Felt okay coming off the driver face. Distance seemed comparable to other balls in this price range. Launch seemed fine. Didn’t get any weird side spin or anything unusual. They just went pretty straight, which is never a bad thing.
On the Putting Green
Rolled a few putts with them too. This is often where I notice the biggest difference with cheaper balls. The Nitro 3 felt quite firm off the putter face. If you like that soft, buttery feel, this ain’t it. But, the roll was consistent. It came off the face predictably, just with a firmer click. Distance control took a little adjustment because of that firmness, but it wasn’t uncontrollable. Just different.
Overall Thoughts
So, what’s the verdict? Look, the Nitro 3 isn’t going to compete with a Pro V1 or a Chrome Soft. It just isn’t built for that. The feel is harder, the spin around the greens is lower. But, for what they are – a budget-friendly golf ball – they perform okay. They fly straight enough, the distance is acceptable, and they’re durable. Didn’t scuff up easily during my range session.
If you’re a beginner, a high-handicapper, or just someone who loses a lot of balls and doesn’t want to cry every time one disappears into the woods or water, these could be a decent option. They get the job done without breaking the bank. Would I game them in a serious competition? Probably not. But for a casual knockabout round or just practice? Yeah, they’re perfectly fine. Did the job today, anyway. Got some swings in, saw how they flew. Practice accomplished.
