I realized when moving to the desert the old, high trajectory, spinning golf shots of the Gulf Coast were hurting me on the bounce and roll courses of an arid climate. I did extensive research and found the TopFlite D2 and D2+ Straight balls, the Wilson Anti-Slice Profile, and the Titleist NXT balls to be optimum for minimal sidespin, soft feel, and distance performance. Unfortunately the latter two have been discontinued. As far as I can tell the D2 balls that are several years old are identical to the new D2+ balls. Same slick cover (to reduce spin), same core, same dimple in dimple pattern, same performance characteristics - just $5 per dozen cheaper. The balls are tough; they stay white. I have shot from 71 to 80 using them, which is my usual range with $45/dozen pro-line balls. I prefer the TopFlite D2's because my short iron shots do NOT back up anymore. It is OK that they stop quickly, just don't back off the green. The longer iron shots release as much as 20 feet when I hit the green, which is what I want. We amateurs need more distance, not anti-distance by backing our shots up. The D2 Straight balls pitch, chip, and putt without excessive check up or hard click off the clubface. I have not experienced wild hooks and slices off the driver; I expect the slick polymer cover minimizes sidespin. The dozen I bought actually were delivered as a 15-ball pack, so I would rate them as exceeding my expectations, plus the extra 3 free balls contributed to my rating as excellent value. It would be reasonable to conclude that Callaway does not re-tool their ball manufacturing plant to produce inferior balls. I expect except for cover deviations the cores of the TopFlite XL's, D2's, Warbirds, and Diablos to to be the same formulations with just different pricing points.
