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Ball Lab: Maxfli Tour X (2023)
MyGolfSpy Ball Lab is where we quantify the quality and consistency of golf balls. Today, we’re reviewing the 2023 Maxfli Tour. To learn more about our test process, click here.
About the Maxfli Tour X
The Maxfli Tour X is the firmest ball in Maxfli’s current Tour lineup. The company says it’s the highest-spinning ball in the lineup as well. While that designation is specifically for irons, we expect it will spin a bit more off the driver than both the Tour and the Tour S.
We’ll sort that out with our upcoming robot ball test.
As is the case with every Maxfli Tour series ball to date, the 2023 Tour X is proprietary to DICK’S Sporting Goods and is produced by Foremost in Taiwan.
Maxfli Tour X Construction
The Maxfli Tour X is a four-piece golf ball. With the 2021 Tour X, Maxfli shifted from dual-core to dual-mantel construction. The design carries through with the 2023 Tour X.
The cover features the same 318-dimple pattern common to many Foremost-made balls.
Compression
Some of the early feedback we’ve heard on the new Maxfli Tour X is that it feels firm.
The original (2019) was 92 compression on our gauge. The 2021 model measured 98. The new version comes in at 101. That equals our Wilson Staff Model R measurement and is only one point softer than the Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash, the firmest ball in our database.
As you’ll see below, our sample had some compression inconsistency. Individual balls measured as high as 107. Assuming we’re not the only ones to find especially firm balls in our sample, it certainly would explain why some have said the ball feels excessively firm compared to the prior version.
Compression Comparison Chart
We’ve had requests for a standalone compression comparison tool. As it turns out, that tool exists. We created it as part of our Golf Ball Compression FAQ page. At some point, we may merge the two charts but, for now, the plan is to include this chart in future Ball Labs.
Diameter and Weight
All the balls in our Maxfli Tour X sample conformed to USGA regulations for both size and weight.
Maxfli Tour X – Inspection
Centeredness and Concentricity
We found no significant concentricity defects. As is relatively common with dual-mantle balls, we did identify a few cases in which the outer mantle had melted into the inner mantle a bit.
None of the layer incursion issues was significant enough for us to mark the ball as bad.
Core Consistency
Core color was consistent throughout the sample.
Cover
No cover defects were identified.
Maxfli Tour X – Consistency
In this section, we detail the consistency of the Maxfli Tour X. Our consistency metrics provide a measure of how similar the balls in our sample were to one another relative to all of the models we’ve tested to date.
Weight Consistency
Weight consistency for the 2023 Maxfli Tour X fell in the Average range. As you can see, Box 2 was consistently heavier than the others.Diameter Consistency
Diameter consistency falls on the low end of our Good range. This is, generally speaking, a strength of the Foremost factory.Compression Consistency
Compression consistency for the Maxfli Tour falls into the Fair (below Average) range. While there are blips in Boxes 1 and 3, Box 2 was consistently firmer. The compression delta across the entire sample was just under 12 points.True Price
True Price is how we quantify the quality of a golf ball. It's a projection of what you'd have to spend to ensure you get 12 good balls.
The True Price will always be equal to or greater than the retail price. The greater the difference between the retail price and the True Price, the more you should be concerned about the quality of the ball.
Maxfli Tour X Golf Ball Quality Summary
To learn more about our test process, how we define “Bad” balls and our True Price metric, check out our About MyGolfSpy Ball Lab page.
In some respects, the 2023 Maxfli Tour X is a textbook example of both the good and bad that can be part of the Foremost story.
It’s anything but unusual for Foremost-made products to be average or better in many respects. Of the 15 balls that have achieved Ball Lab Quality Award status (score of 85 or above at the time of testing), four were produced by Foremost. That’s second only to Titleist. And another ball, the 2020 OnCore Vero X, sits at 84.
There’s plenty of evidence to suggest the factory is capable of delivering an excellent product.
It’s also not entirely uncommon to find one box that is different enough from the others to be concerning. When we’ve had weight, compression or size issues with Foremost balls in the past, they’ve largely been isolated to a single box.
That appears to be what happened this time around.
On the one hand, it’s not ideal. On the other, for just $39.99 and almost always for even less, the Maxfli Tour series remains one of the best golf ball values going.
The Good
Above-average diameter consistency Average weight consistency Only a single bad ball (compression consistency)The Bad
Inconsistent compression Some balls in the sample are excessively firm.The Score
The True Price for the Maxfli Tour X is $41.13. That’s a three-percent increase over the retail price of $39.99
At the time of testing, the 2023 Maxfli Tour X receives a Ball Lab score of 73. That equals our current database average.
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