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
The Maxfli Tour now is one of three urethane-covered golf balls in the DICK’s Sporting Goods house brand Maxfli lineup. You could say it sits between the softer Tour S and the firmer four-piece Tour X.
In recent years, it’s become a popular choice among value-conscious golfers who aren’t willing to sacrifice performance. With a retail price of $39.99, it’s not quite the value it once was but it’s worth pointing out that DICK’S (and Golf Galaxy) frequently run specials and bulk promotions.
Maxfli Tour Construction
With the 2023 version, the Maxfli Tour remains a three-piece ball with a 318-dimple urethane cover. It’s the same dimple pattern found on many golf balls produced in Taiwan by Foremost.
Compression
On our gauge, the Maxfli Tour has an average compression of 85. That’s effectively the same as the previous version and about seven points softer than the 2019 model. Balls with similar compression include the Bridgestone Tour B XS and the Wilson Triad.
Relative to the market as a whole, it’s a firm ball though, for balls with legitimate Tour specs, it favors the softer side.
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 of the balls in our 2023 Maxfli Tour sample conformed to USGA rules for both diameter and weight.
Likewise, all of the balls in the sample met our standard for roundness.
Inspection
Centeredness and Concentricity
We’ve found few problems with the Maxfli Tour over the years and that continues to be the trend. While we noted some slight concentricity offsets in a couple of balls, across the entire sample, nothing was significant enough for any balls to be flagged as bad.
Core Consistency
Core color was generally consistent. While we noted a couple of instances where there were small bits of non-standard material in the core, we found no major red flags.
Cover
No notable cover defects were identified.
Maxfli Tour – Consistency
In this section, we detail the consistency of the 2023 Maxfli Tour. 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 falls within the Average range.
- While consistent on its own, Box 1 was a bit lighter than the others.
Diameter Consistency
- Diameter consistency falls in the Good range.
- Box 1 was slightly smaller on average.
Compression Consistency
- Compression consistency falls within the Average range.
- While Box 1 was slightly firmer, the compression delta across the entire sample was only 8.2 points with more than a point better than the database average.
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.
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.
Maxfli Tour (2023) Golf Ball Quality Summary
As we’ve come to expect from Maxfli’s urethane offerings, the 2023 Maxfli Tour offers above-average quality and no areas of concern.
The Good
- Above-average diameter consistency
- Average quality for other metrics
- No bad balls in the sample
- Good value
The Bad
- Box 1 stands out as slightly different than Boxes 2 and 3 and the only reason why the overall score doesn’t exceed 90.
The Score
The True Price for the Maxfli Tour $39.99. That’s the same as the retail price.
At the time of testing, the 2023 Maxfli Tour receives a Ball Lab score of 82. That’s nine points better than the current database average of 73.
The takeaway is that the 2023 Maxfli Tour offers above-average quality at a below-average price.
Hopp Man
8 months ago
Yellow Maxfli balls just showed up, or at least I just noticed them and they are in all the Tour types, reg, S and X, also buy 4 boxes and get them for $30/dozen. Not sure when the yellow was released but must be fairly recently.