Owning a golf related publication certainly comes with perks, but it also comes with getting an endless stream of e-mails from companies or marketing firms that try to sell a story on their respective products.
I can say that I maybe answer one in 20 and will eventually do a story on maybe 20 percent of those.
Sometimes you take a flyer and it turns to be a good story to share about a product you know will help and be of interest to your readership.
Such was the case with RZN Golf’s e-mail about their golf balls.
Some backstory will be helpful here. RZN was the group of people that manufactured Nike’s golf balls since 2006, finding success from 2011 to 2016. In that span, the balls using the RZN technology helped professional golfers win 50 times in professional golf tours around the world, including four majors.
In August of 2016, Nike made the decision to move away from the golf equipment business. At that point RZN Golf stepped forward and made the commitment to keep making golf balls for every level of play.
To borrow from the company web site, “Now, being the owner of RZN brand and proprietary golf ball technologies, we will continue the RZN legacy with Revolutionary technologies, Zealous in the pursuit of perfection, and dedication to Nature-caring.”
I was given a couple of options of balls to try out and went with the RZN Distance and the RZN Speed, a ball billed as a “Value” ball.
In my life, I flirted with my index hitting single digits for a while but have realistically settled in to being fun-loving 12-15 handicapper. I can play pretty much any course in the world and not embarrass myself.
A major part of that comfort level comes from using equipment I feel comfortable with when out for a round. At the top of that list is using a ball I really like. I have always been a fan of the Nike balls, with my go to ball formally being, the “Mojo.” Knowing the backstory of RZN Golf prompted me to give their balls a shot.
The RZN Distance was a no-brainer as who doesn’t love to bomb the ball off the tee. I play in a decent amount of scramble tournaments where it is about blasting away with more risk-and-reward shots that you may face in your regular round of golf.
The RZN Distance is a three-piece golf ball with a resin core and high resilient ionomer cover manufactured with state-of-the-art technology of the RZN Brand. It’s designed to maximize distance with effortless swing while keeping a soft feel of the ball.
I gave each member of our team a sleeve of balls to use in the tournament and to a player, they loved playing with them. My 24-year-old son is turning into quite a player and has always been one to crush the ball off the tee.
In the tournament we played at the Silverado Resort North Course, he won the longest drive award, sending his drive 373 yards on the 18th hole. He beat the second-place finisher by over 50 yards.
Two holes earlier on the 521-yard 16th hole his tee shot left us with 145 yards left for our second shot.
The ball just had a different feel coming off the club, as well as a different sound. The ball lived up to the advanced billing and moving forward it will have a spot with my golf equipment.
In terms of a value ball I have always had a sleeve in my golf bag, and in fact, my lone-hole-one came with one of my value balls.
I gave the RZN Speed a shot and was happy to see how it played – a ball you can use for distance, yet still have a soft feel.
RZN Speed is a two-piece value performance golf ball with low compression and ionomer cover. The wide diameter core is formulated with balanced rubber compositions for good distance and soft feel, making RZN Speed an overall easy playing golf ball.
I enjoyed using the ball and now have a few sleeves sitting in my golf trunk.
RZN also makes some high-end Tour balls but I have never been one to chase the top-of-the-line balls as my game, while decent, has never been to the point to go after Tour balls.
Do your self a favor and try out the RZN Golf line of balls. I know we had four fans the day of our last tournament.
You can find out more about the balls, as well as order some from the website at www.rzngolf.com.
By Dennis Miller