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RZN Golf Ball Review

Nike exited the hard goods business in 2016, but the original manufacturer of the RZN balls has brought them back to live (and store shelves).

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When Nike exited the golf hard goods business in 2016, fans of the Nike golf ball with “RZN” technology grabbed all of the remaining balls that they could, fearful that the ball would never be seen again.

It’s not often that truly new things happen in the golf ball industry. The last may have been the switch to the solid-core ball at the premium level, started by Top-Flite, strongly pushed by Titleist, and now the realm of everyone including direct-to-consumer brands like Snell or Vice. A strong case could be made for the introduction of Nike’s “resin” technology, which isn’t constructed quite like other golf balls.

As best as I can tell, Nike produced balls with Bridgestone for a number of years, but introduced the resin ball produced by Feng Tay Enterprises since 2006 .

So, fans of Nike’s later golf balls rejoiced, and the rest of the world? Well, I suppose we were interested to see if the golf world had moved on from 2016, or if Nike was truly on to something that was reborn in the RZN.

Read on to find out what we thought of the RZN HS-Tour and MS-Tour balls.

Design, Technology, and Esthetics

RZN says that their ball, compared to a typical rubber core golf ball, is both “lighter and faster.” The ligher resin core promotes a higher moment of inertia (MOI), which RZN says “grants the ball with a piercing and stable flight, especially in windy conditions.” Speaking from a physics perspective, a higher MOI ball (with more weight toward the perimeter of the ball) would spin less, but would maintain spin a bit longer into the flight.

As seen in the marketing materials from Nike and now RZN, the balls feature a “3D texture” on the resin core that helps “maximize surface contact for better energy transfer and longer distance.” This 3D texturing not only connects the core to the mantle, but the mantle layers to the cover, too.

The RZN balls have two more features worth noting. First, the company claims that the balls have “13,558 micro-dimples on the entire ball surface” that “reduces air drag and enhances carry distance.” You’ve likely seen Bridgestone balls with “dimple-in-dimple” designs designed to do the same things, and while I couldn’t particularly see these micro-dimples, I trust that at some microscopic level they could result in whole inches added to your tee shots. Penultimately, RZN claims that their balls’ “soft TPU cover enhances grip and control in wet conditions” by eliminating slipping (the ball riding up the club face). If true, this may have put Bryson DeChambeau’s water spritzer guy out of work.

Finally, RZN also calls their golf ball cores “nature-caring with fully recyclable materials.” And, though the odds of recycling golf balls is probably pretty slim, it’s important not to overlook manufacturing waste in considering recycling efficiency.

As for the looks, to be honest, the balls fall down here. The two balls feature a logo, a number, and the ball model all on both hemispheres, with a multi-line alignment feature on one “side” along the equator. The HS-Tour features red text for the model name and number, while the MS-Tour is black.

Several fellow golfers commented on the logo and alignment line, with one calling them “bargain bin graphics.” I couldn’t strongly disagree. On one hand, the graphics don’t really matter – ball performance should dictate whether you like the ball at all. And, to be sure, there is a natural bias in a ball not saying “Titleist” or “Callaway” on it. Other logos are bound to “look” cheaper because golfers simply aren’t used to seeing these fonts or these logos on high-performance balls. On the other hand, how you feel about the product you’re looking down at or playing can influence play.

As for me, well, I didn’t like the logos at all. The font choice just does nothing for me. But, the balls were easy to identify as mine, whether in the rough or near another player’s ball. So that’s a plus. Nobody’s likely to hit my golf ball accidentally!

Performance and Playability

As noted above, we tested the MS-Tour and the HS-Tour balls, designed for medium-speed (MS-Tour) players and high-speed (HS-Tour) players.

The MS-Tour is a three-piece ball with a soft urethane cover and:

• Long Distance on ALL long Irons, Woods and Driver
• Our Lowest Compression Tour Core Formulation ?soft feel on all shots.
• Good Control all around the green
• Reduced Air Drag due to Micro Dimple Surface
• High Grip in Wet Conditions
• Bigger Alignment for easier aiming while putting

The HS-Tour is RZN Golf’s four-piece ball, with a soft urethane cover, and:

• Explosive Distance on ALL long Irons, Woods and Driver.
• Specifically forgiving on driver miss-shots due to a low driver spin.
• Control all around the green through its High Spin on short irons and wedge.

In other words, the MS-Tour is a slightly softer ball that’s going to spin a little bit more, likely off the driver and the wedges both. In testing, this bears out, though the differences in spin were often only 300-400 RPM with wedges and 100-200 RPM with the driver.

In play, this bears out, too: it’s difficult to tell which ball is which if you don’t see the red text on the HS-Tour. The balls perform very similarly to one another, and quite honestly, to virtually all other premium balls on the market.

The RZN golf ball performs really well. It’s long off the tee, it launches at a good angle. It sounds good, and spins well enough into greens. I didn’t have to adjust my game to account for more or less short game spin than I’m used to. The lighter core (and heavier outer layers) and thus higher MOI didn’t noticeably reduce spin at all. The balls still curved as much in the air and behaved predictably landing on greens, whether from a 167 yards or from a green side bunker shot or pitch.

Durability was good. I found a few cart paths, and the RZN ball didn’t scuff more than most other premium balls, despite the “soft TPU cover.” One such scuff was right on the logo, improving the appearance of the golf ball. (I kid, I kid!) I did hit one shot from a bunker that seemed to unnecessarily scrape up the ball, but given the lack of bunker maintenance due to COVID-19, I chalked it up at the time to a small rock.

One knock on the Nike RZN balls was how they’d perform in cold weather. I didn’t have the most options to test these balls in cool conditions (55° F or cooler), and I’m not a robot, but I didn’t notice any noticeable decline in performance. I didn’t play Nike’s RZN ball much prior to 2016, though, either.

I remember a story from when TaylorMade was coming out with their first tour-level ball in quite some time in the mid-2000s. Sergio Garcia was switching from his current ball to the TP ball, and kept insisting the TP wasn’t quite as good as his current ball. One day, unbeknownst to Sergio, Dean Snell (then of TaylorMade) printed his current ball’s logo on some TP balls. Sergio hit a variety of shots, and said “see, I want it to fly like that !” After awhile, Snell revealed that Sergio had been hitting the TP ball the whole time.

We hear tales all the time of players being able to detect the smallest of differences between clubs, balls, gloves, shafts… whatever. Some of them may even be true, and some may be a matter of superstition or rationalizing. What I know for certain is that we’re not at Sergio’s level, or Tiger’s, or Bryson’s, or JT’s.

In a crowded market, RZN Golf still has something unique with their resin technology and 3D textured core and mantle. The HS-Tour and MS-Tour perform just as you’d expect for a high-level, premium ball, and I recommend giving them a trial.

If you were already a fan of Nike’s RZN golf ball, I have good news for you: they’re back. They’re new and improved. They’re also a bit less expensive, though I had trouble finding a source to buy these RZN golf balls online. If you are able to find them, they should be run you about $34.99.

9 thoughts on “RZN Golf Ball Review”

I live in FRANCE , I haven’t seen these balls . Where can I get them ?

Nice review. Which is closest to the Nike Tour Platinum, the 4 piece?

Yes, Ray, the higher spinning ball is more closely aligned to the Platinum. The lower spinning one is more like the Black.

What are the compressions of the MS and HS golf ball?

Live here in the US where can I buy them?

Nice review with information not found on the RZN web page (rzngolf.com). Bought and played the RZN Force and the RZN Tour (apparently being replaced by the RZN Distance and MS Tour, respectively). Both are very good golf balls. Long and straight from the tee (particularly on windy days); however, the RZN Tour is better around the greens (more spin/more control). The Force compares very well with the Bridgestone e12, and other 3-piece ionomer golf balls . The Tour compares very well with the Titleist AVX and Taylor Made Tour Response or the now retired Project (a), and other 3-piece urethane golf balls.

Thanks for your review! I started playing golf when these balls were no longer available, but I’ve heard a lot about them. And I’m glad for the news that they are back. I will definitely purchase one for myself and try it out. It’s actually true that we can tell the difference between all the clubs, balls, and if we’re given a new club in our hands there’s a 99 percent chance that it won’t work out right away. We get used to our objects and our tools, which in our hands makes the game. I had that with my shoes. It took me a long time to find the right one that I would stand on the field in and I wouldn’t have to think about the discomfort on my feet. I was lucky enough to find the best https://golfsupport.com/golf-shoes/mens-golf-shoes , and now I enjoy playing the golf I love. I look forward to purchasing this ball, I am excited to try it out.

I just tested the HS-tour. This got to be the cheapest cover layer, I’ve ever seen. Every wedge shot left deep scuff marks. I was hitting it on a simulator bay (no sand, clean face), and the ball was destroyed after 10 shots.

There is no way those are the same balls, as the Nike. They definitely cheap out, don’t waste your money.

I’m in Canada, I got them from Golftown.

They look great! I have found a few great reviews here as well: https://perfectswinggear.com

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RZN MS-Tour Golf Ball Review

Rzn ms-tour golf ball.

If the RZN name rings a bell to you, yes it IS that RZN. After producing Nike’s golf balls for five years and winning a whole bunch of big tournaments, RZN decided to take over the golf ball business and continue to bring their designs to the market following Nike’s departure from the golf equipment industry. There are currently four RZN ball models and this review will cover the RZN MS-Tour which is their soft Tour ball and designed for players with a more medium swing.

How Does it Feel?

When RZN Golf says the MS-Tour is a medium swing-speed three-piece ball, make sure you heed that advice. Going through the RZN online fitting system, it suggested the MS-Tour as my second option, and realistically, I should have gone with my intuition but I wanted to see how the recommendation worked out. If you have a faster swing speed, the MS-Tour will not have an optimal feel for you. Yes, the MS-Tour is in fact pretty soft and and plush around the greens, but it’s also soft off the tee. In my case, it felt too soft off the tee. That said, I have to imagine for lower to medium swing speeds, there would be a nice little pop in the feel with a comfortable and versatile compression.

Off the Tee

Unfortunately I’m not a professional photographer by trade, but if you look close in the photo above, you can see “Micro Dimples” within the dimples. This is designed to reduce air drag for better aerodynamics , but should also really make controlling all of your shots easier. As mentioned above, the RZN MS-Tour was too soft for me off the tee and I would likely be a much better fit in the HS-Tour ball. As such, I had a hard time controlling the ball and its spin regardless of the Micro Dimples. With a lower swing speed, I’d imagine the compression would be more optimal and the reduced air drag would come into play much more. I gave a sleeve to two buddies who swing around 103 mph and 95 mph respectively and they both said the ball was good off the tee.

On the Approach

Ok, things started coming around for me a bit here. I was now able to manage the softer compression of the RZN MS-Tour ball and get a lot of bite into the greens . Shaping and flighting the ball was easy making it great for target golf . One comment I will make is that if you’re on the faster end of swing speed with an aggressive tempo, the ball might feel a little spongy. By making a smoother swing with more moderate speed, I found it to be just right. I felt like I could really grab the ball with the club. Long irons were even showing zip on the greens. Speaking of grip, RZN designed these balls to have high grip in wet conditions . While I haven’t used them in wet conditions, one has to think that would mean the cover grips more in general.

Around the Green

Between the soft urethane cover’s higher grip and the softer compression, the RZN MS-Tour is solid around the green. The ball checked nicely and also played out of bunkers notably well . Trust me, I found enough of them. For whatever reason, the MS-Tour stood out to me with how well it performed from the sand on multiple occasions.

As seen in the picture above, RZN put a larger alignment line on the ball. With so many golfers relying on lines and arrows these days, RZN took care of it for you. Sure, the marking typically comes down to preference, however the bigger and bolder line should make alignment easier. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I found the thinner outer lines to be a nice touch as well.

Final Thoughts – RZN MS-Tour Golf Ball

I never really played the RZN Nike balls back in the day so I can’t comment on how the current RZN balls compare. I do remember quite well, however, that the Nike RZN balls had fairly large cult following. For a very affordable $35, why not try to recapture that magic? The MS-Tour is a soft and compressible ball that should be able to “do it all” but you need to have the right swing speed for it. If you have a higher swing speed but like the sounds of this ball, it might be worth checking out the HS-Tour option.

Related Posts:

I got the RZN Force and I like it very well

How does the MS Tour or HS Tour compare to the ProV1 series or especially the AVX?

I didn’t test the HS-Tour so I can’t really comment on it, and I haven’t hit a current Pro V1 or AVX in quite awhile. The best I can say is that I didn’t really find the MS Tour to remind me of any of my historical experiences with a Pro V1 or an AVX. Definitely a different ball than the Titleists.

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RZN MS-TOUR GOLF BALL REVIEW

When I received the opportunity to review the RZN MS-TOUR golf balls I thought that the name rang a bell for some reason.  Then I remembered, Nike!  When Nike left the golf hard goods arena they left a lot of golfers bemoaning the loss of one of their favorite balls, the RZN.  Well the good news is that RZN is back!

RZN is now manufacturing the balls under their own label and they haven’t forgotten about us aging golfers with slower swing speeds in the process.  Enter the RZN MS-Tour.

First off, thanks to Joe Wieczorek of The Media Group, Inc for sending us the balls for review.

So, you can go to the website or look at the image on the back of the box and get the tech info.  I say, let’s bring the MS-Tour ball to Disney World Golf and see how it performs.

Let’s go for a drive!  I have to say that off the tee the MS-Tour behaves just as well as any other ‘soft’ tour ball out there.  In fact, even better in some instances.  By this I mean that when I used the driver there was really no noticeable difference in flight or trajectory, but I did pick up an extra couple of yards over another ‘pro soft’ ball that I used.  The real improvement happened on the par three holes where I used a 7 or 5 iron.  First off, the alignment stripes printed on the ball really aided in aiming the tee shot.  Second, I easily gained 5 to 6 yards off the tee with the irons!  This is great when you play a course that has elevated greens due to the simple fact that you can go right at it without worrying about overshooting the target.  Another bonus is that the confidence level goes way up when you know that even when you don’t get all of it on your swing, you still have a few extra yards built in to compensate.

From the fairways the ball shot straight and true when I needed it too.  I really believe that this is  due to the micro-dimples and anti slip urethane cover.  Again, a great confidence builder not only from the fairways, but from the rough also.  It’s nice to know that RZN has built in to the ball a way for it to basically ‘grip’ the grooves of your club.  Wedges performed just as well with the ability to stop the ball when you wanted it to; or to use a 7 iron to hit and run it across the green.  The MS-Tour is very easy to control.

On the putting surface the parallel triple lines allowed me to easily line up my putts.  There is something about the multi alignment lines that gives me a feeling of accuracy.  So, even though I had my share of three putts throughout the round, I did get the ball closer to the cup each time.  I also liked the sound of the ball off the putter.  There was a distinctive ‘click’ that you usually don’t get with other soft balls.  Let’s you know that you either struck it well or didn’t.

Now that we have a ball that has treated us well throughout the round, let’s do right by it and cut it open!

As you can see, the layers are distinctive and well balanced with good symmetry.  The RZN MS-Tour also uses a technology called ‘3D Speedlock’.  This basically allows the mantle to grab onto the urethane cover without slipping or shifting resulting in a purer transfer of energy throughout the ball.  I don’t have the camera capability to show you the micro-dimples but you can see them when you look at the ball.

In conclusion, the RZN MS-Tour is everything that you would expect from a tour quality softer ball.  Great fight and trajectory from the tee; an excellent response with fairway woods and long irons;  control around the greens and out of the bunkers; an alignment system that inspires confident putting and a great overall sound and feel from a ball that easily wurpasses the other ‘tour soft’ ball that I was playing.  Nike may have gone the way of the Do-do in the golf ball business but RZN has picked up the mantle and even surpassed it with the new technology that they infused into the RZN MS-TOUR.  

For more info and tech specs go to www.RZNgolf.com   I highly recommend that you pick up a dozen and try them out for yourself.

Stay safe and play well,

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Great site you have here.. It’s difficult to find quality writing like yours nowadays. I seriously appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!

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RZN MS-Tour Golf Balls

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Additional Information

Product Overview:

• Long Distance on ALL long Irons, Woods and Driver
• Our Lowest Compression Tour Core Formulation –soft feel on all shots.
• Good Control all around the green
• Reduced Air Drag due to Micro Dimple Surface
• High Grip in Wet Conditions
• Bigger Alignment for easier aiming while putting

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Nike RZN Tour Black Golf Ball Review

• on February 19, 2016

50 Words or Less

The Nike RZN Tour Black golf ball is a perfect choice for players who want maximum distance but don’t want to sacrifice short game control.

Introduction

The RZN Tour Black feels very similar to the RZN Platinum , but there is a difference if you’re paying attention.  Off the putter, both balls have a “click” at impact, but the sound of the RZN Black is slightly higher pitched leading to a firmer feel .  Similarly, the RZN Black is slightly louder and firmer feeling off the long clubs.

Making your long game longer is exactly what the  RZN Tour Black  is designed for, and it will do just that.  This ball is as low spin off the driver as any ball that I’ve tested, both on the course and on the launch monitor.  That low spin is also seen in the iron game.  There’s enough spin to stop an approach that has good trajectory, but the ball flight never balloons in the wind.  Even on a gusty day in Florida, I was able to trust that good shots would hold their line and fly their full distance.

While I certainly can’t move the ball out there like Nike’s big hitters, I still love the RZN Tour Black golf ball .   I love the strong trajectory in the long game and the fact that I don’t have to give up much stopping power in the short game.  If you need to drop some spin to eke out some more yardage off the tee, the RZN Black is a must-try.

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Something about a RZN Black golf ball that increases my confidence and even my ballstriking when I game it. Was lucky enough to find a fella who stockpiled these balls when word came out Nike would end their golf equipment ventures. It definitely has a little clickiness to it, very loud and harder feeling off the driver, but flushed iron and wedges feel really good. Penetrating flight. Wedge spin suffices for me. Just a great ball.

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RZN Tour ball review

Using RZN in golf balls is nothing new for Nike Golf - it used the material in the RZN White, Black, Platinum and Red ball last year.

But for 2016, the brand has rolled out it’s new generation 4.0 RZN, a polymer material that is lighter and faster than conventional cores. This helps propel the ball as far as ever, while also maintaining a soft feel.

We review the four-piece RZN Tour Platinum ball, but there is another four-piece ball in the range – the RZN Tour black. This sits alongside two three-piece balls; the Speed Red and Speed White.

Nike promised a softer feeling golf ball, and it has delivered. It is billed as 5% softer, boasting a 74 compression – whatever the numbers are, you can definitely notice a difference.

While the feel is soft, we also enjoyed the lively, reactive feel on offer.  The amount of feedback provided remained high, despite the softness of the ball.

Performance

It’s right up there with the longer premium balls on the market. The RZN core is three millimeters wider compared to last season’s offering. This combines with the SpeedLock core – which is a grid of squares on the outside of the RZN, boasting deeper ridges this year – for increased ball speeds.

The ball’s 344 dimples also now have “micro surface roughness”, which are basically dimples within dimples. This promotes a steady ball flight, and yet more yardage.

Around the greens we were able to get decent amounts of spin on the ball, although other balls will provide more. Off the putter face is feels fantastic. 

A superb golf ball – one of the best premium balls on the market today.  Provides a soft but responsive feel, and offers heaps of yardage.

It’s worth giving the Nike RZN Tour Platinum a test if you’re looking for a new ball in 2016.

Head to the Nike Golf  website for more information. 

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RZN Golf Balls Review

• by Golf Reviews Guide Team
• November 16, 2020 December 6, 2020

RZN Golf Balls are back on the market, with the former Nike model now a brand in its own right having been launched by the former developers.

The RZN brand was formed in 2006 and operated on research and development relationship for Nike, helping to win more than 50 professional tournaments including four majors during a time in Tiger Woods’ bag.

Not mentioning Nike specifically, despite the fact they pulled out of golf in 2016, RZN say: “Since our customer made its strategic business decision to transition out of golf equipment in August of 2016, we have made our commitment to take over the production of golf balls and keep supplying premium golf balls to golfers of every level.”

When it comes to ball choice, RZN have four models to choose from. The HS-Tour , MS-Tour , RZN Distance and RZN Speed make up the range. You can read about each below.

RZN HS-Tour Golf Ball

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The RZN HS ball has been designed for golfers with a high swing speed. That is where the HS name comes from.

The HS model is a four piece ball, and benefits from a soft urethane cover and a 3D resin outer core. The HS Tour ball has 13,558 micro-dimples and provides the kind of spin levels desired by tour players.

READ: Full Review of the HS-Tour Ball

RZN MS-Tour Golf Ball

The MS-Tour ball gets its name from the player it is aimed at, one with a medium swing speed.

The MS ball is a three-piece ball with a soft urethane cover and the lowest compression of the tour range. It features RZN’s 3D speed lock technology to maximise distance without compromising on the soft feel.

READ: Full Review of the MS-Tour Ball

RZN Distance Golf Ball

The Distance ball from RZN is another three piece model and, as the name suggests, is all about maximising distance from all shots – whether from the tee or with irons.

The Distance model has a tough and resilient ionomer cover to pierce the air and ensure the maximum distance. You still get a soft feel around the greens.

RZN Speed Golf Ball

The RZN Speed ball combines distance and feel impressively for a two piece value golf ball.

The core is wider than in other models and features rubber compositions, while the ionomer cover is strong and durable. You can expect low long game spin with the Speed model, coupled with a high trajectory.

READ: More Golf Equipment Reviews

What happened to Nike RZN Golf Balls?

Nike decided to stop selling golf equipment in 2016 and instead concentrate on clothing and shoes. As a result, the Nike RZN ball was no longer produced and slowly dwindled out of circulation.

The RZN model has returned with the company behind the production of the balls now producing them and retailing. The ball is the same, minus the famous Nike tick. There are four models under the new RZN name.

Which is the best RZN Golf Ball?

The HS-Tour is the premium model of the RZN range. It is the only four piece ball. The MS-Tour and Distance balls are both three-piece construction options, while the two-piece Speed ball is the cheapest and most value of the models.

How much do RZN Golf Balls cost?

The RZN balls range from $34.95/£26.00 for a dozen of HS-Tour balls to $11.95/£9.00 for a 12-pack of Speed balls.

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Nike RZN Platinum Golf Ball Review – Tour Performance

Golfstead is reader-supported. When you buy through links on the site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Our affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network and Amazon Associates.

Here I will be reviewing the Nike RZN Platinum golf ball , a gold medal winner on the 2015 Golf Digest Hot List and played by the likes of tour pros Paul Casey and Kevin Chappell.

The RZN Platinum, like its sister, the RZN Black, is a high-compression tour-level ball designed to provide premium soft feel, control and spin around the greens while maintaining good distance off the tee and with other long-range shots.

Read on to find out what you need to know about these golf balls to make an informed purchase.

Note:  The review that follows is based on the personal experience and research of the author. Because everyone’s swing, body and clubs are different, results with a particular golf ball may differ from person to person.

Quick Verdict

Rating: 4.9/5 (Excellent)

Compression rating: High

Best suited for:  Skilled golfers, low handicaps and professionals with a higher swing speed looking for optimal performance from tee to green.

• Low-spin, piercing ball flight off the tee is a recipe for distance
• very workable and controllable with irons and wedges
• very soft, high-spinning and controllable around the greens
• does a good job meeting (and even exceeding) the demands of the skilled player
• a definite upgrade from the previous 20XI ball models
• may not be best for golfers who already hit high trajectories with their irons
• high compression rating favours those with fast swing speeds
• iron and wedge shots can be influenced by the wind a little bit

Best Places To Buy Online

These balls are a few years old, and they’re pretty difficult to find now.

However, you can pick them up on eBay (new or recycled) for great prices.

Want a closer look at the ball and packaging? Click on the image at the top of the page and navigate the photos on the left-hand side of the screen.

What are the reviews like?

The RZN Platinum golf ball has been received extremely well by critics and regular customers.

It has a 5/5 average rating on Global Golf, a 4.8/5 (100% recommended) on Nike’s official website, and a 4.7/5 (100% recommended) on the DSG website.

What People Like

Similar to the RZN Black, players praise the RZN Platinum ball for its long, piercing ball flight off the tee, conduciveness to shot-shaping (draws, fades, etc.), and amazing control and spinning ability around the greens.

The RZN Platinum appears to deliver everything a strong swinger with a lower-than-desired spin rate would expect from a tour ball.

What People Don’t Like

• sound/feel may not be for everybody
• it may not be the best ball for golfers looking to cut back on spin (look to the RZN Black for that)

What are the features?

The Nike RZN Platinum, branded “Tour performance, mid-spin control” and played by many tour pros, is one of four balls in the RZN lineup. It is aimed at skilled golfers with strong swing speeds that are looking for a higher spin rate on their irons and wedges.

Along with the RZN Black  (the lower spinning variant), the RZN Platinum has a high compression rating and a four piece construction.

It has a “Next Generation RZN design” that makes the polymer resin core more controllable, better-feeling and softer than the previous 20XI model.

More details of features include:

• a “Speedlock” construction that binds layers more tightly to the interlocking core, resulting in more efficient energy transfer between layers, faster ball speeds, and hence more distance
• an RZN mantle layer that, when combined with the core, delivers faster ball speeds and improves feel
• a lighter RZN core and stronger/heavier outer layers which contribute to a higher moment of inertia (MOI) for more stable flight through the wind
• a urethane cover with a “spin-optimized” coating for greatly improved spin and control around the greens
• a 344-dimple pattern with 13558 micro dimples (about 40 micro dimples per dimple); the micro dimples are said to improve lift and drag properties

How does the ball perform from tee to green?

The performance of the RZN Platinum with woods and long irons is excellent, perhaps surprisingly so.

Given the increased spin rate relative to the RZN Black, one might expect the RZN Platinum to fly a little higher, land softer and be more susceptible to effects of the wind, but this turns out not to be the case. Ball flights are penetrating and ballooning is generally not an issue at all.

Carries, rollouts and overall distances are on par with the RZN Black, which means that golfers with traditionally high spin rates can potentially realize large gains in distance.

As for workability, the RZN Platinum is arguably even more shot-shaping-friendly than the RZN Black.

Long and mid iron shots into the green have superb stopping power. Shots can be manipulated (drawed, faded, etc.) very well out of the rough and bunker.

Like the RZN Black, the RZN Platinum passes with flying colors when it comes to tour-level performance around the greens.

Pitches, bunker shots, chips and putts are all impressively controllable and soft-feeling, and they check up beautifully. Putts generally feel soft off the putter face and provide good feedback.

Skilled golfers should be very pleased with the overall depth of control afforded by the RZN Platinum.

What about feel & sound?

Feel and sound are both generally good.

The RZN Platinum is on the soft side for a tour ball — it’s a bit softer than the RZN Black. With that being said, the RZN Platinum sounds and feels similar to the Black (moderately soft, crisp with short clubs, firm and explosive with long clubs).

Feel and sound depends on the properties of the actual clubs used as well, so you should take that into account.

Where should you buy these balls online?

You have the option of getting RZN Platinum balls refinished or recycled if you’d prefer not to pay full price for new ones.

I would recommend staying away from refinished balls, which are risky when it comes to performance.

That leaves recycled balls, which are balls that have been found lying around on golf courses and very often have only been hit once or twice. For the best value for your money, I would suggest only considering ball packs with condition ratings of AAA or above.

You can find awesome deals for RZN Platinum balls on this eBay page .

The RZN Platinum golf ball is a winner for sure.

Although some mid and even high handicappers can be successful with it, it’s most ideal for professionals and low handicappers who want their ball to behave optimally in each situation on the course.

Interested in the RZN Platinum ball? If you have any thoughts or opinions about it, feel free to leave a comment below.

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Hi Paul, would you recommend these balls for a medium level golfer? I have a decent game off of the tee, but around the greens and putting my touch is not so great, as I rarely spin the ball.

I want equipment that is going to improve my touch, especially when using wedges and high irons, so that I have a better chance of landing the ball near to the hole (at least on the green!).

Would you recommend these PRO balls for me?

Im not sure if it would be worth my investment, although I am willing to experiment if i think it will make a difference to my game…

If you can hit the ball solidly around the greens, the RZN Platinum balls should spin very well. What’s your swing speed with the driver? If it’s less than 100 mph, the RZN Platinum might not be the best ball for you. That’s not to say it wouldn’t be good, though — unless your swing speed is very low, I would suggest getting a few recycled RZN Platinum balls in good condition for cheap on a site like eBay (link provided in the review) and just trying them out.

If you don’t get the spin results you want, you can turn your sights on a mid or low compression ball, some options of which I discuss elsewhere in the comments section here (Chrome Soft, e6, etc.).

The RZN Platinum ball may be a bit out of my league. My swing speed isn’t the fastest (about 84 mph) — do you have any suggestions in terms of balls for someone like me?

Hi Geoff. For a beginner with a swing speed like that, I would definitely look at low and mid compression balls. Examples of such balls that I have reviewed on Golfstead include the Callaway Chrome Soft and Bridgestone e6 , which are both excellent. You’ll be able to adequately compress lower compression balls for optimal energy transfer and ball speeds. This is a great starting point, but to give you a more focused recommendation I’d need to know more about your ball flight tendencies and goals.

I probably would have hit the RZN Platinum in my younger days. But I don’t think I would be able to get the most out of my game hitting it today. My swing has slowed down somewhat, so I need a slightly lower compression ball. I haven’t tried urethane covered balls as balata has been my choice. But I am hearing good things about urethane. So I’m sure I’ll be trying them in the near future.

To be honest, balata is a term I haven’t heard very much since I got involved in the golf industry. As I understand, it’s a rubber-like material that was used as a cover for balls way back in the day and has since been phased out in favour of urethane. I have heard some people say that balata gives better spinning performance in many situations than today’s urethane balls, but there’s not much you can do now that virtually no one manufactures them anymore. I do know that urethane balls (like the RZN Platinum) are softer and much more durable.

Personally I don’t see much reason to use balata over urethane aside from the vintage and nostalgic factor. Nonetheless, many different brands of balata balls remain available on eBay among other places.

As for your slower swing speed, I would suggest checking out my review of the low-compression Callaway Chrome Soft or mid-compression Bridgestone e6 (you can search them on the right sidebar). There are other great low and mid compression balls available as well like the Nike RZN Red . Do let me know if you have any other comments or questions.

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• 4-piece urethane cover, mid-spin control
• Speedlock X core - max energy transfer for ball speed and ultimate forgiveness
• Softer RZN formulation - Softer feel without compromising ball speed
• Flight suit urethane cover - Advanced aerodynamics for longer ball flight
• Designed for higher - moderate swing speeds

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OUR HIGHEST MOI TOUR GOLF BALL WITH ULTIMATE CONTROL

The RZN Pro Golf Ball is a four piece golf ball with a 3D resin inner core and soft urethane cover manufactured with state of the art technology of the RZN Brand. With high MOI, it can maintain spin well during the flight,  which provides a penetrating flight in windy conditions. It has higher iron spin rate for better shot-shaping.

What to Expect:

• High MOI* provides stable flight against the wind ( *MOMENT OF INERTIA:  the higher a balls Moment of Inertia the lower disturbance it will experience through its flight. )
• Easy to manipulate iron shots.
• Explosive Distance on ALL long Irons, Woods and Driver.
• Reduced Air Drag due to Micro Dimple Surface.
• High Grip in Wet Conditions.
• Bigger Alignment for easier aiming while putting.

MICRO DIMPLE SURFACE WITH ANTI-SLIP URETHANE:

• 13,558 Micro-Dimples to reduce drag and improve carry and overall distance.
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• ✅ Special Resin Core three (3) piece golf ball for Extraordinary Distance and Consistent Flight
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From 2011 to 2016, golf balls with RZN technology helped elite golf athletes claim more than 50 wins in professional golf tours around the world (PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, PGA European Tour, Ladies European Tour), including 4 majors. Conforms with USGA and R&A rules. 3 Piece Distance Performance golf ball with a high resilient ionomer cover. 3D Speed lock resin core - maximizes contact surface for better energy transfer and longer distance. High MOI (Moment of Inertia) - for an increased piercing flight, especially in windy conditions. Micro Dimple Technology with High Resilient Ionomer Cover - reduces air drag and enhances carry distance. High resilient ionomer cover allows it to generate good distance in all shots.

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• Member Reviews

2020 RZN HS-Tour

By zrumble May 16, 2020 in Member Reviews

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Bottom line up front: I feel like this ball will find its way into a niche market, especially at the under $40 price point. It’s a soft, spinny short game wizard. But I don’t think it’ll be a fit for those who already have spin issues on the longer clubs. 

Customer service: Basic, functional website with no major bugs that I discovered. Order processed same day, and shipped Philadelphia to CA within a business week. 

Looks: Off-white, but not noticeably so on the course, decent logo to look at with a really nice alignment line on the side.   

Pros: Absolutely the best feeling ball I’ve ever played for shots under 50 yards. Soft on all short game shots and putts, but still has plenty of bite when needed. Played a full round with one and had only minor scuffing.   

Cons: This ball flies HIGH, like it’s going into orbit and not coming back high. Lost distance on my longer clubs. Picks up stains quickly with the microdimples, but they wash out for the most part.   

- 9 holes with RZN only

- 9 holes with Srixon Z Star (current gamer) as primary ball, while hitting an RZN as a second ball on certain shots.   

- 18 holes with RZN as the primary ball, and Z Star as a second on certain shots.   

- Z Star had a much more penetrating ball flight off the tee, and consequently was always 20-30 yards longer. I was also more accurate with the Z Star, likely due to the apex of the RZN being so high and being pushed around by the breeze.   

- Both balls responded well to shot shaping, but as expected the RZN could turn much harder and did not want to stay low.  - Also unsurprisingly the RZN often spun back on the green, while the Z Star took one bound forward and stopped.

- Not much of a left to right dispersion difference on approach shots. The Z Star was more predictable for me yardage wise, but that could be bias for it being my gamer.

- On all short shots the RZN really shined with its feel and stopping power. I also preferred it off the putter face over the Z Star.

Stats: 5'4", Male, R-Handed, Moderate Tempo, Driver SS 115mph  

Driver: Taylormade SiM Max 9*, TM Ventus Blue 6X 3w/5w: Callaway X-Hot, S-flex Fubuki shafts 3h: Tour Edge EXS Pro, Smoke Black 80g 6.0 4i-PW: Mizuno MP-4, DG S300 Wedges: Titleist SM7 56* Wedge: Callaway Jaws w/ 12* of bounce

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