(by Steve Hopkins)

I recently had opportunity to play with the Butterfly R40+ Ball.  The R40+ is a new product, and was not widely released before the current health crisis shut down the sport in most locations.

I generally start my reviews by noting that I’m not a pro.  I am a 2000-level club player and a review from a professional might look different as they have a different set of demands and play at a different speed.  My reviews are focused more on what a regular U.S. tournament player will see and feel.

My club currently uses the Butterfly A40+ Ball, so I began by comparing the two.  The feel of the two balls is very similar – there is a feint texture on the surface, the ball is a bright white, and if you look carefully you can see the seam.  The balls were very round and consistent.  The sound of the two balls bouncing were basically the same.

The R40+ has a slightly higher bounce and the bounces persist longer (that is, if you drop both on the table, the R40+ is still bouncing when the A40+ has stopped).  The R40+ also feels just a little harder and the result is that the arc of the ball is slightly flatter.

Each new generation of Butterfly ball has felt a little harder to me.  That said, the difference between each ball is slight and players will quickly adjust.  Butterfly continues to provide one of the highest quality balls – a ball that is the choice of clubs and tour events.  The R40+ is another welcome addition.