Every great sport has its legendary battles.
Ali vs Frazier. Tyson vs Holyfield. Rocky vs Apollo.
And today, we’ve got our own version of that story.
In the red corner: the Wilson Triad — a well-respected, forgiving golf ball trusted by thousands.
In the blue corner: the Legato LTX 3085 — the rising challenger, a ball you’ve been begging me to test in the comments for months.
I’ve cut open and reviewed over 300 golf balls (yep, 300!) and I’ve played golf for over 30 years, so when I say this was a fun matchup, I mean it. And yes — Jeff, my cutting tool with his own fan club, is here too.
Let’s dig in.
Specs & Features – The Tale of the Tape
Before we get on the course, let’s put these two side-by-side.
🧠 Wilson Triad
- 3-piece ball with a urethane cover
- 362 dimples
- Compression of 87
- High MOI design to reduce side spin and keep you in the fairway
- Forgiving, consistent feel
- Alignment aid (smaller and less bold than the Legato)
- Price: around $40 a dozen
🔥 Legato LTX 3085 – The Challenger
- 3-piece urethane ball
- 350 dimples
- Compression of 85
- Newly redesigned urethane cover – more ball speed, better durability, softer feel
- Optimized spin performance through the bag
- BOLD TRACK alignment aid – seriously clear for lining up putts
- Price: around $30 a dozen (on Amazon!)
Side by side, they look really similar — but I’ve got to say, the Legato looks a bit brighter. That must be the upgraded urethane cover. And that alignment aid? Love it. I always use these — do you?
On-Course Testing – 3 Holes, No Edits
Numbers are great, but golf is played on grass, not spreadsheets.
I took both balls out for a three-hole test at my local course. No edits. No re-takes. Just a 10-handicap golfer seeing which one really performs.
And let me tell you — this was close.
- Off the tee: Both were seriously long. The Legato kept up with the Triad shot-for-shot.
- Iron play: The Legato’s softer cover gave me great control and a lovely, responsive feel.
- Putting: The Legato’s alignment aid gave me confidence. It’s just easier to see and use than the Triad’s.
This honestly blew me away — the Legato never felt outmatched despite being the underdog.
Cutting Them Open – Jeff’s Time to Shine
And now for my favorite part. Time to bring in Jeff.
Jeff’s been with me through hundreds of golf ball autopsies, and you guys love him — he’s become a bit of a celebrity on the channel!
Here’s what we found inside:
- Legato LTX 3085: Clean, tightly bonded layers. The cover looked really refined.
- Wilson Triad: Similar core size and structure, but with a slightly different mantle thickness and colour tone.
Nothing crazy, but you can see the design differences when they’re side-by-side.
My Verdict
If you’re a Triad player and you love it — keep playing it! It’s an excellent golf ball.
But if you’re looking for something new, something that offers:
- A softer, responsive feel
- Long, consistent distance
- Great alignment aid
- And a lower price point
…then give the Legato LTX 3085 a go. It’s designed to compete with the big names, and from my testing — it really does.
You might just find your new gamer.
Your Turn
Are you Team Triad or backing the People’s Champ, the Legato?
Drop a comment below — I love hearing what you’re gaming right now.
And if you want to support the channel, check out my merch store here.
Jeff and I will see you in the next one.
About the Author
Craig is the creator of UpCloseGolf, where he’s cut open and reviewed over 300 golf balls to help golfers choose the right ball for their game. He’s also the owner of Fun Golf, a top-ranked UK golf blog, and an Amazon best-selling golf author.
