Magazine ball fitting tests!

[delc]

Strange how the ball fitting is always done by the manufacturing company and they almost always recommend one of their most expensive premium balls for just about everyone! How about a proper independent scientific test where balls are tested on a robot set to swing speeds of 70, 80, 90, 100 and 110 mph with distances, launch angles and spin rates measured? Then we would know what balls suit which players without all the hype!

 

[Ethan]

Strange how the ball fitting is always done by the manufacturing company and they almost always recommend one of their most expensive premium balls for just about everyone! How about a proper scientific test where balls are tested on a robot set to swing speeds of 70, 80, 90, 100 and 110 mph with distances, launch angles and spin rates measured? Then we would know what balls suit which players without all the hype!

You would find out that in the different sectors of the market (premium, mid price etc) the balls are almost exactly all the same (and not very different between sectors either), so it makes little difference which one you get. I can't see the ball makers lining up for that.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Strange how the ball fitting is always done by the manufacturing company and they almost always recommend one of their most expensive premium balls for just about everyone! How about a proper scientific test where balls are tested on a robot set to swing speeds of 70, 80, 90, 100 and 110 mph with distances, launch angles and spin rates measured? Then we would know what balls suit which players without all the hype!

How can the robot tell us how the ball feels and sounds coming off the club ?

How can the robot tell us which ball he likes the look off

How can the robot tell us which ball he feels comfortable enough ?

 

[CMAC]

You would find out that in the different sectors of the market (premium, mid price etc) the balls are almost exactly all the same (and not very different between sectors either), so it makes little difference which one you get. I can't see the ball makers lining up for that.

This.

Apart from some spin differentiation and 'feel' when you strike a ball they all probably fly as far as each other.

Titleist have a new Prov1 out for testing now, but all ball manufacturers must be at their limit technology wise within the R&A rules so a robot test would more than likely show a 'cheaper' ball comparing like for like with a premium (cost) ball. And no manufacturer wants that little 'well known' secret to jump out the bag...

 

[dufferman]

Strange how the ball fitting is always done by the manufacturing company and they almost always recommend one of their most expensive premium balls for just about everyone! How about a proper independent scientific test where balls are tested on a robot set to swing speeds of 70, 80, 90, 100 and 110 mph with distances, launch angles and spin rates measured? Then we would know what balls suit which players without all the hype!

An ultimately annoy all the manufacturers who's balls are not selected! No good for future scoops, reviews or exclusives!!

 

[delc]

I am a fairly short hitting senior golfer, average driving distance about 225 yards. I honestly don't know if I am better off using a rock hard distance ball, a soft low compression ball, or an expensive premium ball, and the magazine articles on ball fitting are about as much use as a chocolate teapot in finding out the answer! :mmm:

 

[NWJocko]

I am a fairly short hitting senior golfer, average driving distance about 225 yards. I honestly don't know if I am better off using a rock hard distance ball, a soft low compression ball, or an expensive premium ball, and the magazine articles on ball fitting are about as much use as a chocolate teapot in finding out the answer!

Go and book yourself a ball fitting then. Bridgestone, Srixon and I guess titleist all do them.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I am a fairly short hitting senior golfer, average driving distance about 225 yards. I honestly don't know if I am better off using a rock hard distance ball, a soft low compression ball, or an expensive premium ball, and the magazine articles on ball fitting are about as much use as a chocolate teapot in finding out the answer! :mmm:

How about you try out the balls yourself or go for a fitting

Because regardless if they had the greatest testing robot who recommended the perfect ball for you thst doesnt mean you would be happy with it

Imo balls are personal - you play what you feel happy and comfortable with as opposed to a bunch of numbers - in fact same with anything golf related

 

[delc]

Go and book yourself a ball fitting then. Bridgestone, Srixon and I guess titleist all do them.

I been to a Titleist ball fitting session at my club, and surprise, surprise, they recommended their Pro V1 ball with the NXT Tour as a slightly cheaper alternative! Don't think they recommended the much cheaper Velocity or DT Solo to anybody!

 

[PhilTheFragger]

I am a fairly short hitting senior golfer, average driving distance about 225 yards. I honestly don't know if I am better off using a rock hard distance ball, a soft low compression ball, or an expensive premium ball, and the magazine articles on ball fitting are about as much use as a chocolate teapot in finding out the answer! :mmm:

Chocolate Teapots exist http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...ery-brew-tea-two-minutes-without-melting.html

Feel is important and different balls compress at different swing speeds, the 4 or 5 core ones needing a higher speed to get the best out of them.

Im always after a price/performance balance, so Wilson DX2 Soft or Srixon Soft feel are what I tend to buy

 

[NWJocko]

I been to a Titleist ball fitting session at my club, and surprise, surprise, they recommended their Pro V1 ball with the NXT Tour as a slightly cheaper alternative! Don't think they recommended the much cheaper Velocity or DT Solo to anybody!

If you've had a fitting and, presumably, tried different balls yourself, what on earth are you going to learn from a robot test!?

 

[One Planer]

I've recently switched to a Callaway Hex Chrome+ from the Titleist NXT Tour.

Purely for more greenside control.

Purely down to a better cover.

 

[Jake O'Reilly]

I am a fairly short hitting senior golfer, average driving distance about 225 yards. I honestly don't know if I am better off using a rock hard distance ball, a soft low compression ball, or an expensive premium ball, and the magazine articles on ball fitting are about as much use as a chocolate teapot in finding out the answer! :mmm:

As a likely slower swinger you'll benefit from a low compression ball off the tee (doesn't necessarily mean a rock hard ball!), but like every golfer you'll benefit from a responsive, softer feeling ball around the green. Ideally you need to assess your game and decide are the shots from 100 yards and in (which there are more of) more important, or is the extra performance off the tee more important.

If anybody read our recent feature on our visit to the Titleist ball factory and test centre in the US, you'll know the reason they recommend Pro V1 or Pro V1x to anybody who can afford it is that the yardage loss is less than a few yards to NXT, while the short game benefits are much more noticeable.

 

[MadAdey]

You need to look at it like this, using a distance ball it will go further off the tee and with your irons so maybe now hitting an 8i instead of a 6i at the green. So you might hit more greens because you are hitting less club. But what happens once you are there? Do you like a soft feeling ball with your wedges and putter, or one that comes off the face a little harder.

As Jake said though, they will always recommend the premium ball as it gives the best blend between distance and feel around the greens. It's then just a case of finding the ball that you like the best. All the premium balls come in 2 styles now, one for slower and one for higher swing speeds. It then comes down to cost, if you get through one ball a round then a box will last easily last you a month, if not more. If you loose 3/4 a round then premium balls can get very expensive when you are using a box a week.

 

[delc]

As a likely slower swinger you'll benefit from a low compression ball off the tee (doesn't necessarily mean a rock hard ball!), but like every golfer you'll benefit from a responsive, softer feeling ball around the green. Ideally you need to assess your game and decide are the shots from 100 yards and in (which there are more of) more important, or is the extra performance off the tee more important.

If anybody read our recent feature on our visit to the Titleist ball factory and test centre in the US, you'll know the reason they recommend Pro V1 or Pro V1x to anybody who can afford it is that the yardage loss is less than a few yards to NXT, while the short game benefits are much more noticeable.

Pro v1 and particularly the Pro V1x balls always feel a bit hard to me and don't seem to fly properly for me. Maybe they are really intended for longer hitting players? I feel more comfortable with Srixon AD333 or Titleist NXT Tour balls.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Pro v1 and particularly the Pro V1x balls always feel a bit hard to me and don't seem to fly properly for me. Maybe they are really intended for longer hitting players? I feel more comfortable with Srixon AD333 or Titleist NXT Tour balls.

So why do you need magazine tests when you have already decided what balls you feel comfortable with ?

 

[Jake O'Reilly]

Pro v1 and particularly the Pro V1x balls always feel a bit hard to me and don't seem to fly properly for me. Maybe they are really intended for longer hitting players? I feel more comfortable with Srixon AD333 or Titleist NXT Tour balls.

Given they're the most popular balls on tour and the pros hit it 300+ for fun, they probably are intended for longer hitting players. That said, feel is incredibly personal, so there's no reason why you should use them just because the pros do.

 

[cookelad]

So why do you need magazine tests when you have already decided what balls you feel comfortable with ?

:rofl:

Fair point!

I say just grab a dozen tri-speeds and crack on!

 

[chrisd]

I've seen before that in blind testing, so just feel of strike, most golfers can't differentiate between balls

 

[patricks148]

TBH most people would go for a premium ball regardless of if they should be using it or not esp a fee ball testing

when Titleist came to the Castle Stuart meet a few years ago out of the 50 odd guys that were there hardly any gave the answers for a non premium ball and pretty much every one walked away with Pro V1's