Magazine ball fitting tests!

[delc]

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

Because there may be another type of ball that is more suitable for my swing speed! A proper independent scientific test might establish what types and compressions of balls best suit different swing speeds, without the manufacturers' hype that all their balls are perfect for all players!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Because there may be another type of ball that is more suitable for my swing speed! A proper independent scientific test might establish what types and compressions of balls best suit different swing speeds, without the manufacturers' hype that all their balls are perfect for all players!

But what if your not comfortable with the ball the "robot" suggests ?

Doesn't matter what is "suitable" - it's what is comfortable and confident for you

Your swing is not a robots swing - you cannot swing as consistently as a robot , so regardless of all the testing in the world - people use the ball they are happy with

In golf nothing beats a human test across a broad range of golfers - you then get an important factor from it all - personal feel of a golf ball

 

[delc]

But what if your not comfortable with the ball the "robot" suggests ?

Doesn't matter what is "suitable" - it's what is comfortable and confident for you

Your swing is not a robots swing - you cannot swing as consistently as a robot , so regardless of all the testing in the world - people use the ball they are happy with

In golf nothing beats a human test across a broad range of golfers - you then get an important factor from it all - personal feel of a golf ball

All the ball fitting sessions I have read have been totally subjective with no hard data.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

All the ball fitting sessions I have read have been totally subjective with no hard data.

You can't measure feel and confidence and comfort or how it is when you putt with any data

And if you have been to a ball fitting that didn't use any data then you havent been to a proper ball fitting - certainly not a Titliest one or Bridgestone or Srixon - all of which use launch monitors.

And every magazine fitting review I have read has had data attached to it

 

[MadAdey]

All the ball fitting sessions I have read have been totally subjective with no hard data.

What hard data do you want though? Would you even know what to do with it, I know I wouldn't. You would need to know things like your current spin rate on your 6i and PW to compare to other balls. Driving distance, launch angles and spin rates with your driver. To use hard data, you would need all of yours too for comparison.

Have a ball fitting like people have already said. I was at the range a couple of months ago and Bridgestone was doing a demo day there. Went over to have a nose and got on the ball fitting bay. Answered a few questions and I should be using the B330 going by the hard data. I then took some into the fitting bay, hit them and we looked back at the trackman data. He then gave me the B330RX to try and I got far better results. So hard data doesn't always work, that is the idea behind a fitting, try it and find what works.

I got got a free sleeve of these balls to try on the course and I love them, I would have never picked them up off the shelf to try though. I will be sticking with them from now on.

 

[tugglesf239]

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

Then why have magazine articles about new Clubs? - You can always hit them yourself to see how then feel

Or have course reviews? - You can always visit yourself

Or why review new Trolleys? - Get down AG and have a spin round the shop floor.................yourself

I think the OP made a valid point

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Then why have magazine articles about new Clubs? - You can always hit them yourself to see how then feel

Or have course reviews? - You can always visit yourself

Or why review new Trolleys? - Get down AG and have a spin round the shop floor.................yourself

Sorry the wording was rubbish - should say why need more comprehensive magazine reviews with robots etc etc

 

[HomerJSimpson]

As others have said, its all subjective. I've used premium brands for a long time and like the OP am a relatively short hitter off the tee but look for something that feels "right" off the putter face and when chipping. For the most part it has been the Pro V but I changed to Z stars and the B330 RXS. However since using the AD333 tour that has been my ball of choice and ticks all my boxes. I agree though that many would never be able to differentiate in a blind test. You don't need a robot to find what's right for you. Every golfer is different which is why there is the array of choice there is

 

[MadAdey]

Then why have magazine articles about new Clubs? - You can always hit them yourself to see how then feel

Or have course reviews? - You can always visit yourself

Or why review new Trolleys? - Get down AG and have a spin round the shop floor.................yourself

I think the OP made a valid point

To be honest I do not see the point in magazine testing reviews. They never have and never will sway me to buy a certain club, they just highlight what new shinnies are out there. Now things like trolley and bag testing showing how durable they are helpful as you will never know until you have used them a lot.

 

[Deleted member 15717]

I don't fully buy into the notion of different balls for different swing speeds. You don't hit the ball with the same speed swing every time. You will swing your driver a lot quicker than you swing a wedge, for instance. The Titleist philosophy is spot on, in my eyes. The Pro V1 or the Pro V1x will be the most suitable ball for every golfer, but it comes down to price point. The Velocity/DT Solo ball isn't that much further than the Pro V1 or the x, so it all comes down to what plays best around the green, which is where you make your shots.

Personally, I am torn between either the Pro V1 (I haven't hit an x in a long time), or the Nike RZN.

 

[delc]

How important is 'compressing the ball'? Most 'distance' balls feel like rocks to me, so I presume I"m not compressing them very much. As a relatively short hitter would I actually hit the ball further with a softer ball that compresses more, as well as getting more feel around the greens? This is the sort of stuff I would like to know!

 

[MadAdey]

How important is 'compressing the ball'? Most 'distance' balls feel like rocks to me, so I presume I"m not compressing them very much. As a relatively short hitter would I actually hit the ball further with a softer ball that compresses more, as well as getting more feel around the greens? This is the sort of stuff I would like to know!

I chatted with the Bridgestone bloke and he explained about why correct ball compression is key to optimising your distance with the driver. A lot of modern golf balls have these multiple layers that are built over a central core. He explained that it is the compressing of the central core that releases the distance in these balls. This person wasn't just some research developer, but a PGA Pro that has played on the European Tour and now works at a Bridgestone in ball design and development.

The ball being designed for high swing speeds is purely a guide to finding the correct ball. My SS says the B330 is my correct ball (SS 105+), but looking at the stats and the pictures that where being taken of me compressing the ball, the B330RX is a better match for me. Like a Stiff shaft is better for me than the X-stiff that charts say I should use.

 

[delc]

I suppose what I need to know about golf balls is:
1) How do they feel off the club and putter.
2) How do they fly through the air - high or low flight.
3) How far they go for different swing speeds.
4) How much backspin/stop do you get on the greens.

This is the sort of information that always seems to be lacking in magazine golf ball comparison tests!

 

[North Mimms]

I suppose what I need to know about golf balls is:
1) How do they feel off the club and putter.
2) How do they fly through the air - high or low flight.
3) How far they go for different swing speeds.
4) How much backspin/stop do you get on the greens.

This is the sort of information that always seems to be lacking in magazine golf ball comparison tests!

Surely 1) is very subjective and personal, and 2) and 4) depend a lot on the swing of the player?

Why not try playing a range of decent quality pick ups and see what feels right?

I know on here Pinnacles come in for a lot of stick as being like hitting a brick, but I like them!

 

[delc]

Surely 1) is very subjective and personal, and 2) and 4) depend a lot on the swing of the player?

Why not try playing a range of decent quality pick ups and see what feels right?

I know on here Pinnacles come in for a lot of stick as being like hitting a brick, but I like them!

You don't get many tour pros endorsing Pinnacle balls, which is probably why they are cheap! I quite like the slightly softer Pinnacle Gold ball, which seems to work as well as most other balls for me!

 

[MashieNiblick]

Not a big fan of ball tests. Unlike clubs, bags etc balls are relatively cheap (free even when you find one) so not hard to try out different types. No need to rely anyone elses's opinion and I don't think data from a robot will help me choose because I don't hit the ball like a robot.

Personally I don't think there is much if anything to choose between balls of an equivalent type from any of the main companies. When playing any premium or even second rank (e.g NXT) balls I have never felt that my choice of ball had any impact on my score. Just a matter of what I like the feel and look of but I'm unlikely to be thinking if I'd played with a Z-Star instead of a ProV1 I'd have scored better.

 

[MadAdey]

I suppose what I need to know about golf balls is:
1) How do they feel off the club and putter.
2) How do they fly through the air - high or low flight.
3) How far they go for different swing speeds.
4) How much backspin/stop do you get on the greens.

This is the sort of information that always seems to be lacking in magazine golf ball comparison tests!

1) that's just personal choice, no magazine article can really tell you that.
2) & 4) backspin and ball flight are related to each other. More spin = higher flight
3) Again this is in relation to spin, too much back spin will cause a reduction in driving distance. I naturally generate lots of spin and a high ball flight so prefer a lower spinning ball (B330RX). Someone could have the same SS to me, but not producing the same amount of spin, so would be more suited to the B330RX-S.

If I was to answer your questions about my ball it would be like this:

1) Nice feel on and around the greens, feels good off the club face.
2) Mid range flight, goes well into the wind.
3) SS in the 105-110 bracket and it goes a country mile with the driver.
4) Can hit anything down to my 2i and still get good stopping power when it hits the green. Checks nicely on short chip shots to allow more aggressive shots around the green.

 

[drewster]

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!

I play the velocity and really like it. As liverpoolphil says it's personal and i really like the look, sound and roll. It's not the "brick" that some may think .

 

[North Mimms]

You don't get many tour pros endorsing Pinnacle balls, which is probably why they are cheap! I quite like the slightly softer Pinnacle Gold ball, which seems to work as well as most other balls for me!

When I can play like a Tour pro, their endorsements might be relevant when chosing which ball to play.

The lack of backspin I get on a ball is much more to do with how I hit it, rather than any qualities of the ball itself.
I think choice of ball is pretty academic for most amateurs.
Price is as good a reason as any to buy a certain brand!

 

[delc]

Hmm! I tried playing a couple of holes with a Srixon Lady ball which my playing companion found in the rough and didn't want. My first drive with it didn't feel very solid, but it actually went miles (by my standards anyway). Presumably this type of ball is quite soft, so maybe compressing the ball does add length! :mmm: