how are golf balls tested in the modern world

To maintain consistent environmental conditions for testing, balls will be stored in a temperature-controlled humidor at 70 degrees with 50-per-cent relative humidity. Gauges will be calibrated before each ball model is tested. Retail Balls Only

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What do we really know about golf balls?

One of the many insights gleaned from last year’s ball test is that every ball has two sets of specifications. Most every golfer focuses on the performance spec: speed, launch, spin – stuff we can all see to some degree.

Is this the most insightful golf ball test you’ve ever created?

This is the most insightful golf ball test we’ve ever created. Some will argue golfers aren’t robots, and there’s no element of “feel”. But experience tells us the only true way to accurately see the difference between each ball’s performance is a repeatable swing and a consistently accurate impact location, which no human tester can reproduce.

Can you test golf balls on robots?

This is how we did it… Robot golf ball testing can only be independent if done on a robot, and by a brand that has zero interest in the golf ball market. And trust us, there aren’t many to choose from.

Is it possible to find the perfect golf ball?

However, as with the search for a soul mate, finding the perfect ball is very much a personal choice based on direct experience. We pride ourselves on helping golfers winnow the universe of golf-ball choices, but you still need to carry the ball (literally) the rest of the way.

How do you test a golf ball?

Drop Them. One of the simplest ways to check your golf ball's performance is by giving it a good, old-fashioned bounce using any hard surface like a tile floor or countertop. Your goal is to make the ball bounce as high as you can reasonably bounce it without damaging anything in your home.

What makes a quality golf ball?

Three-piece golf balls have either a solid rubber or liquid core, a layer of enhanced rubber or a liquid-produced layer and a moulded a cover of durable Surlyn, Urethane, or balata-like material. They are softer and offer more spin, giving a better golfer more control over their ball flight.

What are modern day golf balls made of?

These days, a golf ball is typically made of a butadiene rubber center surrounded by one or more rubber mantles and topped off with a tough skin.

Is there a difference in quality in golf balls?

The quality of golf ball you use definitely matters and impacts on your game. Higher quality, more expensive golf balls generally have a urethane cover, leading to greater 'feel' and spin control. Premium balls will usually perform longer and hold greens more consistently, helping you shoot lower scores.

Do golf balls lose distance with age?

A wound ball which is approximately 10 years old, stored at room temperatures and low humidity, will have lost about 0.5 to 1.0 % of its IV (Initial Velocity) which will affect its distance by a couple of yards.

Do expensive golf balls make a difference?

The average golfer won't get enough benefit to justify paying the higher price and would be better off using that money to work on their swing. The only benefit to an expensive golf ball would be the increased spin around the green and the nice soft feel at impact.

What is the liquid inside a golf ball?

Contrary to golf folklore, the liquid cores aren't dangerous. Titleist, for example, has used a salt water and corn syrup blend. Today's core is generally made from synthetic rubber -- which may be mixed with bits of metal, such as tungsten or titanium -- or a plastic-like material such as acrylate.

What is the manufacturing process of a golf ball?

0:092:51How Do They Make Golf Balls? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipEarly golf balls were made by stuffing feathers into a leather sack or by molding latex from gutta-MoreEarly golf balls were made by stuffing feathers into a leather sack or by molding latex from gutta-percha trees. Most modern balls begin as a block of rubber which forms the solid core.

What kind of paint is used on golf balls?

Painting Golf Balls. Choose how you want your golf balls to look. You can use acrylic paint and paint brushes, or spray paint for a more solid look of one color. Depending on the design, you may need to gather a lot of golf balls.

Do softer golf balls go further?

Although softer golf balls go further from the tee for lower swing speed players, the gap across the whole range of ball types is only around 5 yards, so it is more important to fit the ball to your irons and then fit your driver to your preferred ball to maximise distance.

Do harder golf balls go further?

The harder the ball, the further it tends to go with less spin. Harder golf balls tend to be much cheaper than softer golf balls. If you lose balls regularly then harder golf balls could be ideal for you. Soft balls stick to the grooves of your irons and wedges and spin much more.

Are urethane golf balls better?

Urethane golf balls are made for better golfers because they produce more spin and better control with faster swing speeds. One of the biggest differences is how the ball feels when you hit it. Also, golf balls can be different in a lot of ways and not just the cover material (core, layers, dimples).

How has golf equipment changed over the years?

Golf equipment has changed dramatically over the past several decades. Manufacturers have hired top engineering talent and invested massively in research and development in an effort to win over consumers. Compared with the persimmon drivers and blade irons of old, there is now a real opportunity to get clubs that are completely dialed in for your particular golf swing.

How fast is a Titleist golf ball?

Additionally, the ball speeds were very different – 139mph versus 151 mph.

Why do golfers use drivers?

Modern drivers offer much larger faces , which allows golfers to increase their ball speed (and distance) on off-center strikes . Additionally, the lighter weight of the head and shaft makes it easier to generate more swing speed .

Is golf harder than playing the wrong club?

As you know golf is a very challenging game, and playing the wrong equipment will make it that much harder for you. On the whole, the clubs being produced now are very impressive. It would be difficult to argue that any golfer could pick up a club from 40 years ago and have better performance than one produced today. How much of a difference exists will always be up for debate.

Who owns Pete's Golf?

I have spoken at length about the advancements in equipment with Woody Lashen, the co-owner of Pete’s Golf. His custom fitting business is considered one of the best in the entire industry by Golf Digest and almost every major OEM. He first started building clubs in the 1980s and since then has seen massive changes in technology and club design.

Does golf have more options?

As such, performance has increased quite a bit. Today’s golfer has endless options. There are literally thousands of combinations between shafts and heads that can be created. While this can be a problem on its own, what it does mean is that you can now get equipment dialed in for your specific golf swing. Back in the 1980s and before, this simply wasn’t the case. You had several options between your ball and clubs, and that was it.

Which ball has a higher spin rate?

The Tour-level balata generated a higher spin rate than the modern-day ball with all types of swings.

Who is the president of Golf Laboratories?

Since Parente founded the company in 1990, Golf Laboratories, Inc. , has become a golf industry leader in the independent testing arena.

How does ball spin affect swing?

If ball spin is utilized to limit distance, this could potentially affect players with different swing styles in different ways. Players with lower spinning shots — for example, an “inside/out” path below 2,400 RPMs spin — will be less affected than a player who plays a power fade — slightly “outside/in” path at 2,600-2,800 RPMs spin — with the same clubhead speed. A universal ball would provide different results based upon its design parameters.

What is the most popular golf ball in the 1990s?

Today’s top golf balls are solid-construction, and multi-layered while back in the 1990s the most popular ball was the balata which was a wound, liquid-filled ball.

What is the easiest fix for golf?

The takeaway here is that if golf’s governing bodies do elect to make changes at the professional level, and perhaps even the amateur level in some areas, the most obvious and likely easiest fix is to change the golf ball.

Is there a distance issue in golf?

Right now in the world of golf, specifically professional golf, there is a raging debate going on regarding the ‘distance issue.’ It’s one of those things where there really isn’t a middle ground, you either think there is a distance issue in the game or not .

Is golf getting hotter?

Golf equipment is getting more advanced, clubs are getting hotter, the ball is going further and the majority golf courses around the world simply can’t keep up. When it comes to the thought process behind this distance issue, the more experienced golfer and even more in-tune golf fan points to the advancement of the golf ball as to ...

How do I choose the best golf ball for my game?

Choosing the right golf ball can be a minefield. Between them, the five big golf brands (Titleist, TaylorMade, Callaway, Srixon and Wilson) alone have 35 different models to choose between… and that doesn’t include different colour or alignment aid choices.

Why are sugar golf balls made?

Sugar say the ball is manufactured to maximise your control and feel, all without sacrificing distance. We see them as a decent value for money option for around and just above average swing speed players.

What is a tour soft ball?

The Tour Soft (£2.75 a ball) is for golfers who want the softest feel from a high performance golf ball.

How much compression does a golf club face have?

Now in its 12th generation it provides, unsurprisingly, a lovely soft feel off the club face thanks to its 60 compression, gives good control around the greens and is impressively long off the tee.

What is the ERC ball?

The ERC Soft, Callaway's longest soft golf ball, is very much a modern hybrid ball. Its three-piece construction is rare in this category, but by creating a hybrid blend cover it targets the all-round performance traits of soft feel, great speed and decent levels of spin for reasonable money (£3.08 per ball).

Which ball does Phil Mickelson use in 2021?

After watching both Jon Rahm and Phil Mickelson win Majors with the same Callaway ball and knowing that it was our pro's ball of choice for all of our 2021 clubs tests, it would be easy to plump for the Chrome Soft X. But our testing has shown there’s quite a bit of difference between them.

Which is better: urethane or premium golf ball?

If you’re willing to pay for a premium ball but your swing speed is around or just nudging the average driver speed, it’s likely a urethane-covered club golfer ball will be a better fit.

What is the ball lab called?

It’s called MyGolfSpy Ball Lab. I haven’t been this excited about an initiative since we committed to large-scale, data-driven golf club testing nearly a decade ago. In some respects, Ball Lab is even more exciting because we’re seeking to uncover the kind of things that are almost impossible for golfers to discover on their own.

What is the goal of Ball Lab?

The ultimate goal of Ball Lab is to provide you with much needed and deserved independent clarity into the quality side of the golf ball discussion.

How much humidity do ball models need?

To maintain consistent environmental conditions for testing, balls will be stored in a temperature-controlled humidor at 70 degrees with 50-per-cent relative humidity. Gauges will be calibrated before each ball model is tested.

What are the two sets of specifications in golf?

Most every golfer focuses on the performance spec: speed, launch, spin – stuff we can all see to some degree. Seldom, it seems, do golfers consider the quality spec. It’s the part of the equation that speaks to the build quality; how well a ball is made and whether the manufacturer can produce that same ball over and over again. It’s the stuff that’s literally hidden beneath the cover.

How long does it take for MyGolfSpy to become independent?

DID YOU KNOW: If only 1% of MyGolfSpy readers donated $25, we would be able to become completely independent in 12-months. With every donation, you create change.

Why is it important to test each ball at different swing speeds?

At TG we’re all about the club golfer, so it was vitally important to test each ball at different swing speeds to give you a complete picture of how each one might perform.

Why is the tee ball robot bolted to the floor?

The robot is bolted to the floor to ensure stability and prevent movement at high speed. Hip rotation. The robot can be swivelled open or closed from its middle, which allows engineers to mimic certain swing styles.

What do two, three, four and five-layer golf balls bring to your game...and how do you choose?

Golf ball design is incredibly complex, with countless hours and millions of dollars spent figuring out how the mix of layers and a core can provide the ideal blend of distance and control at vastly different swing speeds and price points.

Where is PXG testing lab located?

So we approached two companies – and PXG said “sure, you can borrow our robot!”. PXG’s test lab is located at Scottsdale National Golf Club in Arizona, and it looks out on to a million square feet of pristine practice range.

Why do we come up with test averages?

We come up with test averages to compare products side by side, and averages are based on data rather then opinion. The idea is that some products have to fall below average to make the system work.

What is a robot golf swing?

Swing path and face angle. The robot can be set up to replicate any swing path or face angle at impact, which comes in useful when designing clubs for amateur golfers. It means the test engineers can hit anything from straight shots to hooks, slices, shanks and everything in between. RELATED: Best Golf Stand Bags.

Can a golf ball be tested by a human?

This is the most insightful golf ball test we’ve ever created. Some will argue golfers aren’t robots, and there’s no element of “feel”. But experience tells us the only true way to accurately see the difference between each ball’s performance is a repeatable swing and a consistently accurate impact location, which no human tester can reproduce.

What are the dimples on a golf ball?

It’s all about aerodynamics. Regardless of size or amount, the dimples on any golf ball stir a swirling pocket of air that stays close to the urethane cover. That controlled turbulence clings to the ball's surface and allows the onrushing airflow to pass around the sphere more smoothly.

How many layers are in a golf ball?

Overall construction and materials vary from ball to ball in golf. Simpler balls use a two-layer construction, while more expensive offerings go as high as five layers of various materials. In general terms, a golf ball has a rubber or plastic core wrapped in urethane.

What is the best golf ball for a low handicap?

In terms of design, build quality and materials, the closest an amateur can get to playing a pro’s golf ball is the Titleist Pro V1. It’s the best choice for the low handicapper looking to shoot in the 70s. The 2020 versions are still on the market, often a tick below the cost of their younger siblings. Titleist.

What is vice golf?

Vice Golf doesn’t have the longstanding reputation of Callaway or the high-tech reputation of Mizuno, but this newcomer to the golf scene is already making some of our favorite balls. Available with varying core designs and coverings, Vice Golf wants to appeal to every player, from high to low handicappers, whether he or she is looking for distance, spin or soft landings. The Pro Soft compress more on impact and offer more length off the tee. Like most soft golf balls, they can be more difficult to control around the greens. So, high handicap players get more distance, but low handicap players might have more trouble with shot-making.

When will golf boom?

Golf boomed in 2020. Amidst a pandemic in which we were warned not to congregate or recreate indoors amidst other people, golf’s fresh air, wide-open spaces and small groups offered perfect counter-programming. As 2021 rolls into spring, golf ball manufacturers are ready with new designs and ample stocks of 2020’s most popular offerings to keep all players stocked on busier golf courses.

How to avoid three putts on Srixon?

It’s easier to avoid three-putts if the ball lands nearer to the cup or rotates back toward the pin. The Srixon Q-Star Tour 3 wraps itself in a “Spin Skin” with SeRM (Srixon’s urethane coating with flexible molecular bonds). That wrap allows the grooves on the face of short clubs to dig deep into the ball for maximum spin in the air and greater stopping power on the green.

Golfers Did Not Have Many Options

What Changed?

The Modern Blade vs The Classic

Persimmon vs The Modern Driver

• When you look at drivers you’ll see the most dramatic changes in design and performance. The old adage on persimmon drivers was that you had to “hit it on the screws,” which requires a bit of precision since the faces of the club are so much smaller. Modern drivers offer much larger faces, which allows golfers to increase their ball speed (and dist...

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Ball Comparison

Wrapping It Up