Wedge work can determine whether a golf ball is right for your game.
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Robotic testing data can provide valuable insights that might otherwise be lost in a sea of product marketing. This knowledge becomes even more valuable when you search for the right golf ball among a multitude of well-deserved offers.
As we pointed out in past piecesand so on waves Fully featured podcastgolf ball testing generally requires time and access to an appropriate short game area. Not to mention a few rounds to check out the possible options on the course. There’s a reason why golfers tend to throw a budget-friendly ball in the bag and call it a day. Not everyone has the time, patience or practical facilities to perform ball testing.
But let’s assume for a second that you they want to perform ball testing but have no interest in going through the same full vetting process as, say, Tiger Woods. Maybe you’re good for the Cliff’s Notes version.
Where do you start? Head to the short game area and hit the ball about 40 to 50 yards from the green. For most pros, this is the money distance that generally determines whether a ball is worthy of further testing.
“It’s your short game that will be the biggest determining factor,” said Golf Laboratories founder Gene Parente. “For most tournament players, the money shot that determines whether they will use a ball is the 40-yard wedge. They want to know how the ball flies, checks and lands. Start short and work your way up.”
Last year, GOLF and Golf Laboratories teamed up to conduct golf ball testing with the help of a swinging robot. Looking strictly at the numbers, the spin rate delta on a 50-yard wedge shot with the robot was significantly greater than the driver—to the tune of 3,300 RPM for the wedge and 600 RPM with the driver. These are the extremes at the top and bottom of the swing spectrum, but he emphasizes the importance of knowing your golf ball and prioritizing the short game when testing.
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Of the 40 balls tested, 31 had a spin rate of over 6,300 RPM in the wedge shot, which is enough spin for a wedge shot. So even if you don’t know all the ins and outs of your current ball, there’s a good chance it’s somewhere close to what you MUST be using – provided it has a urethane cover. Just don’t assume until you see the numbers for yourself.
As for players currently playing offerings with a stronger Surlyn cover, greenside spin is being sacrificed for more distance in most cases. Depending on needs (not to mention budget) and where your game is currently, it might make sense to start with Surlyn and graduate to urethane when you start finding green on a more consistent basis. That’s one way to look at it.
However you decide to proceed, just know that the data confirms that urethane is where you’ll find the most short game spin. At the end of the day, you get what you pay for.
Considering the number of times you have a wedge in your hand for 18 holes, it makes sense to think about the idea of looking for something with the ability to react and stop on the green.
Yes, the driver is the sex club in the bag. But if you think a golf ball will help you generate groundbreaking numbers – you might want to think again. The spin speed delta from the highest to the lowest spinning balls we tested with the driver was only 600 RPM.
Of those 40 models tested, more than half had a rotation speed between 2500 and 2800 RPM. And the launch changed less than 1 degree. It makes sense to find a ball that works for each club in the bag. Just don’t weigh driver numbers too much in your decision making process. Instead, find one that pairs well with your regular shots and go from there.
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