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We will’t emphasize this sufficient: It doesn’t matter if you happen to shoot 68 or 108; the golf ball is the one piece of apparatus you utilize on each shot.
Does that make the golf ball a very powerful piece of apparatus within the bag?
There’s actually an argument to be made. It’s why we do robotic testing each two years and why Ball Lab has change into an integral a part of what we do at MyGolfSpy.
Our 2023 take a look at is our third foray into the world of ball testing. With every iteration, we’ve discovered extra about golf ball efficiency and have uncovered a number of shock findings (each good and dangerous).
We discovered “mushy” is gradual, efficiency variations are extra vital than many golfers imagine and a poorly made ball can fly considerably offline, even on an ideal swing.
Alongside the way in which, we’ve unearthed some hidden gems that provide excellent efficiency at consumer-friendly costs.
Whereas 2023’s take a look at was the biggest we’ve ever performed, the aim stays unchanged: We need to aid you discover the most effective golf ball for your recreation.
Desk of Contents
Under you’ll discover we’ve damaged this text down into distinct classes that will help you discover the most effective golf ball in your recreation. Be happy to skip forward or scroll on to be taught extra about that take a look at, methodology, and key findings.
In regards to the 2023 Golf Ball Take a look at
MyGolfSpy’s 2023 golf ball take a look at occurred at two areas and concerned greater than 80 hours of testing time.
Forty-six golf ball fashions have been examined at three speeds every with drivers and mid-irons. To higher perceive what is often referred to as “greenside efficiency,” we additionally included a 35-yard wedge take a look at.
In regards to the Golf Ball Fashions Examined
The balls examined embrace retail urethane choices from main producers and a mixture of smaller direct-to-consumer (DTC) and home manufacturers. We additionally examined a small variety of well-liked two-piece ionomer choices.
When doable, MyGolfSpy bought the balls examined at retail and sourced from a number of outlets. Exceptions embrace the Not Your Ball and Inesis Tour 900 Prototype.
Take a look at Areas
Testing occurred in mid-July in Arizona. Testing was break up between the CoolClub take a look at facility in Fountain Hills and Scottsdale Nationwide Golf Membership in Scottsdale. Golf Labs robots have been utilized in each areas.
Each events have been compensated for using the robots and the engineers to function them.
Environmental Circumstances
Temperatures all through the take a look at averaged about 105 levels. It ought to go with out saying that distance numbers will improve in consequence. That stated, yardage values between balls ought to be largely relative. Key metrics similar to ball pace, launch angle and spin charges will probably be minimally impacted.
Climate stations have been utilized in each testing areas.
Winds have been usually calm all through the week (wind pace +/- 5 mph). On these events when wind pace exceeded 10 mph, testing was halted till the wind subsided.
Take a look at Parameters
For every of the three speeds for the motive force and iron parts of the take a look at, the robotic was calibrated to realize particular launch and spin targets.
The parameters for every portion have been selected after consulting with a number of ball producers. The particular configuration for every take a look at situation (together with the golf equipment used) is detailed within the related sections beneath.
For every take a look at situation, a calibration ball (Titleist Pro V1) was used to determine the baseline. This allowed us to separate balls into smaller teams to assist mitigate the affect of adjusting environmental situations. Utilizing a management ball additionally permits us to make significant comparisons throughout ball teams.
How Balls Had been Grouped
The take a look at pool was divided into 5 teams of 9 balls, together with the management ball (10 fashions complete per group).
Teams have been divided primarily by value. Nonetheless, changes have been made to group equally priced fashions from the identical producer.
The Take a look at Course of
For every golf ball mannequin, we hit three to 4 pictures earlier than transferring to the subsequent mannequin within the group. The rotation continued a number of occasions (sustaining the identical order) till all pictures have been hit. We then moved to the subsequent group.
As capturing the complete flight of the golf ball is crucial in ball testing, information was collected utilizing Trackman launch displays. We additionally ran Foresight GCQuad in parallel to make sure the consistency of the setup all through the take a look at.
Outlier Elimination
Earlier than the ultimate processing of the information, outliers have been eliminated utilizing the 1.5 IQR rule. For drivers and irons, outliers have been filtered based mostly on carry yards and the offline worth. For the 35-yard wedge take a look at, outliers have been filtered based mostly on launch angle and spin charges.
Outcomes
The calibration ball was used to determine a baseline for the information offered. Values for every metric are derived from the share distinction for every ball mannequin relative to the management ball in its group.
Key Findings
1. Excessive Compression Golf Balls Can Work for Almost Everybody
There’s a pervasive perception that decrease swing pace golfers want lower-compression golf balls. The outcomes of our take a look at once more recommend that many decrease swing pace golfers would profit from higher-compression choices.
Even in circumstances the place the slower swing speeds all however get rid of the pace benefit of high-compression balls off the motive force, the upper spin charges present a higher capacity to carry greens.
For larger swing pace golfers, the space benefit of firmer compression choices is obvious. For all however the highest spin golfers, decrease compression results in lowered distance off the tee.
With all of that stated, if mushy really feel is necessary to you, low compression is your solely choice.
2. Some Golf Ball Fashions Evolve … Some Don’t
The outcomes of this take a look at recommend that many fashions evolve over time. What was true two years in the past is probably not true now.
Some examples: The Professional V1x is lower-spinning off the motive force than the earlier mannequin. The beforehand low-flying, high-spinning Mizuno RB Tour sequence is dramatically totally different (we have been significantly impressed by the RB Tour X), and for lack of a extra exact description, Bridgestone’s TOUR B series simply performs higher.
In different circumstances (the brand new Kirkland Efficiency+ V3, for instance), the important thing efficiency traits, most notably its excessive spin fee, seem largely unchanged.
3. Efficiency Issues on All Photographs
Efficiency variations will be vital, even on the shorter pictures. Whereas there are few standouts for golfers in search of quantifiable larger spin charges on greenside pictures, from high to backside there are vital variations in each launch angle and spin charges.
An excellent little bit of that’s attributable to the quilt: ionomer balls launch larger and spin considerably lower than urethane choices. Among the many urethane choices, there have been some stunning disappointments.
As you’d anticipate, many of the balls on this take a look at qualify as common in relation to greenside spin.
4. Don’t Overlook DTC and Home Manufacturers
Golfers in search of worth don’t essentially have to sacrifice efficiency. All through the take a look at, a number of DTC fashions stood out for one motive or one other.
The Maxfli Tour Series continues to enhance and we have been significantly impressed by the Tour Mushy. VICE Pro and Pro Soft stood out beneath some take a look at situations and, whereas spin charges are a bit on the excessive aspect, the PXG Xtreme was a surprisingly robust performer.
The LA Golf ball greater than held its personal, although it’s laborious to search out any worth within the $70 per dozen value.
Additionally of be aware, the Seed SD-02 was one of many extra uncommon performers within the take a look at. Below many take a look at situations, it flew notably decrease.
5. There’s No Such Factor as a Unhealthy Golf Ball
Taking manufacturing high quality and consistency out of the equation for now, we’d argue there’s no such factor as a nasty ball.
Whereas little bit of what’s in the marketplace is designed to work for a large portion of the bell curve, our take a look at uncovered some area of interest choices that, if nothing else, recommend there’s a ball on the market for each golfer.
The problem is available in discovering the one which works for you.
6. The Want for Velocity
You don’t have to sacrifice pace to get what you need from a golf ball. Except what you need from the ball is an excessively mushy really feel, you don’t have to sacrifice pace to get the trajectory and spin you want.
In wanting solely at these balls that produced above-average ball pace in most situations, we discovered balls that produced practically each mixture of flight and spin traits.
7. It’s Not Launch Angle, It’s Trajectory
We touched on this final time nevertheless it’s price mentioning once more: As golfers, we’ve been conditioned to consider golf membership efficiency by way of ball pace, launch angle, spin fee and sometimes distance.
With the golf ball, launch angle by itself doesn’t let you know a lot.
In lots of circumstances, launch angle variations between balls are minimal however when you think about the entire of ball’s trajectory – launch angle, peak top, peak top distance (how far down-range the ball reached its apex) and descent angle – vital variations emerge.
Does it fly low and flat, excessive and flat or does it simply variety go straight up and straight again down?
The underside line is that the trajectory of the golf ball is advanced. Simplification is all the time dangerous however we’d recommend relying extra closely on most top than launch angle.
Different Issues to Know
This part accommodates a number of notes that will help you higher perceive the remainder of what you’ll discover on this report.
What’s a “Mushy” Golf Ball?
The efficiency part beneath references “mushy” and “soft-ish” golf balls. As with many issues within the golf gear world, there isn’t a universally accepted commonplace that defines what it means for a golf ball to be mushy. You’ll discover the phrase “mushy really feel” utilized to balls that vary from 35 compression all the way in which to 100.
For the needs of our dialogue, we’re classifying something with mid-70s compression or decrease as mushy. Balls with compression values within the low 80s could also be described as soft-ish.
The softest balls in the marketplace (beneath 60 compression) are usually two-piece ionomer choices the place actually mushy cores are used to offset really feel misplaced to firmer ionomer covers.
The Robotic Configuration Issues
Our take a look at parameters have been meant to align with the launch and spin numbers produced by the typical golfer in every group. As distance is the product of pace, trajectory and spin, carry and complete distance values will inevitably differ by a point relying on the trajectory and spin produced by the person golfer.
Whereas the connection between pace, launch and spin shouldn’t change a lot (balls that spin probably the most for me will possible spin probably the most for you), the outcomes replicate what occurred beneath the situations examined.
About Our Prime Picks
For every swing pace group, we’ve supplied our high picks from the take a look at. The balls are divided into high-spin, mid-spin and low-spin choices. Whereas not explicitly acknowledged elsewhere, most often, every checklist accommodates a high-, mid- and low-trajectory ball (in that order).
As some balls which can be high-spinning and high-flying off the motive force will be mid-flying and mid-spinning off irons (or practically some other permutation), balls could not match neatly into one bucket.
The bigger level is that we’ve performed our greatest to offer a number of efficiency choices in every class.
We’ve additionally supplied a “Nice Purchase” worth choice for every class.
For what it’s price, we’ve restricted our lists to our high three picks however, in lots of circumstances, we might comfortably add a number of extra.
Golf Ball Efficiency is Relative
Lastly, keep in mind that most producers describe the efficiency of their merchandise relative to their different merchandise. Merely put, a ball a producer describes as providing excessive ball flight and low spin may very well be mid-trajectory and mid-spin relative to the market as a complete.
Our descriptions of trajectory and spin are relative to the opposite balls in this take a look at.
HIGH SWING SPEED RESULTS
Prime Picks for Excessive Swing Velocity
To reach at our picks, we thought of key efficiency metrics like ball pace, trajectory, spin fee, and distance. The excessive pace suggestions beneath are based mostly on a mix of driver and iron efficiency.
Low Spin – Maxlfi Tour S, Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash, Titleist AVX
Mid Spin – Mizuno RB Tour X, Titleist Pro V1x, Titleist Pro V1
Excessive Spin – Srixon Z-Star Diamond, Wilson Triad, Callaway Chrome Soft X
Nice Purchase – Vice Pro Plus
Excessive Swing Velocity Driver
| Take a look at Parameters | Take a look at Averages (All Balls) |
|---|---|
| Driver Used: PXG 0311 GEN6 7.5° | Complete Distance: 339.4* |
| Swing Velocity: 115 mph | Ball Velocity: 168.8 |
| Calibration Launch Angle Goal: 10.5 | Launch Angle: 10.4 |
| Calibration Spin Goal: 2,500 rpm | Spin: 2,597 |
Complete Distance
Observations:
Ball Velocity
Observations:
- As anticipated, the checklist of top-10 quickest balls at 115 mph contains principally high-compression choices, together with the Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash, Maxfli Tour X, Srixon Z-Star Diamond, and the Titleist Pro V1x.
- Surprises embrace the Titleist Professional V1 and Professional V1 Yellow, which, whereas not mushy, are sub-90 compression on our gauge.
- The checklist of quickest balls contains a mixture of higher- and lower-spinning balls, which suggests high-speed gamers aren’t locked right into a single spin profile.
- You must be capable of discover what you want with respect to spin and trajectory and nonetheless discover a quick ball.
- Below the situations examined, low-compression balls can’t match the pace of firmer balls.
Spin
On the subject of the motive force, low spin will be your buddy, as it’s going to usually end in straighter pictures. It’s little bit of the rationale why low-compression balls are typically described as extra forgiving.
Observations:
Excessive Swing Velocity Irons
| Take a look at Parameters | Take a look at Averages (All Balls) |
|---|---|
| Membership Used: PXG 0317 CB (8-iron) | Complete Distance: 181.7 |
| Swing Velocity: 87 mph | Ball Velocity: 117.6 |
| Calibration Launch Angle Goal: 18 | Launch Angle: 18.3 |
| Calibration Spin Goal: 7,500 rpm | Spin: 7,332 |
Complete Distance
Observations:
- Below the situations examined, the checklist of longest balls off high-speed irons contains a mixture of high- and, at the very least, mid-compression choices.
- Firmer choices that produced excellent iron distance embrace the Bridgestone TOUR BX, Srixon Z-Star Diamond and the Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash.
- Softer choices among the many high 10 embrace the Bridgestone TOUR B RX, Callaway Chrome Soft and Titleist AVX.
- The high-flying choices on the checklist embrace the Callaway Chrome Mushy, Titleist AVX, Left Sprint and Professional V1 Yellow.
- The entire above produced comparable descent angles.
- With out regard for distance, different high-trajectory choices embrace Not Your Ball, LA Golf Ball and the VICE Professional and Pro Plus.
- Of that group, the LA Golf ball produced the shallowest descent angles.
- Low-flying choices with robust distance showings embrace the Srixon Z-Star (the bottom of the bunch), the Bridgestone TOUR B X and the TaylorMade TP5, which supplied the steepest descent angle.
- Whereas their distance numbers fall exterior the highest 10, the Kirkland Efficiency+ V3, Srixon S-Star, Bridgestone TOUR B RX, Volvik Tour VS4 and Taylormade TP5x additionally provide what could possibly be described as a penetrating trajectory.
Ball Velocity
Observations:
Spin
Observations:
- The best spinning balls beneath the situations examined embrace the PXG Xtreme, Inesis Tour 900, Kirkland Performanc+ v3, and the Volvik Tour VS4.
- We’ve talked in regards to the spin challenges inherent to low-compression golf balls. That bears out, as the entire balls within the high 10 are above 80 compression.
- The bottom spin group contains “non-Tour” urethane choices just like the Bridgestone TOUR B RX, TOUR B RXS, and Srixon Q-Star.
- The Seed SD-02 is notable for being a firmer ball that produces low spin charges.
MID SWING SPEED RESULTS
Prime Picks for Mid Swing Velocity
To reach at our picks, we thought of key efficiency metrics like ball pace, trajectory, spin fee, and distance. The mid pace suggestions beneath are based mostly on a mix of driver and iron efficiency.
Low Spin – VICE Pro Soft, Titleist Pro V1, Bridgestone TOUR B RX
Mid Spin – Titleist Pro V1x, LA Golf Ball, Callaway Chrome Soft X LS
Excessive Spin – Srixon Z-Star Diamond, Callaway Chrome Soft X, Bridgestone Tour B XS
Nice Purchase – Wilson Triad
Mid Swing Velocity Driver
| Take a look at Parameters | Take a look at Averages (All Balls) |
|---|---|
| Membership Used: Callaway Paradym 10.5° | Complete Distance: 266.9 |
| Swing Velocity: 100 mph | Ball Velocity: 145.5 |
| Calibration Launch Angle Goal: 13 | Launch Angle: 12.67 |
| Calibration Spin Goal: 2,600 rpm | Spin: 2,783 |
Complete Distance
Observations:
Ball Velocity
Observations:
Spin
Observations:
- As we’ve come to anticipate, the highest-spinning choices beneath the situations examined have been the PXG XTREME, Inesis Tour 900, Kirkland Efficiency+ v3, Volvik Tour VS4, and Srixon Z-Star.
- The primary two on the checklist crossed the three,000 rpm barrier.
- The upper-spinning balls fall totally on the upper finish of the compression scale. The Bridgestone TOUR B XS (low 80s compression) is a notable exception.
- The bottom-spinning fashions embrace the ionomer balls examined in addition to the Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash (actually agency), Titleist Pro V1 (yellow), and a number of other non-Tour urethane choices.
- For these in search of extra spin with mushy really feel: good luck. You’re not going to search out something actually mushy. Your greatest soft-ish choices embrace the Bridgestone TOUR B XS, OnCore ELIXR, and Wilson Triad.
Mid Swing Velocity Irons
| Take a look at Parameters | Take a look at Averages (All Balls) |
|---|---|
| Membership Used: PXG 0317 CB (8-iron) | Complete Distance: 166.5 |
| Swing Velocity: 77 mph | Ball Velocity: 106.6 |
| Calibration Launch Angle Goal: 21 | Launch Angle: 21.0 |
| Calibration Spin Goal: 7,000 rpm | Spin: 6,657 |
Complete Distance
Observations:
Ball Velocity
Observations:
- The highest 10 gives a broad vary of choices, together with three Bridgestone balls (TOUR B XS, TOUR B X, and TOUR B RXS). The TaylorMade TP5 and Titleist Professional V1 spherical out the highest 5.
- The quickest “mushy” balls beneath the situations examined have been the Bridgestone TOUR B XS (kinda mushy) and the TOUR B RXS, which is legitimately mushy.
Spin
Observations:
- The high-spin finish of the chart ought to look acquainted. The PXG XTREME, Inesis Tour 900, Srixon Z-Star Diamond, Callaway Chrome Soft X, and Kirkland Efficiency+ v3 all hit the board once more.
- Notably, all are higher-compression choices.
- For these searching for a soft-ish ball with some iron spin, the Bridgestone TOUR B XS qualifies. After that, it’s important to go all the way in which all the way down to Supersoft which narrowly misses the checklist of top-10 lowest-spinning balls.
- The bottom-spinning balls beneath the situations examined are largely non-Tour urethane choices. The checklist contains the Srixon Q-Star Tour, Bridgestone TOUR B RX, Bridgestone TOUR B RXS, VICE Pro Soft and the TaylorMade Tour Response.
LOW SWING SPEED RESULTS
Prime Picks for Low Swing Velocity
To reach at our picks, we thought of key efficiency metrics like ball pace, trajectory, spin fee, and distance. The gradual pace suggestions beneath are based mostly on a mix of driver and iron efficiency.
Low Spin – VICE Pro Soft, Maxfli Tour S, Bridgestone TOUR B RXS
Mid Spin – LA Golf Ball, Maxlfi Tour X, Callaway Chrome Soft
Excessive Spin – Srixon Z-Star Diamond, Titleist Pro V1x, PXG Xtreme
Nice Purchase – Maxfli Tour S
Low Swing Velocity Driver
| Take a look at Parameters | Take a look at Averages (All Balls) |
|---|---|
| Membership Used: PING G430 MAX 12° | Complete Distance: 219.8 |
| Swing Velocity: 85 mph | Ball Velocity: 123.4 |
| Calibration Launch Angle Goal: 15 | Launch Angle: 14.3 |
| Calibration Spin Goal: 2,800 rpm | Spin: 2,943 |
Complete Distance
Observations:
Ball Velocity
Observations:
- One final time: Agency is quick.
- The quickest mushy ball was the VICE Pro Soft. It produced ball speeds throughout the common vary.
Spin
Observations:
Low Swing Velocity Irons
| Take a look at Parameters | Take a look at Averages (All Balls) |
|---|---|
| Membership Used: PXG 0317 CB | Complete Distance: 134.9 |
| Swing Velocity: 67 | Ball Velocity: 90.0 |
| Calibration Launch Angle Goal: 24 | Launch Angle: 23.6 |
| Calibration Spin Goal: 6,500 rpm | Spin: 6,029 |
Complete Distance
Observations:
- With the lowered pace friction of the low-speed iron take a look at (66 mph common), low-compression balls shine for distance.
- The highest are all low-compression balls.
- Ionomer choices (Callaway Supersoft, Wilson DUO Soft and Not Your Ball) high the chart whereas many of the relaxation are non-Tour urethane choices together with TaylorMade Tour Response, Bridgestone TOUR B RX, Callaway Chrome Soft, and many others.).
- The notable exception is the VICE Professional which ranked eighth.
- The entire balls within the high 10 produced below-average spin charges.
- VICE Professional was the very best spinning however nonetheless fell simply exterior the top-10 lowest-spinning.
- The longest ball with average-plus spin charges is the LA Golf ball. The longest with excessive spin is the Wilson Workers.
- Whereas there’s not a ton of separation beneath the situations examined, the VICE Pro Soft, VICE Professional and Bridgestone TOUR B RXS flew the very best among the many high 10.
- The best-flying with out regard for distance rank have been the Seed SD-02 and SD-01 together with the VICE Professional Plus and LA Golf ball.
- The bottom-trajectory balls throughout the high 10 are the TaylorMade Tour Response and Not Your Ball.
- With out regard for distance, the lowest-flying balls embrace the Kirkland Performance+ V3, Inesis Tour 900 and Tour 900 Proto, the Snell MTB Prime and Volvik Tour VS4.
Ball Velocity
Observations:
Spin
Observations:
35-Yard Wedge
The wedge portion of the take a look at was designed to copy a greenside shot of 35 yards. Moderately than calibrate to particular launch and spin targets, we configured the robotic to hit the calibration ball roughly 35 yards (complete).
| Take a look at Parameters | Take a look at Averages (All Balls) |
|---|---|
| Membership Used: PXG Sugar Daddy II 56° | Complete Distance: 37.3 |
| Swing Velocity: 37 mph | Ball Velocity: 39.6 |
| Calibration Launch Angle Goal: n/a | Launch Angle: 37.3 |
| Calibration Spin Goal: n/a | Spin: 5,489 |
Spin
Observations:
- The Inesis Tour 900, TaylorMade TP5 and Kirkland Efficiency+ V3 have been the highest-spinning in our greenside take a look at.
- Whereas refined variations matter to some extent, there’s not a lot separation on the high of the desk past these few balls.
- We discover extra separation on the backside the place the ionomer choices spin considerably much less. Decrease-spinning urethane choices embrace the Volvik Tour VS4, Titleist Tour Velocity and Snell MTB Prime X.
Launch Angle
Launch angle is probably not one thing you’ve thought of on shorter greenside pictures however we do see refined variations.
Observations:
- Portray with broad strokes, most of the lower-spinning balls on greenside pictures produce larger launch angles.
- That may present a way to offset decrease spin however does restrict choices to govern trajectory across the inexperienced.
- Likewise, higher-spinning balls have a tendency to supply decrease launch angles.
- An exception is the TaylorMade TP5, which produced middle-of-the-pack launch with excessive spin. That will recommend enhanced stopping energy.
2023 Golf Ball Take a look at Knowledge
In our earlier Ball Exams, we’ve supplied a scatter plot exhibiting the connection between Ball Velocity and Compression. This time, we’ve enhanced the chart to assist you to plot any two of our supplied metrics. What you do with it’s fully as much as you.
We’ve additionally included the flexibility to filter balls by producer or mannequin.
Should you expertise points with any of the charts loading, listed below are the direct hyperlinks:
Dynamic Bar Charts
Our subsequent two charts present a extra easy have a look at the information. The performance is just like the scatter plot. You select the Metric you need to see, together with the membership and pace situations. You can even filter by OEM and all Mannequin.
By default, the bar chart beneath will show the Prime 10 for the given metric. You’ll be able to improve or lower the variety of balls proven within the chart (it defaults to 10). You even have the flexibility to indicate the Prime x, Backside x or Center x values.
The way in which the filters function is considerably counterintuitive. We suggest leaving the “Select What?” set to Embody Prime x. If you wish to see the underside x, the kind perform of the underside of the chart will re-sort from the underside up.
As a selected instance, by default, the chart will present you the highest 10 highest spinning balls. Sorting the chart with out adjusting the Prime x filter will repopulate the chart with the ten lowest spinning balls.
Desk Knowledge
Lastly, we’ve added a crosstab for individuals who wish to see every little thing in a single place. Though we’ve performed what we will, this one will probably be a wrestle to view in your cell gadget.
Extra to Come
That is the primary of a number of posts to come back from the MyGolfSpy 2023 Ball Take a look at. Within the close to future, you’ll be able to anticipate stories on Moist vs. Dry efficiency off wedges (sure, moisture makes an enormous distinction), in addition to breakdowns of among the extra fascinating fashions we examined.
Keep tuned.
MyGolfSpy 2023 Golf Ball Take a look at FAQ
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