This week MyGolfSpy is all hands on deck to conduct the second edition of the MyGolfSpy Ball test. Our first ball test had a massive impact on the industry. More than 2-years have passed, so it’s time to take what we learned the first time around, along with a slew of new ball models, and do it again.
What We’re Testing
Our primary objective is to test the urethane offerings from the major manufacturers as well as balls from the most popular direct to consumer brands. We’ve got over 30 models on the list. We’ll also be looking at both range balls and recycled premium offerings.
How We’re Testing
We’re letting the robot do the work, well most of it. Unlike our club testing where we gather our data with human testers, a golf ball test requires the consistency of a robot. This years’ plan is to test at three different driver and iron speeds. We’ll also be conducting a test of greenside performance.
To capture the full flight of the golf ball, including the influence of the dimple pattern (and potentially paint and other surface defects) data will be collected using a Trackman launch monitor.
Where We’re Testing
Our home for the week is Scottsdale National Golf Club in Scottsdale Arizona.
Your Golf Ball Test Crew
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LIVE UPDATES
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2nd half of High Swing Speed Irons
— MyGolfSpy (@MyGolfSpy) July 15, 2021
(87 MPH)
ENGAGE! #BallTest2021 pic.twitter.com/jLaFaAnolR
BREAKING:
— MyGolfSpy (@MyGolfSpy) July 15, 2021
Spin rates have increased a considerable amount in the second half of high speed iron testing.
Collected hit balls ✔️
Recalibrated ✔️
Back to testing.
Q: How did the weather affect testing this morning?
— MyGolfSpy (@MyGolfSpy) July 14, 2021
A: Ultimately, only impacted carry distance equally on all balls. This will be further detailed when we discuss conditions.
The key things that impact performance are speed, launch, spin, and any "defect.”
Piped. #BallTest2021 pic.twitter.com/aMYRnB9iaY
— MyGolfSpy (@MyGolfSpy) July 14, 2021
Welcome to DAY 3 💧#BallTest2021 pic.twitter.com/VUKWe7EJe0
— MyGolfSpy (@MyGolfSpy) July 14, 2021
Switching to our Iron Testing to close out the evening.
— MyGolfSpy (@MyGolfSpy) July 13, 2021
Beginning with an 8 iron and 85 MPH.
Calibrated, and ready to FIRE.
NAME THE ROBOT 🤖
— MyGolfSpy (@MyGolfSpy) July 13, 2021
Inesis 900
— MyGolfSpy (@MyGolfSpy) July 13, 2021
1st ball hit.#BallTest2021 pic.twitter.com/LYaxN5fe8S
Slight setback this morning.
— MyGolfSpy (@MyGolfSpy) July 13, 2021
Unexpected storm wiped power throughout Scottsdale National Facility.
Regained minutes ago.
We are in the calibration process now.
Stay tuned 👍🏼
A Q&A from day 1 of testing
Inesis 900
— MyGolfSpy (@MyGolfSpy) July 13, 2021
1st ball hit.#BallTest2021 pic.twitter.com/LYaxN5fe8S
This just in:
— MyGolfSpy (@MyGolfSpy) July 13, 2021
ProV1x has hit 169 MPH ball speed.
The robot definitely his Wheaties this morning.
On to our FULL WEDGE TEST.
— MyGolfSpy (@MyGolfSpy) July 13, 2021
Finishing Day 1 strong. #BallTest2021 pic.twitter.com/1ytXPGH4is
Let the sorting BEGIN! pic.twitter.com/Wb1vDxK1Ii
— MyGolfSpy (@MyGolfSpy) July 12, 2021
Slow Swing Speed (Drivers) 85 MPH are complete.
— MyGolfSpy (@MyGolfSpy) July 12, 2021
Too early to see major findings.
On to wedges for the rest of the evening.
Now, to pick up some balls!
Hitting roughly 3 balls a minute.
— MyGolfSpy (@MyGolfSpy) July 12, 2021
Getting. It. Done.
We have found some interesting ball flights with the slowest driver swing speeds. Just wait until we get up to the 115mph 👀🤪@MyGolfSpy #officalballtest #mygolfspyballstest#2021balltest
— Harry Nodwell (@OldEnglish_GSpy) July 12, 2021
And we're just getting started. pic.twitter.com/WbDM0zOFJt
— Tony Covey (@GolfSpyT) July 12, 2021
Update:
— MyGolfSpy (@MyGolfSpy) July 12, 2021
The refurbished balls are 3 MPH SLOWER than the average golf ball.
We are still firing at 85 MPH Swing Speed.
Downhill from here? Let's find out. #BallTest2021
From the Instagram Story
We haven’t even hit them yet. #BallTest2021 pic.twitter.com/Xlrmndhwsp
— MyGolfSpy (@MyGolfSpy) July 12, 2021
Good morning from Scottsdale, AZ.
— MyGolfSpy (@MyGolfSpy) July 12, 2021
MyGolfSpy Official Ball Test.
Day 1.
Marking in progress. pic.twitter.com/x4KTWQG4QE
Connor
2 months agoWhen will the results be published?
John
2 months agoThis. We need data!!!!
Mike
2 months agoWhen will the results be published?
Harry P
2 months agoPretty sure Tony said during the live broadcast that results would be published almost immediately. I don’t think readers would keep asking if MGS would respond with an expected date..
James
2 months agoHope to see the spreadsheet results of these tests….should finely put some facts about one ball to another…..so far only 100% truth I know is if you want the ball to check up you buy the better ball, if you rather have the ball run out then a cheaper two piece is the answer……
Steve Smith
2 months agoYou, as in MGS staff, go out and pick up balls? I was expecting a troop of summer interns in pith helmets and butterfly nets!
Mike
1 month agoSince the test was completed over a month ago I think it’s fair to ask again when the results will be released. I am holding off buying balls until I see the data. Could you give us a ballpark of when to expect to see the results please?
I miss, I miss, I make
2 months agoI can’t say that I am not interested. I read the article and all the comments. )Even the really stupid ones) so I will add to the “stupidity”.. At some point I will hit all the Tour balls on the market and they are all excellent. My gamer is the ProV1x. I like the feel and the way it acts around the green. I will read the results. Give a few hmms and ahhs and then continue to play my stupid V1x even if it is judged to be the “worst” ball ever made.. PS I will not look down my nose at anyone playing a Bridgestone (or any other ball) but I will happily drink any beer they owe me after the round.
Jay
2 months agoCan you guys test different conditions of used balls such as mint, aaaa or aaa?
Nbar
2 months agoI agree test the found balls not refurb.
KBrown
2 months agoDid you use the Check-Go Pro to find CG on the golf ball?
Richard
2 months agoI don’t know why all ball companies (like Maxfli Tour) don’t spin balance their golf balls
Colin
2 months agoLove what you are doing guys and at least the way you do it is consistent with every type of shot for wash ball . No variables . Everyone swings different and has different equip . If they see certain results they can use table to see which balls preformed better or worse in the test to there gamer
Mat
2 months agoI have to ask… if you’re just using a GC Quad for the end result, why not just hit these into a net, in a climate controlled room?
Mat
2 months agoI take it back; looks like there’s a Trackman as well… although, could still make the case that temperature is a bigger factor.
Chris
2 months agoThey are using both a GC Quad and Trackman. Each has a specific purpose which was explained on one of their posts. If I remember correctly, trackman is for full flight and gc quad is for initial launch conditions.
César
2 months agoDoes oil from hands transferred to the balls while handing them essentially make the ball cover slick and therefore perform less? I noticed when I rub 2 urethane balls together right out of the box or right after washing them; they are gummy and stick together, but after handling them a bit and getting oil on them from my hands then rubbing them together they become slick like non-urethane covered balls. Perhaps making sure they are perfectly clean by wiping them down with damp cloth would ensure this is not skewing the results of your in-depth test. Hope this is helpful info as I have never heard anyone mention this but always see caddies wiping down balls before handing them to the player.
Kevin
2 months agoDid I miss what clubs you are using for the testing?
David
2 months agoCan’t wait for the results…
Pg
2 months agoHint: worst commercials in golf.
Tony
2 months agoI realize the effort involved, but the “grail” is testing each ball with different drivers & different shafts with each driver model, by swing speed….Sorry if anyone’s head exploded there
Chris
2 months agoMaybe a little late at this point, but I’m wondering what the performance difference are for pond balls that have been in the water for any period of time? I always buy new but I have friends who act like I’m an idiot because I won’t put balls found in the lake into play.
Matty
2 months agoI think Dean Snell talked about water-logged golf balls on one of his talks. As I recall, he said that the casing is porous enough that over time, there is degradation in performance.
I am not 100% sure on that point, so maybe another MGS nerd can help me out.
JD
2 months agoThis isn’t necessarily directed at you, but man you guys have got to stop with the pond/lake ball questions. I’ve seen a million of these over the past few days and I can’t for the life of me understand why someone would even entertain the question. If someone wants to use a pond ball I’m positive he or she isn’t interested in performance.
John
2 months agoSome people are just curious by nature. Non curious people will never understand…
mike
2 months agoDid you change the shafts to match tune the swing speed shaft characteristic differences ?
Paul Cox
2 months agoThat looks wild it would be a blast to see Bobs facility out there mite need a road trip
denisb
2 months agointeresting… but why use the robot arm to test ball and not use it when you test driver? when you test driver you ask people to hit with different driver and compile data!!! while it would be so much more precise with the robot and data would be (almos) perfect everytime! is it because drivers makes won’t allow the use of the robot arm or another reason?
Chris
2 months agoRobots don’t react to feel or looks. Most wanted testing is about how the clubs perform for people and how people react to a clubs look and feel.
Scott S
2 months agoOkay guys, serious question on the wedge testing. I know it is late, but I had this work think get in the way of watching the live stream last night and today. Why hit the balls of a tee instead of off the mat? Thanks.
Brian
2 months agoThe robot hits the ball at a specific height; they don’t hit off the ground/matt with a robot.
Scott S
2 months agoBrain, thanks. I know we get ‘action’ off the tee with irons, but it seems that hitting the ball off the tee vs. a mat/ground would change performance characteristics that we see in playing conditions. Appreciate the follow-up.
Scott S
2 months agoWatching the Q&A this evening I noticed some of the comments; what is with all the stupid, “I made $1000 if 20 days sitting on my couch” crap posted there. There needs to be a filter to keep the idiots and the bots out. Sorry you guys have to live with that, and sorry we have to weed through it all to see if there is anything asked that we might be interested in. Great work, thanks for sharing. I am REALLY looking forward to seeing that “green side performance” report. And no, I really don’t care if you don’t use the same wedge brand I play for the test; but I. might be able to take a couple of days off and head down there to “help” if I could tell my wife you “need” my wedge for the test :D.
Cheers all.
Mike
2 months agoYou mean those “get rich quick / easy money” ads aren’t true?
Scott S
2 months agoMike, go figure right, LOL!
Greg
2 months agoGreat team doing great things. I am enjoying being inside the ropes.
Greg
2 months agoGreat team doing great things. I am enjoying being inside the ropes.
85 mph test looks good for the higher compression balls. for consistency.
Data on launch angles smash factor and spin is going to be a revelation
I can’t wait.
Joel
2 months agoHuge shout-out to Bob Parsons and the team at PXG/Scottsdale National for the use of the robot. Given the disruptive nature of this project and their disruption of the industry (and lack of skin in the game on balls), it’s a no-brainer. Looking forward to the results. Many thanks, as always!
GilB
2 months agoCurious to know if you are going to test any balls that are “new” but have been sitting around for an extended time at room temp? I have new golf balls in my closet that are a few years old but have never been hit. Is there a real difference between those and freshly made golf balls?
kevin lente
2 months agoI was wondering if there is a speed difference between hitting a ball on the seam and the middle of the ball, thanks Kevin.
Paul
2 months agoThe live feed is blocked at this moment. “Video unavailable. This video contains content from SME, who has blocked it in your country [USA] on copyright grounds.” Hopefully you can fix it.
Moody River
2 months agoGreat start MYGOLFSPY. Superb work looking forward to the finished product. First class team.
Greg
2 months agoWould dearly like to know the EI profile of the shaft ,loft swingweight ,dead weight of the club COR of the face and head size
As this does bias ball flights
I understand the test is relative to each ball but do not loose the experiment to the bias of the club we need to know all about that club .
EZ-E
2 months agoRobot name should be: 007
CAROLYN
2 months agoFun to watch and results will be fun to see….truth be told you still have to hit the darn things where you want them to go….and the better you are the better the ball will be…..and no one (OK maybe Mo Norman) is as accurate as the hitting machine.
Jeff Gelb
2 months agoSince you are testing refurbs along with a select group of DtC balls…Let’s add the Dixon Earth. It’s handed out at countless charity tournaments around the country. Let’s see how it stacks up.!!
Mike
2 months agoAre the Kirkland balls included?
Scott
2 months agoI’m curious if you hit the same ball over and over again what if any variances would occur? Maybe the robot it’s always perfect, or the club head/shaft doesn’t always perform exactly the same swing to swing. I’m sure MyGolfSpy has accounted for this.
LABillyboy
2 months agoI agree… What is the curve at which a golf ball deteriorates? I’ve had balls last 4-5 rounds before getting scuffed up badly. Seems like they lose their pop at some point. I’m hitting around 115 with the driver and have actually broken/cracked balls in the past. When should I put the survivors in the shag bag?
Morini
2 months agogolf sim users sometimes use balls until they internally crack. At this point, distance is down 10% or more. Typically takes 300 full swings.. if you retire after 150 you will have no issues. That is about 4 rounds Balls typically are lost before that anyways.
Paul Grant
2 months agoAre you going to test any of the Nicklaus brand golf balls?
Paulo
2 months agoYellow vs white pro vs. I know Titleist say they’re the same but they ain’t
Al
2 months agoThat is because they are compression mold/made. That takes an extra coat of paint, unlike injection mold balls.
Ron
2 months agoI do agree with DANIE MARÉ above. Scientific tests of “anything” are conducted on the premise of “all other things being equal”.
If you were to start throwing in other variables like different clubs (heads/shafts) or heaven forbid (sorry Bryson), different weather patterns, air density, rain, winds, etc… You would have to agree that the results would resemble something to what we refer to in Australia as a “Dog’s Breakfast”..
Personally, very interested at the outcome of this test. Great job, all you MGS people. Cheers.
Tim
2 months agochromesoft leading the way!!!! lol…..
Will A.
2 months agoIs Trackman able to track the entire flight path, or does it merely simulate the path based on the data captured in the first few feet? If the latter, doesn’t that mean you’re not really capturing the in-flight effects of dimple patterns, but letting Trackman make some pretty big assumptions?
Jon
2 months agoTrackman “tracks” the ball the whole journey (within reason ie if a hill where ball landing, but will still track the majority)
Andy LaCombe
2 months agoI would love to see some data on random range balls – I know they fly like crap and it would be cool to see some data on a few from different ranges just put some objective data behind that impression. Another cool test would be to see data on a ball over its life – does the performance change as it is hit 50-100-1000-5000 times, and when do they fail?
Douglas Anderson
2 months agoI’ve heard if you hit the ball label it goes a smidge farther. Are you hitting each ball on the same relative spot on the balls?
Ryan F
2 months agoIs the driver being used swapped out for a “fresh” one at some point? I’ve always read that drivers become “hotter” as the face wears, which is usually not a problem for an average golfer, but I would think might come into play when you’re hitting thousands (or tens of thousands) of balls in a test like this?
I would think you would hit the balls with driver A going from 1 to 30 and then again with driver B going from 30 to 1 and average the results?
Danie Maré
2 months agoYes, you account for the club and the shaft by using the SAME club and shaft.
Thus the ball is the only variable.
Why would that not make sense, or why would you want any other complexities if you are soing a ball test?
A different shaft/head combination can surely not give a different outcome if ball characteristics is what you are after.
Paul
2 months agoI assume that the shaft kick point and club loft when combined with the spin/launch characteristics for a given golf ball might influence results. I’m guessing that is why Titleist has 3 (or is it 4) versions of their ProV1 ball. Then again, if the driver is the only club being measure we have different goals, distance and dispersion. We will be ignoring spin from scoring irons and consistency. It would be nice to know that given the same swing from my PW, I get the same distance and spin (side and back) each time. If not, then my scoring iron/ball combination are not helping me.
Matching club, shaft and ball is important. How important, I don’t know. The biggest variable is the human swinging the club. With a robot, adjusting the other variables to determine best ball for a given setup.
Note, I intentionally ignored swing speed as a variable in selecting a golf ball. With the high percentage of golfers with slow swings speeds, other ball characteristics might become more important, like compression and ball cover material.
Let me point out that tee height, read the MGS article, is another variable.
Craig Edgar
2 months agoAny “Truefeel / Tourspeed” 2 / 3 piece balls in the test?
Joe Bales
2 months agoHow much influence would the club/shaft have on the results? Would there be a significant difference between a TSi2 with a HZRDUSRDX shaft and say, a Sim2 with a Ventus shaft (both stiff). I guess I’m interested in the relationship between the ball and club as anything.
Russell Huntley
2 months agoWhat driver are you using for the current test?
Dave
2 months agoIs there any difference in ball performance by using different top driver choices? Is there any way to account for the club in the test?