AskMyGolfSpy: What Does A Golf Ball Drop Test Actually Tell You?

Not long ago we received an email from reader, Bobby J. asking about what can be learned from a golf ball drop test.

“When cleaning and culling the balls that I find and from wear and tear, I do a drop test from shoulder height on my concrete garage floor. I compare the rebound to the ones that bounce highest (Callaway Supersoft or similar). A Pro V1x will come up 2 inches short. I cull anything that comes up short of that into a shag bag. These often get used for warmup on the driving range rather than paying $15 for a bucket when I will only hit 15–20.

“My question: Do you think a drop/rebound test tells anyone anything about the best ball to use?“

Let’s start with the good stuff, Bobby J. The fact that you’re not just picking up found balls, but testing them, puts you in a rare and commendable category: the “curious golfer.”

But let’s talk about that drop test.

What a drop test actually measures

Dropping a golf ball from shoulder height (roughly five feet) produces an impact speed of around 12 mph. That’s nothing compared to the collision speed you see when a driver face meets a golf ball at your swing speed (Bobby J. swings about 90 mph).

So what’s really happening when you drop a ball on a concrete floor?

Not much … at least not below the surface of the golf ball.

At those low speeds, you’re only activating the cover of the ball and maybe a sliver of the mantle (assuming a ball with three or more layers). The core (which does most of the heavy lifting) barely flinches. That means you’re really just measuring the low-speed COR (coefficient of restitution) of the cover, not the high-speed energy transfer that happens off the tee (or with your irons).

Why some balls bounce higher

In your case, Bobby J., you noted that a Callaway Supersoft bounces higher than a Pro V1x. That checks out.

Supersoft, like many value, distance or  super-soft balls, uses an ionomer cover. Ionomer is firmer than urethane. So, in a low-speed bounce test, it rebounds more. Urethane balls like the Pro V1x have softer covers by design. It’s what helps deliver spin, control and general short-game performance. With the softer cover, urethane balls tend to bounce a little lower in a drop test.

What the drop test is showing you is that the balls are different but you’re only seeing a sliver of that difference.

What the drop test doesn’t tell you

Here’s what you won’t learn from a bounce test:

• Ball speed potential (depends heavily on full compression)
• Launch and spin characteristics (key for iron and wedge play)
• Flight consistency or aerodynamics
• Durability under real-world contact

In short: the drop test is not a predictor of actual on-course performance.

What you might learn

That said, Bobby J., your method isn’t completely without value.

A bounce test may give you some indication of how a ball might feel off a putter or wedge. As you’ve probably noticed, the Supersoft sounds duller (more thud-y, less click-y than the Pro V1x) when you drop it. I suspect that’s the result of the lack of a firm mantle layer on the Supersoft. Whether you want to frame that as identifying feel or providing a hint to the construction of the ball, there could be something to it.

And, yes, if a ball rebounds significantly less than all the others, it might be damaged, dead or otherwise not worth playing. Toss it in the shag bag and move on. You’re already doing that and it’s a smart move.

The bottom line

If you’re truly interested in golf ball performance, you might want to check out more comprehensive fitting approaches. We’re always going to recommend in-person fittings but PING’s Ballnamic is a great tool for golfers who don’t have the opportunity (or desire) to get fitted for a ball in person.

For the average golfer, the best approach might be to try a few premium balls in actual playing conditions, noting how they perform off different clubs and in various situations around the course. That’ll tell you far more than your garage or my basement floor ever could.

Got a question of your own?

Email us at [email protected] and we might just answer it in a future piece.