Sometimes when we talk about fitting, we lose sight of all the fitting options we have.  Fitting a player properly for a golf ball is almost certainly the most overlooked aspect of the fitting process.  I would venture to say that almost none of us does it, and certainly not on a regular basis.  There are two ways to go about fitting a player for a ball.  “If he asks what ball is right for me?” while standing at the counter, you could tell him what you know about the different balls and let him choose.  This is probable as far as most of us go, and is slightly better than throwing darts at a dart board in the dark.  The other part is to grab some balls and head to the range with a launch monitor.  If you have a simulator, this should be your winter project!!  

I was watching a tour event last week and a Golf Galaxy ad came on. The fitter fit a player for a driver and the player said at the end of the fitting, ‘Now, if you could only find me an extra 25 yards.” To which the fitter responded “More than the 24 I just found you?” The player said “Yes.” as they both chuckled. The next step is to say “What ball are you playing?” You MIGHT be able to find a nice portion of that extra yardage by optimizing the ball for him.

Grab your launch monitor and head to the range.  For a golf ball fitting???  YES!!  Here’s WHY you should do it.  Next week, I’ll talk about HOW you should do it.

Consider this…  Chrome Soft X LS spins about 400 RPM Less than the Chrome Soft X with the driver.  That’s the difference between 2600 RPM Spin (Decent) and 2200 RPM (Exceptional).  For a player who hits it 250+, that could be 8-10 yards just by changing the golf ball.  It could be that easy.  That ‘Tour ball” that gives him all that spin?  It spins sideways too, not just backwards.  Maybe that’s why he misses greens…  Tour balls are like blades – great, when you hit ’em great. How many 20 handicappers at your club are playing the ball equivalent of a “blade”?   

Consider this.  In all the R&D and prototype testing we do for a new golf club, I can guarantee you that we don’t use a Titleist ball.  Or a Taylor made. Or a Srixon, or anything else.  OUR clubs are tested with OUR golf balls.  They are optimized for and designed around OUR golf ball.  Plain and simple.  I’m not trying to tell you that you should go switch every player who is playing Callaway clubs to a Callaway Ball (maybe I am), but I am telling you that the two are designed to go together.  The performance will be better IF you can find the right combination for the player.  

Here’s a little about the inside of a golf ball.  Why are they made like they’re made?  Ever hear of multiple layers inside a ball?  2 piece, 3 Piece, 4 piece, etc?  Every ball has a core and a cover.  They are all different, and designed for their target player.  Yes, the core is not the same in every ball – they will differ in size and firmness (compression) depending on the target player.  Many balls will then have additional layers that are designed to do different things.  The ball will perform on it’s own just fine as a two piece ball.  Adding another layer will allow the ball to react to different impact conditions differently.  For example, it could react to a 20* launch angle with an exit velocity (ball speed) of 120MPH  one way, but differently to a 12* launch angle with 150MPH ball speed.  The additional layer does that.  Add an additional layer, and it may respond differently still to a 50* launch angle with 85 MPH ball speed.  Better balls are better suited to fine tune their performance to optimize and compliment a players game.  

A tour ball (as we talked above) is designed to spin more. More control is the way it’s pitched.  Yes, more control if you hit it right.  Much less control if you don’t.  They also tend to be firmer, which means that you have to hit them HARDER to compress them.  Anyone swinging below 90MPH with the driver doesn’t swing hard enough to compress a tour ball.  They are losing distance.  They may like the way it responds around the green, but there are 10 other balls that will respond similarly AND have a lower compression.  This means the ball can help the player do what he can not.  Consider a softer compression ball for all but the biggest hitters at your club.  

Golf is one of only a couple games where each player can choose what ball he uses.  WHY in the world would ANY player not get properly fit for a golf ball.  WHY would any player consider playing a ball he or she found in the woods??  Performance matters to EVERYONE.  A found ball could be out of round.  That means not only does it not fly straight, it doesn’t roll straight either.  Even a player who whiffs 10 times on a hole has to putt it.  If it doesn’t do what she does, it isn’t going to go where she wants it to.  It’s like trying to teach a beginner to play with a trick ball.  haha..  Not funny.  Well… no.  not funny.

A standard question from every person checking players in should be “Do you have GOOD golf balls?”  Guaranteed that over half will joke “I don’t know about good ones.” and then laugh about it.  Take 20 seconds and explain why this is a great idea for a shag bag, but not for the golf course.  

How many holes do you use the same ball?  Until you lose it? 18 holes? 9? 6? 3?  Tour players change them every 3 holes.  I know, they get them for free and they hit the living daylights out of them.  You probably get them for free too.  SO, how long?  I change balls every 9 holes. Scuffs on the cover and hard hits will make a ball “misbehave”.  If you’re trying to shoot good scores, use a new, clean ball.  Tell your members what you do?  I can assure you that it never occurred to 80% of them NOT to use a ball until they lose it.

Golf is expensive, and buying new golf balls adds to that expense.  I get it.  But, why go out there and struggle with an ill-fit, underperforming, mis-matched golf ball.  Spend a few extra dollars and the player will appreciate the performance!!  The right fitting golf ball for most players is most likely a softer golf ball.  The softness will help him compress it better.  These balls are generally less expensive that the ultra premium tour balls.  Perhaps he can save a little per dozen, but use a new ball more often.  This will help him hit it longer and straighter, roll it truer, and shoot better scores.  YOU will sell more balls to your members, and you’ll sell the right balls to them.

Hope this helps. Until next time – happy fitting!!