Have any of you done a golf ball fitting?

[HAC 68]

I mean an actual in person golf ball fitting.  If so, where and did you find it helpful?

[Middler 3,438]

I haven't, and I can't imagine why I would? Unlike clubs, balls are a small investment, so it's easy enough to narrow the choices based on my swing speed/distances and wants (e.g. spin vs distance), budget - and just buy and try them. [There are ball fitting guides online]

I've found almost every ball I'd ever want to try as well, so I try them all, side by side even, without spending any more. To be specific, in the past 4-5 years I've bought Pro V1s (about once a year), Snell MTB/X and MaxFli Tours, but I have also found and repeatedly tried out all the tour balls from Callaway, TaylorMade, Bridgestone, Srixon, Mizuno, Vice and Wilson. And I don't actually look for lost balls, just find them while looking for mine or other players usually.

And I suspect many people would be fit to a Pro V1/V1X if price was no object. But not everyone wants to spend $50/box...

If I didn't restrict my budget I'd never play anything but Pro V1s. But I find Snell MTBs and MaxFli Tours perform just as well, just as durable (just not quite as consistent per Ball Lab), for $26-35/dozen. YMMV

[cnosil 24,336]

41 minutes ago, HAC said:

I mean an actual in person golf ball fitting.  If so, where and did you find it helpful?

I have done a couple of Bridgestone in person fittings; they were done over 10 years ago and wee really just an extension of the online fitting since there wasn’t any kind of launch monitor.    Having seen the Titleist fitting that MGS recently did I am kicking myself for not going as it did what I think needs to be done in a ball fitting.  Basically same strategy as what @Middleris saying, but having someone that can actually interpret the shots better than I can would be valuable.  I currently don’t have a ball that I exclusively play and play a wide variety of models and brands; nothing seems readily different between any of them which is why I haven’t locked down to a single ball.  

[Middler 3,438]

3 minutes ago, cnosil said:

I currently don’t have a ball that I exclusively play and play a wide variety of models and brands; nothing seems readily different between any of them which is why I haven’t locked down to a single ball.  

I would agree with that. Most of the tour balls aren't wildly different, subtle differences in spin-trajectory-distance, durability and (unseen) quality/consistency. I can play anything with decent spin (always urethane) as long as it isn't soft (hate all of them).

[THEZIPR23 6,374]

2 hours ago, Middler said:

I haven't, and I can't imagine why I would? Unlike clubs, balls are a small investment, so it's easy enough to narrow the choices based on my swing speed/distances and wants (e.g. spin vs distance), budget - and just buy and try them. [There are ball fitting guides online]

I've found almost every ball I'd ever want to try as well, so I try them all, side by side even, without spending any more. To be specific, in the past 4-5 years I've bought Pro V1s (about once a year), Snell MTB/X and MaxFli Tours, but I have also found and repeatedly tried out all the tour balls from Callaway, TaylorMade, Bridgestone, Srixon, Mizuno, Vice and Wilson. And I don't actually look for lost balls, just find them while looking for mine or other players usually.

And I suspect many people would be fit to a Pro V1/V1X if price was no object. But not everyone wants to spend $50/box...

If I didn't restrict my budget I'd never play anything but Pro V1s. But I find Snell MTBs and MaxFli Tours perform just as well, just as durable (just not quite as consistent per Ball Lab), for $26-35/dozen. YMMV

 

2 hours ago, cnosil said:

I have done a couple of Bridgestone in person fittings; they were done over 10 years ago and wee really just an extension of the online fitting since there wasn’t any kind of launch monitor.    Having seen the Titleist fitting that MGS recently did I am kicking myself for not going as it did what I think needs to be done in a ball fitting.  Basically same strategy as what @Middleris saying, but having someone that can actually interpret the shots better than I can would be valuable.  I currently don’t have a ball that I exclusively play and play a wide variety of models and brands; nothing seems readily different between any of them which is why I haven’t locked down to a single ball.  

This is interesting. Are you both saying you can't tell a difference between the different balls or just that in the end it doesn't really matter? For whatever reason I can tell the difference immediately. Mostly based on launch window, height and of course feel. 

[cnosil 24,336]

19 minutes ago, THEZIPR23 said:

 

This is interesting. Are you both saying you can't tell a difference between the different balls or just that in the end it doesn't really matter? For whatever reason I can tell the difference immediately. Mostly based on launch window, height and of course feel. 

 I can’t really tell the difference.  Maybe they launch a little differently.  Iron shots get about the same amount if rollout.  Pitches and chips are close as well.   It could very well be that I just don’t have enough knowledge to test properly.   I could go to MGS and use the launch monitor to get numbers, but how does that translate to improved play?   

[THEZIPR23 6,374]

3 minutes ago, cnosil said:

 I can’t really tell the difference.  Maybe they launch a little differently.  Iron shots get about the same amount if rollout.  Pitches and chips are close as well.   It could very well be that I just don’t have enough knowledge to test properly.   I could go to MGS and use the launch monitor to get numbers, but how does that translate to improved play?   

I would agree testing balls in practice with LM is not the best idea as there are just too many variables not accounted for. 

[Kenny B 32,320]

I wished that MGS had done the recent Titleist fitting with at least as many higher handicaps as they did with scratch and + handicaps.  Maybe they didn't because it wouldn't give clear-cut results.

While I am a borderline single digit handicap, my swing speed is slow and generally speaking, most balls give similar distance off the tee and 7i; around the green there is a huge difference.  I can tell the difference between urethane and non-urethane balls,  and I can tell the difference between PV1/PV1x and other urethane balls.  I have no launch monitor data; just feel and observation.  

When I play a PV1, I have to remember that I have to fly the ball closer to the hole on chips/pitches... sometimes I forget.  It's frustrating to have the ball check when you didn't plan on it.  Other urethane and 2-piece balls roll out more, but if I play them all the time, I can easily gauge the rollout better than I can gauge how much spin I can consistently put on a PV1.  If I didn't care about the price, I would play PV1x all the time and get used to the check on the green... but I do care.  In looking  for a winter ball I found that the Callaway Warbird ball flies higher than most balls for my swing and provides sufficient check on the greens that is easy to control.  It's my ball of choice for awhile.

[cnosil 24,336]

3 minutes ago, Kenny B said:

I wished that MGS had done the recent Titleist fitting with at least as many higher handicaps as they did with scratch and + handicaps.  Maybe they didn't because it wouldn't give clear-cut results.

They didn’t because those were the people that went.  As mentioned I was invited to go along with the pool of testers that MGS has.  Unfortunately the test was in the middle of the week during the day.  

[MGoBlue100 2,604]

I was lucky to visit Bridgestone HQ in Georgia with @GolfSpy Barbajoa few years ago and was fitted there by probably their best dude for that, Adam Rehberg.  (He works with Tiger, so I guess he's a'rite...)  I've been a Bridgestone loyalist since then and although I also try other brands, I always end up coming back to what I know works for my game.  @Kenny Bhit the nail on the head above; if you have to constantly adjust your game to your ball, you're leaving strokes on the golf course.  

[Clay5477 28]

I also had a Bridgestone ball fitting, around 10 years or so ago.

The guy running the test told me that with my low clubhead speed, it really didn't matter what ball I played.

So, yeah, really didn't help me much.

[DiscipleofPenick 3,784]

I've not had a ball fitting done but I think I'd like to. Based on the combination of ball lab info provided by MGS and knowing the parameters of what I like to play, I can narrow down to what I want. I play the Z-Star now, and the ProV1 for years, both of those are considered medium launch-medium spin balls with Firm compression. The Z-Stars are almost $10 less per box, plus Srixon runs BOGO more often so I switched. I imagine any other Medium-Medium ball between 85-90 compression would work fine for me as well. Maxfli comes to mind. I know <75 compression is too soft and I will lose distance so I can throw out the Chrome Soft & Tour B RX. I know I don't like the way TP5x and ProV1x perform in the short game, they are much too clicky. 

But all of the above are why I want to do a ball fitting. Maybe there is another Medium-Medium ball I haven't considered that will perform just as well as Srixon or Titleist for a better price. Maybe there is a different X ball that gives me the short game performance I am looking for. Maybe I am in that niche market that actually should play AVX. Just put all the questions to bed and figure it out. Peace of mind is worth the price of a fitting.

[MGoBlue100 2,604]

49 minutes ago, Clay5477 said:

I also had a Bridgestone ball fitting, around 10 years or so ago.

The guy running the test told me that with my low clubhead speed, it really didn't matter what ball I played.

So, yeah, really didn't help me much.

I have to say I think that person (I won't use the term "fitter" with them) did you a disservice.

[Kenny B 32,320]

37 minutes ago, Clay5477 said:

I also had a Bridgestone ball fitting, around 10 years or so ago.

The guy running the test told me that with my low clubhead speed, it really didn't matter what ball I played.

So, yeah, really didn't help me much.

I had a similar Bridgestone ball fitting about the same time with similar results.  Of course, they had to put me into a Bridgestone ball and that was the B-RXS.  It was OK, but not enough difference to stick with it.

Us slow speed players need to find a ball that we like to play around the green and stick with it so we become familiar with how it reacts.  

 

 

[MGoBlue100 2,604]

14 minutes ago, DiscipleofPenick said:

I've not had a ball fitting done but I think I'd like to. Based on the combination of ball lab info provided by MGS and knowing the parameters of what I like to play, I can narrow down to what I want. I play the Z-Star now, and the ProV1 for years, both of those are considered medium launch-medium spin balls with Firm compression. The Z-Stars are almost $10 less per box, plus Srixon runs BOGO more often so I switched. I imagine any other Medium-Medium ball between 85-90 compression would work fine for me as well. Maxfli comes to mind. I know <75 compression is too soft and I will lose distance so I can throw out the Chrome Soft & Tour B RX. I know I don't like the way TP5x and ProV1x perform in the short game, they are much too clicky. 

But all of the above are why I want to do a ball fitting. Maybe there is another Medium-Medium ball I haven't considered that will perform just as well as Srixon or Titleist for a better price. Maybe there is a different X ball that gives me the short game performance I am looking for. Maybe I am in that niche market that actually should play AVX. Just put all the questions to bed and figure it out. Peace of mind is worth the price of a fitting.

You sound to me (an untrained person who plays golf & types words into a forum post, LOLZ) like someone who could do their own on course testing.  Ask Santa to bring you various sleeves of balls you think you'd like to try and do your own on course analysis.  And, if it's convenient, go get ball fit.

[golfspyhack 2]

I have been to a few fittings with two major brands . Titleist , and Bridgestone. I was fitted to a softer ball from both companies than their tour versions. I do feel the Bridgestone balls help me off the tee a little better. Also around the greens. So i would say yes if the opportunity presents itself try it out and get fit to a ball that fits your game. I'm a believer .

[DiscipleofPenick 3,784]

1 hour ago, MGoBlue100 said:

You sound to me (an untrained person who plays golf & types words into a forum post, LOLZ) like someone who could do their own on course testing.  Ask Santa to bring you various sleeves of balls you think you'd like to try and do your own on course analysis.  And, if it's convenient, go get ball fit.

Lol you are correct, and I've kind of done my own on course testing. I'm planning on ordering a Snell test pack, and maybe some Vice over the winter. I have ProV1, Z-Star, Z-Star XV, and Maxfli on the shelf at home. I think it's all about short game performance. I know I lose distance with anything less than 75 compression, even if it's urethane, so those balls are out. I know the X balls are not going to go exceptionally further than the other tour balls, so it all comes down to iron control and greenside performance. I'm not knocking the ProV1x or TP5x, I just know they don't perform the way I like a golf ball to. I did get to try a Tour BX this year and I had two great rounds with it, one was 14 GIR with lots of rip on the iron shots, and two poor rounds. So I know not all X balls are created the same.

On the other hand, it's convenient to go get fit because there's a Golf Galaxy about 5 minutes from my house. It's going to be a boring winter, so why not. They charge $70 for the fitting and I can test anything on their shelves.

 

[Scott Bronstein 1]

To answer the question about has anyone actually done a ball fitting before.

my answer is Yes, I’ve been fitted and was a senior Golf Ball Fitter.  I was in the greater Boston area as a pupil and fitter.

[Riverboat 774]

4 hours ago, Kenny B said:

I wished that MGS had done the recent Titleist fitting with at least as many higher handicaps as they did with scratch and + handicaps.  Maybe they didn't because it wouldn't give clear-cut results.

While I am a borderline single digit handicap, my swing speed is slow and generally speaking, most balls give similar distance off the tee and 7i; around the green there is a huge difference.  I can tell the difference between urethane and non-urethane balls,  and I can tell the difference between PV1/PV1x and other urethane balls.  I have no launch monitor data; just feel and observation.  

When I play a PV1, I have to remember that I have to fly the ball closer to the hole on chips/pitches... sometimes I forget.  It's frustrating to have the ball check when you didn't plan on it.  Other urethane and 2-piece balls roll out more, but if I play them all the time, I can easily gauge the rollout better than I can gauge how much spin I can consistently put on a PV1.  If I didn't care about the price, I would play PV1x all the time and get used to the check on the green... but I do care.  In looking  for a winter ball I found that the Callaway Warbird ball flies higher than most balls for my swing and provides sufficient check on the greens that is easy to control.  It's my ball of choice for awhile.

Your comments on pv1 are accurate. Precisely why I never play them (I want the ball to release and roll out) and why I think most amateurs would do well to avoid them. Amateurs come up short far more often than they go long. Pv1s only exacerbate the problem. In fact, most would be better avoiding urethane altogether. 

[greggarner 1,250]

1 hour ago, DiscipleofPenick said:

Maybe there is another Medium-Medium ball I haven't considered that will perform just as well as Srixon or Titleist for a better price. Maybe there is a different X ball that gives me the short game performance I am looking for. Maybe I am in that niche market that actually should play AVX.

Get out of my head.