10 Things You Need To Know When Ball Testing On The Course

When most of us start playing golf we don’t care about the ball we’re playing. We lose so many of them, it doesn’t make sense to spend a lot of money on it. As we continue our downward spiral into golf addiction, the cost of our craft doesn’t matter as much as the pursuit of getting better. We start getting fit for Drivers, irons, wedges and our attire certainly improves as well. We even tend to find a ball we like to play more than others. But is it the the best ball for you? If we can get fit for the other tools we use in this game, why not double check the ball we’re using as well? That was the question I asked myself and that is why I went to the PGA Tour Superstore for a ball fitting.

Complete Ball Fitting At The PGA Tour Superstore

This is the best ball fitting video you can find! I went to the PGA Superstore and found out what goes into a ball fitting. I will get answers to common questions and show you all 4 phases of an indoor ball fitting.

After narrowing down the best options for me it was time to go to the course and put these balls into play. For me, I had narrowed down my options to the 2016 TP5, the Srixon Z-Star and the new 2021 TP5. A lot of this was feel on the putting green but also the numbers I was getting on the launch monitor. Now it’s spring in the Midwest and it’s time for the second half of my ball fitting.

On Course Ball Testing With A PGA Tour Superstore Fitter

This is the second part to my personal ball test. We started off by going to the PGA Tour Superstore to find the best balls for me. I’m now taking those options to my local track to do the on the course ball test. This video will give you the following.

When you complete the indoor portion of your ball fitting, the PGA Tour Superstore will give you these ball testing cards. These cards will be your guide on the course. When you do your ball test on the course it’s not about score. It’s about what works best based on different situations. Here are the top 10 things I leaned with my ball test. These tips will help you when doing your own on course ball test.

Tip 1 – Play a course you know

I wanted to maximize my ball test so instead of playing a new course I’ve never seen,  I went to a local track I’ve played 50 times. I know the layout, I know the greens and most of all, I know where to miss. By going to a familiar course you already put yourself in a better position to succeed. This allows you to plan out your test in advance.

Tip 2- Hit every ball on Par 3’s

Nobody likes slow play but Jimmy and Joe in the group behind you don’t have a ball test to complete. One way to maximize your test is to hit every ball you’re testing into par 3’s. This way you get to see how they feel off mid to long irons and how they hold the green. It doesn’t take a lot of extra time and you get really good feedback.

Tip 3 – Alternate balls on longer holes

Here is where the first tip also comes into play. Dedicate one ball to the longer holes. You can seen how it performs off the tee followed by mid irons and wedges on your way to the green. Once you’re putting you get to see how the ball is holding up. That’s at least 3-5 tests in one hole for the ball.

Tip 4- Know what you’re hitting

This may sound kind of silly but mark your balls accordingly. For me I used a white ball for the old TP5 and a Yellow for the new TP5. This way I knew what version I was playing. If you are testing an AVX vs a PRO V maybe think about doing the same. Color coding helps more than you think.

Tip 5- Keep notes

Your ball testing card is huge here. Keeping notes as you play help you remember shots later on. It also allows you to make sure you don’t forget to test everything possible with the ball.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Tip 6- Eliminate non- contenders

Once you get a few holes into your ball test you will probably start to favor one or two balls more. If you have a third or even fourth option and they aren’t doing it for you, stop using them. Why waste time with a ball you had lust for. We’re looking for love so start committing to one.

Tip 7- Play two from the same spot

Now that you’re probably down to just two balls to chose from, start maximizing your time. Play two balls from set spots. 160-150 yards out, chipping around the green and sand shots. These are spots we find ourselves in a lot. See what ball works best for you in these spots.

Tip 8 – Putt from different lengths

Short three footers or long lag putts, the green is where we log 1/3 of our shots. Make sure you’re using all of the green during your test. Hit the same putt with each ball or try some long lag putts. If the course is open then you can do this on every green but you may need to pick your spots. Feel is a big part of this test but it sure feels good when they actually fall in the cup.

Tip 9 – Watch the ball flight

Launch conditions change from round to round. How are the balls reacting that day to the conditions you’re playing in? Do they hold up on the wind or get thrown around like a freshman at varsity football practice? Watch the ball flight. See what the ball is doing. Evaluation of this part of the game is easy to overlook. Take a minute to just watch it fly and write down your notes. Is may save you some strokes one day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Tip 10 – Go with your gut

At the end of the day it’s your test. I hit the ball differently than you do. You hit it differently than your favorite playing partner. It’s not a one ball fits all kind of world. What ever ball fits your game the best is part data, part results on the course,  part confidence. If all things are equal, what ball gives you the feels? My advice, go with that one.

Final Thoughts

The great thing about the PGA Tour Superstore is the 90 day playability guarantee. If one ball way outshines another, just being the other ones back and exchange them for the one that you’ve fallen in love with. After my ball fitting experience I’ve gained the confidence that I am playing with the best equipment for me. From driver to the ball, I know I’m in the best position to succeed. That’s relative to my skill level but you get what I’m saying. Remember that you’re not keeping score during the test. You’re finding the best ball for you so put the score card away for this round. You’ll have plenty of score cards with lower scores to come.

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