Results - Golf Ball Balance Test
ctyankee
process (Golf Magazine - August 2002 page 118) and balanced 12 brand
new Strata Tour Ultimate 2 golf balls and some others.
Results.
11 of 12 Strata Tour Ultimate 2 all came rotated to the same spot when
floating (repeatedly and with each being spun vigorously in the
water).
1 Strata Tour Utimate 2 could not be tested because it did not float.
Meaning it was heavier than the other balls.
One additional three pack of Strata TU2's also had the same single dot
balance results as the other 11 tested. This would indicate that the
problem goes much further than a single batch problem. I chose to use
the Strata TU2's because Wilson's ad for their true balanced ball
indicates that Strata was the worst of the balls they cited. This
does give more credibility to their statement.
Although this was a poor sample to make any definitive statements - I
can say that the balls I tested were poorly balanced.
The article indicates that if I put the light side (marked dot)
straight up when putting - you can "putt without worry." Great
because I haven't been able to do that so far. Ahem. Sorry, old
joke. I would have to guess that a more lobsided weighted ball would
put me in greater danger of missing a putt regardless of how the ball
is placed on the green - but the article does not indicate that that
is so. I just imagine that on a green that has a significant break
that on a long putt that mark on the top is no longer on the top as it
rolls.
I still don't know whether the difference means a .0001 percent
difference in results or something measureably significant. The
article indicates it can make a difference but don't quantify it nor
tells the reader how they came to that conclusion.
I would be interested if someone would do the same test for their Pro
V1s or other premium golf ball.
Viker 44
I think the whole idea is a waste of time. When you whack or putt the ball,
this little variation in balance isn't going to make any significant
difference........
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Viker 44
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Peter Zenewicz
"ctyankee" <ongolde...@cyberdude.com> wrote in message
news:r3ramucjhit0jh6f9...@4ax.com...
Since you are, by your own admission, not that great a putter, how do
you know that the unbalanced ball hasn't helped you make some putts
that you might have missed? Just a thought. :-)
Douglas Siebert
>I think the whole idea is a waste of time. When you whack or putt the ball,
>this little variation in balance isn't going to make any significant
>difference........
I tend to agree with this. I'm amazed at how well the ball flies and
rolls even when its attracted a big glob of mud. We just had 5" of rain
here last Friday, and I played today on a course that doesn't drain too
well and still has some areas of casual water, so needless to say I picked
up lots of mud off the tee. I had a number of 50-100 yard wedges into the
green and didn't notice anything too "off" about their flight. If I was
a top pro it might matter, but us mortals probably aren't precise enough
to get a disadvantage from a ball that isn't perfectly centered if even a
glob of mud that'll make the ball 10 - 100x more out of balance isn't a
big effect!
That said, I'd be curious for the results if someone does this test with
a Pro V1. My question would be, if the Pro V1 isn't balanced, and I do
this experiment and mark the heavy/light spot on all my balls, that's
great off the tee and on the green, but isn't it going to screw with your
head from within the fairway and around the greens when you can't place
the ball in the alignment you desire? And how can you "seam" the Pro V1
if the balance point demands another alignment? :)
--
Douglas Siebert dsie...@excisethis.khamsin.net
A good friend will help you move, a true friend will help you move a body.
Wyzyguy
accuracy, time savings, mess and man is it fun to see them spin. I
think two best advantages to balancing and lining a ball is on the tee
and on the green. Aligning the ball with a target and squaring the
clubface ( putter, iron, driver, etc...)to that is one less thing to
be concerned with.
On the greens if you stroke the putt squarely and on path that line
will stay crisp and visible. Make a poor stroke and the line will
quickly disappear as the ball wobbles towards your unintended target.
It gives me a good idea if my stroke is on or I am misreading putts.
When you drop a nice putt, at good speed, and the line is visible the
whole way it cannot help but make you smile and give you good
feedback.
For those who do not think balancing and lining are valid please do
not try it. It would be a shame to make a putt that you know you
stroked perfectly.
I have spun the following ball models
Pro V1
Maxfli A10
Various Strata
Nike TW, DD, and several of the other Nike line
Pinnacle
Callaway Rule 35 Blue
All models have spun to a balance point. I have only found two balls
out of maybe a 100 or so that did not spin back to the same balance
line. These balls are as near perfect as I have found. One was a promo
Nike Ti-Velocity given to me for the Buick Open in MI and one was a
Pinnacle gold that I found in the woods. No two balls of the same
model have balanced to the same point. I have not gotten a hold of a
Wilson True as of yet.