FLIGHT
FINE-TUNING THE ONE PIECE OF GOLF EQUIPMENT YOU USE ON EVERY SHOT .
| BY JAKE POINIER |
PLAN
Step into any golf shop , and you ’ ll be greeted by an array of golf ball brands from which to choose . At a glance , everything may look similar , other than dimple patterns and colors — after all , a USGA-standard golf ball measures 1.68 inches and can ’ t weigh more than 1.62 ounces . Compared to the analysis that goes into purchasing clubs or going through a club-fitting process , a golf ball purchase usually comes down to either buying what you ’ ve always used or experimenting with something new .
“ I think one of the reasons that golf balls aren ’ t thought of in the same light as clubs is because most of the complexity is under the hood ,” says Jeremy Stone , VP of golf ball marketing at Acushnet Company , manufacturer of Titleist golf balls . “ When you look at a driver , you see the grip , the shaft , a hosel setting to adjust the club , or moveable weights . The innovations that have occurred in golf balls are probably equivalent to what ’ s happened in clubs , but they ’ re not quite as visible to the golfer .”
As recently as the early 1990s , a golfer ’ s ball choice came down to different compressions , and whether they wanted a pro-style ball with wound construction or a distanceand durability-oriented ball with solid construction . The advent of the Titleist Pro V1 in 2000 offered the best of both worlds : the spin and control of a professional golf ball with the speed and distance of a solid core . “ The recent evolutions of the golf ball have been refining how we marry the various components to optimize the performance characteristics ,” explains Stone .
Aerodynamics are the other key component of the complex equation that determines performance . For example , the Pro V1 has 388 dimples that are slightly deeper , which allows the ball to fly lower , while the Pro V1x has 348 that are slightly larger and shallower , leading to a higher flight path . “ Both are optimized for distance , so a golfer can choose without compromising ,” notes Stone . But to illustrate the importance of the core and cover working in concert , if you put the same dimple pattern on both golf balls , one of them wouldn ’ t fly as far .
“ Everything comes down to flight , spin and feel , which is why we have different models with different constructions ,” Stone says . “ Depending on your game , you want the ball to fly high , medium or low . You want the ball to spin with your irons and greenside clubs . And you have the specific feel attributes you want as a player . Having a ball fitting , fine-tuning the only piece of equipment you use on every shot , is well worth a golfer ’ s time .”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF TITLEIST
46 SEA ISLAND LIFE | SPRING / SUMMER 2022
46 SEA ISLAND LIFE | FALL / WINTER 2022 / 23