A PRO ’ S EYE VIEW OF CHOOSING THE RIGHT BALL Want to think like a pro ? The best players in the world often work from the green backwards when choosing a ball — something they can control on approach shots and in and around the green . “ The golf ball is arguably the piece of equipment in a player ’ s bag that they are most concerned with ,” says Craig Allan , Sea Island Golf Performance Center director and master club fitter . “ They are so in tune with what the golf ball is doing off the face and in the air that they want something that is very predictable and consistent .”
As a result , some PGA TOUR players still play golf ball models that were brought to market four or five years ago . They ’ re either reluctant to change , or don ’ t believe the new iterations of the brand they play serve them as well as the one that they ’ ve been using . “ Most people don ’ t realize the pros have access to many more golf ball models than the regular consumer ,” Allan states . “ They have the ability to be that precise about tolerances , so a few of the manufacturers still make small batches of previous generations of golf balls available to tour players .”
Even when fitting an average-to-avid golfer , discussing golf balls can be a deep dive . “ Once you establish if a player has any brand preferences , we ’ ll talk about specific things in their game where maybe the properties of a given golf ball can be of assistance to them ,” Allan explains . “ While many players think in terms of pure distance , there are pros and cons to that .”
In the fitting bay , the conversation starts with the principle that a golf ball doesn ’ t know anything other than what the golfer and club tell it . “ The golf ball can ’ t be looked at as a standalone , but assume for the sake of argument that a set of clubs is suited to the player ,” says Allan . “ We ’ ve got many balls to choose from , and we ’ ll start with what they ordinarily use or the closest competitive option to establish what it is or isn ’ t doing for them . And then we try to improve on it .”
Factors include looking at ball speed , launch angle and spin , through a series of hitting drivers , long , mid and short irons , and chipping and putting . A ball that flies farther off the tee and long irons sounds great , until it negatively impacts approach or greenside shots .
“ The longest golf ball is not always and many times isn ’ t the right golf ball ,” Allan A look at the manufacturing process at Titleist ’ s Ball Plant 3 in New Bedford , Massachusetts .
48 SEA ISLAND LIFE | FALL / WINTER 2022 / 23