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Over the past several years, slowly but surely, more and more golfers have started to buy their golf equipment after getting custom fit. Instead of walking into a golf retail shop or specialty store, grabbing a club off the rack, and heading to the register, they are taking their time to be sure the new driver, irons, or putter fits their swing and their game.
Most golfers, however, still do not take the time to test golf balls to see which might help them to get better performance on the course and shoot lower scores. They either instinctively buy the same ball they have always played or go with something that fits their budget and has exciting buzz words on the box.
In reality, testing golf balls is every bit as important as testing clubs before you buy them. Golf balls can create varying degrees of spin around the green, height on iron shots, and trajectories off the tee.
To help golfers find a ball that suits their needs, Titleist offers several different tools. The company’s website has a golf ball selector feature that asks users 10 questions, then makes a recommendation based on the answers. Golfers can also schedule a virtual, one-on-one golf ball consultation with an expert to determine which ball could be the best choice.
The highest level of golf ball fitting is an in-person, one-on-one experience that the company refers to as a Tour Level Fitting. Typically hosted by golf clubs, these events allow golfers to sign up for time (often 90 minutes) and work with a golf ball expert. Using a TrackMan launch monitor, players are asked several questions, then have an opportunity to try the Pro V1, Pro V1x, AVX, Pro V1x Left Dash and in some cases, the Pro V1 Left Dot. Just like a driver fitting, the numbers don’t lie and different attributes of each ball become clear.
Golfweek’s David Dusek recently had a chance to go through a Tour Level Fitting at the Titleist Performance Institute in Oceanside, California, and captured the experience on video. Watch the full evaluation above.