It's The Ball: Golf.com Robot Tests Balatas Against Today's Pellets

With the distance discussion in mind, Golf.com’s Jonathan Wall reports on a project to identify the difference between late 20th century balatas and today’s ball. Fresh out of the package and tested with a robot, you’ll be shocked—shocked!—to learn that the ball and elite player launch conditions lead to incredible spikes in driver distance, not so much with irons.

The data and conclusions are useful for two obvious reasons: to diffuse average golfer whining about the tremendous loss in distance they would experience by a tweak of existing equipment regulations, and just how much fitting, spin rates and technology are impacting skill. In other words, the robot became a lot less athletic when hitting a balata.

Please check out the whole piece but Wall’s conclusions are fascinating, including these:

5. If ball spin is utilized to limit distance, this could potentially affect players with different swing styles in different ways. Players with lower spinning shots — for example, an “inside/out” path below 2,400 RPMs spin — will be less affected than a player who plays a power fade — slightly “outside/in” path at 2,600-2,800 RPMs spin — with the same clubhead speed. A universal ball would provide different results based upon its design parameters.


6. If you were to combine the modern-day Tour driver with a Tour-level balata at mid or mid-high spin, a distance loss of 40-plus yards is possible. 


7. Wedge spin is approximately 2000 RPMs higher on the Tour-level balata versus the modern-day solid-construction.


8. Driver distance loss varies based upon launch conditions.


9. 6-iron distance loss is roughly 1 club shorter when comparing the two balls. 


10. An increase in wedge spin would cause some players to adjust their swing to adapt to excessive spin produced with the Tour-level balata and modern-day wedge.

I’m sure point 10 will lead to first world sob stories of cruelty to the youth of golf, but since they get on launch monitors and adjust all the time, I’m confident they will not be permanently harmed in such a process.

Point six is the standout though, suggesting driver head size has much less impact (I’m assuming Mr. Robot hits the sweet spot most of the time).