Do you know that the USGA’s “one ball rule” is definitely only a native rule? Yep, it’s an optionally available factor that’s roughly off by default till a event committee decides to show it on. Whereas the professionals on TV are normally locked into one mannequin throughout PGA Tour occasions, your weekend sport with buddies? That’s a completely completely different story.
Right here’s a enjoyable truth: whereas the Masters, U.S. Open and Open Championship (aka “British Open”) implement the one-ball rule, the PGA Championship doesn’t. Whereas it’s essentially the most excessive instance, theoretically, a participant might have teed up 18 completely different fashions in a single spherical at Quail Hole earlier this yr.
What does this imply for you? Merely put, you’re completely inside your rights to play a number of fashions throughout a spherical of golf.
Now, I do know this flies within the face of every little thing we’ve mentioned about selecting a golf ball. The standard knowledge says discover “your ball” and keep it up perpetually (or till the brand new mannequin comes out.) Be taught its flight traits, know precisely how far it goes, perceive the way it spins. All that makes good sense, proper?
However what if we’ve been fascinated with this all improper?
The mutli-ball methodology
What if, as a substitute of discovering your one ball, you optimized your ball selection for particular course situations and the kind of gap you’re enjoying?
Sounds a bit wild, I do know. However hear me out.
As we coated in our Ballnamic story, PING’s Marty Jertson isn’t simply theorizing about these things; he’s really placing it into apply. And he’s not just a few random engineer with cuckoo chicken concepts. He’s competed in main championships and different skilled tournaments.
“I received a neighborhood part event and I performed 5 completely different balls,” he instructed me. “It was a windy day and there have been agency greens.”
Now, 5 completely different balls is perhaps overkill for many of us weekend warriors. The full Jertson requires a stage of specificity that may make a NASA scientist uncomfortable—accounting for wind course, gap size, inexperienced firmness and perhaps even the tide.
It’s lots to maintain observe of, admittedly greater than most of us need to take care of between beers within the cart. However we will simplify issues a bit.
The typical golfer’s two-ball technique
Right here’s the place it will get sensible. Jertson believes common golfers ought to play not less than two fashions each spherical.
The primary is your “more often than not” ball for par-4s and -5s. Search for one thing with a little bit of a distance slant. You continue to need a ball that matches your swing however the thought is to get a bit extra oomph off the tee and into greens. As a result of, let’s face it, what number of occasions have you ever come up quick in your method shot? In case you’re like most amateurs, most likely most of the time.
Your second ball is particularly for par-3s. Why? As a result of most mid to excessive handicappers wrestle to generate sufficient peak and spin to carry greens. You already know these photographs that land on the entrance edge after which roll clear off the again? Yeah, these.
(Urethane covers are your good friend. Anyway …)
“In case you’re a 15 handicapper, when you’re a ten handicapper and above, I’d advocate you play a unique ball on par-4s and par-5s that’s extra optimized for distance,” Jertson explains. “Then change to a unique ball on par-3s that’s designed to fly increased and spin extra for higher stopping energy.”
To search out your good par-3 ball, simply inform Ballnamic you need to maximize peak, touchdown angle and spin charges. This could offer you a ball that lands softly on greens as a substitute of skidding throughout them like a stone skipping throughout a pond.
The higher participant’s wind technique
In case you’re a greater participant (which I’m certain you’re, after all), you would possibly need to take issues a step additional and add a selected ball for windy situations.
“At a minimal, a greater participant ought to be enjoying a downwind ball and an into-the-wind ball,” Jertson says. This method enables you to optimize your flight with out having to alter your swing—and who doesn’t need that?
What you’re on the lookout for is a ball that flies decrease and spins a bit much less. The much less time your ball spends within the air, the much less alternative the wind has to mess with it. Not solely will you get extra distance into the wind however you’ll additionally see tighter dispersion. And tighter dispersion means extra fairways and greens.
“You would make the identical driver swing and alter your peak peak a ton and have your into-the-wind ball go each straighter and fly decrease and go additional,” Jertson explains.
The Titleist AVX is a superb instance of a lower-flying, lower-spinning ball for windy situations.
High quality-tuning your technique additional
Wish to actually nerd out on these things (as if we haven’t already)? Think about optimizing for inexperienced situations, too.
When the greens are comfortable and receptive, like after a very good rain, concentrate on maximizing driver efficiency. It’s your “tee it excessive and let it fly” second. You don’t want to fret as a lot about how your ball will cease on the inexperienced as a result of, nicely, it’s most likely going to cease regardless.
However when these greens agency up? That’s if you need a ball with extra stopping energy—one thing that flies increased, descends extra steeply and generates extra spin. It’s principally the identical pondering because the par-3 ball with maybe a bit extra balanced efficiency off the tee.
And when you’re enjoying in moist situations, whether or not it’s rain or heavy dew, think about a ball with higher water-repellent properties (or “hydrophobicity” if you wish to sound good on the nineteenth gap).
Bridgestone Tour B collection balls are usually notably good at sustaining spin when moist however pump your data into Ballnamic to search out the ball with a better “flyer prevention” rating that additionally matches your swing.
Ballnamic makes it easy
The great thing about all that is that you simply don’t want a physics diploma to implement it. Ballnamic does the heavy lifting for you.
And it’s not about forcing one philosophy on everybody. In case you’re somebody who really prefers your ball to launch extra (some gamers do, particularly on agency greens), you’ll be able to merely inform Ballnamic that flyer prevention isn’t essential to you whereas prioritizing the traits that match your private preferences.
It’s your sport. Play it your means.
A brand new method for the trendy sport
I do know the multi-ball method challenges every little thing we’ve been taught about consistency and familiarity. However as our understanding of golf ball efficiency evolves, perhaps our method ought to, too.
Most of us have been conditioned to make use of one ball for consistency however Jertson believes this typical method is perhaps leaving strokes on the desk.
This type of unconventional knowledge most likely sounds radical now however in the present day’s loopy thought is usually tomorrow’s commonplace apply.
What do you suppose? Are you prepared to provide the multi-ball technique a shot? If it could possibly work for an elite golfer like Jertson, perhaps it might be just right for you.
within the multi-ball methodology? Fascinated about going full Jertson? PING’s Ballnamic may help you find the golf balls for your game.
The publish Unconventional Wisdom: The Multiple Golf Ball Approach That Could Change Your Game appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
