ball – Ultra Golfing

The key to better ball striking? Fix this part of your swing

admin — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 21:04:19 +0000

Many golfers struggle with slices, blocks and inconsistent contact without realizing that the real issue is often the clubface, not the swing path.

When the clubface is in a poor position during the downswing, golfers are forced to make last-second compensations to square it before impact. Sometimes those compensations work, but they can also lead to inconsistency and poor ball striking.

One interesting observation from studying elite players is how quickly many of them begin closing the clubface during transition. In fact, some of the best players in the world make this move within the first few inches of the downswing. The challenge is that doing so requires tremendous skill, awareness and timing.

For most recreational golfers, I prefer a simpler approach, which you can watch in the video below.

How to fix your clubface

One of my favorite drills uses a short club, such as a wedge. Grip the club normally with your lead hand, then place your trail thumb on the toe of the clubhead. As you make slow-motion practice swings, feel your lead hand twisting the grip while your trail thumb provides light resistance.

The goal isn’t to aggressively roll the clubface closed. Instead, the drill helps create awareness of how the clubface is moving throughout the downswing.

As golfers develop this skill, they begin to understand that clubface control is largely a timing equation. For a right-handed golfer, if the face closes too early, the ball tends to start left. If it closes too late, the face remains open and the ball starts right.

By improving awareness and learning to square the face earlier, golfers often find they can rotate more freely, strike the ball more solidly and eliminate many of the compensations that lead to inconsistent shots.

Sometimes better golf starts with a better understanding of what the clubface is doing rather than making wholesale swing changes. So if you’re struggling with your ball striking, check what your clubface is doing during the downswing. If you fix it, you will start making better contact in a hurry.

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Cameron Young’s golf ball may expose rollback’s biggest flaw

admin — Thu, 28 May 2026 01:31:25 +0000

Cameron Young’s Pro V1x Double Dot is raising uncomfortable questions about whether golf’s rollback can work as intended.

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Penn. — There are moments when a piece of gear stops being just equipment and transforms into something like a glimpse into where the game might be headed.

At this year’s PGA Championship, one of those objects has suddenly appeared, and it’s a golf ball. Specifically, the Titleist Pro V1x Double Dot being used by Cameron Young. The 29-year-old started using the ball last season at the 2025 Wyndham Championship, where he won his first PGA Tour event. This season, he’s used the ball to win the Players Championship and the Cadillac Championship,

Before Tuesday, that was only interesting to equipment lovers, not the golf world at large. Then, as Adam Schupak reported, word spread at Aronimink Golf Club yesterday that the Pro V1x Double Dot would pass the USGA and R&A’s proposed golf ball rule changes that are designed to reduce distance. Suddenly, in the eyes of people who see distance as a problem in elite men’s golf, the Double Dot and what it represents became a warning flare.

When Golfweek spoke with representatives from Titleist, the brand would neither confirm nor deny that the Pro V1x Double Dot would pass the USGA and R&A’s new testing protocols, and the company would not comment on the ball this week.

As much as any company, and more than most, Titleist prides itself on its relationship with the PGA of America and the PGA professionals. The brand does not want to draw attention away from the PGA Championship or Cameron Young, who is one of the contenders for the Wannamaker trophy this week.

To be clear, Young is not testing the Pro V1x Double Dot. The ball is not available at retail, but it has been on the current USGA Conforming Golf Ball list since last August. Young has been playing it all season. It’s the ball he used on the 18th hole at TPC Sawgrass when he hit a 375-yard drive, the longest in tournament history, to set up his win at the Players. It’s the ball that is helping him average 312 yards per tee shot on the PGA Tour this season.

That’s the part that has people who believe distance is a serious problem sounding alarm bells.

Supporters of the rollback have argued that the proposed golf ball testing changes represented a surgical solution. The governing bodies repeatedly emphasized that recreational golfers would see little to no meaningful change in golf ball performance or distance, while the fastest and most elite players would lose the most yards off the tee. The idea was elegant, but Cameron Young has launched drives into another ZIP code with a ball that, according to the PGA Tour’s testing, would be legal after the rollback, which dramatically complicates that narrative.

Now, a very uncomfortable question enters the conversation: What if the rollback doesn’t reduce distance nearly as evenly as people have been led to believe? What if some elite golfers see a reduction in distance, which the USGA and R&A wanted, but some of the biggest hitters can optimize their conditions and not experience a reduction in distance at all?

That, in a nutshell, is a nightmare scenario for the USGA and R&A. Distance goes down for everyone except the biggest hitters.

This week’s Double Dot debate has some pundits already thinking about the need to go farther, beyond golf balls, to rein in distance. But if the goal is to reduce distance at the elite level without changing the game or taking distance away from club players, changing the rules that govern clubs, especially drivers, would make that hard.

Currently, the USGA and R&A rules limit driver length to 46 inches. If a change reduced the maximum length down to 43 inches (like a standard 3-wood), pros would lose club head speed and some distance. Sounds good, but most pros don’t use a 46-inch driver. In fact, the average length of a driver on the PGA Tour is just under 45 inches. Rickie Fowler’s is just over 43 inches. Forcing everyone to swing 460cc 3-wood would not meaningfully reduce distance at the elite level, but recreational golfers, who are less fit and already swing slower than pros, would absolutely experience a decrease in clubhead speed, ball speed and distance.

What about making drivers smaller by shrinking the maximum head size down from 460cc to 300 or 350cc? Effectively, that would turn today’s drivers into mini drivers. They would have a lower moment of inertia (MOI) and twist more on off-center hits, but pros find the center of the face a lot more than club players. Assuming driver length was not changed, this would not reduce driver distance at the elite level, but would make it harder for mid- and higher-handicap golfers who rely on high MOI and forgiveness.

How about thickening faces, reducing characteristic time (CT) and making the hitting area less springy? Again, everyone would lose speed, including the recreational golfers the USGA and R&A didn’t want to target. Plus, thicker driver faces are heavier, so the MOI would decrease and the clubs would be less forgiving.

In each of those scenarios, the players regulators are trying to slow down are the golfers most capable of adapting, while the golfers who struggle could be most impacted.

That’s the paradox sitting quietly underneath this entire debate. Pros benefit from modern technology, but it also makes the game more playable and enjoyable for everybody else.

The Cameron Youngs of the world will always be able to move a golf ball differently than the rest of us. The danger for the governing bodies is that the farther they move beyond the golf ball itself in search of meaningful distance reduction, the harder it becomes to isolate the effects to elite players alone.

At some point, science stops cooperating with policy goals. The biggest thing Cameron Young’s Pro V1x Double Dot may reveal is not that the rollback is doomed or can’t succeed. But, under a single set of rules, there may not be many realistic equipment changes, to either balls or clubs, that can achieve the USGA and R&A’s stated goals.

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I knew my ball embedded in bunker, but couldn’t find it. Now what?

admin — Tue, 12 May 2026 12:02:25 +0000

The Rules of Golf are tricky! Thankfully, we’ve got the guru. Our Rules Guy knows the book front to back. Got a question? He’s got all the answers.

On the 18th hole of a match-play final, my drive embedded in the loose sand on the upslope of a fairway bunker. Spectators had seen my ball enter this bunker, but I couldn’t locate it. It was ruled a “lost ball,” and I returned to the tee, playing 3. I lost the hole and with it, the final. It’s always been a bad memory. Was the lost-ball ruling correct? And you’re not allowed to dig for the ball, right? – Martin Simpson, Sydney, Australia

Martin, we want you to sleep better at night, and here’s hoping what follows helps.

While you didn’t finish the way you wanted to, the ruling was correct. Even though you knew that the ball was somewhere in the bunker, to take any kind of relief other than stroke and distance — the penalty you paid for the lost ball — you must find the ball, per Rule 18.2….

Here’s what may lead to some tossing and turning, however: Because knowing a ball’s general whereabouts in a specific spot isn’t enough to identify a ball (see Rule 7.2), you were in fact allowed to dig for the ball to try to find it, under Rule 7.1. Sleep tight.

For more embedded-ball guidance from our guru, read on …

Rules Guy: Can an embedded ball be denied free relief?

By:

Rules Guy

In stroke play, my fellow competitor skipped his tee shot over a pond, but the ball lodged in its muddy bank, which was not staked as out of bounds. He claimed embedded-ball relief and took relief in the general area. Although I disagreed, it was getting late and I wanted to finish. What was the correct ruling? – Larry Lohman, via email

The desire to finish a round, or simply end a disagreement without resorting to strong words or pistols at dawn, has precipitated countless bad rulings — including this one.

A body of water such as a pond is by definition a penalty area, even if it’s not staked. And when the edge is not defined by the committee in charge, it’s defined by its natural boundaries, in this case, where the ground breaks down toward the water.

So it sure sounds like that muddy bank is in the penalty area, and as such your fellow competitor wasn’t entitled to embedded ball relief, since there is no relief for other rules where the ball is in the penalty area per Rule 17.3. You can stake your reputation on that.

Need a handicap? Get started here.

Got a question about the Rules? Ask the Rules Guy! Send your queries, confusions and comments to rulesguy@golf.com. We promise he won’t throw the book at you.

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The Top 4 Drills to Improve Hitting Down on a Golf Ball

admin — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 11:52:20 +0000

One of my favorite ways to get better at golf is to practice with drills.

Drills narrow down one or two skills and give you a way to focus your practice. If you are a golfer that struggles with hitting down on a golf ball, there are some great drills to help make this considerably easier on you.

I’ve not only tried each of these drills but have also tweaked them a bit to work much better.

Why Hitting Down on The Ball is Important

Hitting down on the golf ball will allow for the full loft, power, and spin of the golf shots you are trying to hit. The golf ball must be struck first, with the divot coming after the ball. In order to do this, you must hit down on the golf ball.

Of course, there are swings with fairway woods and your driver where the ball will be hit more on the upswing. However, for excellent iron play, amateur golfers need to hit down and through their golf shots to get the best possible results.

4 Best Drills to Hit Down on a Golf Ball

1. Hit The Line

The hit the line drill is simple but helps players visualize exactly what impact looks like and how to make your golf swing more efficient. When working on hitting the line, the best way to do this drill is to purchase a can of white spray paint and make sure you have the permission of the driving range to complete the drill.

Step 1: Draw A Line On The Ground

Set up to hit a golf shot and make a small mark with a tee where the golf ball would be. Once you have this mark, take the paint and draw a straight line of paint on the ground extending out a foot or two to the target. Make sure the line is straight.

Step 2: Set Ball Up

Next, you will set a ball up at the start of the line. When you hit the ball, you are going to attempt to hit the ball first and then clip part of the line.

Step 3: Keep Working down the line

As you work through your entire practice session, set the ball up this way each time, and have your visualization be that you need to clip a piece of the line each time. When you get really good at this, you won’t need the line there anymore.

Many golfers will hit golf balls on the range like this because it’s good for the turf to grow back as well.

2. Left Hand Dominance Drill

One of the major reasons that golfers have trouble hitting down on the ball are those that try and get their right hand a bit too involved in the swing. The right hand is not the hand that develops the most consistency through the golf ball.

If you want to hit solid shots with tremendous power, the left hand dominant swing is the way to go. Here are the ways to do it.

Step 1: Grip The Club with Your Left Hand Only

First, you will want to grip the club with just the left hand. Some players will try to take an entire backswing and downswing using the left hand only, but this will take some strength. Most golfers do the best working on this golf swing drill and then make a transition into a full regular swing.

Step 2: Take a Partial Backswing

This drill is all about getting the feeling down. Take about a half to ¾ backswing with your iron in your left hand. Leave the right hand off the club.

Step 3: Create Resistance with Right Hand

On the downswing, you will want to create an angle of attack that feels like the left hand is pulling the club down through impact. Hold the center of the shaft with your right hand to create a bit of resistance, and the left hand should feel as though it’s pulling down through impact.

Step 4: Try a Full Swing

Try this a few times, then switch to taking a regular golf shot. Make sure that you are still focusing on rotation in your swing. Your weight should transfer as you never want the upper body to take full control of the swing.

Here’s a video breakdown of this drill:

3. Two Ball Takeaway Drill

The takeaway drill is my favorite drill to fix quite a bit of problems that you can come across in your golf swing. One of those issues is lifting the club too far off the ground on the takeaway. If you lift the club up and alter your spine angle, returning the golf ball to the proper impact position is very hard.

This two ball takeaway drill works well for beginners as well as experienced golfers that need a little pick-me-up and refresher in their golf game.

Step 1: Take Your Typical Stance

The first part of this drill is to take your traditional golf setup. Since this is a drill in which you hit a real golf ball with a full swing, make sure that both your left foot, right foot, hips, and spine angle are correct before you start.

Step 2: Keep The Club Low and Take It Back Slow

I like to do this drill with something like an 8 iron or 9 irons; they are typically forgiving and make the learning curve just a little easier. I put one golf ball in front of the clubface and one golf ball about six inches behind the back of the club head.

The goal is to take the golf club back very low and slow so that it knocks this other golf ball out of the way. When you keep the club low and slow, it makes it much easier to return it to the ground at impact.

So many amateur golfers pick the club fight up at the start of their swing, which creates some performance issues.

Step 3: Ensure a Proper Weight Shift

To make a proper weight shift, you must feel as though weight is moving back to your right foot at the start of your swing, and on the downswing, the weight needs to transfer back to the left foot. This efficient weight transfer creates a ton of power and impressive trajectory.

Step 4: Transfer to a Full Finish

One of the things that I always found most impressive about this drill is that I’m able to compress the golf ball considerably better. I actually get more distance with this drill, even though I’m tapping another golf ball on the back swing.

In addition, when I struggle with poor tempo or feel like my timing is off, I like to use this two ball drill.

4. Golf Alignment Stick Drill

Golf alignment sticks are some of the most effective practice aids that we have to work with. Alignment sticks can be used to work on backswing angles, alignment, angle of attack, coming over the top, and more.

Essentially if you know how to use them, they are one of the most effective training aids golfers have to work with. To have more luck hitting down on a golf ball, I like to use this chipping drill with a golf alignment stick.

P.S. If you don’t yet own a set of alignment sticks, here’s our favorite:

Callaway Alignment Stix (Set of 2)

This set includes two 48-inch alignment sticks that can be configured multiple ways to help straighten your swing and improve your golf game. This training aid will help teach key fundamentals of set-up and ball striking, including alignment, ball position, and swing plane.

Buy on Amazon

Step 1: Grip Club and Alignment Stick

The first part of this drill feels a little awkward, but you can get used to it rather quickly. Simply grip your golf club and an alignment stick at the same time. The golf club head will be on the ground as it always is, The alignment stick will run in the opposite direction, and it will come up high enough that you have to tuck it under your left armpit.

Step 2: Use a Pitching Wedge or Sand Wedge

I highly recommend using a pitching wedge or a sand wedge here. We are only going to take little swings with this drill to try and learn how hitting down on a golf ball around the green can help you create more spin.

Step 3: Small Swings, Don’t Let Shaft Hit You

The backswing of this shot will feel pretty standard to you. However, for golfers that don’t hit down the ball, the alignment stick’s shaft will likely hit you on the left rib. Do this at a slow pace so you can feel it. The idea is to rotate and turn through the ball so the alignment stick never hits your side.

You may have to make some adjustments to your mindset here as well. I like to start focusing on hitting the back of the ball on the downswing. The alignment stick gets in the way for players that try to lift or flip the golf ball by scooping it.

Step 4: Let Go of the Alignment Stick, Try Full Swing

Once you have done this a few times and you get the concept down, go ahead and put the alignment stick down. At this point, you can start taking full swings and getting that same feeling of hitting down and through the ball as opposed to trying to lift it up out of the grass.

You will notice that your chip shots fly higher, and they stop on the green considerably closer.

Brittany Olizarowicz

Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children. Current Handicap: 1

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I accidentally improved my lie while identifying my ball. What now?

admin — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:14:14 +0000

The Rules of Golf are tricky! Thankfully, we’ve got the guru. Our Rules Guy knows the book front to back. Got a question? He’s got all the answers.

I hit my ball into a no-mow area with various native grasses and weeds, swirling and growing in all directions. After a short search, I located a ball several inches down in the deep stuff and moved the grass over top of the ball to identify it. I was careful not to move the ball, but the grass I parted stayed where I moved it, leaving me a clean look at the ball — it probably improved my ability to swing the club through it all. My opponent said I shouldn’t move any more grass because I can’t improve my lie but left it at that. Should I have incurred a penalty? – Peter Reiter, via email

You sound like a reasonable guy, Peter, and that’s the crux of the matter. So long as the moving or bending of the grass was reasonable to try to find and identify the ball, there’s no penalty even if you did improve the conditions affecting the stroke — most impacted here, the lie and area of intended swing.

While Rule 8.1 protects those areas from moving, bending and breaking growing stuff out of the way, the Rule also provides an exception to allow you to search fairly by taking reasonable actions to find and ID your ball. See Rules 8.1b and 7.1a for details; offer not valid in Alaska or Hawaii (kidding!).

For more lie-related guidance from our guru, read on …

Rules Guy: What do you do when it’s impossible to recreate your original lie?

By:

Rules Guy

If the local rule in effect says you can place 6 inches on the fairway and my shot lands 1 inch in the fairway, can I place that ball within 5 inches on the first cut if I prefer? Technically, that wouldn’t be improving my lie as I’ve gone onto a supposedly worse surface. – Wayne Mudgway, via email

Presumably, you are referring to the Preferred Lies Local Rule—Model Local Rule E-3. If so, yes, you may place the ball anywhere in the general area within the specified distance.

If you were inclined to place the ball into the rough (“first cut”? Are you playing Augusta National?), that is indeed your prerogative. Rules Guy himself will admit to sometimes being spooked by tight turf, preferring the forgiveness of a launchpad lie.

Want to find the right gear for your bag in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

Got a question about the Rules? Ask the Rules Guy! Send your queries, confusions and comments to rulesguy@golf.com. We promise he won’t throw the book at you.

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My ball embedded in a bunker lip. Can I take free relief? Rules Guy

admin — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:24:24 +0000

The Rules of Golf are tricky! Thankfully, we’ve got the guru. Our Rules Guy knows the book front to back. Got a question? He’s got all the answers.

My second shot on a par-5 embedded into the front lip of a bunker. At least half of the ball was embedded into the grass lip, but part of it was definitely touching the sand. Is this ball considered embedded, or in the bunker and played as it lies? – Nick Monti, via email

Both. The ball is in its own pitch-mark made by the previous stroke and below the surface of the ground, so it is indeed embedded. But it’s also touching sand, so it lies in the bunker — here, we point you to Rule 12.1 — and relief for an embedded ball is not allowed when the ball is in a bunker (or even when in the general area but embedded in sand in an area not cut to fairway height or less).

Ergo, per Rule 16.3 and definition of embedded, you need to play it as it lies or take an unplayable.

For more bunker-related guidance from our guru, read on …

Rules Guy: Taking my stance made my ball move in a bunker. What now?

By:

Rules Guy

The deer around my home course often run through the bunkers. Charming… but can I smooth the tracks if my ball comes to rest in a hoofprint? – Shay Ballard, Prescott, Ariz.

While deer tracks may, er, tick us off, you can’t smooth them, because smoothing isn’t allowed if it improves the conditions affecting the stroke — aka CATS.

Even if Model Local Rule F-13, which treats damage by animal hoofs (or paws) as ground under repair, is in effect, you still wouldn’t be allowed to smooth but would get a free drop instead. We will discuss deer droppings another time.

Want to find the right gear for your bag in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

Got a question about the Rules? Ask the Rules Guy! Send your queries, confusions and comments to rulesguy@golf.com. We promise he won’t throw the book at you.

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Bridgestone and U.S. Kids Golf Unleash New Boom It Junior Golf Ball To Power The Next Generation of Golfers

admin — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:18:12 +0000

Explosive Launch and Distance-Driven Design Inspire Confidence and Fun

Link to High-Res Imagery

COVINGTON, Ga. – Bridgestone Golf, the #1 Ball-Fitter in Golf, today introduced the new BOOM IT JUNIOR golf ball, which is aimed at young players who need a lower compression, easier-launching option for their developing swings and bodies.

Designed in conjunction with U.S. Kids Golf, the new BOOM IT JUNIOR golf ball features an extremely low compression core to better match junior swing speeds and a dimple design that promotes a high launch, maximizing carry distance and sustained flight performance. The BOOM IT JUNIOR works for a variety of clubhead speeds but is specifically aimed at maximizing performance for developing players by optimizing their developing swing speed and skill level.

“We take Ball Fitting very seriously and with junior golf seeing more than 50 percent growth since 2019, it makes perfect sense for us to create a ball to meet their needs,” said Bridgestone president Dan Murphy. “Our R&D team focused on the needs of junior players that require more speed and easier launch, and they knocked it out of the park. I am confident junior players will have more fun playing the BOOM IT JUNIOR because it is specifically designed to fit their game.”

BOOM IT JUNIOR was created in partnership with U.S. Kids Golf, which was founded in 1996 to bring more fun into the game of golf for children. The program trains coaches, develops kid-friendly programs and organizes more than 2,000 tournaments each year for junior golfers. A portion of the proceeds of each BOOM IT JUNIOR purchase benefits the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation.

“We’re proud of this ball and the fact that it addresses the needs of junior players to build a foundation of confidence in their game,” said Adam Rehberg, senior marketing manager of golf balls at Bridgestone Golf. “As the #1 Ball Fitter in Golf, we strive to not only design and manufacture the best golf balls on the market but also fit as many players as possible to the right golf ball for them. With BOOM IT JUNIOR, we can now serve an even wider segment of players, staying true to our commitment to fit every golfer properly.”

BOOM IT JUNIOR also features Bridgestone’s MindSet graphic, which was developed by Jason Day and performance coach Jason Goldsmith to work with a process that separates analytical thoughts from athletic performance. MindSet is a simple three-step sequence; Identify, Visualize and Focus, which aligns with the visual cue on the golf ball to help players make decisions, connect to the target and commit fully to execution. Learning the MindSet sequence early in one’s career will establish great habits for a lifetime of consistent golf. In 2026, Bridgestone staffers Jason Day, Chris Gotterup, Kurt Kitayama and Boo Weekly will all compete using TOUR B models with MindSet.

“We were proud to work alongside the Bridgestone team to help create BOOM IT JUNIOR from the ground up, specifically engineered to provide young golfers with the distance, feel, and performance they need to enjoy every round,” said Dan Van Horn, president and founder of U.S. Kids Golf. “BOOM IT JUNIOR is a golf ball that meets the mission of U.S. Kids Golf by supporting the growth of and a true love of the game.”

Look for the BOOM IT JUNIOR golf ball ($22.99/dozen) to be available online and at retail on March 27. To learn more about the BOOM IT golf ball or place an order, please visit bridgestonegolf.com.

About Bridgestone Golf

Based in Covington, GA, Bridgestone Golf USA manufactures premium golf balls, clubs and accessories under the Bridgestone and Precept brands. The company started making golf balls in 1935 and today has more golf ball design patents than any other company. Beginning in 2006, Bridgestone revolutionized golf ball selection with its custom ball-fitting program, identifying a golfer’s ideal golf ball based on personal swing characteristics. Today, as the #1 Ball-Fitter in Golf, Bridgestone has conducted over four million fittings via a combination of live-fitting, online selection, OTTO Autonomous Ball Fitting, and its V-FIT Video Ball Fitting. The consumer data gathered from ball-fitting continues to inspire Bridgestone’s innovative new golf ball designs, yielding industry-leading performance products for the entire range of players, from recreational golfers to the best in the world. Bridgestone Golf is proudly represented on international professional tours by icons such as Tiger Woods, Fred Couples, Matt Kuchar, Kurt Kitayama, Harry Hall, Jason Day, and Chris Gotterup. Bridgestone Golf USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bridgestone Sports Co. Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo. More information: bridgestonegolf.com.

Media Contact:

Emily Scott, JDPR, emilys@jdpr.com

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This is why on-course ball testing is so important

admin — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 20:10:01 +0000

On this week’s pod, I went in-depth on my on-course ball testing with Daniel Bladen of Callaway Golf. I learned a lot, shared a lot, and somehow walked away with more questions than I had going in. But first, let’s recap my chat with Johnny Wunder.

First, let’s start with a little bit of backstory, as I mentioned on the podcast. I’ve been a huge fan of the Wilson Staff Model X (2024) golf ball. I played it from the end of 2024 through the beginning of 2026, when I started testing the 2026 version. With the new model, I was told they’d lowered spin slightly in the long end of the bag while maintaining the 8-iron-and-down performance I loved — especially around the greens. On paper, and in indoor simulator testing, it sounded perfect. It would drop my driver spin from about 2600 rpms to 2300 rpms and flatten out the 5-iron a bit — great in theory. Until it wasn’t.

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That’s where my testing session with Daniel really changed things for me — and my golf bag.

It started at the end of last year when we visited Callaway Golf to test their new gear, including the 2026 Chrome Tour family of golf balls. One stop was Omni La Costa, where we did some on-course testing with the Callaway team, including Daniel. I was surprised by what we saw. At that point, I didn’t know Wilson would be releasing a 2026 ball, so I was still comparing everything to my 2024 Model X. Ball speeds were similar, flight windows looked similar, and overall performance was strong. We didn’t spend enough time side-by-side to justify a switch, but it definitely caught my attention.

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Fast forward a few weeks. After a rough performance at Battle at the Beach, I was frustrated and looking for answers. A couple of shots really stuck with me — in a bad way. Fortunately, just days later, I had the chance to work on-course with Daniel at The Yards during the Callaway Golf Ambassador shoot. This time, I brought the Wilson Staff Model X (2026) for a true head-to-head comparison.

What we found really came down to three key moments.

1.) The wiggle

We started by hitting hybrids and 5-woods—two of the most reliable clubs in my bag. If I’m testing variables, I want to eliminate as much doubt as possible. Early on, everything looked fine. Carry distances were similar between the Chrome Tour X (2026) [CTX] and the Wilson Staff Model X (2026) [WSX], but the Wilson was clearly rolling out more, with a noticeable drop in spin on the Foresight GC Quad.

Nothing alarming yet.

Then we moved to the last hole at The Yards to hit driver. It’s wide open (hard to lose a ball) which was perfect given my lack of confidence off the tee. The first few swings didn’t show much difference. Ball speeds and launch were nearly identical, with the Wilson again spinning a bit less.

Then on about the third WSX shot, we saw it.

A small “wiggle” at peak height.

Daniel spotted it first, and once you saw it, you couldn’t unsee it. We hit about five more balls with each, and while the launch monitor numbers stayed close, the ball flights started to look very different. We hit driver on a few more holes and saw the same thing. That little wiggle made the back half of the flight — especially the descent — unpredictable.

Which led us to the next moment.

2.) 8-iron predictability

There’s a par-3 at The Yards with a bunker in the middle of the green. That day, it was playing 167 yards. A perfect stock 8-iron for me. We had about a 10 mph wind in our face, but both balls are designed to handle that well. Slightly downhill too, which helped.

We wanted to see two things: would the wiggle show up with an 8-iron, and where would the balls land versus finish?

Sure enough, there it was again. The Wilson climbed to peak height, gave a little shimmy, and dropped. All the shots landed around pin-high, confirming solid wind performance, but all three Wilson shots ended up in the bunker, about six yards long. Not ideal.

The Chrome Tour X shots landed about 3 yards shorter but finished roughly a yard past the flag. No wiggle, just a clean, stable flight that held its line. That’s when the conversation shifted toward spin degradation during flight, but first, one more shot sealed it.

3.) The 5-wood tells all

My 5-wood is one of my favorite clubs right now. It’s reliable off the tee and a go-to into long par 5s, basically my safety blanket. It was also one of the few clubs that didn’t let me down at Battle at the Beach.

Off the tee, nothing seemed off. But we finished testing by hitting it off the deck — 245 yards into a strong left-to-right wind.

I hit three shots with each ball, alternating. The first two looked nearly identical early in flight, both slightly pushed right, with the wind neutralizing my usual draw. But at peak height, the Wilson wiggled and then fell hard to the right. The Callaway reached its peak, interacted with the wind, and then descended straight.

I adjusted my aim left and hit both again. Same story. Similar launch, similar speed, but the Wilson drifted right and came in hotter. The Callaway held its structure and fell straight again.

When we got to the green, the difference was obvious. The Wilson had actually carried past the flag, but ended up on the back of the green, about 40 feet away. Roughly a 10–12 yard rollout. The Callaway carried just over the bunker and stopped about two yards past the pin, with maybe six yards of rollout.

That’s when Daniel really broke it down.

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Spin degradation through the course of the golf ball’s flight

The key concept Daniel explained was that a golf ball loses spin and speed throughout its flight, especially in the first half as it climbs to peak height. There’s roughly an eight-yard window at the top of the flight that determines how the ball finishes.

For me, the lower top-end spin of the new Wilson was the issue. I wasn’t launching it with enough spin, so by the time it reached peak height, it was essentially out of backspin. That’s what caused the visible “wiggle.” It’s also why the ball wasn’t stopping on greens.

Rolling out a 5-wood from 245 yards is one thing, but an 8-iron from 167 into the wind? That’s a problem.

It also explained two frustrating shots from Battle at the Beach.

Twice, I had 115 yards into the wind, a comfortable, stress-free 56-degree pitch. A shot I’ve hit a thousand times. Both times, downwind, both shots came up short. I was furious, and so was my partner.

Turns out, the ball wasn’t spinning enough. The wind was getting over the top of it and pushing it down, instead of the ball having enough spin for the wind to work underneath it. The same reason those 8-irons ended up in the bunker.

So, is the Wilson ball bad? No. Not at all. It’s just not right for me.

Since this test, I’ve gone back and re-tested everything — Wilson, Callaway, and others. I even revisited the Wilson Staff Model X (2024). That ball didn’t show the same issues. In fact, it performed almost identically to the Chrome Tour X (2026), which explains why I wasn’t initially sold on switching at La Costa.

Unfortunately, the updated spin and aerodynamics of the 2026 Model X took away what worked for me. I already sit on the low-spin edge, so I need as much spin and height as I can get. That’s where I’m comfortable. The moment I lose spin, things unravel quickly. I’m basically Tiger Woods in that sense.

I’d still absolutely recommend testing the Wilson Staff Model and Model X. For mid-spin players looking to add a bit of short-game spin while maintaining speed and flight off the top end, it’s an excellent, durable golf ball.

For me? The search is on. Right now, the Chrome Tour X (2026) is leading in the clubhouse, but it’s got a real fight on its hands.

To hear the entire story and listen to Johnny and I talk about AI fittings, listen to the full podcast on Spotify, or watch below.

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How to put backspin on a golf ball

admin — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 13:01:14 +0000

As golfers, we often want to put backspin on our shorter shots to help us control our distance and get us up and down—particularly when we’ve got the wedge in our hands.

When hitting shots, a small amount of backspin is required to keep the ball in the air. However, too much backspin will reduce our yardage, increase the ball’s height, and reduce forward roll. And, of course, we don’t want any spin (be it backspin or sidespin) when we’re hitting a driver.

Finding the right balance can be tricky, but knowing how to put backspin on a golf ball is an essential skill that you’ll use time and time again out on the course—so it’s well worth your precious practice time.

If you’re on a launch monitor, an optimal spin rate would be between 2000-3000 RPM for most players. So, how do we go about it? Read on for our tips to get you started.

6 tips for putting backspin on a golf ball

1. Use the right equipment

We have to clean our grooves before we do anything else.

Think about all the spin we got when we first bought our wedges compared to now. The grooves were fresh and free of dirt, and the spin was probably unrecognisable compared to now.

We want friction between the clubface and ball, but dirt reduces the friction and, hence, the resulting spin. A newer wedge will spin more than an old one, which is why the pros will often change theirs, but most of us can help ourselves by better looking after what we’ve got.

So, always have a wet towel and a wire brush to hand to get into the grooves after every shot.

2. Use the right ball

There’s a reason premium golf balls are so good for our game. They offer great distance, spin, and feel around the greens.

Titleist and other leading golf brands will fit a ball, starting with wedges and working backwards. A softer ball will grip the clubface better, while a harder ball won’t maximise our spin. Most golfers are more interested in getting as much distance off the tee as possible and, therefore, play with a harder ball, but if we play a softer ball instead, we can expect to get more spin around the greens.

Modern-day premium golf balls are designed with multi-layer construction and a soft urethane cover to enhance the grip between the clubface and the ball. They also offer a more moderate level of spin for mid-iron shots and low spin for the driver. The most popular balls on Tour are the Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x. The Pro V1 is known to have slightly lower spin off the tee than the Pro V1x, but it has excellent greenside control. Meanwhile, the Pro V1x provides more spin on mid to long-iron shots for players who want a higher trajectory and stopping power.

3. Employ the right technique

Every shot has spin; it’s just the amount of spin that is different. To put backspin on a golf ball, we need the right amount of loft, which means we don’t want the ball back in the stance, as this will de-loft the shot—and we don’t want to add too much loft, as we’ll lose friction on the ball.

The shaft angle needs to be straight to our body, with the butt of the club pointing at our belly button, or with a very slight amount of forward lean. We also need to have the ball in the middle of a narrow stance. We don’t want to take a large divot either—instead, we’re looking for a relatively shallow divot. Apply slightly more weight on your lead side and rotate your body as you would on a full shot.

There’s no real secret to this shot, but the strike is a key factor in generating backspin, so think about rotating around your lead side.

Speed is also crucial here. If you have a 30-yard pitch, you’re not going to be able to create much backspin, if any at all. However, if you have a 70-yard pitch, there’ll be more speed and, therefore, more spin.

4. The right lie

Lie is another important factor in putting backspin on a golf ball. The tighter the lie, the better it is to create spin. On Tour-level rapid greens, being able to find the fairways is massive, as that’s where the pros are pretty much guaranteed to get the perfect amount of spin on the ball.

That said, however, in the modern game, great golfers can still get plenty of spin from the semi-rough thanks to their strike, equipment, and ball—but, for our purposes, backspin is only likely to come from the ‘short stuff’.

So, factor this in, and when you’re in the rough, expect a less clean strike and more run, as there’ll be more grass between the club and the ball.

5. Apply the right grip pressure

Short-game specialist Dan Grieve talks about this a lot and is a huge advocate of a lighter grip around the greens.

“If you get tight with the grip, the ball will jump off, and I really think 99% of amateur golfers grip it way too tight. If I’ve taught tens of thousands of golfers, I don’t think I’ve ever told anybody to grip it tighter, ever. So I think grip pressure is huge.”

6. Use the conditions to your advantage

Of course, an element of luck is involved here, but spin will generally increase when we’re playing the ball into the wind. So, when we have a 90-yard shot into a 20mph wind, for example, we should expect the ball to stop pretty quickly or even spin back with the right execution.

On the other hand, when we’re playing a shot downwind, spin will reduce, so we need to factor in more run.

Similarly, receptive greens will encourage our ball to spin more, so keep this in mind as well. If the green surface is similar to that of a links course, we shouldn’t expect to see our ball checking up, either.

All in all, learning how to put the right amount of backspin on a golf ball can take time and a lot of practice, but by thinking more about the factors outlined in this article, you’ll be well on your way to getting started. So, what are you waiting for?

Specialist golf insurance through Golf Care

Whether you’re just starting to learn how to put backspin on a golf ball or you’re already a master of the art, you might want to consider financially protecting yourself and your equipment with specialist golf insurance if you play the game regularly.

Through Golf Care, policies can include Equipment Cover up to £7,500, Public Liability of up to £10m, and Personal Accident Cover up to £50,000. Get a quote online today.

Please note the information provided on this page should not be taken as advice and has been written as a matter of opinion. For more on insurance cover and policy wording, see our homepage.

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Take Flight with XXIO’s HYPER RD Golf Ball

admin — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 03:23:52 +0000

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA — XXIO®, a global leader in premium lightweight golf equipment, introduces the all-new HYPER RD Golf Ball. Designed to pair seamlessly with XXIO clubs and the golfers who trust them, HYPER RD delivers the longest, most stable flight in XXIO golf ball history without sacrificing the soft feel and control players rely on around the greens.

A Ball That Wants to Fly

From the very first strike, HYPER RD Golf Balls are built to do something simple: launch high and launch far. The balls naturally high launch and low spin create an easy, towering flight that carries farther and hold its line, even when conditions turn challenging. This effortless performance is made possible by XXIO’s Rebound Frame structure, which helps the ball flex efficiently at impact, maintaining speed while encouraging a higher launch.

“Golfers who play the HYPER RD don’t need to force speed or adjust their swing in any way,” said XXIO General Manager, Ryan Polanco. “The ball will respond naturally and is built to maintain its momentum through the air, so players will see their shots fly straight and remain stable. It’s a confidence booster on the course.”

At the heart of HYPER RD Golf Balls is a refined three-piece construction designed to balance power and feel. A hyper resilient mid-layer works quietly beneath the surface to reduce excess spin and keep the ball moving forward, while the core promotes consistent energy transfer across swing speeds, producing effortless distance and building confidence with every swing.

Helping every shot stretch farther is XXIO’s newly developed 362 Speed Dimple Pattern. This design features seven different sizes to help the ball travel through the air with less resistance and maintain its high ball speed and trajectory until landing.

Soft Where It Matters Most

Around the greens, the performance changes in the best way. HYPER RD balls feature a newly developed Hyper Soft Cover designed to grip the clubface on short irons, pitches, and chips. The result is dependable spin performance, control, and urethane-like feel while maintaining the resilience and durability of ionomer.

While on the greens, golfers benefit from an evolved alignment mark to help with focus, lock onto their target, and start putts on line with confidence.

To learn more about XXIO’s newest ball offering, visit us.dunlopsports.com/xxio.

Pricing & Availability

XXIO HYPER Golf Balls launch January 26^th and are available in a variety of color options including Premium White, Premium Pink, Lime Yellow, and a 4-color set.

Pricing: XXIO HYPER RD (All Colors) — $49.99

Launch Date: January 26, 2026

About Dunlop Sports Americas

Based in Huntington Beach, CA and Greenville, SC, Dunlop Sports Americas (DSA) is the North American subsidiary of Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. We manufacture and sell premium golf and racket sports equipment to players of all skill levels under a portfolio of brands: Dunlop, Srixon, Cleveland Golf, and XXIO. DSA is also a licensed exclusive distributor of ASICS golf footwear. Our unique global sales network and infrastructure in R&D, manufacturing, and material science elevates our brands onto a global stage where we encourage players from around the world to experience our incredible products. For more information, please contact Noelle Zavaleta at noellezavaleta@srixon.com.

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