Chipping: Why Different Ball Height With Different Balls?

[Ukalumni]

I went to chip / pitch some this afternoon, and I bought a sleeve of TP5’s to see if they were noticeably different than the Calloway ERC Soft that I have been playing. I accidentally included a Snell ball as well. 

I was chipping with a 54 degree wedge, and what I noticed almost immediately was that the ERC Softs came off the club much higher than either the TP5s or the Snell. Like, twice as high. 
 

I understand that different balls are engineered for different heights, but I wouldn’t have expected to see a difference when I was pitching the ball 10 feet. 
 

My question is, why would there be such a variance in height when the club is moving slowly enough to only pitch the ball 10 feet?

[iacas]

Cover firmness.

[Ukalumni]

I wouldn’t have expected it to be that noticeable. Thanks 

[Carl3]

6 hours ago, iacas said:

Cover firmness.

Do you mind elaborating? I find this kind of topic interesting as we are in the BD era. Plus I am a mechanical engineer who started out in physics.

[iacas]

40 minutes ago, Carl3 said:

Do you mind elaborating? I find this kind of topic interesting as we are in the BD era. Plus I am a mechanical engineer who started out in physics.

Softer covers launch lower. Range balls launch higher.

[Carl3]

45 minutes ago, iacas said:

Softer covers launch lower. Range balls launch higher.

Wondering why that was. With a standard shot the softer cover would spin more and climb quicker, right? But is launching lower too?

Is it because the range ball will roll up the club face or something like that? It doesn't grip as much and might slide/squirt up the face a bit?

A good ball would launch lower as it sticks to the face more at impact and come off spinning more, which could cause it perhaps climb higher?

I like this topic as I love chipping from a tight lie from like a false front. I go real aggressive at the pin and get that bite. Although the super low launch is a little frightening for someone who played years with crappy balls before switching a few years ago.

 

Edited October 15, 2020 by Carl3

[iacas]

41 minutes ago, Carl3 said:

Wondering why that was. With a standard shot the softer cover would spin more and climb quicker, right? But is launching lower too?

Is it because the range ball will roll up the club face or something like that? It doesn't grip as much and might slide/squirt up the face a bit?

A good ball would launch lower as it sticks to the face more at impact and come off spinning more, which could cause it perhaps climb higher?

Yes, it's about how the cover can interact with the grooves.

[WillieT]

Well this explains what I see when chipping around the yard - anything from 5yds to 25yds.  It may be me, but I can hear and even feel the difference between balls as well.  The higher end balls (old ProV1's, SuperSoft, TP5's, etc) have a totally different feel off the club head versus lower end balls (TopFlite, Titleist DT's, Pinnacles, Noodle, etc) for sure.