Ball Fitting

[BigTazz53]

Hola fellow Hackers,
Recently had the pleasure to be fitted for the new bridgestone golf ball (e7).
It was pretty neat and when I win the lottery, a golf simulator is number one on my list to buy =)
Anyway, the ball tech, let me hit 4-5 shots with my regular ball then he let me hit 4-5 with the suggested
bridgestone ball. The simulator showed my ball going as it normally does on a regular drive (270 yds with slice of 20-30 yds to the right)
When I hit their ball it amazingly went 20 yds further and went straight as an arror.
Now folks, I can hit a 10 cent ball or a 5 dollar ball and both go the same direction.
So I call bull on this lol.

Anyone ever been fitted and bought the recommended balls and it help your shot?

[double_j]

  BigTazz53 said:

Hola fellow Hackers,

You should have discretely switched balls to see what would have happened (i.e., hit the Bridgestone first and your old ball second).

[WUTiger]

I got a ball fitting the day I got fitted for my current driver. Fitter gave me a printout sheet with premium balls on one side and midrange balls on other. Balls each had three comparative ratings: Accuracy, distance, and overall. (Strange: the premium balls did not list any Titleist products).

I was hitting the D2 Feel at the time, and it ranked dead last in distance and #9 overall. I switched to a distance ball from the sheet that was on sale, but had trouble stopping it. Played 54 holes with the ball, and only had one up-and-down the entire time.

Switched to the RDX Tour (No. 3 overall), and had three up-and-downs my first nine playing them; short game came back strong. Also got a bit more distance than with D2 Feel. Slazenger has quit making their Tour model, so I'll be switching to the TopFlite Gamers later this summer (I have 8 Tour sleeves left).

Overall: Use fitting sheets as a guide. You still have to compare the top three or four on the list to find the best one. I look for a ball that's stable around the green, and hopefully has a little distance too.

Also, you might get more accurate fitting if you compare models among one brand of ball: Titleist, Nike, Bridgestone, or Srixon.

[goblue107501]

I have always been a bit skeptical about the Bridgestone ball fitting. It seems like everytime I hear or read about it, they always have the perfect solution. There are also the claim that if your regular ball out performs one of theirs, they will recommend you stay with it. My hunch is that for every person they fit, a certain % will be told to stick regardless just so they can make that claim. Like anything done on a computer, the numbers can be 'adjusted' how they need them without too much problem.

I would love to do it just to see for myself, but Bridgestone doens't seem to want to come to my city and do a public fitting. I check the schedule regularly, but they have only been here twice at private courses. I know what I can do with my ball and would probably be able to call b/s if they threw up some crazy numbers.

[Blades4me]

I've done the fitting a couple of times. Its nice to get numbers like launch angle, ball rpm and swing speed for free. However thats about as far as I have taken it b/c its all about distance and not so much about over all playability IMO. For me, I'll gladly give up 5-10 yds for better action around the green.

Interestly enough, the Titleist ball fitting does it just the opposite. They go from the green back.

[etlreams]

I did the Bridgestone fitting as well. I agree.....if anything...it's worth it just to get your numbers (swing speed, RPM, launch angle, etc.) What I didn't care for is that it was all about distance and driver. I told them my two goals were short game feel and control and straight on the long game. They fitted me the the E5. Said it has a soft feel (it doesn't) and good spin due to urethen cover (it does) - but the primary reason he fit it was because it gave me the longest distance and best ball spin rate. I guess that's great. But it was the most erratic in terms of accuracy and felt horrible because it felt like hitting a rock.

I just wish they would fit the ball to what you say you are looking for, rather than what gives you the most distance. Also, I don't see how you can appropriately fit me for a ball using only my driver.

[injury]

Wanted to see my numbers but they couldn't do Leftys.

One of my single digit friends got a chuckle out of his fitting. He's always had trouble with a lot of side spin so prefers balls like the old Callaway HX Blue when he can find them to help control it. So he swings with his ball several times they measured it in the 3200 range, then the guy says well this is our ball that is low spin and will be a better match. He does his series of swings with them and everyone of them is over 4000.

[The Recreational Golfer]

I had a fitting with my driver, and the Bridgestone e6 stood out by more than ten yards over the next longest ball. My pro also let my try out a sleeve of several different Tour balls around the green and that's how I made my choice. Settled on the Bridgestone B 330-RX.

[BigTazz53]

That's what I thought was most useful as well, the numbers to me were far more interesting than the rest.I did try their balls on a few holes and the water gods enjoyed them as much as I did.So I'm back to my Pinnacles. Was worth the experience though.

[Gordon McTavish]

I'd call bull on any electronic device that suddenly displayed straight drives at a distance greater than the PGA Tour average. Much the same as I'd call bull on any equipment that claims to "fix your slice / hook."

[BigTazz53]

Played a round with the B-330RX and I'm almost sold on Bridgestone. It isn't really keeping me straighter, but it feels real good off my irons.
Now to find them at a good price

[RandomRaiderTTU]

They recently had the Bridgestone Ball Fitting at my country club. I have to say that I was extremely impressed by what they had to say and their advice to me.

As per the OP, I was asked which ball I play. I typically play the Taylormade TP Red.

He pulls out a new TP Red and I begin to hit a few shots. After I hit mine, he had me try the B330 and then the B330S. When we got back to the monitor, the guy said this to me and I quote...

"I try to tell people that this stuff isn't rigged all the time. We don't win every damn battle out there. Truth is, we can't beat your TP Red. We can achieve the same spin numbers and launch angle with the B330S, but you'll be 12 yards shorter."

Side spin and all that were relatively the same. I never got above about 300 RPMs for sidespin...and mostly was hitting a baby fade, but I was significantly impressed by their honesty.

He proceeds to tell me that I might enjoy the softer B330S around the greens but reiterates that stat for stat, the TP is as good or better than anything they can offer for my swing.

[jallen100]

I am doing a Titleist fitting this Sat. I wil let you guys know how it goes.

[MSchumacher]

  RandomRaiderTTU said:

They recently had the Bridgestone Ball Fitting at my country club. I have to say that I was extremely impressed by what they had to say and their advice to me.

Its stories like these that make me want to support the honest companies out there. Too many guys selling BS