Getting fit for the right golf ball can be an arduous process if you try to do it on your own, and let’s get real — it’ll leave a huge hole in your wallet if you plan on trying more than 2-3 models at a time. Sure, you can do a little trial out on the golf course, but unless you really can dive into the numbers, you’ll never truly know which ball is best suited for your game.
The folks at Bridgestone Golf know this, and not only have they become the category leader in bringing golf ball fitting to the masses for the last fifteen years, they’ve one-upped themselves again by introducing what is sure to be not only the easiest, but also the most entertaining way to dial in the right ball.
It’s called OTTO, short for Bridgestone’s Autonomous Ball Fitting Cart, and it’s about to make golf ball fitting a lot more fun.
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“Currently there are over 25 million golfers who participate in non-traditional golf, meaning at off course entertainment venues or on simulators,” said Dan Murphy, President and CEO of Bridgestone Golf. “As the leader in golf ball fitting, we feel a responsibility to make sure players continue to be excited and engaged while also having the ability to choose gear that best suits their game. With OTTO’S innovative design we’ve developed a great way to do it.”
Speaking of form factor, the free-to-use OTTO is darn near goof-proof. Simply select your current ball from the touchscreen menu and swing away. OTTO provides carry and total distance, ball velocity, spin rate, and launch angle, and after three driver hits, will audibly deliver a recommendation on which Bridgestone ball is right for you. If you want, it can send you an email with your data as well. Let’s see you do that, Alexa…
Does OTTO spell the end for in-person golf ball fittings from Bridgestone? Not at all.
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“Bridgestone Golf took the lead in ball fitting many years ago and has consistently focused on developing processes to help all levels of golfer find the right ball for their game,” said Adam Rehberg, Ball Fitting Manager, Bridgestone Golf. “We offer in-person fittings, online fittings, video fittings, and now OTTO. With so many options we feel confident we can fit anyone and do so in a way that is comfortable, convenient, and effective.”
In other words, it’s up to you to decide which Bridgestone ball-fitting method works best for you. In-person fittings will always be the most immersive and online fittings the least comprehensive — OTTO seems like it fits in that goldilocks zone of just enough information to appease a huge population of golfers who want a quick and easy way to find the right ball.
OTTO is being unveiled today the PGA Show Demo and Fitting Day and will continue to be available at Bridgestone’s strategic events and golf course partners for the remainder of 2022 and beyond.
Want to overhaul your bag for 2022? Find a fitting location near you at GOLF’s affiliate company True Spec Golf.