Our robot testing shows which balls generate the highest spin rate with driver and wedge.
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Understanding spin rates is essential if you want to get the most out of your current gear setup. Too little spin throughout the bag can rob you of carry distance, while too much spin could have the opposite effect and send the ball into the stratosphere with a suboptimal launch and spin rate.
The goal is to search for a “Goldilocks” ball that has the ideal spin rate and launch angle for your game, so for the latest round of robot testing, we focused on models generating the highest spin rate with driver and wedge (50 yards) at 95 mph. If you’re in need of more spin to optimize carry, consider picking up a few of these balls to test on your own.
Methodology: Each ball model — 41 in all — was hit 10 times by the robot during driver and wedge testing, and the average of those hits was recorded.
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Driver Results (M < 95 mph)
Spin is necessary to achieve an optimal carry and peak height with the driver, so don’t assume low spin is the only way to gain more distance. It’s important to point out that half of the balls we tested had a driver spin rate that was within 280 RPMs or less of the five listed below.
Similar to ball speed — you’ll notice a trend here with drivers — there was much bunching going on in the spin department. The tight spin rate delta reinforce that you can use the ball to fine-tune spin characteristics with the driver.
After 99 prototypes and the most exhaustive testing we’ve put a Mizuno ball through, we created the perfect duo for our next generation of tour players. Both the RB Tour and RB Tour X feel sensationally soft at impact, as you would expect from Mizuno. Both lower spinning and efficient from the driver. With an AXIALFLOW dimple that creates a high launch from the driver (compared to other tour-type balls) and a flatter flight from the short irons (compared to other tour-type balls).
AXIALFLOW DIMPLE
On full shots, the new dimple generates a higher driver flight and flatter wedge flight, when compared to other tour-level balls.
JUST 272 DIMPLES FOR A MORE DEFINED LOOK
A larger, more defined dimple creates a more precise outline and visual effect preferred by the majority of our testers.
SENSATIONALLY SOFT FEEL IS NOT EVERYTHING
A soft feel is always expected from Mizuno – but the new RB Tour cover was tested for over three years to ensure its durability is equally satisfying.
OUR MOST EXHAUSTIVELY TESTED BALLS EVER
Mizuno set 2 R&D teams the task of working in parallel for over three years to identify the ideal balance of construction, compression, dimple configuration and cover.
Spin is necessary to hold the green. But before you assume the five listed here are the runaway winners, consider this: While the spin rate delta between the highest and lowest spinning balls was a staggering 3,300 RPMs, only 800 RPMs separated 31 balls on the list. That’s our way of saying not to sweat the results too much if you aren’t playing one of the five balls below.
In the end, urethane balls, or those with a cover modifier that helps induce spin, bring the zip, while surlyn tends to do what it does best — improve distance with a slight downtick in greenside spin.
1. TaylorMade TP5
2. Mizuno RB Tour X
Mizuno RB Tour X Tour Golf Balls
After 99 prototypes and the most exhaustive testing we’ve put a Mizuno ball through, we created the perfect duo for our next generation of tour players. Both the RB Tour and RB Tour X feel sensationally soft at impact, as you would expect from Mizuno. Both lower spinning and efficient from the driver. With an AXIALFLOW dimple that creates a high launch from the driver (compared to other tour-type balls) and a flatter flight from the short irons (compared to other tour-type balls).
AXIALFLOW DIMPLE
On full shots, the new dimple generates a higher driver flight and flatter wedge flight, when compared to other tour-level balls.
JUST 272 DIMPLES FOR A MORE DEFINED LOOK
A larger, more defined dimple creates a more precise outline and visual effect preferred by the majority of our testers.
SENSATIONALLY SOFT FEEL IS NOT EVERYTHING
A soft feel is always expected from Mizuno – but the new RB Tour cover was tested for over three years to ensure its durability is equally satisfying.
OUR MOST EXHAUSTIVELY TESTED BALLS EVER
Mizuno set 2 R&D teams the task of working in parallel for over three years to identify the ideal balance of construction, compression, dimple configuration and cover.
