Equipment
Golf ball guru founds Snell Golf, will sell tour balls for $31.99
If premium golf balls were more affordable, golfers would be more likely to buy them.
That’s the thought behind new golf ball company Snell Golf, which was founded by veteran golf ball designer Dean Snell.
Snell has spent the last 25 years designing golf balls for Titleist and TaylorMade, where he was involved in the development of products such as the Titleist’s Pro V1 and TaylorMade’s Tour Preferred.
His new company will sell golf balls direct to consumers in the continental U.S. through its website at a price point that’s significantly less than what golfers are used to paying.
[quote_box_center]“The performance and materials are there,” Snell said. “But I can sell my golf balls more affordably because I don’t have to pay millions of dollars for advertising and marketing.”[/quote_box_center]
The company’s premium offering, “My Tour Ball,” will sell for $31.99 per dozen, a price that includes free shipping. It’s a three-piece model with a cast urethane cover that Snell says delivers the performance of golf balls that sell for $40 or more per dozen.
[quote_box_center]”I’ve designed golf balls for best players in the world and I want to bring that performance and technology to golfers at an affordable price,” Snell said. “A lot of good players don’t buy the good stuff … but they could actually use that performance because it actually helps them.”[/quote_box_center]
“My Tour Ball” has a low-compression core (low 80’s) and a firmer, ionomer middle layer that work together with the ball’s cast urethane cover to give golfers long distance off the tee, consistency with their irons and maximum spin around the greens.
Snell Golf will also sell a two-piece golf called “Get Sum” for $21.99 with free shipping.
[quote_box_center]“[Get Sum] is for the 8-to-10 handicapper or higher, or someone who doesn’t want to pay $10 more per dozen,” Snell said.[/quote_box_center]
The ball uses a large, soft core and suryln cover to deliver a softer feel. According to Snell, Get Sum has a slightly higher launch angle and a lower-spinning trajectory through the bag that limits hooks and slices.
[quote_box_center]“The spin rates [of the two balls] are almost the same with the driver, so they’ll both go the maximum distance off the tee,” Snell said. “The difference is shorter shots. With My Tour Ball, golfers won’t give up any performance.”[/quote_box_center]
The golf balls will be made overseas with distribution in New Bedford, Mass. They will begin shipping March 15.
Visit SnellGolf.com for more information.
- LIKE434
- LEGIT110
- WOW88
- LOL32
- IDHT13
- FLOP63
- OB16
- SHANK52
- Richy Werenski what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Houston Open.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana PD 60 TX
3-wood: Titleist TSR2 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 8 X
Hybrid: Titleist TSR3 (19 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White Hybrid 90 TX
Irons: Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105 S
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (46-10F, 50-12F), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks Proto (54-M, 58-L @60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 Onyx (46-50), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 Onyx (54-60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron prototype
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash
Grips: Golf Pride ZGrip Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Richy Werenski’s clubs in the forums.
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Equipment
Adam Scott testing green “Masters Use Only” putter + 6 interesting equipment photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Welcome to the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson event at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, which, for your geographical reference, is about 25 minutes from Dallas.
In early-week equipment news, we saw some interesting putter testing from Adam Scott, a Maxfli golf ball signing on the PGA Tour, a 16-year-old’s WITB, a PGA Tour player using another PGA Tour player’s backup putter, and Jordan Spieth weighed in on why he recently switched out just his 7-iron (and then made a hole-in-one with it).
With so much to report and so little time to waste on the intro, let’s get right into this week’s equipment rundown from the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
See all of our photo galleries from the week here
Adam Scott’s new L.A.B. putters
Before we get into a couple of the new prototypes Scott has been testing, above is a photo of the L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max prototype putter that he’s been using, and will likely continue to use this week in Texas.
That being said, following the Masters, Scott was looking to try a couple putters with a slightly lighter weight to help with his feel on fast greens.
One of the new prototypes we spotted on Tuesday was a L.A.B. Golf DF3 “Proto 2.1”, custom-built with Scott’s preferred blue colorway, and an Australia-inspired Kangaroo laser engraving…
We also spotted him with a green-colored “For Masters Use Only” Mezz.1 Max prototype…
While it’s unlikely Scott will make a switch this week, it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward, especially on courses with faster greens.
We also got a peek into Scott’s full WITB this week, which consists of a super-mixed set of Srixon irons, including a ZX Utility 3-iron, a ZX-5 MkII 4-iron, ZX-7 MkII mid-irons (5-7) and Z Forged II short irons (8-9).
See Scott’s full WITB from the CJ Cup here
An update on Daniel Berger’s Odyssey Jailbird
Last week in New Orleans, we highlighted Daniel Berger’s Ai-One Jailbird Mini putter because of its unique sightlines.
Well, we have an update.
According to Callaway Tour Manager Joe Toulon, who spoke with GolfWRX.com this week, Berger’s Jailbird Mini is actually from fellow Tour player Tom Kim’s stash. Kim is a prolific putter tester, and the exact putter Berger is currently using was actually originally made for and tested by Kim. The putter didn’t make it into Kim’s starting lineup, however, so he gave the putter back to Odyssey, and it eventually made it’s way onto Berger’s gamer roster.
Jordan Spieth’s new 7-iron
As the story goes, Jordan Spieth changed out his Titleist T100 7-iron on Wednesday before the 2024 Valero Texas Open, and then on Thursday, he used the 7-iron to make a hole-in-one from 199 yards on the 16th hole.
Good timing on that switch, Jordan.
On Tuesday at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson, GoflWRX.com caught up with Spieth to get the full story on why he switched just the 7-iron.
Our full story is over on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, but here’s a snippet of what Spieth had to say:
“I hit my 7-iron a lot, especially on my own. The spin rates, relative to my 6-iron and my 8-iron, were lower, so it was going too far. I was trying to figure out why, if it was something in the makeup of the iron. I got the lies and the lofts checked, and everything was fine. So finally I was like, ‘Can I just get a new one and see if it fixes it?’
“Maybe there was one other time throughout my career where I changed just one iron, so it’s very unusual. I think it’s just because the grooves were worn down from hitting it too much.”
Ben Griffin signs with Maxfli to play the golf ball
At the beginning of the year, LPGA Tour star Lexi Thompson signed a deal with Maxfli to play the company’s golf ball, and now, Griffin has officially joined team Maxfli, as well, thus expanding the company’s Tour presence.
GolfWRX.com caught up with Griffin on Wednesday in Texas for a video interview about his new golf ball of choice, and how he marks it…
View this post on Instagram
A 16-year-old is playing on the PGA Tour this week, using a 2-iron!
Amateur golfer Kris Kim, at just 16 years of age, is making his PGA Tour debut this week after receiving a sponsors exemption into the event. In 2023, Kim won both the R&A Boys’ Amateur Championship and the European Boys’ International Championship.
On Tuesday in Texas, we got a look into Kim’s bag, which revealed that he’s currently playing a TaylorMade P-770 2-iron, and a bag full of TaylorMade clubs.
Check out Kim’s full WITB here
A smart golf ball stamping
I’m not going to sit here and pretend to be a big math guy, because I’m not. However, I do recognize David Nyfjall’s purple ball marking as a square root symbol.
While I don’t know the particular significance of the square root symbol for Nyfjall, I do know you have to be fairly intelligent to even consider using a marking like that. Pretty cool stuff from the Northwestern alum, and 2023 Byron Nelson Award winner.
And, with that, we say goodbye to Texas and TPC Craig Ranch. We’ll see you next week at the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte for more insider equipment news and storylines.
For now, don’t forget to check out all of our photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
- Wesley Bryan what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Max (9 degrees @10)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana GT 50 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana GT 60 X
Hybrid: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus Rescue (19.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus HB Blue 8 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (4), Takomo 101U (4), Takomo 101T (5), Takomo 301 CB (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 52-08F, 56-14F), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks Proto (58-A)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: L.A.B. Golf DF3
Grips: SuperStroke, Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
More photos of Wesley Bryan’s WITB in the forums.
- LIKE3
- LEGIT1
- WOW1
- LOL1
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
John Daly stuns fans into silence with brutal opening tee shot on PGA Tour Champions
Justin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
Things got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
Report: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
Report: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
Richy Werenski WITB 2024 (May)
Richy Werenski what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Houston Open. Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1...
Wesley Bryan WITB 2024 (May)
Wesley Bryan what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple...
Adam Scott WITB 2024 (May)
Adam Scott what’s in the bag accurate as of the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (10.5 degrees)...
Pierceson Coody WITB 2024 (April)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi 10 (9 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi 10 Tour (15 degrees)...
-
19th Hole1 week agoJustin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
-
19th Hole1 week ago‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
-
19th Hole3 weeks agoTwo star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoReport: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoNeal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoBrandel Chamblee has ‘no doubt’ who started the McIlroy/LIV rumor and why
-
Equipment3 weeks agoWhat we know about Bryson DeChambeau’s 3D-printed Avoda irons
-
19th Hole6 days agoLET pro gives detailed financial breakdown of first week on tour…and the net result may shock you
Scott
Dec 30, 2015 at 5:45 pm
Well I found one of these balls…..played it and I loved it….and have now purchased dozens….great ball.
Edward
Jul 1, 2015 at 1:52 am
Try them…. I’m telling you they are great balls NOT a cheap knockoff. And the name is fun not all stuffy like the presumptuous big companies. My tour ball is a great name and it is just that his, mine or yours but they are the real deal and you can catch a special online that gets them in the 25.00 range. Ball snobs need not apply but if you want a great ball these are for you..
SupD3
Mar 30, 2015 at 9:20 pm
I’ve played now 3 rounds with the Snell My Tour Ball. I gotta say I like it a lot. Compared to the most recent Tour Preferred ball there is very very little difference. Actually can’t pinpoint any. Plenty long, cover feels similar and no difference in spin on short shots.
BTW, with respect to those who claim to buy Pro V’s for 20-30 a dozen. If you don’t care about precision I guess it doesn’t matter. If a golf ball sits in a lake for a month or in the woods for a few months it is not going to perform like a new ball. Let’s say you normally hit a 7 iron 167 on the nose. You come up a to par 3 with water in front. You nail a 7 iron but for some reason it only flys 164 (12 feet short) and lands in the water. You can’t figure out why, you thought you hit it well? Must have been the wind? Maybe it was that “new” Pro V you bought on ebay?
I get that not everyone is looking for precision. I understand that not all x-outs or refurb balls are bad. For me however, this game is hard enough. I’d just assume remove a variable that I actually can control.
Snell from here on out!
terry
Mar 24, 2015 at 1:00 pm
its very possible these are just standard balls being mass produced and marketed by several different companies like Kick X Tour. But snell has a story. Maybe that’s what they are relying on. I like stories. I buy stories.
1badbadger
Feb 20, 2015 at 8:24 am
“The spin rates [of the two balls] are almost the same with the driver, so they’ll both go the maximum distance off the tee,”
A 3-piece urethane covered ball and a 2-piece Surlyn covered ball are going to spin very differently. I’m surprised that a man with his credentials would make a statement like that. But on his website he makes THIS comment to a player who asked about sidespin: “A golf ball will not ever eliminate hooks and slices, but it can help reduce them. Try GET SUM… its lower spinning and great soft feel…”
Dean
Feb 23, 2015 at 11:33 am
1badbadger. Dont be surprised. Today, all 2pc, 3pc, 4pc and 5pc balls are able to be designed with low driver spin rates. So if you are able to get the ball speed high, and the spin rates are similar, then the drivers will all go about the same distance. In the past, tour balata type balls used to have driver spin rates of around 4000 rpm, and 2-pc balls were around 2800rpm… Today, just about every ball out there is around 2800 rpm… We use core compressions, layers, and materials to develop different constructions to have this lower, preferred spin. When you have a 2-pc design, typically having a low driver spin also means low spin all the way through the set… and conversely, the multi layered balls allow us to create a different spin curve within the whole set of clubs.. Thus higher spin than these low spinning two pc balls… So hitting a low spin, two pc ball like GET SUM will help you hit straighter shots throughout the set, cause the spin is lower as you progress through the set. So longer irons will have less spin, and help the hooks and slices…. So hope this helps, and thanks for going to the website and reading up on the forum questions…
LLang
Feb 15, 2015 at 8:57 pm
Guys I just hit these balls this weekend on a florida golf trip. I am an 8-10 handicapper who has always played the prov1x. The my tour ball is very comparable was long off the tee with great feel around greens.
Connor
Feb 9, 2015 at 3:37 pm
My best round of golf came in a college practice round with a corn-cobbed NXT. Lol. Good luck to Snell!
AJ
Feb 8, 2015 at 8:49 am
You cant turn on the companies that made your career and steal the market share they earned through hard you. And you certainly cant sucessfully convince anyone these are truly the same quality at a lower price especially without advertising to communicate with the market, endorsements and brand recognition. Lower price will always be percieved as lower quality no matter what you say. And the guy who got his provs on craigs list probably paid for repainted rangeballs. #dumdum
kappy
Feb 26, 2015 at 1:43 am
AJ,
if people never branched out and took chances on their own than there would never be anything new out there. don’t forget, the Dodge brothers left Ford in 1915. Guess they did pretty good for themselves and provided a great product over all these years.
terry
Mar 24, 2015 at 12:43 pm
I would say this guy did more for titleist than titleist did for him. And when you pay for a ProV you’re paying so you can hear every pro in a commercial say “i play a titleist”.
Steve
Feb 5, 2015 at 11:37 am
There have been a number of startup golf ball companies launching “tour” balls simply trying to compete on a lower price. I think some of these balls are just as good as any pro v1, since they’re all coming out of similar factories, (it’s a commodity- solid rubber core construction), but perception tends to outweigh rational decision making. If their brand’s comes off as cheap they may struggle to gain traction. OnCore Golf, a company I helped co-found, has launched a truly unique golf ball, the MA-1.0, with a hollow metallic core construction. The ball is 44.99 a dozen, USGA conforming, and has been tested to truly improve dispersion off the tee, and on approach shots. We’re a youthful, fun brand, providing a highly engineered product. Check our website out or email us if your interested in a trial sleeve ([email protected]). I enjoy seeing the diversity of golf balls and startups competing against the goliaths of the industry, power to um.
Best,
Steve
Rusty Putter
Feb 4, 2015 at 11:17 pm
Craig’s list deal got me 200 PRO V s for $125. Gotta love crack head zombies who walk SOCAL streets.
Ben
Feb 4, 2015 at 10:09 am
Personally, I don’t care what they’re called. You could call it knuckler, super slice or duck hook, or under water… As long as it plays well, I’m in.
I just ordered a sample pack.
Roosterredneck
Feb 3, 2015 at 8:19 am
The name stinks what about S80 – this is reflecting the owners name Snell and the compression 80
Priced too high- until this is proven to be worth it’s price, drop the price. too many other balls at or below this price that people play and love. Changing to another ball requires an entry price less than
the present pricing of our favorite ball (limited time only) . THEN AGAIN WAIT TO SEE IT ON TOUR AS AWINNER .
MBA-J
Feb 3, 2015 at 8:07 am
If you Snell…what the ROCK is cooking…
leftright
Feb 3, 2015 at 7:49 am
It’s about image with many in golf. I used to be hung up on image until I got older and wiser. I stocked up on the Srixon Z-Stars for $30 a dozen until they are gone from the stores. Great ball and tour events have been won with it and some of the Cleveland guys play it. I might buy some just to check them out.
Bruce
Feb 3, 2015 at 3:17 am
$27 for a split dozen might be worth a test.
Luke
Feb 3, 2015 at 12:53 am
$31.99 for a “tour ball” is not cheap, do a little shopping around and you can find name brand “tour” balls for 20-30 bucks. I’m sure these balls are just as good as the tour preffered x balls I’m using now..except I paid 24.99 a dozen.
kappy
Feb 3, 2015 at 11:12 am
where are you buying tour preferred X for $24/dz? back alley?
Its funny that people have all these comments without playing these balls yet. As Snell states, “Let it Develop”.
try them then post some more comments. Curious to see what is said then. This guy obviously has the credentials to make balls of any caliber.
Roge Brightman
Feb 2, 2015 at 11:33 pm
I have played Titleist golf balls for over 50 years now. I will however give my friend Dean Snell[s product a try. After all he does know what he is talking about.
Alex
Feb 2, 2015 at 10:35 pm
I’m not going to knock Snell as a name, because it’s named after him.
But “my tour ball” and “get sum” are dumb.
It makes the ball seem cheap and many will disregard based on that alone.
Just call them the Snell One and the Snell Two or something. Don’t make it sound gimmicky.
Kelly
Feb 3, 2015 at 8:50 pm
Agree 100%
Justin
May 27, 2016 at 10:32 pm
Well you sound beyond pretentious. Bet that helps your game. I always noticed when I looked down on others I gained a few extra yards…
Philip
Feb 2, 2015 at 8:11 pm
Well, he partially owns the most relevant recent patents so definitely worth checking out.
marcel
Feb 2, 2015 at 5:24 pm
nice – id love to give them a go but they wont be in Australia i guess anytime soon ;-(
Shallowface
Feb 2, 2015 at 4:08 pm
I wish them well, but those who are hung up on what others think about them (and there are a lot of them) will never give it a chance. It’s Pro V or nothing for that group.
slider
Feb 3, 2015 at 12:29 am
I am in that group
Will
Feb 2, 2015 at 3:54 pm
you dont need to pay $45 to play a tour ball. ebay is your friend. for example… the ball that works for me is the lethal. i tried the new perferred X and didnt like it. for what its worth ive also always disliked the Prov1. regular one spins too much. X doesnt spin enough. bought 12 dz lethals on ebay at a price of $25/dozen
MHendon
Feb 2, 2015 at 4:49 pm
Yeah I don’t know if they’re still doing it or not butt Taylormade was selling bulk packs of Lethals a couple months ago. I bought the 50 ball pack for $100. 2 dollars a ball is hard to beat and its a great ball.
Golfraven
Feb 2, 2015 at 3:01 pm
First of all the name sucks. I have seen similar companies spinning same business model and claiming their balls compare to v1 or NXT but at lover price. I tested some of those and can say that I was not impressed by looks, feel and performance nor didn’t have full confidence making a switch. I see here only 20-30% difference in price which is not really great selling point. If you want titleist and can afford it, well buy it, otherwise there are plenty of other well performing balls from great manufactures at good price.
Joe
Feb 2, 2015 at 1:51 pm
The name is terrible. It sounds like the name of the ugly best friend in a chick flick.
Jafar
Feb 2, 2015 at 1:08 pm
Finally, someone in golf appealing to peoples wallets. Definitely interested, will be sure to buy some for the upcoming season.
greg
Feb 2, 2015 at 12:04 pm
Brand name balls equate to known performance, guaranteed quality, and status.. That is huge That said, I’ve been !bothered by prices lately and see no reason why I should pay extra for balls that Bubba, Phil, and Sergio are paid to tell me to play.
I like the idea that someone, with credentials, offers a product without these costs factored in. I’ll try ’em.
Jeff
Feb 2, 2015 at 1:46 pm
Well,
Wilson staff Duo,
Srixon soft
Calloway soft and now Snell.
Could be a price war
Andrew
Feb 2, 2015 at 11:56 am
Agree on the terrible name. And tbh, I’d rather spend my $43 on pro-v’s that are made here in the US.
slider
Feb 3, 2015 at 12:30 am
agreed
Jason
Mar 4, 2015 at 8:36 am
Pro-V1’s made in the U.S.? Only a small fraction of Titleists are made in the U.S. with the remaining plants expected to be gone in a couple years.
Brutus
Feb 2, 2015 at 11:51 am
I like the fact that the tour ball is lower compression. I’ve noticed better performance with my swing at a lower compression. I’m gonna give it a try since the Bridgestone RX’s are 50% more than these and too much in my book. The name probably isn’t the greatest, but if it helps get lower scores,
than who cares??!!!
Chomper
Feb 2, 2015 at 10:51 am
Agree on the branding, but that is why it is so cheap right?
ken
Feb 2, 2015 at 12:40 pm
Because Snell DOES NOT pay tour players to use their golf ball. Simple.
Here’s an example. Before Adams Gold started paying pros to use their clubs, Adams equipment could be had at a reasonable price. I bought a new set of irons some 10 years ago. Granted, these Tight Lies players model irons were a discontinued model and that lowered the price significantly, The off the rack price was still reasonable
Eli Yates
Feb 2, 2015 at 1:08 pm
the Tight Lies tour irons the ones with the graphite tips… I got some back in the day… those irons were awesome. I actually taped them off and painted the graphite and customized them they looked like a blue and white candy cane. I wish I still had them.
Matt
Feb 2, 2015 at 10:43 am
Well, he might want to spend a bit of money on branding. Snell, My Tour Ball, and Get Sum are all terrible names.
MHendon
Feb 2, 2015 at 12:37 pm
I agree with you about the branding. However obviously he wanted to use his name so I imagine that will stay. I will say I’m interested and might give them a try since he has been involved in designing my two favorite balls on the market.
Jafar
Feb 2, 2015 at 1:09 pm
Disagree about the name. If he’s honest about his story, that is what I am buying.