Equipment
Ping launches new virtual ball-fitting tool: Ballnamic
Ping has today introduced a virtual ball-fitting experience based on a golfer’s launch conditions and performance preferences: Ballnamic.
Per Ping, Ballnamic offers unbiased golf ball brand and model recommendations for golfers of every skill level, with the software powered by the company’s ball-specific flight models and algorithms developed by its engineers and data scientists.
More than 40 ball models are housed inside the tool, which is periodically updated to ensure that current designs are considered.
The ball-fitting tool is available direct to consumers for a $39 fee at ballfitting.com and provides users with a detailed fitting report contrasting the top five best-matched balls.
Speaking on Ballnamic, John K. Solheim, Ping President. said
“Ballnamic represents our never-ending quest to innovate every variable of the custom-fitting experience. We’ve been studying golf balls since the early days of PING when my grandfather, Karsten Solheim, quickly recognized the ball was the ‘tuning fork’ for golf equipment. Our extensive knowledge library and engineering expertise led us down the ball-fitting path, and we’re excited to bring it to both fitters and consumers. The access golfers have to their data through launch monitors and other tools continues to grow and make advancements like Ballnamic possible. Since we’re not in the golf-ball business, we’re able to conduct independent testing and offer this unbiased tool as another service for golfers to help improve their enjoyment of the game.”
Utilizing the Ping Man swing robot, doppler radar and carefully monitored weather conditions, the brand’s researchers have measured ball performance across a comprehensive span of driver, iron, and wedge shots – in both wet and dry conditions. Per the company, the results generated data approximating how golf balls perform across various speeds and lofts; a low-spin ball on drivers can generate high spin around the green and vice versa.
Once logged into the site, golfers create a profile by completing a questionnaire that guides them to think about aspects of ball performance, just like a Tour player. Golfers enter performance preferences for their long game, irons, wedges, short game, and putter.
Without access to a launch monitor, Ballnamic employs a user’s estimated launch conditions based on their data, such as their driver and 7-iron flight. At the same time, those who have used a launch monitor recently can enter their specs into the tool.
Ballnamic is currently only available in the U.S.
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
From the seller: (@lasallen): “For sale is a BRNR mini 11.5 deg head only in brand new condition. $325 shipped.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made.
From the seller: (@DLong72): “Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made. ?: $1150. ?? 100% milled collectors item from the limited releases commemorating when Ping putters won every major in 1988 (88 putters made). This was the model Seve Ballesteros used to win the 1988 Open Championship. Condition is brand new, never gamed, everything is in the original packaging as it came. Putter features the iconic sound slot.
Specs/ Additional Details
-100% Milled, Aluminum/Bronze Alloy (310g)
-Original Anser Design
-PING PP58 Grip
-Putter is built to standard specs.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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As you probably know by now, Collin Morikawa switched putters after the first round of The Masters, and he ultimately went on to finish T3.
The putter was far from the only change he made last week, however, and his bag is continuing to change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage.
On the range of The Masters, Morikawa worked closely with Adrian Reitveld, TaylorMade’s Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, to find the perfect driver and 3-wood setups.
Morikawa started off 2024 by switching into TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max driver, but since went back to his faithful TaylorMade SIM – yes, the original SIM from 2020. Somehow, some way, it seems Morikawa always ends up back in that driver, which he used to win the 2020 PGA Championship, and the 2021 Open Championship.
At The Masters, however, Rietveld said the duo found the driver head that allowed “zero compromise” on Morikawa’s preferred fade flight and spin. To match his preferences, they landed on a TaylorMade Qi10 LS 9-degree head, and the lie angle is a touch flatter than his former SIM.
“It’s faster than his gamer, and I think what we found is it fits his desired shot shape, with zero compromise” Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the RBC Heritage.
Then, to replace his former SIM rocket 3-wood, Morikawa decided to switch into the TaylorMade Qi10 core model 13.5-degree rocket head, with an adjustable hosel.
“He likes the spin characteristics of that head,” Rietveld said. “Now he’s interesting because with Collin, you can turn up at a tournament, and you look at his 3-wood, and he’s changed the setting. One day there’s more loft on it, one day there’s less loft on it. He’s that type of guy. He’s not scared to use the adjustability of the club.
“And I think he felt our titanium head didn’t spin as low as his original SIM. So we did some work with the other head, just because he liked the feel of it. It was a little high launching, so we fit him into something with less loft. It’s a naughty little piece of equipment.”
In addition to the driver and fairway wood changes, Morikawa also debuted his new “MySymbol” jersey No. 5 TP5x golf ball at The Masters. Morikawa’s choice of symbols is likely tied to his love of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.
Not enough changes for you? There’s one more.
On Wednesday at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Morikawa was spotted with a new TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron in the bag. If you recall, it’s the same model that Rory McIlroy debuted at the 2024 Valero Texas Open.
According to Morikawa, the new Proto 4-iron will replace his old P-770 hollow-bodied 4-iron.
“I used to hit my P-770 on a string, but sometimes the distance would be a little unpredictable,” Morikawa told GolfWRX.com. “This one launches a touch higher, and I feel I can predict the distance better. I know Rory replaced his P-760 with it. I’m liking it so far.”
See Morikawa’s full WITB from the 2024 RBC Heritage here.
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Rich
Jan 2, 2022 at 9:20 pm
It’s too expensive. I learned that by paying for it and using it. It’s too expensive because….
— It is driven by your inputs regarding distances, which most golfers are self-delusional about.
— But even if you get that right, you’re limited to just 5 ball outcomes.
— And you’re limited to just 5 uses of it.
— And it’s incredibly buggy, with fails and page refreshes all over the place.
— It loses your info, causing you to go back and re-input–sometimes costing you one of the valuable 5.
— It asks for your current ball, but doesn’t always include that in the comparisons.
— There’s almost no explanation for its choices.
I emailed Ping about the bugginess of the site. They said they were swamped with activity because of the recent publicity and their servers couldn’t handle the traffic. I only got 2 results from four attempts–with about 60 page refreshes throughout. That left me with just one more. They responded and said they were working on the issue and would give me a code for a new 5 tries. I feel like I got comped a meal in Vegas after the hotel’s screw-up.
Even if this thing worked correctly, paying $42 (including tax) isn’t worth it.
DH
Sep 1, 2021 at 5:11 pm
The tool seems cool, and it’s great that Ping is putting all of their data to good use for everyone. I have not issue with them monetizing it either, but $39 for a one time access is steep. I’ll let others on here be the guinea pigs and write reviews before I decide to test it out.
$39 for a year’s access is something I’d be onboard with. If I get on a monitor 2 or 3 times in a year I’ll be curious to see how the suggestions change (or don’t) after each session, and I’d like to re-visit my suggestions over time as new ball models come out.
Keith Martin
Sep 1, 2021 at 10:48 am
Ping should consider providing this for free to promote they’re products. 39$ is a ripoff…
KUUUUCHHH
Sep 1, 2021 at 5:35 pm
They don’t make Golf Balls… Hard to promote a product they don’t make.
and it’s their not they’re
Wigib2
Sep 1, 2021 at 9:05 am
So let me get this straight, Ping spends untold hours and money researching golf balls with no horse in the race to provide a tool that can help better your golf game…and you deem it a rip off or cash grab because they have the balls (see what I did there!?) to charge for the use of the tool?? No ones forcing you to use it! I don’t see people complaining that Club Champion or Golf Galaxy will happily charge for a ball fitting and then turning around and making a profit on selling you the golf balls. I swear, some people are never happy…
Moe Greene
Sep 1, 2021 at 12:46 am
Ping loses my respect for this overpriced nonsense.
Ben
Aug 31, 2021 at 2:44 pm
39 bucks? Damn…
Z
Aug 31, 2021 at 2:15 pm
Rip off
Lindsay
Aug 31, 2021 at 12:44 pm
I was skeptical, but it’s actually an interesting tool. It is pretty cool that it includes past model year balls. For example, it said my best match was a 2019 Srixon XV.
Irwin R. Shyster
Aug 30, 2021 at 5:16 pm
Cash grab
dave
Aug 30, 2021 at 11:19 am
Dude…journalism 101: Who? What? Where? When? And in the case of a product or service that’s not free, HOW MUCH?
These guys harvest name and email address at the start of the process and it’s not until you finish filling out the tool that you discover that it will cost you $39.00 plus tax to see your results.
HoppItUp
Sep 1, 2021 at 8:34 am
“The ball-fitting tool is available direct to consumers for a $39 fee at ballfitting.com and provides users with a detailed fitting report contrasting the top five best-matched balls.”
Unless they added it in after you supposedly read it, it is right near the top of the, article. RIF.