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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- Kris Kim what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. More photos from the event here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (2, 4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-11TW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 WV 125
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Kris Kim’s equipment here.
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TaylorMade is continuing its UDI/DHY series with the successor to the Stealth UDI and DHY utility irons: PUDI and PDHY (which the company styles as P·UDI and P·DHY). TaylorMade is folding the designs in with its P Series of irons.
TaylorMade outlined the process of developing its new utilities this way. The company started with the data on utility iron usage. Not surprisingly, better players — i.e. those who generate more clubhead speed and strike the ball more precisely — were found to gravitate toward the UDI model. DHY usage, however, covered a wider swath than the company might have expected with six-to-18 handicappers found to be bagging the club.
TaylorMade also found that the majority of golfers playing UDI or DHY utilities were playing P Series irons at the top of their iron configurations.
Can you see where this is going?
Matt Bovee, Director of Product Creation, Iron and Wedge at TaylorMade: “As we look to the future, beyond the tech and the design language, we are excited about repositioning our utility irons into the P·Series family. P·UDI is an easy pair for players that currently play P·Series product and P·DHY is an extremely forgiving option for players of all skill levels. It is a natural fit to give these players the performance in this category that they are looking for.”
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TaylorMade PUDI
TaylorMade PUDI technology cutaway (via TaylorMade)
Crafted with tour player input, TaylorMade sought to develop a confidence-inspiring utility iron that blends with the rest of the P Series irons. Also of note: Interestingly, the PUDI has a more compact head than the P790.
In comparison to past UDI products, the PUDI has a more traditional iron shape, slimmer toplines, and less offset with a little of the backbar visible at address.
TaylorMade PDHY
TaylorMade PDHY tech cutaway (via TaylorMade).
Larger in profile than the PUDI, the PDHY seeks to position center of gravity (CG) lower in the club for ease of launch. The toe height is larger and the profile is larger at address — roughly five millimeters longer than PUDI — the sole of the club is wider for improved forgiveness.
Club Junkie’s take
Golfers who feel like they are missing something at the top of the bag could find the PUDI or PDHY a great option. The look of the PUDI should fit the most discerning eye with a more compact look, less offset, and a thinner topline. If you want a little more confidence looking down the P-DHY will be slightly larger while still being a good-looking utility iron.
For being small packages both models pack a pretty good punch with fast ball speeds, even off-center. The feel is soft and you get a solid feel of the ball compressing off the face when you strike it well. Your ears are greeted with a nice heavy thud as the ball and club come together. The PDHY will launch a little higher for players who need it while the PUDI offers a more penetrating ball flight. Both utility irons could be the cure for an open spot in the top end of the bag.
PUDI, PDHY, or Rescue?
TaylorMade offers the following notes to assist golfers in filling out their bags:
- PUDI has mid-CG right behind the center face to create a more penetrating mid-to-low ball flight
- PDHY has a lower center of gravity to produce an easier-to-launch mid-to-high ball flight.
- Both PUDI and PDHY are lower-flying than the company’s hybrid/Rescue clubs.
- PUDI is more forgiving than P790.
- PDHY is the most forgiving iron in the entire TaylorMade iron family
Pricing, specs, and availability
Price: $249.99
At retail: Now
Stock shafts: UST Mamiya’s Recoil DART (105 X, 90 S and 75 R – only in PDHY)
Stock grip: Golf Pride’s ZGrip (black/grey)
PUDI lofts: 2-17°, 3-20°, 4-22° in both left and right-handed
PDHY lofts: 2-18°, 3-20° and 4-22° in both left and right-handed
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (5/3/24): Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
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 Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
From the seller: (@wwcl): “Has been gamed as pics show. 33.5 includes original h/c and grip. $575 includes shipping and PP fees.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
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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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.