ConsumerReports.org - Golf balls, the tests behind the Ratings 5/06
06/28/2007 03:07 PM
Welcome Glenn
Cars
Appliances
Electronics & computers
Home & garden
Health & fitness
Personal finance
Babies & kids
Travel
Food
You are here:
Travel > Golf balls 5/06
Travel
In this report
·
·
Overview
May 2006
CR Quick
Recommendations
· Ratings
·
·
The tests behind the Ratings
Anatomy of a golf ball
The tests behind the
Ratings
Related information
Recalls
Manufacturers
We hired an independent golf laboratory to conduct our
launch test. The lab uses a computerized robot programmed
to swing a golf club so it hits the ball in the middle of the club
face (or the “sweet spot”) on every swing. In our tests, the
robot swung a driver and an 8-iron. It’s the same robot that
the United States Golf Association’s Test Center and many
manufacturers use to test golf balls.
We used two swing speeds for our driver tests: 90 mph, to
represent amateur swingers, and 110 mph, to represent the
pros’ rate. We tracked each ball’s flight using equipment
based on Doppler radar. It recorded ball speed (the speed of
the ball off the club face), launch angle (angle the ball
launches off the club face), and spin. As the ball landed, we
recorded how far the shot deviated off center, the ball’s carry
distance (how far it traveled in the air), and its total distance
(including how far it rolled on the ground). External variables
such as wind and humidity were monitored and factored into
the results. We used one box of each model golf ball, so
each brand’s model was hit 48 times.
FORM TO ENVY This robot
was programmed to swing
precisely the same way at
both amateur and pro
speeds.
We also enlisted local teaching and retail golf professionals
as panelists to help us determine the feel of each ball. We covered any identifying marks, then
asked the panelists to putt each rated ball, along with a very hard and very soft ball for
reference points, a distance of 10 feet. Panelists putted each ball eight times, then scored it on
a scale of 1 (hardest) to 9 (softest).
Know which car you want to buy? Make sure you get it for the
lowest price with Consumer Reports' New Car Price Service or
Used Car Price Service.
About this site: Overview | Your privacy rights | Site map
Who we are: About us | Our mission | Donate | Career opportunities | Bookstore | E-mail newsletters | RSS | Press room | Customer service | My account
Our websites: ConsumerReports.org | New & Used Car Price Services | New Car Buying Kit | Used Car Buying Kit | CR on Health | CR Medical Guide
Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs | Consumer Reports WebWatch | Consumer Reports Greener Choices
Copyright © 2003-2007 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc. No reproduction, in whole or in part, without written permission.
This site best viewed by Internet Explorer 6.0+, Safari 2.0+ and FireFox 1.5+.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/travel/golf-balls-506/the-tests-behind-the-ratings/index.htm
Page 1 of 1