Golf Digest South Africa - Jul/Aug 2025

HOT LIST: NON-URETHANE BALLS

BRIDGESTONE R50

CALLAWAY R75

★★★★ ★★★★

★★★★ ★★★★ ½

PERFORMANCE INNOVATION

e6 Soft

e12 Straight

ERC Soft

IS IT FOR YOU? • The core is softer in the centre for forgiveness and firmer on the outside for speed • A larger core gives slower swingers a speed boost they desperately need • The Surlyn cover offers durability

IS IT FOR YOU? • A raised area in the centre of each dimple results in more contact with the clubface, leading to better energy transfer at faster ball speeds • The low-compression core reduces sidespin, especially on tee shots

IS IT FOR YOU? • With help from AI, a firmer mantle layer and softer core and cover were formulated for more distance and increased feel • A special polymer cover and mantle material increase short-game spin

FEEL RATING

Soft

Firm

Soft

Firm

Soft

Firm

SHORT GAME

Poor

Excellent

Poor

Excellent

Poor

Excellent

FULL SWING

Poor

Excellent

Poor

Excellent

Poor

Excellent

CALLAWAY R42

★★★★ ★★★★

PERFORMANCE INNOVATION

If you’re going to make your new golf ball a proper asset, we suggest getting a ball fitting. Most top fitters offer this service, but there are a number of online tools and apps that will help you customise your choice. Ballnamic, which was developed by Ping engineers, lets the user dial in key performance metrics to narrow the selection to your five best-fitting balls (R270 for one fitting). The Scan My Golf Ball app produces recommendations following a series of questions about your game. Many manufacturers (Titleist, Callaway, Bridgestone, TaylorMade, Srixon) have online fitting tools, but of course these tools focus on only that company’s offerings. However you go about it, the benefit is clear: Thinking systematically will help you make the right ball work for you. WHY YOU NEED A FITTING

Supersoft

IS IT FOR YOU? • A low-compression model that delivers a pillowy feel • The lower compression also reduces excessive spin with longer clubs • Nine design options, including colours and patterns

FEEL RATING

Soft

Firm

SHORT GAME

Poor

Excellent

FULL SWING

Poor

Excellent

102 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA

JULY/AUGUST 2025

GOLD

SILVER

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