ball – Golfing Networks

Cameron Young’s golf ball may expose rollback’s biggest flaw

admin — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 04:37:59 +0000

Cameron Young’s Pro V1x Double Dot is raising uncomfortable questions about whether golf’s rollback can work as intended.

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Penn. — There are moments when a piece of gear stops being just equipment and transforms into something like a glimpse into where the game might be headed.

At this year’s PGA Championship, one of those objects has suddenly appeared, and it’s a golf ball. Specifically, the Titleist Pro V1x Double Dot being used by Cameron Young. The 29-year-old started using the ball last season at the 2025 Wyndham Championship, where he won his first PGA Tour event. This season, he’s used the ball to win the Players Championship and the Cadillac Championship,

Before Tuesday, that was only interesting to equipment lovers, not the golf world at large. Then, as Adam Schupak reported, word spread at Aronimink Golf Club yesterday that the Pro V1x Double Dot would pass the USGA and R&A’s proposed golf ball rule changes that are designed to reduce distance. Suddenly, in the eyes of people who see distance as a problem in elite men’s golf, the Double Dot and what it represents became a warning flare.

When Golfweek spoke with representatives from Titleist, the brand would neither confirm nor deny that the Pro V1x Double Dot would pass the USGA and R&A’s new testing protocols, and the company would not comment on the ball this week.

As much as any company, and more than most, Titleist prides itself on its relationship with the PGA of America and the PGA professionals. The brand does not want to draw attention away from the PGA Championship or Cameron Young, who is one of the contenders for the Wannamaker trophy this week.

To be clear, Young is not testing the Pro V1x Double Dot. The ball is not available at retail, but it has been on the current USGA Conforming Golf Ball list since last August. Young has been playing it all season. It’s the ball he used on the 18th hole at TPC Sawgrass when he hit a 375-yard drive, the longest in tournament history, to set up his win at the Players. It’s the ball that is helping him average 312 yards per tee shot on the PGA Tour this season.

That’s the part that has people who believe distance is a serious problem sounding alarm bells.

Supporters of the rollback have argued that the proposed golf ball testing changes represented a surgical solution. The governing bodies repeatedly emphasized that recreational golfers would see little to no meaningful change in golf ball performance or distance, while the fastest and most elite players would lose the most yards off the tee. The idea was elegant, but Cameron Young has launched drives into another ZIP code with a ball that, according to the PGA Tour’s testing, would be legal after the rollback, which dramatically complicates that narrative.

Now, a very uncomfortable question enters the conversation: What if the rollback doesn’t reduce distance nearly as evenly as people have been led to believe? What if some elite golfers see a reduction in distance, which the USGA and R&A wanted, but some of the biggest hitters can optimize their conditions and not experience a reduction in distance at all?

That, in a nutshell, is a nightmare scenario for the USGA and R&A. Distance goes down for everyone except the biggest hitters.

This week’s Double Dot debate has some pundits already thinking about the need to go farther, beyond golf balls, to rein in distance. But if the goal is to reduce distance at the elite level without changing the game or taking distance away from club players, changing the rules that govern clubs, especially drivers, would make that hard.

Currently, the USGA and R&A rules limit driver length to 46 inches. If a change reduced the maximum length down to 43 inches (like a standard 3-wood), pros would lose club head speed and some distance. Sounds good, but most pros don’t use a 46-inch driver. In fact, the average length of a driver on the PGA Tour is just under 45 inches. Rickie Fowler’s is just over 43 inches. Forcing everyone to swing 460cc 3-wood would not meaningfully reduce distance at the elite level, but recreational golfers, who are less fit and already swing slower than pros, would absolutely experience a decrease in clubhead speed, ball speed and distance.

What about making drivers smaller by shrinking the maximum head size down from 460cc to 300 or 350cc? Effectively, that would turn today’s drivers into mini drivers. They would have a lower moment of inertia (MOI) and twist more on off-center hits, but pros find the center of the face a lot more than club players. Assuming driver length was not changed, this would not reduce driver distance at the elite level, but would make it harder for mid- and higher-handicap golfers who rely on high MOI and forgiveness.

How about thickening faces, reducing characteristic time (CT) and making the hitting area less springy? Again, everyone would lose speed, including the recreational golfers the USGA and R&A didn’t want to target. Plus, thicker driver faces are heavier, so the MOI would decrease and the clubs would be less forgiving.

In each of those scenarios, the players regulators are trying to slow down are the golfers most capable of adapting, while the golfers who struggle could be most impacted.

That’s the paradox sitting quietly underneath this entire debate. Pros benefit from modern technology, but it also makes the game more playable and enjoyable for everybody else.

The Cameron Youngs of the world will always be able to move a golf ball differently than the rest of us. The danger for the governing bodies is that the farther they move beyond the golf ball itself in search of meaningful distance reduction, the harder it becomes to isolate the effects to elite players alone.

At some point, science stops cooperating with policy goals. The biggest thing Cameron Young’s Pro V1x Double Dot may reveal is not that the rollback is doomed or can’t succeed. But, under a single set of rules, there may not be many realistic equipment changes, to either balls or clubs, that can achieve the USGA and R&A’s stated goals.

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Bridgestone made 1 huge change for its 2026 golf ball lineup

admin — Thu, 28 May 2026 22:22:15 +0000

Bridgestone Golf released a new Tour B lineup for 2026, replacing all four of its previous models with new options. There’s two lower-speed offerings in the R series — Tour B RX (red box) and Tour B RXS (green box) — as well as two higher-speed models in the Tour B X (black box) and Tour B XS (blue box).

All four models retain the option to purchase with their popular Mindset graphic. Although the big change this year? VeloSurge technology. I got a chance to test with the Tour B X and the Tour B XS at The Crosby Club and came away with some cool findings.

But first, let’s compare the specs of the lineup.

Bridgestone always has two congruent lines in its Tour B series of golf balls that are separated by speed. For driver speeds over 105 mph you’ll want to use the Tour B X or Tour B XS, with the X being the lower launching and spinning option of the two. For driver speeds under 105 mph you’ll want to try the R series with the Tour B RX being the lower launching and spinning option over the Tour B RXS golf ball. They are even color-coded to make it easy on you — the Tour B X is the black box, Tour B XS is the blue box, the Tour B RX is the red box, and the Tour B RXS is the green box.

The reason for having two different congruent lineups dictated by speed is compression measurement. The lower speed offerings are going to have a lower compression rating. If you’re a higher speed player you likely won’t see much a difference between the two speed offerings, but for slower speed players, playing a ball with too high of a compression can force you to lose out on speed and other performance.

The lower speed player wants to be able to consistently compress the ball properly, as that’s how the golf ball is designed to perform. Because a higher speed player is going to compress the ball no matter what, the differences aren’t going to show as much, but the higher compression ball will usually be more consistent.

And it’s even more important in the 2026 lineup because of VeloSurge.

The easiest way I can explain VeloSurge technology in the new 2026 Tour B series is that they took the concept of a 10k MOI driver and implemented it into a golf ball. They’ve created a core, mantle and cover that actually moves mass to the perimeter of the golf ball, which helps increase the MOI of the golf ball and then helps it fly more consistently.

With VeloSurge, they have a new core-mantle integration that supports the now lighter and softer core, with a new mantle layer that’s actually made out of kevlar. This kevlar mantle protects the core and works together to create a strong, consistent deformation at impact. This unlocks a more consistent “rebound” as the ball begins its flight. And a more consistent rebound means more consistent performance, and with the 2026 lineup, it also means more speed. (I noticed the speed gains more specifically in the middle of the bag than anywhere else.)

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Bridgestone 2026 TOUR B X Golf Balls

THE NEW TOUR B X IS PUSHING THE LIMITS OF DISTANCE UNBOUND DISTANCE: New VeloSurge core-mantle integration technology delivers breakthrough velocity for unmatched distance off the tee TOUR CONTROL: The Reactiv iQ cover adheres to the clubface longer, generating tour-level spin and precision control on shots around the green The TOUR B X delivers increased ball speed for MAXIMUM DISTANCE off the tee and HIT & SIT performance on approach shots Bridgestone Golf is the #1 BALL FITTER IN GOLF: The TOUR B X is higher compression for swing speeds OVER 105 mph Designed for players who want additional distance TIGER WOODS, JASON DAY, CHRIS GOTTERUP and KURT KITAYAMA assisted in the development of the NEW TOUR B X and they along with HARRY HALL and MATT KUCHAR play it in professional competition

View Product

What stood out to me

First, the Tour B X. I actually played the older version of the Tour B XS (blue box) golf ball and quite liked it, but the issue was that it didn’t perform super well in the wind, which is an absolute requirement for somebody who lives anywhere near Chicago. When I tried to use the Tour B X (black box) I wasn’t able to generate enough spin, although it performed much better in the wind. So I was stuck.

However, with the new 2026 lineup, the Tour B X has really impressed me. It’s still lower spin on the driver — and I’d have to rework my driver to fit the golf ball — but through the rest of the bag it held pretty tightly with the B XS. Even on the shorter shots from about 130 yards and in, the B X performed really well.

Chris Gotterup has had a strong 2026 with a Bridgestone Tour B X golf ball.

Getty Images

Wind performance made a dramatic change for the 2026 lineup, specifically for me in the Tour B XS. In the video, you can hear me say several times the ball just doesn’t care that the wind exists. I was genuinely shocked. There was a moment in the video where I was hitting a driver on a downhill par 5 with winds crossing at about 20 mph — and the ball didn’t leave its start line. I kept asking the man filming if he was seeing the same thing. When we moved up to hit a long iron into the green, we saw the same performance again. The two Tour B balls were probably the best balls I’ve ever seen perform in the wind. (As someone who plays in the Chicago area often, that’s a significant declaration.)

As with every other piece of equipment in the bag, I always recommend getting fit and testing your options. Bridgestone, as the self-proclaimed leader in ball-fitting, actually has a terrific fitting tool on its website and the brand hosts tons of local fitting days (so see if any are near you).

You can see how I did my own testing in the video, and you’ll learn things yourself once you start trying to play with different types of flights and shots.

And once you’ve decided on what ball is best for your game, make sure to find your local True Spec fitter to get your entire bag dialed.

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Why understanding your wrists is the key to better ball striking

admin — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 13:26:46 +0000

Time — and hundreds of major championship winners — has proven that there’s no “perfect” wrist position at the top. You can be cupped, bowed or neutral. They all work, but only within the dynamics of your swing.

Here’s how to know what’s right for you.

Neutral wrist

Rory McIlroy is a notable pro with a neutral lead wrist.

Mark Newcombe

Definition: A neutral wrist means the lead wrist stays flat — not bowed or cupped — throughout the swing. It’s a foundational piece of many technically sound, “classic” swings and is often paired with a neutral grip.

Pros who use it: Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, Ludvig Åberg

How to square the face: From a neutral position, squaring the face is a blend of weight shift and torso rotation. Players shift pressure into the lead side early, then rotate the torso through the shot. As the rib cage unwinds, it exerts a force through the shaft that helps push the clubhead outward, encouraging natural forearm rotation, which is what squares the face. With this motion, the shaft leans slightly forward at impact, but not excessively. It’s a balanced impact condition that allows for both control and versatility.

Advantages: The neutral wrist gives players a lot of freedom in the downswing. Because the face isn’t overly closed or open at the top, you don’t have to rely on timing or other compensations to square it. It also makes it easier to preserve each club’s intended loft, which is particularly helpful for players who want to maintain consistent trajectories throughout the bag. It encourages natural release, solid contact and fluid motion.

Disadvantages: The biggest risk with a neutral wrist is letting the face get too open at the top. This often happens when the wrist overextends or collapses during the backswing. If the clubface opens too much, it puts more pressure on the player to time the rotation of the forearms precisely during the downswing. Without proper rotation and sequencing, the result can be blocks or weak fades.

Ways to work on your swing: Try a split-hand drill. Grip the club as if you’re a hockey player getting prepped to hit a slap shot. As you make your turn to the top, feel as if the clubhead is “light” as it works back on plane. Let your arms fall naturally as you shift into the lead side, then allow your torso to rotate through. This blend of movement keeps the clubface square and synced with your body. Good sequencing is the major key.

Bowed wrist

Collin Morikawa is a notable pro with a bowed lead wrist.

Mark Newcombe

Definition: A bowed wrist — aka a flexed wrist — is when the lead wrist is angled upward at the top of the swing. This position closes the clubface relative to the swing path and is often adopted by players looking to preset the impact position early in the swing.

Pros who use it: Collin Morikawa, Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele

How to square the face: Because the clubface is already closed at the top, players who use this wrist position don’t need to rely as much on forearm rotation on the way down. Instead, they create speed and squareness through powerful lower-body movement and aggressive torso rotation. They shift hard into the lead leg and create side bend through the torso to keep the club on plane. Timing and sequencing are everything. If they don’t rotate enough — or if they stall their body — the face can shut down.

Advantages: The biggest upside of a bowed wrist is its efficiency in setting up impact. With the lead wrist already in flexion, players can deliver the club with forward shaft lean, which promotes crisp contact and a strong, low-spin ball flight. It’s also an ideal pattern for players who favor a fade, since the closed face combined with a leftward swing path produces a reliable left-to-right shape.

Disadvantages: The downside is that this move isn’t easy to repeat. It requires excellent athleticism, strength and flexibility to pull off consistently. Because the wrist is so bowed at the top, the shaft can lean excessively forward at impact, de-lofting the club and making it harder to launch the ball high. Players who mistime the rotation or try to flip the club back to square risk missing left — and badly.

Ways to work on your swing: This style often starts with a strong grip, but the key is not to overdo it. Here’s how to keep things in check and strike it solid time and again. Place an alignment stick through your belt loops and turn to the top of your swing. Initiate the downswing by shifting into your lead side, then fire your hips to open them through impact, getting the alignment stick to point left of your target. This promotes a ball flight that starts left and fades back to the right.

Cupped wrist

Shane Lowry is a notable pro who uses a cupped lead wrist.

Mark Newcombe

Definition: 3. A cupped wrist — or wrist extension — is when the lead wrist bends forward at the top of the swing, opening the clubface relative to the swing path.

Pros who use it: Shane Lowry, Webb Simpson, Will Zalatoris

How to square the face: From a cupped position at the top, players must actively flatten the wrist and rotate their body hard through impact. The combination of forearm rotation and torso unwinding is what squares the clubface. This motion typically happens later in the downswing, so timing is essential. If the wrists don’t flatten or the rotation doesn’t happen in time, the clubface can remain open, leading to weak fades or slices.

Advantages: One of the main benefits of a cupped wrist is that it creates a wide, flowing motion — especially with longer clubs. It often feels more “free-wheeling” and athletic, giving players a sense of rhythm and fluidity. It also encourages a higher launch with more spin, which can be a huge asset for players who need help getting the ball in the air.

Disadvantages: Because the face is open at the top, it needs to close more aggressively through impact. That means more room for error. If the timing of the rotation is off — or if the player tries to “save” the shot with their hands — it can lead to a flip through impact and inconsistent strikes. The clubface can stay open too long or close too quickly, creating volatility in both direction and contact.

Ways to work on your swing: Start by managing your arm depth. Try to avoid lifting your arms too vertically during the backswing. Instead, let them move around your body and get a little deeper. This shallows the shaft and makes it easier to rotate from the inside. During the downswing, feel like you’re falling slightly into your lead side while spinning through the shot. That combination of pressure shift and rotation allows the wrist to naturally flatten and the face to square on time — without needing a flip.

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Can a golf ball ‘private club’ work? Inside The Undergound

admin — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:22:38 +0000

In the gear world, we talk a lot about “disruption.” Usually, that’s just marketing-speak for a new paint job or a slightly thinner face. But every once in a while, something comes around that sounds crazy on its face but ends up really surprising you when you actually test the product. I can think of two off the top of my head, PXG and LAB Golf. I heard the story, had my early opinions, proceeded to test said product and was thoroughly impressed. Now both companies have seen success, grown, evolved and are as much a part of the industry as anything else.

Enter The Underground

If you haven’t heard the whispers yet, don’t feel bad. That’s by design. While the rest of the industry is shouting from the rooftops of retail stores, The Underground is operating in the shadows — and that’s exactly why the gear junkies, devout club players and, yes, Tour pros are starting to get excited.

I caught up with the minds behind the movement: Hollywood icon and certified stick Mark Wahlberg, industry veteran Garry Singer and retail titan Doug Meijer. They aren’t just trying to sell you a golf ball; they’re trying to change the way you think about what’s in your bag…and how you get it.

The ethos of the “un-retail” ball

For Mark Wahlberg, it wasn’t about anything grandiose — it was about the making zero compromises. Mark lives the game, and for him, The Underground isn’t for everyone, and that’s the point.

“It’s a unique and exclusive club for golfers who want the best, like being different, and are committed to using the best products they can get.” It’s funny when I think of anything Mark Wahlberg participates in it harkens back to a brilliant quote he delivered in the movie Deep Water Horizon (“Hope, is not a strategy”) that actually applies here. It’s the idea that best intentions and a good idea won’t get you all the way home. You not only need to have the conviction and belief in the idea, but, ultimately, you gotta have a product that ain’t afraid of a fight. No one involved here needs this to work; they believe in it and know it works. And it’s not just these boys: a collection of athletes, entertainers, etc., are getting into this as well. Some may roll their eyes at the idea of all that but, again, Wahlberg, Meijer and Singer aren’t speaking to the masses here. Just that golfer that loves this kinda stuff. They exist, trust me, I know a bunch of them.

That “different” factor is huge. In a world where every foursome is playing the same three balls, there’s a psychological edge to teeing up something that the guy in the cart next to you literally cannot buy.

Tour Validation: Sergio and Stenson

It’s one thing for a celebrity to back a ball; it’s another for a major champion to put his career on the line with it. The Underground has already achieved what most startup brands never do: actual, week-in, week-out Tour validation.

Both Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson have moved away from the lifelong mainstream equipment contracts to create opportunities like this. Neither one is paid but they’ve invested in the platform, and it gives both the ability to make prompt tweaks on the fly which ain’t that easy in the mainstream.

For the record they both play the “club” ball currently… yes, the one the rest of the members play. BUT if they wanted something else, its’ a way easier activation due to the size of the company. Think of these pivots as turning a speed boat around vs. an aircraft carrier. Make sense?

For Sergio — one of the greatest drivers and ball-strikers of his generation — the switch wasn’t about a check. It was about finding a ball that reacted precisely how he wanted it to through the wind.

Garry Singer, who has spent decades obsessed with ball chemistry (he started CLEAR Golf a few years back), sees this as the ultimate competitive advantage. For him, the goal isn’t “sales volume” — it’s “performance volume and pivoting at will.”

“It’s an exclusive club for golfers who know, appreciate,and strive to use a product that performs at a Tour-player level,” Singer explained.

The society of the fairway

Doug Meijer looks at the landscape and sees a lot of golfers following the leader. He sees The Underground as a refuge for the person who values precision over popularity.

“I would define The Underground as a society of golfers who do not follow the crowd,” Meijer says. “People like to feel special in just about all their endeavors; The Underground gives them a chance to do that in golf. They can play an ultra-high precision product that is quite unique.”

But let’s talk about the gatekeeping — because there is some. You don’t just walk into a big-box store and grab a dozen. Membership is by invitation only. If you’re lucky enough to get the call, the buy-in is $2,800. That covers your first 12 dozen balls and a haul of exclusive merch that makes it clear you’re part of the inner circle. It’s a steep price tag, but it’s a filter. It’s for the player who spends $400 on a round (or is a member at a private club) and doesn’t want their gear to be the weak link. There’s something about having that thing that not everyone can get, I always found it interesting with “Tour Issue” gear. Whether it was right for everyone didn’t really matter, it was the “hard to get” thing that made it fun.

The hidden advantage: No red tape

As a gear guy, this is the part that gets me fired up. Usually, when a designer says, “I want to try this material,” the accountants say, “That’ll add $4 to the cost of the box, we can’t do it.”

At The Underground, the accountants don’t have a seat at the table.

“With regard to our advantage on the ball development and production side: We have no cost restrictions, no investor pressure and an incredibly deep team that possesses many, many years of experience,” Meijer added. “We have one simple goal: to create the best golf ball we can.”

Think about that for a second. Imagine a R&D team with infinite runway and zero pressure to “ship by spring.” That’s a fun way to get breakthroughs. That’s how you get a ball that feels softer, with speed and that stays in the air longer.

My testing:

It’s a really good ball. Period. End of story. Is it for me? No. It doesn’t spin enough, but it’s really fast, feels amazing off the face, launches high and gives the player all the green side control you would want.

Here was a snap shot of the 7-iron shots I hit on Trackman.

30 Shot Average using a Cobra 3DP Tour iron, 32 loft, Nippon 120X shaft:

Chrome Tour X
Ball Speed 122.8 (Max speed 125.2)
Spin: 6497 RPM
Peak Height: 109 Feet
Decent: 48.2

The Underground
Ball Speed 123.1 (Max speed 126.4)
Spin: 5679 RPM
Peak Height: 118 Feet
Decent: 49.3

If I were to compare it to other balls, I’d say Callaway Triple Diamond or Titleist Left Dash would be just that. Is this one better than those? That’s up to the player honestly, but what I will call out is the feel of this ball. It has that HEAVY hit feeling off the face that I find quite attractive. I’d really love to see what a spinner ball from the Underground looks like. That would really pique my interest.

The verdict: Is it for you?

Look, most golfers are fine with what’s on the shelf at the local big-box store. And that’s okay. But there’s a subset of golfers — the ones with the means to participate and aren’t necessarily concerned what the rest of the world is doing. They want something unique, exclusive, something that piques curiosity. That’s what this Underground platform really nails on in my opinion.

I honestly think this idea has some legs, but will it take over the world? No. And that’s not what they are trying to do. This is for the that player that wants “the best”, loves the word exclusive and has the dough to make it a reality. I love that actually. This player does exist, there’s a bunch of them and The Underground is speaking to them.

This should get fun I reckon.

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Orlimar TriMetal Fairway Wood Returns: Faster Ball Speed, Higher Launch, Longer Distance

admin — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 04:21:41 +0000

Orlimar Brings Back the Iconic TriMetal Fairway Wood

Roseville, CA — Hireko Golf, owner of Orlimar Golf, is excited to announce the return of one of the most recognizable clubs, the Orlimar TriMetal Fairway Wood. Originally launched in 1998, the TriMetal quickly earned a reputation for innovative design and exceptional playability from the tee to the fairway. Now, 28 years later, the newest iteration combines the TriMetal’s legendary design with modern technology to deliver faster ball speeds, higher launch, and longer distance.

Designed for a wide range of golfers, the Orlimar TriMetal Fairway Wood is a forgiving fairway wood that helps improve ball speed, launch angle, and overall consistency.

The new TriMetal features an ultra-thin S450 maraging steel face, designed to maximize ball speed while producing a crisp, powerful feel at impact. A vacuum-cast 17-4 stainless steel sole, heat-treated for strength, enhances durability while optimizing weight distribution throughout the clubhead.

A strategically positioned copper weighted screw provides pinpoint accuracy and forgiveness, while the club’s Shallow face and railed sole make it an easy-to-launch fairway wood, especially effective from tight lies and challenging turf conditions.

The TriMetal is paired with the SK Fiber Supernova Copper graphite shaft, engineered for enhanced stability, ball speed, and launch. This newest iteration builds on the TriMetal’s legendary design to deliver confidence on every swing.

Key Features

Ultra-Thin S450 Maraging Steel Face – Maximizes ball speed and distance with crisp sound and feel.
Vacuum Cast 17-4 Stainless Sole – Heat-treated for strength and optimized weight distribution.
Copper Weighted Screw – Strategically positions weight for pinpoint accuracy and forgiveness.
Distinctive Low Profile Design – Shallow face and railed sole launch the ball easily from tight lies.
SK Fiber Supernova Copper Graphite Shaft – Enhances stability, speed, and launch angle.

The Orlimar TriMetal Fairway Wood is available for men, women, and seniors in both right- and left-hand options. Purchase via www.hirekogolf.com and www.orlimar.com or through your nearest authorized Orlimar distributor.

About Hireko Golf

Hireko Golf is a manufacturer of golf equipment and accessories headquartered in Roseville, California. Hireko’s stable of brands includes Orlimar, Intech, Juggernaut, Karma Grips, Acer & Dynacraft Golf Components and SK Fiber Golf Shafts. Hireko is also the licensee for PowerBilt in the USA.

For more information, or to become a dealer, contact support@hirekogolf.com or call +1 (626) 330-5525

Media Contact:
Hireko Trading Co., Inc
Ja’Monie Johnson
626-330-5525
jamonie@hirekogolf.com

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The Top 5 Putting Mats with Ball Returns [2026 Guide]

admin — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 07:22:02 +0000

Updated on January 4, 2026

As any golfer knows, improving your putting stroke is the quickest way to lower your handicap.

But practicing putting can be difficult, especially if you don’t always have time to drive to a golf course or green. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the top 5 putting mats with ball returns, so you can practice your putting skills from the comfort of your own home or office.

These putting mats come with automatic ball returns, so you won’t waste time chasing after golf balls. At the end of this article, we also offer up our favorite alternative to ball return putting mats.

1. Crestgolf Putting Mat Indoor / Outdoor (Best Overall)

Top Pick

Surface material: Premium Quality Velvet

Dimensions: 9.84” Wide x 109” Long (Ball Return is 10.62”)

Ball return system: Raised Incline Made of Wood

Pros

The velvet material of the putting surface leads to a putting experience that’s very similar to an actual green
It can be used indoors or outdoors, which makes this practice mat highly versatile
It can be folded up and stored without any fear of wrinkles, which is something not many brands can claim
The wooden ball return system has lots of durability and will save you a ton of time
Works well in a yard, office, garage, or bonus room
Golfers can practice on 2 different holes. One is smaller to increase putting accuracy.

Cons

The price is a little steep, but that’s understandable because of the quality materials
It could be a bit longer and wider

For a putting surface that’s nearly identical to a green on the golf course, consider choosing the Crestgolf putting mat. It’s 8 feet long, which makes it ideal for practicing short or medium-length putts. Crestgolf also went to great lengths to make sure that your putts would roll well on this surface.

With the wooden ball return feature, the high slope rolls each putt back to you. This means you can spend less time gathering your golf balls and more time practicing your putting stroke.

2. I&K Pro Indoor Golf Putting Green (Best Value)

Value Pick

Surface material: High-Quality Crystal Velvet

Dimensions: 1.28 Feet Wide x 8 Feet Long

Ball return system: Raised Incline Made of Plastic

Pros

One of the cheapest practice putting greens on the market
Automatic Ball Return System works beautifully
Works well for both beginner and seasoned golfers to hone their putting skills
Easy to set up in any home or office
The backing is designed to limit slippage, which reduces the chances of injury and overall aggravation

Cons

The plastic ball return won’t hold up as long as other materials
Some have had issues with the material getting creases in it
A few folks have had problems with the ball return

If you need to improve your putting game but are short on cash, the I&K Pro putting mat is just what you need. This is arguably the most cost-effective option out there. Golfers will love how this practice mat easily stores 3 golf balls and provides 2 different holes to practice on.

3. Club Champ Super Sized Putting Mat (Best Option with Hazards)

Best Option with Hazards

Surface material: Non-Directional Turf

Dimensions: 1.8 Feet Wide x 9 Feet Long

Ball return system: Raised Incline with Electronic Return

Pros

Very affordable practice mat with a nice ball return
The electronic ball return system doesn’t require any batteries
It shoots the ball back to you, whether you hit it in the hole or one of the hazards
The water hazard and sand trap will help you practice hitting straighter putts
It comes with a 2-year warranty, which is the longest one we’ve seen in the industry
It can be used on almost any surface, including carpets or wood floors
Easy to keep clean, which isn’t the case for all practice mats on the market

Cons

Some golfers think the ball returns too fast, which may make it unsuitable for small kids
The hazards are made of thin plastic, which means that they may not hold up well over time

Burned out on standard practice mats with incline ball returns? Check out the Club Champ Super Sized putting mat if you want to try something new. The ball return is electric, and it works even if you putt into the bunker or water hazard. That’s a neat feature that makes this practice mat worth trying.

4. Loowoko Indoor Putting Green (Best Alignment Lines)

Best Alignment Lines

Surface material: Crystal Velvet

Dimensions: 9.8” Wide x 122” Long

Ball return system: Raised Incline Made of Wood

Pros

Easy to assemble right out of the box, which is a nice plus
It folds up easily to make transportation or storage a breeze
A great putting training aid for any level of golfer
The turf is meant to simulate real grass for a more realistic roll
It comes with a 1-year warranty, which gives buyers peace of mind
It comes with 2 alignment aids and some distance markers
The automatic return portion is sturdy and made of wood

Cons

It can be hard to work kinks out of the material, which can cost you some practice time
The automatic ball return system sometimes gets hung up

Struggle to line up a putt correctly? If so, this golf mat will take your putting game to the next level.

It has 2 alignment aids to ensure your feet are in the right place while practicing. You’ll be shocked to learn how much proper alignment has to do with making good putts.

5. Britenway Golf Green Mat (Easiest to Assemble)

Easy to Assemble

Surface material: Crystal Velvet

Dimensions: 15” Wide x 123” Long

Ball return system: Raised Incline Made of Wood

Pros

Engineered to give golfers an experience that’s similar to a real green
It makes a fantastic gift on any occasion for golf lovers
One of the best auto ball returns in the industry that’s made of solid wood
It can easily be moved from your home to your office and vice versa
Built to last for several seasons of putting practice
It comes with 2 different size holes to increase your putting accuracy
The crystal velvet material gives you a very realistic roll
There is no battery to have to worry about recharging

Cons

The marketing materials show someone putting with a wedge, which is kind of annoying
Some have had issues with getting the mat to lay flat
There is no mention of any kind of warranty, which is a little bit disappointing

This high-quality putting practice mat is super easy to put together. The solid wood ball return frame snaps together in a flash thanks to the magnetic suction of the material. This mat is a little pricier than others on our list, but the quality is top-notch.

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.

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How to put backspin on a golf ball

admin — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 06:29:59 +0000

As golfers, we often want to put backspin on our shorter shots to help us control our distance and get us up and down—particularly when we’ve got the wedge in our hands.

When hitting shots, a small amount of backspin is required to keep the ball in the air. However, too much backspin will reduce our yardage, increase the ball’s height, and reduce forward roll. And, of course, we don’t want any spin (be it backspin or sidespin) when we’re hitting a driver.

Finding the right balance can be tricky, but knowing how to put backspin on a golf ball is an essential skill that you’ll use time and time again out on the course—so it’s well worth your precious practice time.

If you’re on a launch monitor, an optimal spin rate would be between 2000-3000 RPM for most players. So, how do we go about it? Read on for our tips to get you started.

6 tips for putting backspin on a golf ball

1. Use the right equipment

We have to clean our grooves before we do anything else.

Think about all the spin we got when we first bought our wedges compared to now. The grooves were fresh and free of dirt, and the spin was probably unrecognisable compared to now.

We want friction between the clubface and ball, but dirt reduces the friction and, hence, the resulting spin. A newer wedge will spin more than an old one, which is why the pros will often change theirs, but most of us can help ourselves by better looking after what we’ve got.

So, always have a wet towel and a wire brush to hand to get into the grooves after every shot.

2. Use the right ball

There’s a reason premium golf balls are so good for our game. They offer great distance, spin, and feel around the greens.

Titleist and other leading golf brands will fit a ball, starting with wedges and working backwards. A softer ball will grip the clubface better, while a harder ball won’t maximise our spin. Most golfers are more interested in getting as much distance off the tee as possible and, therefore, play with a harder ball, but if we play a softer ball instead, we can expect to get more spin around the greens.

Modern-day premium golf balls are designed with multi-layer construction and a soft urethane cover to enhance the grip between the clubface and the ball. They also offer a more moderate level of spin for mid-iron shots and low spin for the driver. The most popular balls on Tour are the Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x. The Pro V1 is known to have slightly lower spin off the tee than the Pro V1x, but it has excellent greenside control. Meanwhile, the Pro V1x provides more spin on mid to long-iron shots for players who want a higher trajectory and stopping power.

3. Employ the right technique

Every shot has spin; it’s just the amount of spin that is different. To put backspin on a golf ball, we need the right amount of loft, which means we don’t want the ball back in the stance, as this will de-loft the shot—and we don’t want to add too much loft, as we’ll lose friction on the ball.

The shaft angle needs to be straight to our body, with the butt of the club pointing at our belly button, or with a very slight amount of forward lean. We also need to have the ball in the middle of a narrow stance. We don’t want to take a large divot either—instead, we’re looking for a relatively shallow divot. Apply slightly more weight on your lead side and rotate your body as you would on a full shot.

There’s no real secret to this shot, but the strike is a key factor in generating backspin, so think about rotating around your lead side.

Speed is also crucial here. If you have a 30-yard pitch, you’re not going to be able to create much backspin, if any at all. However, if you have a 70-yard pitch, there’ll be more speed and, therefore, more spin.

4. The right lie

Lie is another important factor in putting backspin on a golf ball. The tighter the lie, the better it is to create spin. On Tour-level rapid greens, being able to find the fairways is massive, as that’s where the pros are pretty much guaranteed to get the perfect amount of spin on the ball.

That said, however, in the modern game, great golfers can still get plenty of spin from the semi-rough thanks to their strike, equipment, and ball—but, for our purposes, backspin is only likely to come from the ‘short stuff’.

So, factor this in, and when you’re in the rough, expect a less clean strike and more run, as there’ll be more grass between the club and the ball.

5. Apply the right grip pressure

Short-game specialist Dan Grieve talks about this a lot and is a huge advocate of a lighter grip around the greens.

“If you get tight with the grip, the ball will jump off, and I really think 99% of amateur golfers grip it way too tight. If I’ve taught tens of thousands of golfers, I don’t think I’ve ever told anybody to grip it tighter, ever. So I think grip pressure is huge.”

6. Use the conditions to your advantage

Of course, an element of luck is involved here, but spin will generally increase when we’re playing the ball into the wind. So, when we have a 90-yard shot into a 20mph wind, for example, we should expect the ball to stop pretty quickly or even spin back with the right execution.

On the other hand, when we’re playing a shot downwind, spin will reduce, so we need to factor in more run.

Similarly, receptive greens will encourage our ball to spin more, so keep this in mind as well. If the green surface is similar to that of a links course, we shouldn’t expect to see our ball checking up, either.

All in all, learning how to put the right amount of backspin on a golf ball can take time and a lot of practice, but by thinking more about the factors outlined in this article, you’ll be well on your way to getting started. So, what are you waiting for?

Specialist golf insurance through Golf Care

Whether you’re just starting to learn how to put backspin on a golf ball or you’re already a master of the art, you might want to consider financially protecting yourself and your equipment with specialist golf insurance if you play the game regularly.

Through Golf Care, policies can include Equipment Cover up to £7,500, Public Liability of up to £10m, and Personal Accident Cover up to £50,000. Get a quote online today.

Please note the information provided on this page should not be taken as advice and has been written as a matter of opinion. For more on insurance cover and policy wording, see our homepage.

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Take Flight with XXIO’s HYPER RD Golf Ball

admin — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 19:51:28 +0000

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA — XXIO®, a global leader in premium lightweight golf equipment, introduces the all-new HYPER RD Golf Ball. Designed to pair seamlessly with XXIO clubs and the golfers who trust them, HYPER RD delivers the longest, most stable flight in XXIO golf ball history without sacrificing the soft feel and control players rely on around the greens.

A Ball That Wants to Fly

From the very first strike, HYPER RD Golf Balls are built to do something simple: launch high and launch far. The balls naturally high launch and low spin create an easy, towering flight that carries farther and hold its line, even when conditions turn challenging. This effortless performance is made possible by XXIO’s Rebound Frame structure, which helps the ball flex efficiently at impact, maintaining speed while encouraging a higher launch.

“Golfers who play the HYPER RD don’t need to force speed or adjust their swing in any way,” said XXIO General Manager, Ryan Polanco. “The ball will respond naturally and is built to maintain its momentum through the air, so players will see their shots fly straight and remain stable. It’s a confidence booster on the course.”

At the heart of HYPER RD Golf Balls is a refined three-piece construction designed to balance power and feel. A hyper resilient mid-layer works quietly beneath the surface to reduce excess spin and keep the ball moving forward, while the core promotes consistent energy transfer across swing speeds, producing effortless distance and building confidence with every swing.

Helping every shot stretch farther is XXIO’s newly developed 362 Speed Dimple Pattern. This design features seven different sizes to help the ball travel through the air with less resistance and maintain its high ball speed and trajectory until landing.

Soft Where It Matters Most

Around the greens, the performance changes in the best way. HYPER RD balls feature a newly developed Hyper Soft Cover designed to grip the clubface on short irons, pitches, and chips. The result is dependable spin performance, control, and urethane-like feel while maintaining the resilience and durability of ionomer.

While on the greens, golfers benefit from an evolved alignment mark to help with focus, lock onto their target, and start putts on line with confidence.

To learn more about XXIO’s newest ball offering, visit us.dunlopsports.com/xxio.

Pricing & Availability

XXIO HYPER Golf Balls launch January 26^th and are available in a variety of color options including Premium White, Premium Pink, Lime Yellow, and a 4-color set.

Pricing: XXIO HYPER RD (All Colors) — $49.99

Launch Date: January 26, 2026

About Dunlop Sports Americas

Based in Huntington Beach, CA and Greenville, SC, Dunlop Sports Americas (DSA) is the North American subsidiary of Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. We manufacture and sell premium golf and racket sports equipment to players of all skill levels under a portfolio of brands: Dunlop, Srixon, Cleveland Golf, and XXIO. DSA is also a licensed exclusive distributor of ASICS golf footwear. Our unique global sales network and infrastructure in R&D, manufacturing, and material science elevates our brands onto a global stage where we encourage players from around the world to experience our incredible products. For more information, please contact Noelle Zavaleta at noellezavaleta@srixon.com.

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The First Smart Golf Ball That Captures Crucial Putting Data, GENIUS to Make Groundbreaking Debut at PGA Merchandise Show in Booth 1715

admin — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 07:43:15 +0000

(BUFFALO, N.Y.) – GENIUS – a new, first-of-its-kind golf ball featuring embedded electronics that capture crucial putting data – will debut at the 2026 PGA Merchandise Show in Booth 1715.

Benefitting golfers of all abilities and PGA coaches, GENIUS is the only regulation-size, regulation-weight smart golf ball that looks, feels and rolls like a premium, Tour-quality ball. Its core contains a sophisticated sensor array that identifies the moment of impact, plus skid and roll of the ball, resulting in precise data that external devices cannot reliably detect.

Crucial performance metrics like velocity, launch angle, side spin, skid distance, roll characteristics, deceleration pattern, consistency across strokes and green speed are captured and, using proprietary algorithms, processed and delivered via Bluetooth to the GENIUS app on a user’s smartphone.

The GENIUS app then instantaneously shares actionable feedback specific to each user’s unique putting stroke. The guided sessions improve alignment, direction and distance control, skid and roll quality, lag putting and other core disciplines.

Developed over five years of intense R&D by leading golf ball engineers formerly with Titleist, TaylorMade and Srixon, GENIUS delivers pinpoint-accurate insights at a fraction of the cost of high-end indoor putting studio systems. Two-time PGA Championship winner Dave Stockton, Sr., along with his fellow acclaimed putting coaches and sons Dave, Jr. and Ron Stockton, heavily contributed to GENIUS’s groundbreaking technology.

“Putting is where pros make money and amateurs make memories, and in my 35 years of teaching, I’ve never worked with a product as consequential as GENIUS,” said Ron Stockton. “It will change how I teach and stay connected to my players 24/7.”

“Data has historically been focused on the full swing despite putting accounting for 40 to 45% of the average golfer’s strokes,” said Mike Jordan, Chief Executive Officer of GENIUS and a 25-year veteran of golf ball innovation. “This imbalance is where the breakthrough GENIUS fits – electronics inside a golf ball identify exact problems and associated fixes, keeping the complicated super simple.”

To prevent potential information overload, captured putting data is distilled down to a GENIUS Stroke Score, a simple benchmark that tracks elite-level patterns and improvement and, through the GENIUS app, compares performance against the broader GENIUS community.

GENIUS is effective outdoors on practice greens – for everything from tap-ins to long lag putts – and indoors on mats, floors and carpets. There is no need for setup, face stickers or alignment rods – just drop a ball and start rolling putts.

The GENIUS ball boasts a battery life of around 10,000 putts. When a ball nears its end-of-life, the GENIUS system will automatically detect it as long as a user’s subscription is active and ship a free replacement.

Three GENIUS balls, a carrying case and annual app subscription is $240. Initial product shipments are planned for Q2 2026 with pre-orders taken at the PGA Show.

About GENIUS

GENIUS is a sports tech company with putting as the first application of its patented smart golf ball and future uses planned for all clubs in the bag. Meticulously engineered to significantly improve putting, it is the first, new and only ball of its kind with electronics inside. Data is transmitted from the ball to a user’s phone, measuring skid, stimp, side spin, launch angle, face angle, distance, roll stability and more. Playing like a Tour-level ball, GENIUS shows golfers how to intuitively use the data to putt more on-line and in the hole.

More information: www.geniusball.golf, info@geniusball.golf, @thegeniusball (Instagram)

Stephen Reynolds
Reynolds Media Group
stephen@reynoldsmediagrp.com
703-344-6031

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PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp leaves door open on golf ball rollback

admin — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 19:03:07 +0000

PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp says the Tour has not made a decision on the USGA and R&A plan to roll back golf ball distance starting in 2028.

For the better part of three years, golf’s distance debate has largely been framed as a conversation between the game’s governing bodies and the equipment companies that make golf balls. On Tuesday at TPC Sawgrass, another voice stepped to the microphone.

Brian Rolapp, the PGA Tour’s chief executive officer, was asked during his press conference where the Tour currently stands on the USGA and R&A’s plan to change the way golf balls are tested, a move that would ultimately require elite players to use balls that fly a shorter distance starting in 2028.

His answer did not endorse the governing bodies’ plan, nor did it reject it. What it did was leave the door open for the Tour.

“Yeah, I got this question last August [when Rolapp started as the PGA Tour’s CEO], and I knew virtually nothing about it,” Rolapp said. “I learned a lot, lot since then. But I think this is clearly a complex issue. From what I can tell, it comes down to two questions. Is distance a problem or should it be addressed? That’s question number one. Question number two, does the current rule being proposed accomplish that?”

Rolapp went on to say that he has spoken with players, the governing bodies, golf ball manufacturers and fans on the subject and has learned that everybody has an opinion, but those opinions are clearly not consistent.

“As far as the PGA Tour is concerned, we have not taken the position. We have not made our mind up on where this is. When we get comfortable with the rule and the data, at that point, we’ll make a decision.”

That answer matters because the USGA and the R&A have already made theirs.

In December 2023, the governing bodies announced a plan to revise the Overall Distance Standard — a testing procedure that determines whether a golf ball is conforming and therefore legal for play. The new test would increase the speed used in testing, which effectively means manufacturers will have to design balls that travel shorter distances under the new protocol to stay within the Overall Distance Standard.

Right now, the rollback is scheduled to happen in two phases. Elite competitions, including professional tours and championships, are expected to transition first beginning in 2028. Recreational golfers would continue using balls that conform to the current standard until 2030.

The stated goal is to slow the steady increase in driving distance over the past several decades and, in the governing bodies’ view, to protect the long-term sustainability of golf courses.

That decision, however, did not end the conversation.

Players have offered mixed reactions. Equipment companies have spent the past two years building prototype balls and gathering feedback. Fans have debated the issue everywhere from clubhouses to social media comment sections.

And the PGA Tour, which represents the players most directly affected by the elite-level change, has largely stayed quiet about where it stands. Rolapp’s comments suggest that the position remains unsettled.

Notably, he did not say the Tour believes distance is a problem. He did not say the Tour is prepared to endorse the changes. Instead, he framed the debate around two unresolved questions: whether distance actually needs to be addressed and whether the proposed rule would accomplish that goal if it does.

In other words, the Tour appears to still be listening to players and studying the issue rather than lining up behind the decision.

“As far as our players, I know they’re hitting prototypes,” Rolapp said. “I hear all different things from them. Some are impacted, some that expected to be impacted are not impacted.”

In a perfect world, the governing bodies’ 2023 announcement would have closed the book on the distance debate. Rolapp’s comments suggest that some chapters have yet to be written. If the PGA Tour ultimately decides that it does not agree with the USGA and R&A’s assessment and it decides not to support the proposed golf ball changes, it could create a serious blow to the USGA and R&A’s plans.

The governing bodies need the PGA Tour to be on board with the proposed changes — a world where PGA Tour events allow one ball to be played while a different ball is mandated for use at the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open — is a world no one wants. Plus, PGA of America CEO Derek Sprague, who has since stepped down from that position, said last May that his organization is “vehemently against the ball rollback.” The PGA of America operates the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup, so count that group as another voice golf’s governing bodies need to convince.

The USGA and R&A have laid out their plan. Manufacturers are designing products to meet the coming standard and are deep in the planning and prototype phases for golf balls that would meet the proposed requirements. But the organization that runs the largest, most visible and most impactful professional golf tour in the world is still asking the most fundamental question of all.

Is distance actually a problem? And if it is, is the USGA and R&A’s plan the solution?

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