Question 1

Q: You've tested golf balls with many PGA TOUR players including Tiger Woods, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose, Jason Day and Dustin Johnson. What can the consumer learn from your experience and what is the best way to “fit” a golfer with a ball?"

Accepted Answer

When I entered the industry in 1990, player testing consisted of looking at driver and 8-iron spin. Today, the ball fitting process is far more sophisticated with players spending hours on the green to watch how the ball reacts on short pitch shots. If that goes well, we work our way back to 30 yards, then 75 yards, then full sand wedges to evaluate the flight, spin and feel of the golf ball. Next comes mid and long irons shots to test the ball’s performance into a headwind. After testing with a variety of prototypes, the golfer usually has a good idea which one he or she likes. The final step happens on the tee where players look at their launch and trajectory. All golf balls today, travel the same distance off the tee, so my recommendation is that amateurs “fit” themselves inside 100 yards.

Question 2

Q: What is “consumer pricing?”

Accepted Answer

It’s simple. Unlike other ball companies, we do not have significant marketing, advertising, player contracts, sales reps or steep overhead. As a result, we can pass the savings back to the consumer. Imagine, a ball that performs like the number one played ball on Tour for nearly half the price

Question 3

Q: There are many companies making and marketing golf balls. What are some of the myths that exist today around ball performance?

Accepted Answer

There are a lot of companies using “compression” and “swing speed” as buzzwords to market their golf balls. Snell Golf believes players today should never choose a golf ball based on swing speed and driver fittings. Regardless of swing speed, the golf balls today are compressed on drivers and will go about the same distance.  In other words, not one ball will be significantly longer. A better way to think about golf ball performance, is from 100 yards and in. After all, the average golfer who shoots in the mid-80s, will use driver 14 times maximum. The concern should be around the ball’s behavior in the other 70 shots.

Question 4

Q: What has been the feedback on the Snell Golf ball products to date?

Accepted Answer

We are humbled to have received such a positive response from consumers and media. The feedback has consistently been around the ball’s performance into the wind and control around the green. These comments are consistent with the engineering behind our golf ball line-up. From a sales perspective, we exceeded our expectations in the first year. Specifically, what had been forecasted for the year, sold in the first six months

Question 5

Q: Do all “TOUR” balls have thin cast urethane covers? Why?

Accepted Answer

Snell Golf is one of only three companies (TaylorMade and Titleist the others) to use this soft, thin cast urethane technology.  This is a very tough process and expensive process, but we are happy to provide it to our customers.  More recently, TPU or thermoplastic urethane covers have also improved. We now can use cast urethane or thermoplastic urethane to achieve performance desired for each golf ball we design.

Question 6

Q: What is the performance difference in a two-piece, three piece, and four-piece golf ball?"

Accepted Answer

A 3-piece ball or 4-piece ball is often for the more accomplished golfer who is willing to spend a little more money for tee-to-green performance. By adding an additional layer(s), we can keep driver spin low, but use the mantle layers to work with the cover to add spin around the green and other more specific performance characteristics. To summarize, the more layers, the more specific performance we can make, however it does add cost to manufacturing.
The golfer who needs help getting the ball in the air and is more concerned about control should opt for a 2-piece ball, which will have lower driver spin and typically lower short game spin.

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