At the end of the ball development process, a "master sample" is validated, i.e. a reference ball which is then mass-produced. The challenge, then, is to ensure that all the balls leaving the production lines are always identical to the reference ball. And it's not that simple: even if the manufacture of a golf ball is automated, production drifts can affect all manufacturers and have an impact on the ball's performance.
Do you know the R&A? It's an organization based in St Andrews, England, which lays down the rules and standards of golf. And in particular those for golf balls. They must meet strict criteria to be approved and played in official competitions.
Every year, we send our Soft 500 and Tour 900 balls to the R&A for homologation. As the Distance 100 ball is eco-designed (its core is recycled), it does not meet the R&A criteria for core homogeneity.
The R&A limits ball performances because it wants them to be comparable over time, so that the difference lies not in the equipment (clubs, balls), but in the player. It's also because golf courses can't be extended ad infinitum, so technical progress needs to be regulated to preserve the spirit of the game.
Nous testons nos balles en sortie d'usine et aléatoirement sur des boîtes prélevées en magasin en 5 étapes.
The weight of the balls is measured on a precision balance (accurate to 0.01g). In the last random test, on a box of 12 Tour 900s, we obtained values ranging from 45.41 to 45.91 grams, with a standard deviation of 0.12g.
This is perfectly in line with the R&A standard of a ball weighing less than 45.93g.
The diameter of the ball is measured 4 times at 3 points:
This ensures that our balls are perfectly spherical.
Whether a ball feels hard or softer on impact is directly related to its compression index. On the Inesis Tour 900, this is 90, making it a firm ball.
We run the balls through a machine that defines the compression level of each ball.
Did you know? Golf balls tend to harden over time.
The aesthetic appearance of the balls is scrutinized. The quality of the weld between the two half-spheres is studied. We look for any injection defects, logo or alignment line marking problems, as well as any paint or varnish problems.
Balls are propelled at 175 km/h through a ball barrel onto a metal plate. The speed of the ball before and after impact is measured to deduce the ball's coefficient of restitution, i.e. the energy it will retain after impact with the clubhead.
The balls must withstand 30 passes over the ball gun without breaking. They are then propelled, still by the ball gun, over a wedge head to check the strength of the outer casing.
The bales are cut to check the thickness of the layers and the perfect centering of the core. We also take the opportunity to measure the hardness of each layer using a durometer.
This is particularly important, as it can have a perceptible impact on the ball's flight.
© 2026 Inesis
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