Griffin reveals off the Maxfli Tour X golf ball he’ll be taking part in on the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
Jonathan Wall/GOLF
McKINNEY, Texas — A number of weeks in the past, Ben Griffin did one thing that raised some eyebrows. Earlier than a PGA Tour spherical commences, gamers arrive on the primary tee and present their taking part in companions the golf ball they plan to make use of — markings and all. It’s a simple approach to make sure the pellets don’t get combined up on the course.
Most experts flash the ball and go about their enterprise, however on this explicit day on the Houston Open, Griffin flashed his ball and waited for a response. It’s the identical one he’s acquired in subsequent rounds since he selected to make use of Maxfli’s Tour X in competitors.
“The response is often the identical,” Griffin instructed GOLF.com. “Their face lights up they usually have a look at me and say, “Are you severe?” It’s a model they doubtless haven’t seen in 15 or 20 years, in order that’s been cool. It’s undoubtedly sparked some curiosity out right here.”
On a Tour the place gear blue bloods dominate the headlines, Griffin is embracing a extra contrarian route by agreeing to play Maxfli’s flagship Tour ball for the rest of the PGA Tour season following in depth testing. As a part of the settlement, Griffin will be a part of Lexi Thompson as the most recent professional to endorse Maxfli golf balls.
“Lexi drew my curiosity to the ball initially,” Griffin mentioned. “I noticed she was taking part in it and my caddie, [Alex Ritthamel], who used to caddie for Lexi’s brother Curtis, thought I ought to a minimum of check out the Maxfli to see the way it carried out. Just a few months handed and I lastly acquired my palms on some. I did some preliminary testing however wasn’t planning on doing a lot with the ball.”
That was till he noticed the rise in ball pace and distance.
“It was roughly 8 yards further throughout preliminary testing,” Griffin mentioned. “Across the inexperienced, I didn’t see a ton of variations throughout balls. That’s when the gap facet actually began to intrigue me. There are specific weeks out right here when distance has type of become a precedence.”
In keeping with Griffin, he noticed the advantages additional distance can present throughout a apply spherical this week on the CJ Cup Byron Nelson when he simply cleared a bunker sitting 300 yards away by 10-plus yards.
Jonathan Wall/GOLF
“That was a pleasing shock,” he mentioned. “You see issues like that and marvel why you didn’t change sooner. Due to the constructive outcomes, it was a no brainer for me. I undoubtedly assume it’s going to assist me.”
Whereas Griffin’s ball take care of Maxfli is being introduced this week, he confirmed on-course testing has been occurring for just a few months and included aggressive rounds in Houston and the Dominican Republic the place he was in a position to see firsthand how properly Tour X carried out within the wind.
“Houston was check,” mentioned Griffin. “Then I put it in play on most likely the windiest weeks of the yr, within the Dominican, and it carried out exceptionally properly within the situations. I completed T14 that week. The ball wasn’t holding me again by any means. It was a kind of conditions the place I felt like I may’ve been in competition if I had made extra putts. As soon as I spotted the ball was performing properly on Tour, I figured I higher have a look at it a bit extra. Over the previous few weeks, we’ve been in contact with Maxfli to see some potential alternatives.”
‘We have been all in shock’: Inside Lexi Thompson’s new endorsement deal
The conversations ultimately led to a deal that subsequently expanded Maxfli’s Tour footprint. Earlier than Thompson and Griffin put the Tour ball in play, Maxfli was merely often known as a Dick’s Sporting Items model. It’s a far cry from the years when Maxfli was a significant participant on Tour and boasted a roster that after included the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman and Fred {Couples}.
With professionals starting to embrace Maxfli once more, Griffin mentioned it’s time for weekend golfers to reassess the model’s place as an enormous field providing.
“I’ve achieved sufficient testing to the place I really feel very assured within the ball’s efficiency on Tour,” he mentioned. “Should you have a look at the worth level in comparison with different balls in a retailer, it’s considerably much less. However for my part, it has the texture of an elite ball — and the gap to show it. There’s the steadiness within the wind, too. Hopefully taking part in within the wind later this summer time in Scotland, together with the British Open, I would like to ensure I’m utilizing a ball that’s good in these situations.”
It’s straightforward to take a look at Griffin’s newest deal and marvel if endorsement {dollars} drove his determination to signal with Maxfli. What finally swayed him to vary balls midseason was the chance to strive one thing totally different that wasn’t out there on Tour and get Maxfli again on the Tour map.
“It’s one of many solely merchandise you’re utilizing on each single shot, and I do know quite a lot of guys are hesitant to vary for that motive,” he mentioned. “I’ve been excited this yr to be a free agent and check some extra merchandise out, a minimum of the final month or so. The [Maxfli] ball is the one which piqued my curiosity probably the most. Possibly a part of the reason being as a result of it doesn’t have a presence [on Tour]. It’s a possibility to showcase how good it’s. I’ve achieved sufficient testing with it to really feel like I’m assured with it out right here.
“It has quite a lot of potential. This may very well be the beginning the place we see just a few extra guys check it. Possibly not this yr, however within the years to return. It’s enjoyable to strive one thing out right here that nobody else is. Some would possibly say it’s a threat. However to me, it’s very calculated. I’ve seen the numbers to show it.”
Griffin is hoping his calculated change pays off — beginning this week in Texas.
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