Are You Playing the Right Golf Ball?

At this point, most golfers understand that having their clubs properly fit can make a big difference to overall performance and consistency, but one thing too many golfers forget about is their golf ball.

It's the one piece of equipment that gets used on every single shot, and depending on your needs as a golfer, it can play a big factor in how your entire set performs out on the course.

Yet despite that reality, golf ball fitting remains one of the most overlooked areas of equipment. Golfers will spend hours debating driver heads, shafts and loft settings, but often choose a golf ball based on what a friend plays or whatever happens to be on sale. The challenge is that golf balls aren't one-size-fits-all.

RELATED: Comparing Wyndham Clark's Two U.S. Open Winning Bags

Just last week, the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills offered a perfect reminder of that, with players battling firm fairways, tough greens, and constantly changing winds. Wyndham Clark's victory with a Titleist Pro V1x added to an already impressive winning record for the Pro V1 family this season, reinforcing a simple point: the right golf ball can make a difference long before you ever reach the putting green.

So to find out how a golf ball can directly affect performance, we headed to Pinehurst, North Carolina, to the Padgett Center for a ball fitting with Titleist Ball Fitting Specialist Max Sabo.

The goal wasn't necessarily to find more distance. Instead, it was to better understand how different golf ball models can influence launch conditions, peak height, spin rates, and overall consistency throughout the bag.

Thanks to the fitting process, I found out how my current Titleist Pro V1X (Left Dash) compares to other balls in the Titleist Pro V1 line and if it's still the right ball for me.