Recently we’ve been fiddling around with a weird little golf ball called a Truvis. It’s constructed in the same way as a normal ball, in this case a Titleist, but with a special regular pattern printed all over it. The daft thing is, it’s the same size as a standard golf ball but it looks bigger when it’s sitting there waiting for you to bash the hell out of it. It just seems to stand up on the grass. And, somehow, you’re really aware of the 3D’ness – it kind of makes you want to hit it!
When you putt or chip with it, the pattern gives you a very clear indication of how cleanly you’ve hit the ball. You can see the spin really easily, which can only help improve striking and consistency. There’s a bit of science behind why your brain registers the pattern in a different way, making it easier to imprint good practice. In short we like it (but we’ve also realised how rubbish our putting is…)
The Truvis has been around for a while, and is being used with considerable success by notable players (and winners) on the Senior and Ladies tour. So keep an eye out, and if you notice someone teeing up with a miniature football, they’re not necessarily Arsenal supporters, but they may turn out to be very good putters.
Here’s a link to their site if you want to find out more; Truvis golf ball It does cost a little bit more than your average golf ball but look on the bright side; 1) when you hit them in the rough they’re dead easy to see and identify 2) you’ll soon get a reputation as a bandit putter – holing everything in sight. Should put you on the podium a bit.
I bought a box of the Truvis balls and within a round had lost four, albeit to four friends who wanted to try them. Unfortunately, I never got them back.
They’re great, especially around the greens when it’s easy to see how the ball is spinning. I’d see them more as a training or practice aid though.
Although they’re a talking point out on the course I can’t say that they have improved my ball striking or anything. A bit of a novelty and quite expensive. £26 for a box of AD333. The Z-URS are £40 a dozen.
And I don’t know where you got that picture from, but they don’t do Titleists!
The Truvis pattern has 10 tour wins, five last year by the small but ever increasing number of pros playing them. Some will get more from this better vision than others. If you practise hard and you are a good observer, then your visualisation can only imrpove, great talent also can flourish with this new accurate visual info. As for me, I must be one of the few double didget handicap players in the country (11) that won their Club summer scratch tornament, mainly by putting the lights out.
Keep working at it Nigel and pay attention ! and the results will come. If your good enough. One thing you can’t blame is better vision. Which is what you get playing with Truvis. An exciting new golfing adventure and hopefully rewarding for the extra pound it costs on the ball. Cheaper of course when the big boys find out and come on board. Happy Golfing New Year to all Patterners out there !
I do love those truvis patterned golf balls. some laugh when they see them, but as soon as you start putting their lights out it’s okay.
Every golfer visualises his shot. If you can visualise more clearly, guess what’s going to happen.
Ten tour wins, 5 this year already and None of the pros paid to play them. Any of you hackers trtied them yet ?