Golf Ball Hot List 2025: Explaining Vector Ratings

The vector ratings for the Golf Ball Hot List encompass five distinct areas based on tester performance assessments. Here is a guide to the five vector ratings:

Feel: This vector scale reflects a 1 to 5 rating with one being on the extreme left side of the scale and five being on the extreme right side of the scale. These ratings do not indicate a value judgment on feel. Rather, a rating of “1” would be equal to one of the softest balls a player has ever experienced while a “5” would equal one of the firmest balls a player has ever experienced.

Short Game: This vector is a performance quality rating where a “1” on the left side of the scale represents “poor” and a “5” on the right side of the scale represents “excellent.” The score reflects a combination of the performance ratings for greenside shots and half-wedge shots. Players are evaluating control, trajectory and spin based on their own individual expectations and requirements for a golf ball.

Full swing: This vector is a performance quality rating where a “1” on the left side of the scale represents “poor” and a “5” on the right side of the scale represents “excellent.” The score reflects a combination of the performance ratings for 7-iron shots and drives. Players are evaluating balls based on their perceptions of distance, control and trajectory.

Half-wedge spin, launch: These two vectors reflect the results of robot testing conducted by Golf Laboratories. All balls are hit with 56-degree sand wedges with the robot mimicking a low-driving, 50-yard shot. The vector scales represent a range of low launch and low spin to the left and the highest launch and highest spin to the right. The range of launch angles run from 26 to 40 degrees while the range of spin runs from 3,500 rpm to 7,500 rpm. Generally speaking, on the half-wedge test, the vast majority of urethane-cover balls will be lower launching and with the highest spin. Non-urethane-cover balls feature a greater variety of spin and launch performance but generally launch the ball higher and with less spin on the half-wedge shot then urethane-cover balls.