This first of a kind test has produced some surprising results and takes us in an unexpected direction. Prior to this test much of the opinion (mine included) was that a premium ball is a premium ball. The ball was effectively maxed out and there was little to differentiate between premium balls besides feel.
I had previously noted a difference in ball speed between the Chrome Soft and harder balls (such as the ProV1x and TP5x. The ST cannot account for aerodynamic differences and these appear to compund the results achieved by the Chrome Soft (& x) producing disappointing data for the ball.
However, what really got my attention was the variability MGS noted between balls/shots. We as golfers hope that if we execute the ball will find its target (assuming no signficant wind). The fact they noted significant variability when a Robot was hitting suggests this may not be the case.
MGS provided data for the mean and standard deviation for each test/ball combination. Going back to my Monte Carlo simulator I used this data to plot potential dispersion circles for the balls and the results are quite shocking:
This cannot be correct, a robot using the MTB X ball would miss the fairway 33% of the time!?!?!
