Does the golf ball you play actually matter more than the clubs in your bag?

In this episode of Golf Underground, Sully, George, and Wardo welcome Mike Fox, Senior Category Director of Golf Balls at TaylorMade, for a deep dive into the science, strategy, and surprising truths behind modern golf ball performance. With over 20 years in the industry, Mike breaks down why compression myths won’t die, how tour players influence innovation, and why amateurs often choose the exact opposite ball they should be playing.

From Rory McIlroy and Nelly Korda switching balls to the millions spent on R&D, this conversation pulls back the curtain on how performance, feel, and personality collide in today’s game—all with plenty of laughs, rapid fire takes, and real-world insights you can actually use on your next round.

Must-Hear Insights and Key Moments

• Mike Fox explains the moment he realized golf balls were the most important piece of equipment in the bag.
• The crew unpacks why lower swing speed golfers should not automatically play low-compression balls.
• Mike reveals how Rory McIlroy’s golf ball switch impacted performance at Augusta.
• George Brett shares firsthand stories about feeling immediate differences with new equipment.
• The group discusses TaylorMade’s DART testing system and why tour players sometimes outsmart TrackMan.
• Mike breaks down the real differences between TP5 and TP5x in simple, usable terms.

Words of Wisdom: Standout Quotes from This Episode

• “The golf ball is the only piece of equipment you use on every single shot.” – Mike Fox

• “A lower compression golf ball is not necessarily better for a slower swing speed player.” – Mike Fox

• “If it doesn’t look right to a good player, it won’t perform right.” – Mike Fox

• “Rory hitting a golf ball for the first time was unlike anything I’d ever heard.” – Mike Fox

• “I’d rather be a six and have fun than be a three and lose my shirt every weekend.” – Mike Fox

• “You can’t grow like we have unless people switch in—and stay.” – Mike Fox

• “We can make the best performing product in the world, but if it looks and sounds bad, nobody will play it.” – Mike Fox

• “Your clubface is a trampoline, not a brick wall.” – Mike Fox

About Mike Fox

Mike Fox is a strategic business, product, and marketing leader with over 15 years of experience in the golf equipment industry. Known for building and scaling high-impact brands, Mike has played a key role in developing “hot products” that disrupt the marketplace and challenge the status quo. Driven by a deep passion for brand, innovation, and team leadership, he excels at leading cross-functional groups to turn clear business strategies into consistent, efficient, and winning products golfers actually want to play.

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