Most golfers like to shag balls out of the woods, the lake, hazards etc. I’ve always wondered what sort of performance loss, if any, those balls have after sitting there for days or weeks or years. Here on my home course we have a lot of water hazards. I’ve fished hundreds of balls from there, and the swampy surroundings. We also have many freeze/thaw days and nights in the spring and fall. I’ve wondered what effect freezing and thawing has or the ball sitting submerged in water for “x” days.
Now I have a tool to test my balls
All joking aside, Hexcaliber is a serious machine. This solid chrome steel unit performs three different tests on golf balls:
Test One – compression/hardness
Insert a golf ball in the center compartment, adjust the gauge to the “set” position, then turn the handle clockwise until it locks, about 90 degrees. The arrow on the gauge will indicate the general compression/hardness of the ball. The numbers on the gauge roughly align with the old compression levels used in golf balls of yesteryear, like 100 compression, 90 compression etc. These numbers are not exact, just a guide.
That being said, I tested some new golf balls right out of the box and found their compression levels to match right up with the numbers I would have expected. I put a Srixon Z-Star yellow in the Hexcaliber and it showed about a 100 reading. Once again, not necessarily a 100 compression ball but I’d probably equate it that way. Image below:
I then tested a Bridgestone Golf B330-RXS, which is a lower compression ball for lower swing speeds. Sure enough, the B330-RXS registered at about an 87.
Test Two – Is the ball round?
The right ring on the unit tests how round the ball is. Put the ball inside that circle, and move it around. If the ball catches at some angles, the ball is not perfectly round.
I put a Pinnacle logo ball in the roundness tester and the ball did not check out perfectly. At certain angles it caught, and certain angles not. That ball is not round.
Test Three – Is the ball regulation size?
A golf ball must have a diameter no less than 1.680 inches (42.67 mm). Test three of the Hexcaliber tests the size of the ball by placing it in the left ring.
Case
Being such a heavy item, and so finely built, it is only natural that this thing needs a great carrying case. The included case for the Hexcaliber is very nice and solid, surely to protect the unit well.
Colors & Pricing
The Hexcaliber isn’t cheap at $150 ($199 in the UK). But this unit is built like a tank and will surely test thousands of golf balls, if not millions without breaking down. And how much is making sure your balls are at their best worth anyway?
There are numerous colors available for the Hexcaliber. I’m a silver guy and like shiny things. So I went with the silver chrome.
Hexcaliber Video
Back in 2008 I interviewed my buddy Conrad from Hexcaliber at the 2008 PGA Expo in Vegas. Check it out:
HOGWire – Golf Industry News
