When Costco’s Kirkland Signature golf ball first hit warehouse cabinets, it took {the golfing} world by storm. Right here was a urethane-covered ball for lower than $20 a dozen—one thing trade consultants had deemed unattainable till the retail big made it occur. Whereas the three-piece choices that adopted—now of their fourth era—have by no means fairly lived as much as the efficiency of that legendary unique, they’ve maintained a cult following largely due to their insane worth proposition.
Costco’s legion of loyal followers is aware of the drill: seize a scorching canine and a dozen golf balls for what most manufacturers cost for 4 sleeves. It’s bulk shopping for at its most interesting and, for years, Kirkland has dominated the under-$20 urethane house nearly unopposed—if solely as a result of nearly nobody else was enjoying in that sandbox.
However now there’s competitors within the warehouse aisles.
Sam’s Member’s Mark: The choice to the choice?
Just lately, we revealed knowledge displaying how the brand new Kirkland Efficiency+ stacks up in opposition to the Titleist Professional V1. What we didn’t inform you is that on the identical time, we examined one other challenger: Sam’s Membership Member’s Mark Professional Collection 2 golf ball. As we speak, we’re evaluating the efficiency of golf balls from the largest names in bulk items. How bizarre is that?
Since Costco’s launch, they’ve primarily owned the ultra-affordable urethane class. With Sam’s coming into the fray, we needed to see how this different warehouse ball in comparison with what has change into the de facto gold customary in budget-friendly premium golf balls. Consider it as rotisserie rooster versus … nicely, different rotisserie rooster, however to your golf bag.
The query isn’t whether or not both of those balls will dethrone the Professional V1—they gained’t. The query is: Within the battle for warehouse supremacy, which bulk retailer makes the higher golf ball?
Let’s dig into the information.
Concerning the take a look at
To execute the take a look at, we partnered with CoolClubs, probably the most revered names in membership becoming and robotic testing. The vast majority of testing was performed outside at SunRidge Canyon Golf Membership in Arizona.
Information was collected with Trackman (drivers and irons) and Foresight GCQuad (wedges).
Whereas the bigger take a look at will likely be performed at three speeds, for this smaller take a look at the motive force’s velocity was set to 100 mph. Irons had been examined at 81 mph whereas the wedge take a look at was designed to duplicate a greenside shot of roughly 40 yards.
Sizzling off the gauges
Earlier than turning the take a look at over to the robotic, we took some fast measurements on our Ball Lab gauges. Be aware that the pattern measurement is a bit smaller than what we’d usually run for the Ball Lab. We merely needed to get a common concept about compression, weight and diameter.
Compression
On our gauges, the Kirkland Efficiency+ measured 97. That’s roughly on par with the Professional V1x and a four- to five-point bounce from earlier Kirkland fashions.
The Sam’s Member’s Mark Professional Collection 2 measured roughly 96, ever-so-slightly softer than the Kirkland ball.
Weight
As was the case in our earlier take a look at, there was nothing significantly noteworthy within the weight measurements of any of the balls. The Kirkland Efficiency+ was once more barely heavier however each fell nicely inside the confines of the USGA guidelines.
Diameter
Likewise, the Kirkland Efficiency+ was, on common, the bigger of the 2 balls.
The Sam’s Member’s Mark was smaller though I’d say each would moderately fall on the bigger finish of the tour class.
Consistency
Once more, noting that our pattern measurement was barely smaller, the Kirkland was barely extra constant throughout the board, however I couldn’t in good religion say it affords a significant high quality benefit.
With that out of the way in which, let’s have a look at what occurred once we hit the golf balls.
Driver knowledge
BallBall SpeedLaunch AngleSpin RateMax HeightDescent AngleCarry YardsTotal Yards
Kirkland Efficiency+145.0413.282,85785.1434.60239.82267.75
Sam’s Member’s Mark144.6413.062,82990.5436.58239.04264.52
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Observations:
Ball speeds had been comparatively shut with the Kirkland producing about 1/2 mph extra ball velocity on common.
The Sam’s Member’s Mark launched a bit decrease whereas producing much less spin.
Notable, regardless of the decrease preliminary launch, the Sam’s ball produced the next peak trajectory.
By the numbers, the Kirkland spun a tick greater than the Sam’s ball, however the variations will not be important.
The Kirkland additionally edged out the Sam’s in carry and complete distance with the significant distinction within the latter possible attributable to the steeper descent angle of the Member’s Mark.
Driver dispersion and consistency
Observations:
Whereas wind can’t completely be excluded as an element, the Kirkland Efficiency+ produced the tighter downrange dispersion by a significant quantity.
7-iron knowledge
BallBall SpeedLaunch AngleSpin RateMax HeightDescent AngleCarry YardsTotal Yards
Kirkland Efficiency+117.5719.244,951101.1048.38167.41176.93
Sam’s Member’s Mark117.5819.114,71499.4147.42168.22178.92
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Observations:
On 7-iron pictures, ball speeds had been nearly equivalent. This isn’t stunning given the same compression of the 2 balls.
The Kirkland produced greater than 200 rpm of further spin, flew increased and landed a bit extra steeply which explains the small distance benefit for the Sam’s ball.
The broad strokes takeaway right here is that the Sam’s Members Mark Professional Collection 2 and new Kirkland Efficiency+ are extra related in efficiency than the Kirkland and the Titleist Professional V1.
7-iron dispersion and consistency
Observations:
Whereas it may be tough to determine from the form of the ellipses, the Sam’s Member’s Mark produced a slighly smaller (7.4%) dispersion space.
Wedge knowledge
BallBall SpeedLaunch AngleSpin RateMax HeightDescent AngleCarry YardsTotal Yards
Kirkland Efficiency+43.6035.935,56622.4341.8536.7841.83
Sam’s Member’s Mark43.1336.525,30622.4342.2536.1341.18
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Observations:
Regardless of the low-speed impression, the Kirkland produced practically 1/2 mph extra ball velocity, whereas launching practically 1.5 levels decrease.
The Kirkland ball produced roughly 250 rpm extra spin.
Carry and complete distance numbers had been related though there was some variation in how these numbers had been achieved.
Wedge dispersion and consistency
Observations:
The size of the chart inflates variations between balls.
Even with allowances for small numbers, the Kirkland ball was extra constant from entrance to again.
The Sam’s ball was a bit tighter from left to proper though you’d be hard-pressed to seek out any significant variations past the upper spin fee of the Kirkland ball.
Which One’s Higher?
As with most issues in golf, it is dependent upon what you’re in search of.
If you happen to’re chasing worth, each the Kirkland and Member’s Mark balls ship loads of bang for the buck. They’re urethane-covered, provide cheap efficiency and price about half (or much less) than a dozen Professional V1s.
However once we dig into the numbers, the Kirkland ball reveals some clear benefits, particularly off the tee.
With the motive force, Kirkland posted higher complete distance and tighter dispersion which implies extra predictable efficiency and fewer huge misses. The low preliminary launch of the Sam’s ball, paired with increased peak top (and what we imagine will show to be above common spin charges for the class), suggests a ball which may battle in windy situations.
With irons, Member’s Mark was a little bit tighter when it comes to dispersion space however the variations in spin, top and distance had been minimal.
Whereas the Kirkland dispersion chart is a little bit simpler on the eyes, wedges had been a draw with no statistically important variations in efficiency or consistency.
It’s additionally price noting that whereas each balls spun moderately nicely, Kirkland tended to spin a contact extra throughout all golf equipment which could go well with gamers who need a bit extra stopping energy into the inexperienced.
The underside line
Neither of those balls is ideal they usually’re not meant to be. The right ball doesn’t exist however in the event you’re in search of a low-cost urethane choice that holds up surprisingly nicely from tee to inexperienced, Kirkland Efficiency+ nonetheless holds its personal because the class benchmark. Whereas I want there have been extra separation between these two worth choices, the Member’s Mark Professional Collection 2 is a worthy challenger. That mentioned, primarily based on this knowledge, the unique warehouse ball nonetheless has the sting.
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