What Does Bryson DeChambeau Do to His Golf Balls?

Bryson DeChambeau doesn't add anything to his golf balls, instead, he takes away uncertainty. He famously floats his golf balls in a solution of Epsom salt and water to find each ball's precise center of gravity, a process often called balancing or salting. This article will unpack exactly why he does this, provide a step-by-step guide so you can try it yourself, and offer some real-world coaching advice on whether this granular level of detail is something you should add to your own pre-round routine.

The Thinking Behind Bryson's Golf Ball Tests

First, let's clear up a common misconception: what Bryson does to his golf balls is perfectly legal according to the Rules of Golf. He isn't altering the ball's performance characteristics in a non-conforming way. He's simply performing a quality control check to account for tiny manufacturing imperfections.

No manufacturing process is perfect, not even for the multi-million dollar machines that produce today's premium golf balls like the Bridgestone TOUR B X that Bryson uses. During production, the dense core of the golf ball can end up ever-so-slightly off-center. We're talking about fractions of a millimeter, but for a player obsessed with physics and optimizing every variable, that tiny imbalance matters.

An unbalanced golf ball will have a "heavy side." When you hit it, particularly on putts where the roll is slow and deliberate, this imbalance can cause the ball to wobble and deflect offline ever so slightly. In the air, a significant imbalance can theoretically affect the ball's spin axis, leading to less consistent ball flights. Bryson's goal is to identify that heavy side and align the ball on every shot to either negate its effect or use it to his advantage.

Essentially, he is ensuring that every ball in his bag is a "perfect" ball. It's the ultimate example of controlling what you can control.

The Saltwater Float Test: A DIY Guide to Finding a Ball's Center of Gravity

The "Mad Scientist" image might make this process seem complicated, but it's surprisingly simple and something you can easily do at home. It's a fantastic experiment that connects you directly with the physics of the game. Here's how to do it.

What You'll Need:

• A clear container, like a large glass, bowl, or small bucket.
• Warm water (warmth helps the salt dissolve faster).
• Epsom salt (you can find this at any pharmacy or grocery store).
• A permanent marker (a fine-point Sharpie works best).
• A dozen or so of the golf balls you regularly play.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Step 1: Create Your Saline Solution

Fill your container with about two cups of warm water. Start adding Epsom salt and stir until it dissolves completely. A good starting point is about a 2:1 ratio of water to salt, but the exact amount doesn't matter. The goal is to make the water dense enough for a golf ball to float. Keep adding and stirring in salt until you drop a ball in and it floats freely without sinking to the bottom. Once one floats, they all will.

Step 2: Float the Ball and Let It Settle

Gently place a golf ball into the solution. It will bob around for a moment before settling. The heavy, imbalanced side of the ball will naturally sink, rotating to the bottom, while the lighter side will face up. Give the ball a gentle spin and let it settle again. Do this two or three times to confirm that it consistently lands in the same orientation. Patience here is important - wait for the ball to become completely still.

Step 3: Mark the Light Side

Once you are confident the ball has settled with its heavy spot at the very bottom, take your permanent marker and place a small, neat dot right on the top of the ball. This dot represents the "light" pole of the ball. The actual point of imbalance - the heavy spot - is directly opposite this dot, on the bottom of the ball which is currently submerged.

Step 4: Dry and Repeat

Carefully remove the ball from the water, rinse it quickly in fresh water to remove the salt, and set it aside to dry. Repeat this process for all the balls you plan to test. You might be surprised to find that many premium balls are so well-balanced they have no discernible heavy side - they'll settle randomly each time. These are your "perfect" gamers! Any balls that show a consistent heavy side should be marked and segregated for specific on-course use.

How to Use Your "Balanced" Golf Ball on the Course

Now that you have a handful of marked golf balls, how do you actually use this information? The alignment strategy you choose depends on the shot you're hitting.

On the Green: For a Pure, Stable Roll

This is where ball balancing provides the most tangible benefit. An off-balance roll can cause putts to wobble and drift offline, especially on slower putts where the effect is exaggerated. To get the truest roll, you want to eliminate that wobble.

The Strategy: Place the ball on the green so that your marker dot is pointing to the side - either directly right or directly left of your target line. This aligns the heavy-light axis (the ball's equator of imbalance) to be parallel with the ground. When you strike the putt, the ball rolls end-over-end around this stable axis, just like a perfectly balanced tire spinning on a car. This prevents any side-to-side wobble and helps the ball hold its line from the moment it leaves your putter face.

Off the Tee & With Your Irons: Influencing Ball Flight

The science here is more theoretical, and even the most ardent golf gearheads debate the best alignment for full shots. However, there are three primary schools of thought. This is where you get to experiment and see what works for you.

1. Dot UP (Heavy Side DOWN)

This is perhaps the most intuitive method. By placing the ball's heavy side at the bottom, directly underneath the ball, the idea is that this helps stabilize the ball during its initial launch. Some golfers believe the gyroscopic effect of the ball's spin will work against this heavier bottom pole, helping to generate a touch more lift and a higher trajectory - potentially beneficial for a driver shot where you're seeking maximum hang time.

2. Dot DOWN (Heavy Side UP)

Using the opposite logic, placing the heavy side on top is thought to produce a lower, more piercing ball flight. This could be advantageous for iron shots into the wind or when you need to hit a "knockdown" shot that stays below tree branches. The heavy mass at the top is thought to help keep the spin axis tilted for a lower launch.

3. Dot SIDEWAYS (Same as Putting)

Many players, including some putting specialists, advocate that the most consistent way to align the ball for all shots is the putting method. By placing the dot on the side (so the heavy-light axis is parallel to the ground), you are aligning the ball's imbalance with its natural axis of rotation. The ball will spin around its imbalance, much like a spinning top that has a natural wobble. The theory is that this makes the ball's flight repeatable and neutralizes any unpredictable "kick" the imbalance might cause in the air.

A Coach's Perspective: Is This Worth the Effort?

As a coach, I love this experiment… with a few practical caveats. Is this something every golfer needs to be doing?

Frankly, for most weekend golfers, the answer is probably no. The honest truth is that modern, premium golf balls are manufactured to an incredibly high standard. The level of imbalance in a ball from a new box of Pro V1s or the Tour B Xs Bryson plays is often so minor that it's undetectable without lab equipment. You'll likely discover that 9 out of 10 of your new premium balls show no consistent heavy side at all.

If you're a high-handicapper, your time and energy will produce a far greater return on investment if you focus on fundamental improvements: hitting the center of the clubface more often, refining your putting stroke, or learning a go-to chip shot. A perfectly balanced ball isn't going to save a poorly struck shot that starts 30 yards offline.

That being said, I still think this is a fantastic thing to do for two reasons:

1. It's Fun and Educational: This simple test brings the physics of golf to life. It gives you a deeper appreciation for the fine margins that define performance at the highest level. It's a great way to engage with the sport on a cold or rainy day when you can't be on the course.
2. The Marginal Gain Mentality: For low-handicap and scratch golfers, this is right up your alley. The game at that level is about finding small advantages. While the effect might be minimal, knowing you've eliminated one more variable can provide a powerful mental boost. Confidence is everything.

If you play with older, used, or refurbished golf balls, then the benefit of balancing could be much more significant, as these balls are more likely to have noticeable manufacturing defects or have been compromised over time.

Final Thoughts

Bryson DeChambeau doesn't do anything mystical to his golf balls. He uses a simple but effective saltwater test to find and mark each ball's center of gravity, allowing him to align it for a purer roll on the greens and a more consistent flight on full shots - it's the epitome of his analytical approach to the game.

While spending an evening balancing golf balls is an interesting dive into golf science, gaining confidence often comes from having a smarter plan on the course. We designed Caddie AI to deliver that clarity, providing you with real-time strategic advice for any hole and analyzing tough lies to give you a simple recommendation. It gives you the expert insight you need to make better decisions and play with more confidence, no Epsom salt required.