You’ve probably heard the whispers on the range or seen the forum discussions about Bryson DeChambeau and his rather unique approach to golf balls. This article will break down exactly what he does, why he does it, and most importantly, whether it's something you should consider trying yourself. We’ll cover his famous salt-water test for finding a ball's center of gravity and provide a simple, step-by-step guide so you can do your own Bryson experiment.
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The “Mad Scientist” Mindset: Why Bother with All This?
Before we get into the "how," let's understand the "why." For a player like Bryson, golf is a game of physics and probabilities. His entire approach is built on isolating and eliminating as many variables as possible. You’ve seen it with his single-length irons and powerful, repeatable swing. He isn't leaving anything to chance if he can help it, and that extends to the single most important piece of equipment you use on every shot: the golf ball.
Modern premium golf balls are manufactured to incredible standards. However, minuscule imperfections can still exist. We’re talking about tiny variations in the distribution of weight within the core and mantle layers. For a robot, these might not matter. But for a human swinging a club at over 120 mph (or closer to 190 mph in Bryson's case!), a slightly off-balance ball can impact spin, flight, and especially the final few rolls on a putt. Bryson’s goal isn’t to find “bad” balls, it’s to identify the *most perfect* and consistent balls in every batch, so he knows that every shot's result is due to his swing, not a random manufacturing quirk.
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Step-by-Step Guide: The Epsom Salt Test to Find the "Heavy Side"
The centerpiece of Bryson's ball testing is the Epsom salt test, which is a surprisingly simple way to find a golf ball’s true center of balance, or as some call it, its center of gravity (CG). A perfectly balanced ball will have its CG right in the geometric center. An off-balance ball will have its CG slightly to one side. When you float it, the heavier side will naturally rotate to be at the bottom. Here’s how you can do it at home.
What You'll Need:
A clear container (a pint glass or a clear Mason jar works perfectly)
Epsom salts (available at any pharmacy or grocery store)
Room-temperature to warm water (helps dissolve the salt faster)
A permanent marker (a fine-point Sharpie is ideal)
Create the Saline Solution: Fill your container about three-quarters full with warm water. Begin adding Epsom salts, stirring continuously until the salt is dissolved. Keep adding salt until you have a super-saturated solution - the point at which a golf ball floats easily on the surface. Don’t worry about measuring it perfectly, just add salt until the ball floats with about a third of its surface above the water.
Float and Settle: Gently place your first golf ball into the solution. It will bob around for a moment. Give it a gentle spin with your finger to get it started and help it find its natural equilibrium. Walk away and let it sit undisturbed for a few minutes.
Find the Heavy Side: After the ball has completely settled and stopped moving, its heaviest point will have rotated to face directly downward in the water. That means its lightest point is facing directly upward.
Mark the Light Side: Take your permanent marker and carefully place a dot on the very top of the ball - the point sticking furthest out of the water. This is the ball’s light point, or its "pole."
Spin and Verify: Gently spin the ball again, maybe 90 degrees this time, and let it resettle. It should consistently return to the exact same position, with your marker dot pointing straight up. If it does this two or three times in a row, you have successfully identified the ball's balance point. The heavy side is directly opposite your dot.
Repeat: Repeat this process for every golf ball you want to test. What you're looking for is consistency. Do all the balls from a single sleeve reveal a slight imbalance, or are some more balanced than others?
Balls that wobble endlessly or settle on a different point each time are likely very well-balanced. The ones that snap quickly to the same position every single time have a more pronounced imbalance.
Now That It's Marked, What Do You Do With It?
Finding the center of gravity is one thing, using that information is where the real theory comes in. Once Bryson identified the balanced (or imbalanced) characteristics of a ball, he started marking them for performance. There are two primary schools of thought on how to align your newly marked ball.
Theory 1: Putting the Seam (Axis) Sideways
Imagine the mark you made is the "North Pole," and the heavy spot on the bottom is the "South Pole." The line connecting them is the balance axis. For putting, Bryson has stated that he orients the ball so this axis is parallel to the ground, with the poles pointing to the sides. The idea here is that you want the ball to roll end-over-end like a perfect wheel. If you align it so the heavy or light spot is on the roll line, it can cause the ball to wobble or deviate slightly off-line, especially as it slows down near the hole. By putting the weight imbalances on the "Equator," you minimize their effect on the roll, promoting a truer, smoother path to the cup.
How to Do It:
Place your ball on the green. Turn it so your marked dot is pointing directly to the side, perpendicular to your target line. The ball will then roll end-over-end across its most neutral path.
Theory 2: Aligning the Heavy Side for Flight
This theory gets a bit more into aerodynamics. The logic here is that you can influence ball flight by strategically placing that minuscule weight difference. Some players have experimented with:
Driver: Placing the heavy side down on the tee. The idea is that this heavier hemisphere could promote a slightly lower spin rate and a more stable flight by stabilizing the ball's center of gravity during its ascent.
Wedges: Placing the heavy side on the *back* of the ball at impact. The concept here is that during the high-speed, high-spin impact of a wedge shot, this could help the CG get "ahead" of the geometric center, potentially increasing spin.
It's important to state that the effect here is likely infinitesimal. But for a player obsessed with gaining every possible edge, it's an experiment worth conducting.
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Should the Everyday Golfer Be Salting Their Golf Balls?
Now for the million-dollar question: Will this really help your game? As a coach, my honest answer is: probably not, but it's a fantastic learning experience.
Look at it this way. If you’re a 25-handicapper struggling to make consistent contact or slice the ball off the tee, the fractional influence of a golf ball's CG balance is not your primary concern. Your time and energy would be far better spent working on your setup, grip, takeaway, and course management. A well-struck shot with an imbalanced ball will always perform better than a poorly-struck shot with a "perfectly" balanced one.
However, if you're a low-handicap player, a gear nerd who loves experimenting, or simply curious about the physics of the game, this is an excellent exercise. It teaches you to think about the ball not just as a white dimpled sphere, but as a complex piece of performance equipment. Going through the process will make you appreciate the subtle factors that can influence a golf shot and emphasize the importance of a pure putting stroke.
My advice? Give it a try on a rainy day. Test a dozen balls - maybe even compare a premium brand to a budget brand. You'll learn something valuable, and at the very least, you’ll have a cool story to tell your foursome. But don't let it become an obsession that distracts you from the fundamentals that deliver the biggest improvements to your score.
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Bryson DeChambeau's meticulous preparation highlights a pro's desire to control every conceivable variable, ensuring trust in their equipment. From salt-water baths to precise markings, it's about gaining a confident edge, however small, so he can focus purely on executing the shot.
Bryson's process eliminates the "what ifs" about his gear, giving him complete confidence on the course. We designed Caddie AI to do the same for you, but with on-course strategy. It removes the guesswork from tough situations - like when you’re between clubs or a tricky lie - by giving you clear, expert advice instantly, so you can commit to every swing with that same pro-level confidence.
Spencer has been playing golf since he was a kid and has spent a lifetime chasing improvement. With over a decade of experience building successful tech products, he combined his love for golf and startups to create Caddie AI - the world's best AI golf app. Giving everyone an expert level coach in your pocket, available 24/7. Caddie's mission is simple: make world-class golf advice accessible to everyone, anytime.
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