Ben Griffin might well make his Ryder Cup debut later this year.
The 29-year-old has already won twice in 2025, at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans with Andrew Novak, before following up at the Charles Schwab Challenge to sit just outside the automatic places.
Now, he’s doing it in the majors.
Griffin was tied eighth in last month’s PGA Championship while at the halfway mark of the US Open – his debut in the event – he sits tied fourth at ultra-tough Oakmont.
Remarkably, only a few years ago he was working as a loan officer for a mortgage group.
Part of the key to his success has been the ball that he’s been playing.
At the start of the 2024 season Griffin switched to a Maxfli ball – he plays the Tour X – having seen Lexi Thompson use the ball (his caddy used to work for her brother, Curtis).
The American has spoken in various interviews about the switch to a brand that resonates with most golfers from decades ago but his efforts may well help put Maxfli back in more players’ bags.
1) What were the first impressions?
Griffin was naturally hesitant at first about using a Maxfli ball – the premium range is made up of the Tour, Tour X and Tour S – but that has all changed as he’s been notching up the wins and high finishes.
“I just didn’t have very high expectations, probably the lowest expectation out of all of the brands. I was just curious about the general market. A lot has changed in the last five years. I think there used to be kind of more superior brands and in the last five years there’s been less separation.
“Yet after testing it, I came to realise that not only was it the longest ball, but it had the most similar spin profile to what I had been playing. I played a bunch of rounds with it. I noticed immediately off the tee it was flying straighter, too. There were a lot of questions from the other guys – how are you going to take that risk? You’re top 60 on the FedEx Cup. I was like, trust me, it’s a calculated risk. I’ve done my due diligence, and I know this is going to be best for my golf game, and I immediately had success with it and that’s gotten even better this year.”
2023 Maxfli Tour
Results: https://t.co/fFZoD4Tw3m pic.twitter.com/tn98Y5eJnf
— Tony Covey (@GolfSpyT) April 26, 2023
2) How does it measure up?
The general consensus is that most players use a Titleist ProV1 or ProV1x, with the likes of TaylorMade, Srixon and Callaway filling in the blanks. But Griffin saw some notable gains in ball speed and distance with the Maxfli, particularly during a practice round at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson when he easily cleared a bunker at 300 yards.
“That was a pleasant surprise. You see things like that and wonder why you didn’t switch sooner. Because of the positive results, it was a no-brainer. I definitely think it’s going to help me. It was roughly eight yards additional during preliminary testing. Around the green, I didn’t see a ton of differences across balls. That’s when the distance side really started to intrigue me. There are certain weeks out here when distance has kind of turned into a priority.”
3) How does it compare to previous models?
Griffin did play the 2023 model but switched to this year’s ball as soon as it was USGA conforming.
“I pretty much immediately switched because every single part of the ball was pretty much the same except it was a touch longer for me. I gained an additional 0.5 to a mile per hour ball speed by switching to the new 2025 model. The data is something we all have access to on tour, but the feel on the course definitely matters as well, especially chipping. You can’t rely on a launch monitor for how a ball is going to perform and feel on chips and putts. Every golf ball has a little different feel, a little different sound, so it’s vital to get a feel and sound you’re comfortable with.”
4) What’s the potential of this ball?
Historically the likes of Greg Norman and Fred Couples used to play a Maxfli ball but we’ve heard nothing for years. It’s now owned by Dick’s Sporting Goods and you can be certain that more and more players will be trying the ball in recreational rounds now.
“I know a lot of guys are hesitant to change. I’ve been excited to be a free agent and test some more products out and the (Maxfli) ball is the one that piqued my interest the most. Maybe part of the reason is because it doesn’t have a presence. It’s an opportunity to showcase how good it is. I’ve done enough testing with it to feel like I’m confident with it out here.
“This could be the start where we see a few more guys test it. Maybe not this year, but in the years to come. It’s fun to try something out here that no-one else is. Some might say it’s a risk. But to me, it’s very calculated. I’ve seen the numbers to prove it.”
5) Should we be trying it?
There is definitely a saving to be made when trying the Maxfli ball and Griffin believes that it ticks all the boxes and, if it’s good enough for a PGA Tour winner, then it’s certainly worth giving it a go.
“I’ve done enough testing to where I feel very confident in the ball’s performance on Tour. If you look at the price point compared to other balls in a store, it’s significantly less. But in my opinion, it has the feel of an elite ball — and the distance to prove it. There’s the stability in the wind, too. Hopefully playing in the wind later this summer in Scotland, along with the British Open, I need to make sure I’m using a ball that’s good in those conditions.”
READ MORE: How Matt Fitzpatrick’s cross-handed chipping technique can help your short game
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Article Link: Why US Open contender Ben Griffin is thriving with a Maxfli golf ball