However, the real kick is that it comes with embedded technology that, together with a sort of small handheld finder, can help you find your golf ball. It can be in heavy rough, trees, tall grasses, bushes, flowers; you can find it.
But, it wont find a ball submerged in water. Considering everyplace else that you can find it, though, this is a small inconvenience.
When you hold the handheld finder in the general direction of the ball, an audible and visible signal is emitted. It will get louder and more frequent until you are on top of the ball. Sort of like a metal detector, but smaller, easier to use, and more convenient.
The handheld finding device lists for $250, but it comes with a dozen balls and accessories. The ball is USGA approved for tournament play.
Although not nearly as exciting, the Ben Hogan Company used NASA technology to test the flight of its golf balls. Using NASA's high-speed video technology, they recorded thousands of images per minute of their balls as the ball were in flight.
In doing this, the company was able to study which balls had the best flight. They marked the balls and measured their flights, then recorded and studied the data and made improvements. Pretty cool, when you think about it.
Wilson Sporting Goods Company was wanting to make the best golf ball surface, making the ball's flight longer and more accurate. They used technology like that used to test the space shuttle's orange external tank.
They studied the dimples on the balls surface. They used three-dimensional computer graphic simulations to study the aerodynamics of the balls. This is what they found out: large dimples reduced air drag while making the lift better.
Small dimples prevented too much lift. And medium sized dimples blended the characteristics of both large and small dimples. Wilson has now increased the number of dimples per ball and they use a variety of sizes over the balls surface. The balls go farther and faster, helping golfers have better scores and better games, more enjoyable games.
The new technology in golf balls won't instantly make you Tiger Woods. However, they can cut a few strokes from your golf score with no additional effort on your part.