DeChambeau’s salty golf balls: Why does Bryson put his Pro V1s in salt water?

Bryson DeChambeau, whose analytical approach to the game has earned him the nickname ‘the Scientist’, has explained why he places his golf balls in Epsom salted-water before using them.

Why does DeChambeau salt his balls?

DeChambeau, who analyzes every aspect of his game, told reporters in 2024 that he does this to each ball to ensure it “flies as straight as it can possibly fly”. According to the 30-year-old, the process is designed to identify balls whose centre of gravity is not in the middle, and to determine how much this issue will affect their flight when he takes a shot.

“I’m lucky enough that Connor [Olson], my manager, does that now,” said the American, who uses the Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash ball. “I don’t have to do it. But essentially we float golf balls in a solution to make sure that the golf ball’s not out of balance […]. What I’m doing is pretty much finding the ‘out-of-balance-ness’ of it, how much out of balance it is. The heavy side floats to the bottom, and then we mark the top with a dot to make sure it’s always rolling over itself.”

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DeChambeau added: “For most golf balls we get it’s not that really that big of a deal. I just try to be as precise as possible. It’s just one more step I take to make sure my golf ball flies as straight as it can possibly fly because I’m not that great at hitting it that straight.”

Can DeChambeau get his third major?

Ahead of his fourth round at the Masters today, DeChambeau will face off in the last group with Rory McIlroy. ‘The Scientist’ will need all the tricks he has up his sleeve to beat McIlroy at Augusta National. DeChambeau stayed on pace with McIlroy on Saturday, earning himself a spot in the final group.