Does the golf ball you play actually matter more than the clubs in your bag?

In this episode of Golf Underground, Sully, George, and Wardo welcome Mike Fox, Senior Category Director of Golf Balls at TaylorMade, for a deep dive into the science, strategy, and surprising truths behind modern golf ball performance. With over 20 years in the industry, Mike breaks down why compression myths won’t die, how tour players influence innovation, and why amateurs often choose the exact opposite ball they should be playing.

From Rory McIlroy and Nelly Korda switching balls to the millions spent on R&D, this conversation pulls back the curtain on how performance, feel, and personality collide in today’s game—all with plenty of laughs, rapid fire takes, and real-world insights you can actually use on your next round.

Must-Hear Insights and Key Moments

• Mike Fox explains the moment he realized golf balls were the most important piece of equipment in the bag.
• The crew unpacks why lower swing speed golfers should not automatically play low-compression balls.
• Mike reveals how Rory McIlroy’s golf ball switch impacted performance at Augusta.
• George Brett shares firsthand stories about feeling immediate differences with new equipment.
• The group discusses TaylorMade’s DART testing system and why tour players sometimes outsmart TrackMan.
• Mike breaks down the real differences between TP5 and TP5x in simple, usable terms.

Words of Wisdom: Standout Quotes from This Episode

• “The golf ball is the only piece of equipment you use on every single shot.” – Mike Fox

• “A lower compression golf ball is not necessarily better for a slower swing speed player.” – Mike Fox

• “If it doesn’t look right to a good player, it won’t perform right.” – Mike Fox

• “Rory hitting a golf ball for the first time was unlike anything I’d ever heard.” – Mike Fox

• “I’d rather be a six and have fun than be a three and lose my shirt every weekend.” – Mike Fox

• “You can’t grow like we have unless people switch in—and stay.” – Mike Fox

• “We can make the best performing product in the world, but if it looks and sounds bad, nobody will play it.” – Mike Fox

• “Your clubface is a trampoline, not a brick wall.” – Mike Fox

About Mike Fox

Mike Fox is a strategic business, product, and marketing leader with over 15 years of experience in the golf equipment industry. Known for building and scaling high-impact brands, Mike has played a key role in developing “hot products” that disrupt the marketplace and challenge the status quo. Driven by a deep passion for brand, innovation, and team leadership, he excels at leading cross-functional groups to turn clear business strategies into consistent, efficient, and winning products golfers actually want to play.

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What do you get when golf royalty and his quick-witted caddie drop in for a mic-side hang?

Sully, George, and Wardo welcome John Daly Jr. and his caddie Jude Putz for a fast-moving round of stories and laughs. JD Jr. talks about growing up with a legendary name, the lessons he’s learned while carving his own path, and the grind of a summer tour that had him and Putzy crossing states and stacking memories.

From hilarious bunker mishaps and Tiger Woods encounters to his dream foursome and ambitions to tee it up in the game’s biggest events, this episode delivers pure Golf Underground energy part swagger, part insight, and all heart.

Must-Hear Insights and Key Moments

• Sully, George, and Wardo kick things off with jokes about John Daly Jr.’s improved putting stroke.

• JD Jr. describes life on the road with Putzy during their cross-country summer tour.

• Putzy recalls the infamous “bunker-raking incident” and how he keeps JD Jr. entertained more than coached.

• JD Jr. shares how he learned to ignore outside expectations and create his own identity despite carrying his dad’s famous name.

• JD Jr. talks about the small but sharp swing advice he still gets from his father, John Daly.

• The crew swaps stories about memorable encounters with Tiger Woods and other golf legends.

• Wardo fires rapid-fire questions as JD Jr. reveals his dream foursome and favorite golf moments.

• Words of Wisdom: Standout Quotes from This Episode

• • “Once I stopped worrying about outside noise and just worked, everything got better.” – John Daly Jr.

• • “My job isn’t to read greens—it’s to keep JD laughing and loose.” – Jude Putz

  • “Carrying the Daly name used to feel heavy, but now it’s just motivation.” – John Daly Jr.

  • “I can do it all—keep him calm, chirp another caddie, or just stir the pot a little.” – Jude Putz

  • “Dad only chimes in with small tweaks, but when he does, it’s spot-on.” – John Daly Jr.

  • “Watching JD Jr. and Putzy together is like seeing a comedy team with serious game.” – Sully

  • “The chemistry between these two is exactly what makes golf fun to watch.” – George

  • “If you need a bunker raked for the other guy, that’s not my job—I’m Team JD all the way.” – Jude Putz

  • “Beating my dad for the first time was fun… he wasn’t exactly thrilled.” – John Daly Jr.

  • “Golf’s a grind, but we keep it light and enjoy every round.” – Wardo

  
  

• About John Daly Jr.

  John Daly Jr. is one of golf’s brightest young stars, carrying on the swagger and skill of his legendary father, two-time major champion John Daly. A standout for the Arkansas Razorbacks, Daly Jr. captured the 2025 Southern Amateur, was a Ben Hogan Award finalist, and reached the quarterfinals of the 2025 U.S. Amateur. Alongside his father, he won the 2021 PNC Challenge with a record 27-under performance. With multiple collegiate wins and a growing list of accolades, Daly Jr. is proving he’s more than a famous name—he’s the future of competitive golf.

  
  

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