Tommy Fleetwood and Adrian Rietveld are a real one-two punch.
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The absolute best thing about my time on tour is being a fly on the wall, while the best engineers in the world call the best players in the world in the world.
The work itself is far removed from what you could see in your local suitable place. What I mean by that is that all these players in the middle of the face touch almost every shot and their shot patterns remain quite consistent.
In my experience, the needs of the tour player and the strategy to optimize them can really help you. How? Well, simply put, the tactics of all these technicians around consistency, efficiency and risk reduction – have never been hit further. In all my time on the trucks I have never heard a player ask to win a distance. On tour it is all starting line, launch and spider.
The other great thing about my time on tour is the friendships I made with OEM -representatives such as Kellen Watson (Callaway), Adrian Rietveld (Taylormade), Kenton Oates (Ping), Aaron Dill (Vokey), Cody Hale (Odyssey) and Ben Schomin). They are all masters in their profession and all have very different relationship styles with their players.
The best Tour -Fitters are good at the art of saying ‘no’. Yes, there are players who play badly through changing clubs to week. It rarely works, and only the Unicorns KJ Choi can do it as desired and still win. Good representatives know when they should say no to a player and let the technology evolve with the right equipment.
These Six Part Series focuses on every part of the bag, while we are going to ask the representatives on tour their best secrets to help You. Today we start with Adrian Rietveld from Taylormade.
In part one he walks through the importance of the golf ball and how he gets that part of the bag chosen for people like Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy, Colin Morikawa and a couple of others. He is a master of his profession and I am sure you will learn a lot. Enjoy.
The ball
Adrian Rietveld, Sr. Manager Taylormade Tour
Rory McIlroy switched earlier in 2025 to Taylormades TP5 and has since won the players and the Masters.
Taylormade
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My philosophy in fitting a golf ball for a tour player focuses on selecting a ball that improves the strengths of a player and at the same time tackling their weaknesses, while minimizing the considerations of performance. For example, if a player is struggling with generating enough spider, I give priority to a golf ball with flight characteristics that promote higher spider speeds, aimed at middle-ground numbers that optimize control without sacrificing. In essence, the goal is to fit a ball that compensates for the limitations of a player, so that they can perform at their peak. A golf bag can be divided into different areas – driver, fairway forests, hybrids, irons, wedges and putter – and my goal is to find the best ball to maximize the overall performance in these segments with as little compromise as possible.
Process: a systematic approach to extremes to the core
My appropriate process starts at the ends of the tas-the upper end (driver and fairway woods) and the bottom (wedges for shots with short game such as pitching and chipping)- I conclude with Putten, which is strongly influenced by the feeling. This series is intentional. At the top and bottom of the bag, the variables for optimizing launch characteristics are limited due to club design and shot requirements. With drivers, for example, the focus is on the bullet speed, launch angle and spider speeds for distance, while wedges require spider and control for precision. By first inviting these areas, I lay the foundation for the performance of the golf ball.
As soon as the top and bottom are optimized, I go to the center of the bag. Here club geometry and loft offer more flexibility to refine performance by adjusting equipment, making it easier to supplement the chosen golf ball. This is in contrast with the top and bottom, where the ball itself is the primary motivation of performance optimization. By working inside from the extreme, I ensure that the ball supports the player’s game holistically.
Consistency: the ultimate validator
Consistency is king in golf ball adjustment. A high-quality golf ball delivers reliable launch characteristics bullet speed, spider and trajectory shot after shot. The proof of successful assembly lies in the consistency of these figures, which builds up the player’s confidence in their equipment. When a player knows exactly how the ball will perform, they can swing with confidence, knowing that the result is predictable.
The overlooking factor: cover and aerodynamics
A often overlooked aspect of the golf ball performance is the cover and well pattern that significantly influences aerodynamics. Players with different swing speeds and launch profiles have unique needs. Some players, especially those with lower swing speeds, benefit from a ball that helps to get the ball in the air or to maintain lift. Conversely, fast players often need a ball that reduces the resistance to prevent excessive heights and to retain consistent flight. Selecting a ball with the right hole pattern and the deck design is crucial for optimizing flight consistency and tuning the player’s performance to the specific needs of the player.
Conclusion
The fitting of a golf ball to a tour player is both an art and a science, in which data -driven analysis is combined with an understanding of the unique game of the player. By concentrating on their weaknesses, systematically tackling each part of the bag, giving priority to consistency and taking on aerodynamic details, I want to offer a ball that unlocks the full potential of the player. The result is a setup that inspires trust and delivers performance under the pressure of Professional.
What to learn
Go into the adjustment process with an open mind. For whatever reason we have a eyes on a certain golf ball. Yes, some are long, some turn a lot, some go low, high, etc. The trick is to find the balance of it all for your game. It all comes down to being honest about what you have versus what you are missing. The golf ball can solve many problems if they fit well. When a new player signs with a company, the biggest obstacle to jumping is always the ball because it is so personal for that player. It is a trust thing that you don’t find much with other parts of the bag.
Whether it is a TP5, Pro V1, Chrome Tour or a Kirkland, encouraged to get this part good. If you have to lose one or two garden to become efficient, it is like that. In many cases you get longer and more efficiently if you know what to look out for.
Happy hunting.
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Johnny Wunder
Golf.com -edor
Johnny is currently acting as director of equipment on Golf.com and contributes to platforms such as fully equipped wave. Prior to this role, he was the content marketing manager at Callaway Golf, where he led ‘Callaway Golf’s World of Wunder’, a platform that existed on in -depth content of golf equipment. Before he came to Callaway, he was director of the original content and host of Podcast “The Gear Dive” on golfwrx.com. In addition to his professional efforts, Johnny is an avid golfer with a deep passion for the game, after he has played Washington since his childhood in Seattle.
