Golf Tips - Choosing the Right Golf Balls

Not all golf balls are the same, instead, the type of ball used greatly affects the most important elements of a golf game: distance and control. For golfers, choosing the right golf ball is a critical decision; however, with so many kinds to consider, the choice can seem overwhelming. Finding the right ball depends on the golfer's ability and goals.

A Short History of Golf Balls

When golf originated in the 15th century in Scotland, the golf balls were made from wood, goose feathers, or a type of rubber called gutta. These original balls could not travel far, nor could they fly straight or in predictable patterns. By 1900, the golf ball had come a long way and consisted of a solid rubber core wrapped in rubber thread that was contained in a hard, outer sphere-shaped shell. This remains the basic composition for golf balls today, but recent advancements in technology have allowed the development of balls that consist of two, three, or four layers. Each ball has unique performance characteristics.

Types of Balls

There are three types of golf balls that are each designed to do different things when struck. Choosing the right one can greatly impact the game being played.

Distance

This type of ball is designed to react quickly as soon as it is struck to produce the maximum speed. Thus, the result is more distance overall. Although these balls can add many yards off the initial tee, they do not stop as quickly on the greens.

Control

Control balls are designed to reduce excessive spin when struck into the air. Additionally, they help golfers reduce hooking and slicing tendencies. For a right handed golfer, a hook is hitting the ball hard to the left, and a slice is hitting the ball hard to the right. This is reversed for left handed golfers.

Spin

Spin balls create more side and backspin, which allows the ball to have a higher trajectory even though it goes a shorter distance. Spin balls also have a better stopping control around the greens.

Construction

Golf balls are constructed in three ways. Each one is developed to help accomplish specific golfing goals. Buyers should choose their golf balls depending on what their needs or handicaps are during a golf game. For example, if a golfer has a powerful stroke that can go far, yet he or she lacks control, the four piece ball might be a good fit. In contrast, if the golfer has excellent control but needs help with distance, the two-piece ball might be a smart choice.

Two Piece

Also known as traditional golf balls, two piece balls are made of a large solid core and have a thermoplastic resin cover made from Surlyn. These balls are made with a heavy jacket and are very durable. They are designed to allow the golfer the most distance from a shot, but they do not offer a lot of spin. Most distance balls are two-piece. Two piece balls are a good choice for beginners and high handicappers who wish to gain more distance but reduce spin when hitting a golf ball. Two piece balls are the least expensive golf balls.

Three Piece Balata

Three piece balls are made from a soft, plastic rubber called Balata. The solid, thin core of a three piece ball, called the mantle, can either increase distance or enhance spin, depending on how it is hit. Thus, these balls offer good control. Three piece balls are also called professional balls because they are preferred by pro golfers who want better control over the direction and distance of their shots. 

Four Piece

New to the golfing scene is the four-piece golf ball. Although it is similar to the three piece golf ball, it has an extra layer in the middle. This layer takes the force from the impact of the club head and transfers it to the center core, which allows the ball to fly straighter with less spin. Players attest that these balls offer a longer distance from the tee, more spin on approach shots, and greater control around the green. Because these balls are so effective, they are referred to as "total performance" balls. These balls are the most expensive.

A Word About Dimples

On all golf balls, buyers will notice dimples covering the sphere. This dimpling affects the aerodynamics of a golf ball, giving it more or less trajectory. On a typical golf ball, the number of dimples varies between 300 and 500. Larger dimples lead to a higher trajectory, while smaller dimples promote a lower trajectory. Golfers should choose those that best meet their needs while on the golf course.

Buying Golf Balls

After becoming familiar with the types of balls as well as the construction of golf balls, buyers should be able to determine which combination is best for them. Additionally, buyers may want to try out several golf balls to physically see which fits their playing style the best. When doing this, buyers should pay close attention to how far the ball travels, how well it handles the greens, and how it rolls on the various surfaces. When testing golf balls, users should also consider the following before the final purchases are made:

Swing Speed

Perhaps the biggest factor is choosing which ball is best is the swing speed of the golfer. Golfers with lower swing speeds should use a harder distance golf ball, whereas golfers with higher swing speeds should use a softer golf ball since it offers more control.

To determine personal swing speed, golfers can go to to a golf retailer and purchase a swing speed monitor or have a retailer with a launch monitor determine swing speed for them. If looking to save some money, golfers can perform a series of calculations to determine swing speed:

1. First, hit several distance golf balls using the driver. Then, take the top ten distances and add them together.
2. Divide this number by ten to find the average carry distance for the drives.
3. Next, divide the average carry number by 1.75, which is the number used to estimate ball speed.
4. Finally, divide the ball speed calculation by something called the smash factor, which is another "set in stone" number determined by experts. The smash factor is 1.5. Once the golfer has calculated this final equation, the estimated swing speed is found.

Handicaps

Although not used among professional golfers, some players admit handicaps in their golf game. This is a numerical measure of a golfer’s playing ability based on the tees played for a specific course. Handicaps exist to allow golfers of different abilities to compete with one another on a more level playing field. The higher the handicap of a player, the poorer the players is. In contrast, the lower the handicap of a player, the better the player is. For those who have high handicaps, it is probable they will lose many golf balls, so those balls that are less expensive are a wise choice. Furthermore, those with high handicaps also tend to need golf balls that offer the most distance when hit.

To find out personal handicaps, golfers can be evaluated at a golf club or a mathematical calculation can be performed:

1. First, take the scores from the last five rounds of golf played.
2. Next, look up the rating and slope for the course that was played for each score. This information can be found on the scorecard, by calling the course, or by searching for the course online.
3. Subtract the course rating from the score earned on that course.
4. Multiply that number by 113.
5. Divide that number by the slope of the course. This number is the differential.
6. Take the lowest of the five differentials and multiply it by 0.96, which gives the handicap.