Some people use golf balls they find on the golf course or balls from local stores. Whilst others use the same ones that professionals use. There is a significant difference between these golf balls and the performance varies significantly as well. With today’s technology, the manufacturers create a lot of different types of balls with different construction methods. These balls satisfy players with different skill levels.
The choice of ball can decide the game for many golfers and there are many types of balls with different ratings. The types of them are classified based on their hardness. The harder a ball is, the more distance it can reach. A hard ball can bounce more and cover more distance after it has hit the ground.
Here is a great video on choosing the right ball:
One piece balls
These golf balls are never used for playing games. They are used by beginners to learn how to play golf. The balls are inexpensive, highly durable and are very soft.
Two piece construction balls
These golf balls are used by amateurs during the initial stage of learning the game. These balls have a hard and solid core covered with a durable cover. This ball provides less spin and travels a longer distance than others. The tendency of the ball to spin helps it minimize the slice severity. These two piece balls are cheap so it does not make any difference if the amateurs lose a few during training.
If you are a recreational golfer or novice golfer, this type of ball would suit you. If your swing speed is less than 85 mph or just a generally slow swing speed then a low compression ball is the best choice. In case you have a high or medium speed swing, these particular ones fare not for you.
Three piece hybrid balls
These hybrid balls have a solid core which is covered by a mantle layer. The mantle layer is covered by urethane rubber or plastic. These balls have the durability of a two piece ball and spin control and performance of a three piece ball. The performance of the game can be altered by adjusting the core and the mantle layer, to suit different golfers.
If you are an intermediate player with a rare birdie or bogey, then you require a three piece hybrid ball. The choice of golfing ball depends upon the type of your shot. If your shot is significantly straight then the right ball is the three piece hybrid or a medium spin 2 piece ball. It is better to stick with 2 piece golf balls, if your shots are erratic.
Three or four piece performance balls
Professionals with high swing requirements need a ball that has a low initial spin and a high iron spin for distance and precision. With the dual core design, the 3 or 4 piece performance ball provides the above said features. The four piece ball has a two piece core covered by a thin mantle. The urethane dimpled cover provides the drop and stop performance that you may see on TV.
If you are a skilled golfer with an excellent swing and consistency in shots, then a three piece or four piece performance golf ball would suit you. You would require a ball that has a long tee and helps to provide high scoring shots.
Distance balls
These golf balls provide a long distance but have very little spin, if any. This ball suits longer drivers and are usually selected when the player needs to add a little more distance to their shot.
Spin balls
These balls add spin to the shot. These ones are softer than the other types of balls and do not travel long distance. When a player is in need of a ball that can control his curves, he would opt for a spin ball.
Control ball
Control golf balls give more control over the spin and distance. These balls are not as soft as the spin balls but are softer than distance balls. When the player needs to control his projectile, he opts for a control ball.
Features to be considered while selecting a golf ball
Choosing what to use is not as simple as it looks. You can review our list of the top 5 best golf balls or read on. In the past, there were only two types of balls, namely the wound ball used by the professionals with a small core wrapped with rubber strands and a thin cover and the solid balls that are used by the causal golf players. With wound balls out of the market, the solid golf balls have provided many options. Here are some important things to consider:
a) Find out about the number of layers the golf ball has and the type of layers too. The material used in the layers also determines the performance of the ball.
b) The performance of the golf balls is a tradeoff between its ability to score long distance and its performance, after it lands on the greens. Choose a ball that provides the performance you are looking for or a ball that give optimal results, both in the skies and on the greens.
c) The material of the cover also determines the performance. A soft cover material provides high performance but very low durability.
d) The price acts as a great deciding factor for buying golf balls. Those who want to spend less on golf balls choose a two piece ball. Professionals and game associations go for customized balls or multilayered high performance balls.
e) Balls with a high number of dimples tend to fly very high. The best number of dimples on a ball is between 300 and 500.
f) The low weight balls typically cover less distance. These type of balls are used for the smaller golf courses. A typical ball weighs around 41-47 grams and the balls used for small golf courses weighs 20 grams.
With the technology available today, manufacturers can create balls that can provide personalized performance. The performance can vary based on the weight, layers and the material of construction. Choose a ball that suit your playing skill, the type of performance you require and your cost limitation.
