How To Choose The Best Golf Balls For You?

Every golfer tends to work hard to improve their performance every day. That is why they spend most of their time finding the best golf balls designed to cover more distance, fly straight, and stick on greens with more control. There are many variations of golf balls and golf ball producers in the market, each one promising an exceptional level of performance.

There are many advancements in golfing equipment, and finding the perfect ball is not as easy as it was years back when we only had a few options. You need to understand your game style before picking up your ball. In this article, we’ve tried to provide you with the necessary knowledge for buying your golf ball. Here are a few things you can consider before buying a golf ball.

1. Construction

   • One-piece balls – One-piece balls will cost you very little. These are made with surlyn cover with dimples on the surface.
   • Two-piece balls – These are the balls with resin or acrylate core covered in surlyn. The cover is quite durable and stands for a couple of rounds. Two-piece balls are really affordable and are very popular among beginners because of the distance it covers. Though, they don’t spin much.
   • Three-piece balls – Modern three-piece balls have a solid core and layer of rubber between the core and the cover. The cover is made up of urethane or surlyn; usually, that is molded over the golf ball. These balls are softer than the two-piece ones that offer a higher spin rate. It allows better control in the greens. If you prefer a soft feeling, a three-piece ball is a perfect fit for you.
   • Multilayer – You can call it the advanced player’s ball. It comprises 4 or 5 layers that offer higher swing, great distance, and maximum possible spin. The cover is ultra-thin, which allows maximum backspin and control on wedge shots. If you’re an advanced golfer and your aim is distance and spin, and control, this is a perfect fit for you.

2. Dimples on the ball

   There are somewhere between 300 to 500 dimples on a golf ball. The most common number is between 336 to 392. They may look normal, but they have a crucial role in your performance. It’s because a smooth surface ball will go only as half as a ball covered with dimples. Without any second thoughts, dimples are a crucial factor in golf balls as it helps the ball to fly the distance it does.

   If dimples are smaller, the ball flight will be low and the backspin higher. On the other hand, more wide dimples on the ball give it a higher launch and low spin rate. If you’re a beginner, go for shallow ones as they will give you more distance.

3. The spin of the ball

   • Low Spin Golf Balls – Low spin golf balls tend to decrease the side spin of your shot, allowing the ball to fly straight in the air. The ball may not cover much distance in the air, but it results in increased roll upon landing. If you tend to slice the ball often, this type of ball is a fit for you.
   • Mid Spin Golf Balls – As it’s clear with the name, mid-spin golf balls cover the gap between low and high spin golf balls. These balls are used by the widest range of golfers.
   • High Spin Golf Balls – These balls are designed to increase the ball spin in the air. High spin golf balls also give more control and a soft feel around the greens.

4. Control

   Every golfer wants better control in the greens. According to many professionals, to evaluate whether a ball has better control in the greens, you will have to put it there and try until you find your perfect one. If you’re shopping online, you can search for the specifications that state it has better control in the greens.

5. The core of the ball

   The core of the ball is generally made up of molded and compressed rubber and takes up most of the space inside the ball. After impact, the core helps to retain the energy released into the ball to create accuracy, launch, and speed.

6. Cover Material

   Usually, there are two primary cover materials to the golf ball. First, there is a surlyn cover, and the second one is a polyurethane cover. The surlyn provides a slightly soft feel and a great distance. The polyurethane covers make the ball softer and provide more control and spin.

   While choosing a ball, give a thought about what exactly you want to achieve. If you’re a beginner, we would advise you to find a ball that gives you a soft feel and covers more distance. Usually, urethane covers are for tour performance advanced golf balls, but you can find manufacturers offering mid-level balls with this cover.

7. Compression

   When a golf ball is struck, the measure of the deflection it undergoes is called compression. It is measured between 0 to 200. With a compression of 200, it means that the ball does not compress, and 0 means a ball that deflects 5mm or more. Most golf balls come with a compression of 50 to 100. Lower compression balls are softer and more suitable for slower swing speeds or beginners, while more advanced players opt for high compression balls for better control.

8. Feel

   • Soft Feel – Many advanced players and tour professionals opt for soft feel balls. The soft feeling cover of the ball means that players can work the ball through the air and spin it. It does not give more distance as compared to a firm feeling ball and is suited to those golfers who do not view distance as their weakness and want increased control.
   • Firm Feel – These balls feel hard on the clubface. The firm feel usually comes hand in hand with the low spin one-piece or two-piece construction. It is aimed to produce the maximum distance, but it inevitably sacrifices a certain degree of control in the greens.

9. Skill level

   It’s very well known that you will lose a lot of balls on the course in the beginning. Thus, it’s best to find such balls that fit your budget. Many golf ball manufacturers offer many lines of golf balls that deliver higher performance still suit every budget. If budget is not your issue, you can surely go for premium golf balls. There’s a reason why they cost more because they deliver many benefits. Not just they’re best for low handicappers, but high handicappers also get the benefit of it due to their ability to spin and go a longer distance.

10. Price of the ball

    The price of the ball equally matters while selecting a perfect ball for you. If you’re a beginner who tends to lose more balls around the greens, you should go for affordable balls that are not too expensive. Once you become familiar with the game, you can go for tour performance balls that are comparatively more expensive.

    If you want to go more affordable, you can also go for used or lake balls, but those balls won’t be delivering the same performance as new ones.

The Best Type Of Golf Ball

• To know which ball will be perfect for you, you must know how fast you swing and if you spin the ball enough to produce a hook or a slice.
• After this, consider how likely you hit the ball off the center of the clubface, and check your ability to control the ball left or right.
• If you’re buying the ball to play in winters, consider buying bright colors like yellow or orange as the white ball can disappear in fog or snow.
• For beginners, who are more likely to lose a lot of balls should stick with affordable and inexpensive balls. As you get better in the game, you can buy a ball with low spin to minimize a hook or a slice.
• If you’re an advanced player, go for a ball that spins more. They have a softer feel. A three-piece or multilayer construction covered by urethane should work great for you. These are the qualities advanced players look at in their golf balls.

Now there’s a question that many golfers have that are lake balls as good as new?
No, they do not deliver the same performance as new ones. Balls that stayed in the water for a long time travel less and carry less distance than new or dry golf balls.