The USGA also regulates golf ball’s weight. The official weight of each golf ball must be under 45.93 grams. The controlling of the weight of each golf ball is important due to heavier golf balls creation of a better flight and playing advantages during windy rounds.
Dimples exist to help the golf ball rise into the air and stabilize during winds. Dimples create a lift force and help the golf ball maintain flight. A smooth golf ball flies straight without climbing and provides less distance than a golf ball with dimples. The dimples create to reduce the drag force and allow golf balls to climb. into the sky much like an airplane.
Golf ball numbers are used for identification or giving consumers insight into the composition of the golf ball inside the box. One-digit numbers often act as identifiers alone, two-digit numbers mark special events or compression factors, and three-digit numbers refer to dimple numbers around the golf ball’s cover.
When cut open, each golf ball is a combination of a core, surrounding mantle layers, and a cover. Golf balls that feature less than three-layers may place a cover directly around the core or simply forged these two layers together in a one-piece design. Cores are often made of tightly packed rubber and synthetic resins that vary in composition and cost.
The golf ball cover is responsible for the aerodynamic properties the golf ball will experience during flight. the cover also provides the player feedback and feel of the golf ball. Golf ball covers are most often made from one or two of three types of material, Surlyn, Balata, and urethane
Surlyn is the cheapest material and offers budget-conscious players a performance balanced golf ball at a less expensive price. This resin is used to cover the majority of one and two-piece golf ball designs and will be the most common in golf shops outside of the tour-level, premium golf ball offerings. Surlyn covered golf balls are often recommended for those new to the sport, juniors, and senior players. Balls with a Surlyn material blend may give players more distance and a near-soft feel.
Balata and urethane covered golf balls use a synthetic rubber mixture to give premium golf balls a soft feel and a durable coating. These premium offerings allow manufacturers to build additional layers inside the golf ball without creating a ball that is harsh when struck. Urethane covered balls are often the choice for professionals, low handicap, and elite golfers. The drawback of balata and urethane is the often much more expensive price tag.
Golf ball spin will dictate how far the golf ball flies and how violently it may curve away from the target. Getting the right spin rates for your swing is crucial in fitting the right golf ball to your game. Golf balls are often classified into three spin profiles to help consumers choose a model that is best for their swing characteristics.
Low spin golf balls are great for players looking to reduce backspin and gain distance. Players struggling with short driving distances may benefit from shedding backspin and increasing launch.
Mid-spin golf balls are the most widley fit golf ball to all handicap players. They offer a well-balanced flight for distance and control around the greens. The mid-spin golf balls help players shoot better scores without demanding they make their best swing each time.
High spin golf balls can be great for players looking to increase carry distances at low swing speeds. Golf balls that do not spin enough can fall quickly out of the air and diminish driving distances. Seniors, juniors, and high handicap players can benefit from the added lift and straighter ball flights that are common in higher spinning golf balls.
The diameter of each golf ball must be spherical in shape and no greater than 42.7mm. This helps maintain the level of fair play set forth by the governing bodies of golf including the United States Golf Association and the R&A.
Golf balls are segregated into three compression categories to help golfers choose the best option for their respective driver swing speeds. High compression, medium compression, and low compression are used to designate models into three distinct groups.
High Compression Golf Balls
High compression golf balls are best fit for players with a driver swing speed 105 miles per hour and beyond. At these high speeds, the golf ball will need to retain a certain amount of shape to deliver proper energy transfer and fuller distances. High compression golf balls have a compression rating of 90 and above.
Medium Compression Golf Balls
Medium compression golf balls are best fit for players swinging their drivers between 85 and 105 mph respectively. Medium compression golf balls have a compression factor listed between 80 and 89. If you are like many and do not know how fast you swing your driver, fitting yourself into medium compression golf balls can be the safest option without having a formal golf ball fitting.
Low Compression Golf Balls
Low compression golf balls may help players with a driver swing speed below 85 mph to improve distance and control with their longest clubs. Drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids can be difficult to launch without enough speed for higher compression golf balls. Low compression golf balls have a compression rating below 80. These golf balls can often be great for slower-swinging players such as seniors, juniors, and beginning golfers.
Golf balls are often grouped based on their performance and feel characteristics to make purchasing simple. The following categories of golf balls are terms that you will commonly find used in pro shops and online websites.
Tour-level golf balls offer maximum performance for golfers of all abilities. Even though all golfers can benefit from the performance of these golf balls, the price can be daunting. Tour-level golf balls offer the very best in feel and control. These balls are three, four, and five-piece designs. Exceptional distance control, spin rates, and a luxurious feel are common among tour-level golf balls.
Distance golf balls are a great avenue to learn to play golf or to enjoy the game in a stress-free environment. The much smaller prices of these balls make it less burdensome if you lose your tee shot or if you begin to play poorly. Distance balls can also add performance benefits by reducing spin that can result from slices or shots that fade heavily away from the target. As your game improves it will be best to move quickly out of the distance category.
Softness and feel golf balls offer the best of both worlds when it comes to performance and price. Many golf balls in this category will offer some of the same results as tour-level offerings for many players at close to half the price. Slower swing speed players may find that they enjoy the sound and performance of softer golf balls even when compared to tour-level offerings. Most players will likely find more consistency from playing the same soft or fell golf ball each round at a price they can afford.
Golf balls are categorized into distinct types based on the number of layers that surround the core. These layers give rise to different playing profiles and diversity during play with different golf clubs. Golf balls are often manufactured in one-piece, two-piece, three-piece, four-piece, or five-piece designs. Each of these subgroups is detailed below.