All Abουt Golf Balls

As golf technology and developments into golf clubs advance rapidly, many believe such advancements in the golf ball are much slower and far less common. This mis-conception is far from the truth. Golf ball technology has advanced immensely in recent years and now finding the right ball for your game could almost be as advantageous as choosing the right clubs.

A golf ball in todays market is technically amazing, the amount of money spent on research and development is incredible and the time and resources used to fill the 1.68-inch diameter ball is truly astonishing.

Gone are the days of the balata and liquid centre and the new breed of multi-layered solid core balls are here.

However, it is not just a matter of which brand you prefer, there are many different specifications that you must consider when finding the right ball for you. In this guide, we will explain different terms that you will have heard relating to golf balls, but perhaps never really understood.

Construction
There are 3 basic types of golf balls on the market today. Lets take a look at their constructions and what type of golfer should use them to lower his or her total score.

2 Piece Balls
This type of ball makes up the majority of the market from all the leading manufacturers. It features a large, solid rubber core surrounded by a plastic or urethane (rubber) cover.
Golf ball engineers can alter the performance of the finished ball by changing the size of core, the compression of the core, and the softness of the cover.
2-Piece balls are typically your game improvement or distance balls. The large core provides a lot of velocity when struck by the club face.
These balls are typically lower spinning, which means your undesirable slice or hook spin will not be as pronounced and the ball will fly straighter. Lower compression models of 2 piece balls perform well for men, women, and children with slower swing speeds (<85 mph).

3 Piece Hybrid Golf Balls
Hybrid golf balls have a solid core surrounded by a “mantle” layer. This 2 piece assembly is then surrounded by a soft plastic or urethane rubber cover. These balls combine the forgiveness of a 2 piece model, with the increased performance and spin control of a 3 piece construction.
Engineers can adjust the core and thin layer to end up with a playable, performance ball for a variety of golfers.

3 or 4 Piece performance Golf Balls
Professional and low handicap golfers with high swing speeds need a ball with low initial spin (for distance) and high iron spin (for precision). A 3 or 4 piece ball meets these requirements with a unique “dual core” design.
In a 4 piece construction, the 2 piece core is surrounded by a thin mantle layer, and then a urethane, dimpled cover. The urethane cover in conjunction with the other components give these balls a “drop and stop” action.

Low Spin Golf Balls
The lower spinning golf balls tend to decrease side spin of your shots, allowing the ball to fly straighter through the air. The ball may not travel as far in the air, but the lack of spin will result in increased roll upon landing. Suited more to players that slice the ball and struggle to find distance, this ball will go straighter and run out on the fairways. There are many low spin golf balls on the market suited for high handicap golfers that perhaps dont have the swing speed required to produce that 300 yard drive.

Mid Spin Golf Balls
As the name suggests the mid spin golf ball bridges the gap between the low spinning golf ball and the high spinning balls. Trying to incorporate the best of both distance and feel. Aimed towards the widest range of players and suitable to most players game, the mid spinning golf ball will offer solid distance with varied feel and softness depending on brand. Almost all major golf ball manufacturers will produce a mid spinning golf ball that they believe is suitable to all players.

High Spin Golf Balls
Last is the high spinning golf ball. This ball is designed to increase the balls spin in the air. When a golf ball is hit, it is released into the air with a certain degree of backspin; a high spinning ball will increase this spin and create a longer carry. If you are a player that hits the ball right to left with a draw, a high spinning golf ball could be the one for you.
Out of control hook shots are produced by the drawspin overpowering the backspin on the ball, so increasing backspin will help straighten out a hook/draw. The high spinning golf ball will not get the run on the fairway that either a mid or low spinning ball can, however its greatest advantage is around the greens. A high spinning ball will increase feel around and on the greens, which will help players improve control.