Golf Ball

Golf Ball Comparisons Skills You Need to Lower Your Score

Skills on golf ball comparisons are needed for you to effectively improve your game as a golfer. Even if you are not a golfer but selecting a golf ball for someone you know, these skills can prove handy as they will help you make a correct purchase.

Since the 1950s, golf balls have become more and more technologically advanced than ever. With rapid changing technology, methods of producing a golf ball tailored to individual golfers’ needs is crucial.

With such technology backing the golf balls of today, they have become very much a factor in optimizing your golf game as compared to the mid 1500s. Hence, every golfer needs to be playing a golf ball that is optimizing his or her game for maximum performance.

As each golf ball is very much different from the other, there are some critical factors that need to be compared to suit your needs. For effective golf ball comparisons, these areas needs to be considered.

1. Materials of a golf ball – Golf ball composition differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. Majority of the golf balls used to be hard cover surlyn types but it is not necessary the case anymore. The materials vary to suit the different types of feel, distance, spin or trajectory that they are trying to achieve for certain categories of golfers.

The common type of materials are surlyn, ionomer, urethane and polybutadiene. Surlyn is normally used as the cover. There are however exceptional cases with Surlyn as a thin outer layer for enhanced velocity and trajectory while exhibiting control with Urethane. Urethane is the softest material used for the cover which encourages spin around the green. Ionomer works great with as a soft cover replacing Surlyn for more spin. Polybutadiene is generally rubber that forms the core of the golf ball.

2. The construction of a golf ball – Now golf ball comparisons can even mean comparing the pieces of a golf ball. Compared to the old balata golf ball, the pieces of a golf ball can vary from two to four pieces. Even the type of pieces vary from brand to brand. Callaway features a duo core four piece golf ball in their Tour I series. In comparison with Bridgestone B330 series double mantle layer four piece golf ball, both are four piece yet with different constructions.

The good news is, you do not need to bother about the various types of constructions. You only need to focus on the core, cover, the layer beneath the cover and the dimples.

For selection process, two piece are normally distance balls for the high handicapped golfers. Three piece would have a added control with a bit more spin on the green. However as engineers get better, this information is no longer that accurate but can only be used as a guide for golf ball comparisons.

3. Compression ratings – Golf ball ratings are mostly in the low compression ratings. Compression ratings range from 0 the softest to 200 the highest. A low compression means less velocity and less driver spin on initial impact off the tee and vice versa. A higher velocity on general means more distance and on some occasions, harder feel.

Note: Compression ratings are a largely over rated and debated issue on the net. For more clarification, check out my website for more details.

Most golf balls in the market are low compression ratings. These type of compression are suited for lower swing rate players to achieve a better distance.

4. Dimples – These are the small depressions on the golf balls which we so commonly see nowadays. These dimples improve the flight trajectory and enhances greater carry and distance. The difference between the dimples from one golf ball to another is the size and the depth. On a general guideline, a more shallow dimple from the appropriate depth will increase the height of trajectory and a deeper dimple will reduce the height trajectory. All affects the distance and type of ball roll you want to have after landing.

For a general guide, know the type of ball flight you currently have. If you have a low trajectory and you are playing a distance ball and wish to improve your distance, you might consider to change to a golf ball with shallower dimples for a improved distance performance.

With these information, you can equip yourself the skills in determine the feel, spin, distance, trajectory, tendency to side spin or hook, roll etc. These will aid you in selecting the golf balls best for you and your current level of skill.

For example, comparing golf ball A and B, you will know which one is harder on the outer casing when you read the technical specs. Surlyn cover compared with urethane cover will mean that the golf ball with surlyn cover is much faster in velocity on initial impact should all other factors remain constant.

However, there is still more into this than you think. Always think select the initial golf ball followed by optimize, tweak and upgrade to other golf balls as your game grows!

About the Author

The author is a golfer, designer/engineer and reviewer in the world of golf. Get a feel of learning what you need to know about golf balls at his website where all the information and recommendations lies. Go to Golf ball selection guide for more information and newsletter sign up.