Casual golfers don't give a lot of thought to choosing the right golf ball. They think of the golf ball as simply a tool that really isn't important. After all, you're just whacking it around the course, right? Wrong! Having the right golf ball can gain you distance in your drives, make it easier to pull off finesse shots, and so much more!
Basically, there are three types of balls: balata, two-piece, or a combination of both. Golf balls are constructed with three types of purposes in mind as well: distance, spin, and control. Choosing an appropriate golf ball really depends on what you are looking for in your golf game.
Are you a low handicap player looking for great spin and control? If so, choose a balata golf ball. This is just a softer ball that has a softer cover and allows for more spin. This is the ball that most professionals choose. They are also more expensive than other balls.
Perhaps you have a higher handicap and are looking for more distance and durability. This is where a good two-piece ball will be best. This golf ball has a harder cover which creates less backspin allowing you to hit it further.
Some golf balls are designed for slower swing speeds with a lightweight construction that catches air. They are generally marketed for women or seniors, but plenty of men will play these balls because it gets them extra distance.
Believe it or not the weather you are playing in can make a difference in which golf ball you use. Course conditions can also dictate golf ball choice. Let's say the course has been deluged with rain. In this case, you will need a ball that will travel father and produces less spin. If you are playing on a rock hard, sun-scorched track, choose something softer that will land soft and spin.
Look at the temperature as well. Balls for men come in two compressions - 90 and 100. When you hit the ball, the ball compresses. Therefore the 90 compression ball will be softer than the 100. If it's cold, the ball will not compress as much so you will want to play a 90 compression golf ball. If it's hot out, you will want to opt for the 100 compression.
In general, two piece balls are going to give you more distance and they will be more durable so they will last longer. Solid core golf balls will offer less trajectory and can spin for better accuracy. Even the dimples on the ball can have an effect on your game. Smaller dimples lessen trajectory while larger dimples increase it.
Choosing the right golf ball really is important to playing a good game. There are many, many choices on the market. Explore which golf ball you may want to use and then try it out. Experiment and in time, you'll find exactly the right golf ball for you.
Ever since the first game of golf was played on a field in Scotland some 300 years ago, the sport has steadily risen in popularity. Golf itself hasn't changed much over the years, but the equipment has certainly come a long way. We can only imagine how different it was, way back in the 1700s. Even the simple golf ball has undergone many revolutionary changes until it became the dimpled, white form that we use today.
In the earliest stages of the game, golf balls were made of wood. The lifespan was relatively short, as the wood tended to crack after being struck several times. This led to the development of the feather-filled ball. Bound in leather, this style of golf ball was a wildly popular choice over wooden balls.
Soon after the feather and leather ball was introduced, another new threshold was crossed in the revolution of golf balls. These new balls, called gutta-percha, took the golf world by storm. Commonly known as "gutties", these balls were made of gutta-percha, a type of natural latex, and they really did revolutionize the sport. This style was again adapted to the form that we are all familiar with today: a core of synthetic rubber with a highly engineered white plastic cover.
In the early 1990s, changes in the structure of the golf ball were beginning to take shape. Golfers were given the choice of three different types, including the control golf ball, distance golf ball and the spin golf ball. The latter typically offers the best quality, while the distance ball is usually most affordably priced.
So far as the technological advances are concerned, golf balls have been modified in every area of development; from the roundness of the ball, to materials used in the manufacturing process. Some types of golf balls have gone through so many scientific modifications that you'd almost need a degree in chemistry to fully understand all of the elements that form the simple golf ball.
Amateur golfers usually choose a solid core ball with a cover made of a type of plastic called surlyn. These golf balls are cheaper and achieve more distance, although they can be difficult to control. More experienced players choose golf balls that feature balata covers. This material provides more spin and a better feel, but demands a higher price.
Some manufacturers have delved into developing golf balls made with titanium. Others have used tungsten and magnesium. Some balls are created using a mixture of metal components. There are manufacturers that have exposed golf balls to gamma rays, and others that put "bald spots" on the balls to achieve a truer roll. Of course, all of these developments have been made in the name of improved play.
Technology has also altered compression in an effort to launch the average golf ball to brave new heights. The compression of a golf ball is a measurement that defines the degree of deformation that a golf ball presents after it has been hit several times. Many golfers believe that using a ball with higher compression will add distance to their tee and fairway shots, but this is not the case. There is usually a significant decrease in accuracy after a round of play, which may be attributed to the deformation of the ball after several strokes. Only the accuracy of the hits is affected, and not the actual distance that the ball achieves.
Golf balls are tough as nails and built to last. There is no set "shelf life" to a golf ball, so they can be successfully played after years in storage. However, it's important to know that some conditions will shorten the life of a golf ball. Prolonged exposure to extreme heat, for example, certainly takes away from the life expectancy of your golf balls.
Until several years ago, golfers were able to choose from two primary types of golf balls. These options have historically been so inexpensive, there has never been a demand or a market for used golf balls. Like all products, however, technology has taken over and prices have increased.
Golf has changed little over the last 300 years, but the world of golf equipment continues to evolve. From golf etiquette to golf balls, there's always something new to learn about this age-old sport.
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