Are you looking for the next golf ball that’ll land you all the birdies? An excellent place to start is by asking: what golf ball is best for me?
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to golf, and a good ball will depend on factors like the speed of your swing and the ideal distance of a ball for your swing. It also depends on the characteristics of the ball, like its layers, spin, and compression.
So, how can you go about picking the best golf ball for yourself? Let’s break things down.
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How Can I Choose the Best Golf Ball for Me?
Some people opt to get any golf ball type that their favorite golfing champion uses, but this might not always be a good fit. After all, making a simple shift in thickness or compression can make all the difference in your performance on the course!
So, let’s take a look at the common factors to keep in mind:
Choose the Right Number of Layers
When we said to break the golf ball down to be able to choose, we really meant that. When you take apart a golf ball, it can consist of anywhere from one and up to five pieces.
Typically, a player would increase the number of layers the more experienced they get in the field. Still, each number of layers has its pros and cons.
What the layer number affects are your spin rate, shot height, distance, and what the general feeling of impact is like. Fewer layers will give you further distance and high ball flights.
As a general rule of thumb, lower flights and higher spin rates suit golfers with more experience, while beginners would do well with maximum distances, less spin, and high shots.
- Let’s get one-piece golf ballsout of the way, as they’re mainly used for mini golfing due to their firmness.
- Two-piece golf ballshave a massive core and a simple layer to cover that. They’re a good option for beginners and high handicappers, and a great two-piece ball is the Callaway Supersoft or TaylorMade Soft Response.
- On the other hand, three-piece golf ballsare designed to suit low and mid handicappers, and like two-piece golf balls, they can be soft or firm. To get more spin, you can opt for the Titleist Pro V1 three-piece ball.
- For firmer balls, you can opt for four-piece balls like the Titleist Pro V1x. The firmness and higher spin rate will suit faster swing speeds used by golfers with more expertise.
- Finally, like the one-piece ones, five-piece balls aren’t the most common models out there. Instead, you can think of them as four-piece balls with an extra layer to give the impact some softness. A good option would be the Taylormade TP5.
Balance Between Compression, Spin, and Distance
While compression isn’t as crucial as it used to be, it’s still something to look out for when deciding on your next golf ball.
These three factors might seem like a weird bunch to group together. However, there’s a common denominator. That’s because how much a golf ball compresses upon impact affects the spin rate and the distance the ball travels.
The gist of it is that the higher the compression is, the less distance the ball would travel as it launches higher instead of so much rolling out and vice versa.
So, what to do about this? Check your swing speed and then compare it to the bottom line:
- If your swing speed is low (85MPH), you should opt for a compression rate below 70, which is on the low end.
- Higher swing speeds (100MPH) would match better with high compression rates of 90 and above.
- A moderate speed (varies between 85 to 100MPH) would mix well with low to mid compression rates.
Keep Up With the Regulations
If you’re only playing for fun, you won’t have to worry too much about this factor. However, in tournaments, there might be regulations to keep in mind if you don’t want to risk elimination.
For instance, the United States Golf Association requires all balls to meet a minimum weight of 1.620 ounces. For the diameter, it has to be at least 1.680 inches wide and perfectly symmetrical. You can’t use any model that’s been modified beyond these specs.
You might even be bound by the one-ball rule in some cases.
Are Recycled Golf Balls Worth a Shot?
If you’re in the market for new golf balls, you might come across brands that label their balls as recycled that look pretty much the same as new ones. The only visible differences you might see are going to be mainly limited to some blemishes and discolorations here and there.
Just keep in mind that they might not be as long-lasting as brand new ones, but they are usually cheaper, so they’re a good option for a beginner. Plus, they’re better for the environment, so you’re hitting two birds with one stone!
Do You Need an On-Course Evaluation to Pick a Golf Ball?
Some people might opt for an on-course evaluation to test how a specific type of golf ball compliments their performance. However, that’s not always a practical option.
So, if you have to order a gold ball before trying it out, make sure not to get it in bulk. Instead, get the smallest package to test it out.
This way, you can even get orders for two models if you’re unsure which to choose. Then you can take them out for your own evaluation and compare them without splurging.
Final Thoughts
There isn’t a single golf ball that would suit every player out there.
So, when you’re looking for the best golf ball for you, make sure you understand your playing technique, like handicap and swing speed. Plus, you’ll have to look at the factors that affect a ball’s performance, like layers and compression.
Based on these factors, you can eliminate options until you find one that suits both aspects.
