If you’re new to golf, you might’ve observed some things about the sport that piqued your curiosity. For example, why are golf balls numbered?
The numbers are printed above, below, or on the side of the brand logo for the golf ball’s identification. Besides this purpose, some numbers also indicate particular specifications of the ball.
All golf balls have single-digit numbers on them, but some also have multiple digits. Plus, most are printed in black, while some are red. What do all of these mean? Continue reading to know more.
Table of Contents
Single-Digit vs. Two-Digit vs. Three-Digit Numbers
All golf balls have single-digit numbers printed on them. Some also have two-digit and/or three-digit numbers aside from the single-digit. What’s the meaning of each of them?
Single-Digit Numbers
We’ll start with the easiest one. The single-digit numbers printed on golf balls are solely for identification.
Let’s say two golfers have the same ball brand, meaning their golf balls are identical. To remedy this, they have to play with balls with different designated numbers. This way, they can play with the same brand without getting their golf balls mixed up.
The identification number can be any single digit (0-9). Usually, a box of a dozen golf balls has four sleeves. Each sleeve has three golf balls with the same number printed on them.
For example, sleeve 1 will have three balls labeled as 1, sleeve 2 with three balls labeled as 2, and so on. This is why golf balls labeled 1 to 4 are most commonly used by players.
Two-Digit Numbers
The two-digit numbers on a golf ball most likely indicate its compression rating. But what is compression in a golf ball?
When a golf ball is hit by a club, the part of the ball that contacts the club’s face gets flattened and compressed. How much the ball is compressed because of the swing’s impact is the compression rating.
In earlier years, balls labeled with 70 or 80 compression ratings were seen as ladies’ balls because these ratings are considered low. A low compression ball is softer, and that means you don’t need to swing hard for the ball to perform well. Hence, the ladies’ ball tag.
High compression balls, on the other hand, had ratings as high as 110. To avoid getting their golf balls perceived as weak or soft, most manufacturers decided to leave out compression ratings from the design of the golf balls.
At present, compression rating isn’t a big deal anymore. But some golf balls still have compression ratings printed on them. These are the two-digit numbers you see on golf balls. Three-digit numbers around 100 are also most likely compression ratings.
Three-Digit Numbers
These typically indicate the number of dimples a golf ball has. The numbers 300 and 400 are the usual three-digit labels on golf balls, which are also the optimum number of dimples a golf ball can have.
The dimples on a golf ball help minimize wind resistance and increase lift, allowing the ball to travel farther compared to a smooth ball. Most manufacturers today stick with the optimum range of 300 to 400 dimples, but some go a bit beyond 400.
The number of dimples isn’t a significant factor in a golf ball’s performance. However, some manufacturers display the number of dimples on the ball to turn attention to the dimples’ pattern.
Special Numbers on Customized Golf Balls
Some professional players get custom-made balls and have them printed with their favorite number. Special numbers can be anything from 10-99.
One example is Justin Rose’s special “99” golf ball. According to him, the reason behind 99 is his wife’s lucky number, which is 9. When they got married he doubled the luck by choosing 99 and having the number stamped on his customized ball, and it’s gold, too!
There are more pro players with an iconic numbered ball like Rory Mcllroy’s “22” ball and Sergio Garcia’s “10,” “49,” and “85” balls.
Black vs. Red Numbers
Red numbers used to mean low compression on golf balls while black numbers are the opposite. But this concept isn’t widely recognized anymore. Some manufacturers still print numbers in red on softer balls and black on firmer ones and some don’t.
Nowadays, it’s best to think that the color of the number doesn’t represent anything special about the golf ball.
Common Misperceptions About the Numbers on Golf Balls
What did you first think about the numbers on golf balls? Were your initial guesses on their purpose and representations correct? Here we’ll debunk some common misperceptions about what the numbers on a golf ball mean.
Different Numbers Mean Different Weights
No, this isn’t true. The numbers on golf balls have nothing to do with their weight. A golf ball labeled as 1, 2, 3, and so on all have the same weight of 1.62 ounces.
This is the standard weight of all golf balls.
The Higher the Number the Better
If you think a higher number on the golf ball denotes higher performance, you couldn’t be more wrong. The identification number, compression rating, number of dimples, and whatever personal pick number are all irrelevant to the ball’s performance.
Doesn’t Compression Affect the Ball’s Performance?
Yes, it does. But brands use different standards when it comes to measuring compression. Therefore, it’s useless to compare compression ratings among brands.
You can’t reliably tell that a ball with lower compression is softer than a different brand ball with higher compression. Their compression ratings weren’t measured using the same standards.
What About the Number of Dimples?
Standard golf balls may have 300 to 500 dimples. Within this range, there’s no evidence to say that a ball with 500 dimples is better than a ball with only 300.
The dimples’ pattern and design affect the ball’s flight, but the number of dimples don’t pose significant changes to the ball’s performance.
Conclusion
Why are golf balls numbered?
The number near the brand logo is the golf ball’s identifying mark. If the ball has two-digit and three-digit numbers, they might also be there for identification or might represent the ball’s specifications.
None of these numbers necessarily give you an insight into the ball’s performance.
At present, displaying the compression ratings of golf balls is no longer common practice among golf ball manufacturers. But it’s still possible to come across some balls that have them. The number of dimples is also not commonly seen on golf balls anymore.
