Which Golf Ball Is Right For Me?

Make no mistake; playing golf with the wrong type of golf balls will negatively affect your game. You should play the best golf balls for your particular game otherwise you may be sacrificing accuracy and consistency for a few extra yards.

Is there a way to decide which is the best golf ball for your level of golf and your golf club swing speed? There is a way; you first need to comprehend the function of each type of golf ball.

1-Piece Golf Balls

The 1-piece golf ball is made from one piece of a solid material and is usually only used on the driving range, as a practice ball, or sometimes by beginners. For this purpose, they are adequate as they are very durable and cheap - the downside is that they aren’t good for distance.

The Two Piece Golf Ball

2-piece golf balls are made from a solid core which is covered with a cut-proof covering making them very hard-wearing. Most week-end golfers use them because they are what is known as distance balls. They have a firm feel and a low spin rate that makes them roll further on the fairway when they land. The disadvantage of these balls is that they lack control.

Three-Piece Balls

Three-piece balls have a solid or sometimes liquid inner core followed by a secondary core and then covered by an outer cover. Skilful golfers generally use these balls as they can control the extra spin and soft feel of them around the green. They are controllable for teeing off and so more accurate and the spin rate and feel factor makes them a good ball for short irons and chipping.

4-Piece Golf Balls

With golf ball technology advancing at a rapid rate, the latest improvement is the four-piece ball. They combine the characteristics of good distance, spin, and feel; they are generally marketed towards the more skilled golfer up to the PGA pro golfers. Each of the four layers helps the ball to perform to the maximum for distance, spin, and feel. You get great distance with the driver, plenty of spin with your middle irons, and enough control with your wedges and feel with your putter.

Low Spin Rated Golf Balls

Low spin golf balls spin less and therefore they don’t carry as far but they will roll further on the fairway. The low spin doesn’t just apply to back spin but also to side spin, which makes them less likely to hook or slice and so are suited to higher handicap players looking for straighter shots.

Mid Spin Balls

The mid spin golf ball is the one suited for the majority of golfers. They offer a combination of distance and feel giving most golfers good distance and control. Sometimes the softness differs from brand to brand so you have to get used to the level of control.

High Spin Golf Balls

As these balls spin the most they create more backspin which keeps the ball in the air the longest and so has the biggest carry. Although they won’t run far on the fairway, you get the benefit of great control around and on the greens as they have more feel.

Firm Feel Balls

When you hit a firm-feel golf ball you will notice that they feel hard against the club face. Distance golf balls are generally firm feel; they give you the distance but lack the feel around the green. Mid to high handicappers normally go for these balls as they want more distance and are not worried to much by the lack of spin for their approach shots. They are also very hard-wearing and don’t scratch or mark easily.

Mid Feel Golf Balls

The most common ball for the mid handicap golfer is the mid-feel ball because they offer good control, feel, and distance.

Soft Feel Balls

Soft feel golf balls are preferred by low handicappers and professional golfers. The best players can use their skill to work these balls any way they like. They are great for the short game where spin and the soft feel make them ideal. They are generally not suited to the casual golfer because they are not so good for distance and the soft cover scuffs easily.

Golf Ball Compression Ratings

The compression of a golf ball is similar to the feel factor. The amount that a golf ball can compress is rated by a number; if you go to the extremes, then a compression 0 will compress by 0.2 inches and higher, and a compression 200 ball will not compress at all. The soft-feel golf balls are also known as low compression balls and are rated as compression 50 to 70. Hard-feel golf balls are high compression balls and have compression 100 to 110 or higher. Sometimes a compression 90 golf ball from one manufacturer will not feel the same as a compression 90 from a different manufacturer - it seams there is no standard way of measuring the compression.

As a general rule of thumb, if you have a fast swing speed you should use compression 110; golfers with an average swing speed should use compression 100, and a slow swing speed golfer a compression of 80.

Finally with regards to compression, did you know that the weather can play a part in choosing the compression of your golf balls? Low compression balls are best for colder weather because the ball doesn’t compress as much when it is cold; therefore high compression balls are better for hotter weather.

You should also take into account the condition of the golf course; with sun scorched, hard fairways, you will need a soft feel golf ball that spins more so that you can control it when it hits the fairway or green. If the course is sodden, you will need a golf ball that carries further and that has less spin so that you have more possibility of greater distance.