Comparing Types of Golf Balls

To the casual weekend golfer, a golf ball is just a golf ball.  However, picking the correct ball is just as important as any other aspect of golf. Surprisingly, there have been more than 5,000 golf ball design patents issued in the last 10 years alone.  In addition to price, balls can differ in distance, control, and accuracy.  They can look and feel different, and have different durability.  Different balls are better for short games, hard surfaces, and putting.

To start with, look at how experienced a golfer you are.  For beginners, start with a one-piece ball made from one solid material.  While they don’t have much distance, they are inexpensive and durable.  Another good ball for someone just starting out is the two-piece ball, which have a solid core and another outer layer.  These balls have more distance while maintaining a firm feel and low spin, but they lack control.  For an intermediate golfer, a 3-piece ball is preferred.  This ball has a solid or liquid core, an outer layer, and finally a top cover.  More expensive than a two-piece, this ball has more spin and a softer feel, giving it good control.  Finally, the most expensive and technologically advanced is the 4-piece ball.  This is the ball preferred by the most experience golfer and professional PGA golfers. This ball seems to have it all -- good distance, control, and spin.  Spin is important in golf balls, because backspin will carry the ball further in the air, but the ball will not have as much roll once it hits the ground.

If you want to improve your golfing score, start with looking at what type of golf ball you use, and perhaps try a few different types to see what works best for your game.