Golf Balls

There are a huge range of golf balls on the market at the moment and fierce competition between manufacturers. In order to slice through the hype and find the golf ball that is right for you, the first thing you should ask yourself is whether you're after distance or spin (which will give you greater control once you're closer to the green.

Spin & Distance Golf Balls

If you are already capable of getting the distance you want then you might consider a spin ball which will provide you with essential control once you hit the golf green. If you're still working on getting the golf ball to go as far as you want it to, you're better off sticking with a distance ball. On top of this, if you're playing golf during the winter, you should use a distance ball anyway. The wet winter ground surface and the outside temperature will play havoc with your distance shots so you'll need all the help you can get in making the ball go further! There is also the added benefit that once your distance ball hits the soft ground in winter, it will stop quickly on the green anyway.

Premium Branded Golf Balls

Due to the intense competition between manufactures, there are quite a few very good golf balls on the market. For a typically skilled golfer you're unlikely to go wrong with brands such as Nike, TaylorMade, MaxFli, Callaway Golf or Srixon. You can expect to pay between fifteen to twenty pounds per dozen golf balls.

If you are a low handicapper and can get distance and are after feel and control, you can enter the world of premium golf balls, of which the Titleist Pro V1 is currently top dog. However, there are many manufacturers currently snapping at the heels, creating top of the range golf balls with distance, feel and control.

Spin Balls

On the outside most golf balls look pretty much the same; most are white, most feature a manufacturer's logo and most have a hard shiny surface. However there are numerous intricacies within the design of each ball that allow it to perform in very different ways when struck. For those looking to add a little extra momentum to their drives, a distance golf ball will provide an ideal solution; however if control around the fairways and green is more of a key feature of your game, then you'll require a spin ball.

Increased Control with Spin Balls

The spin ball features a slightly different design and manufacturing process to help generate that all important additional control. There are numerous levels of spin ball, ranging from a limited model that will offer minor additional help for hook and slice shots and increased control, right through to maximum spin, which provides great control through increased ball rotations although has a significantly adverse effect on the distance achieved.

Dimple patterns can be changed in order to alter the flight of a ball. Manufacturers have developed methods of varying the surface layer in order to accommodate different numbers, shapes and arrangements of the dimples. The average golf ball features between 250 and 450 hollows - almost always an even number too - which are required by the laws of the game to be as symmetrical as possible. The formation of these indentations determines how the ball reacts when it is struck by the club head and when it lands on the surface of the course; however it isn't the only determining factor.

Key Features of a Spin Golf Ball

Modern golf balls tend to be made up of between 2 and 4 individual layers. Each layer provides a compacted shell around the core of the ball and singularly alters the weight and flight. Golf balls with a greater number of layers are particularly favoured by more advanced players due to their unique characteristics, which essentially stem from having a softer outer cover and a solid core. This makes the ball feel significantly lighter when struck and produces that all important extra spin and control that top player's look for.

The downside of this is that they generally need to be struck with great firmness to achieve the optimal shot; this is due to the increased compression that occurs on impact, caused by the softer outer layer. Due to its unique characteristics these balls also tend to be more expensive than the standard 2 or 3 layer alternatives, which may of course put some players off, particularly those who have a penchant for finding the water hazards on their local course.

Improve Short Game without Sacrificing Distance

In short, if you are currently playing to a high standard but want to sharpen up accuracy and begin improving approach shots, an advanced spin ball could well be the answer. Take the Callaway Tour ix or Titleist Pro V1 X golf balls; these are two high end professional spin balls that will sharpen up your short game with added spin whilst also maintaining a decent distance. Lower down the range you are likely to see less layers featured and a more generic design, which may well see distance affected, but will still see you achieve some significant spin.

Distance Balls

For less experienced golfers in the mid to high handicap range, Distance golf balls are ideal as they offer a few extra yards and less spin and feel. These features give the average golfer a bit more of a chance to attack their scores and lower their handicap.

Distance golf balls are designed to maximise power transfer from your golf swing to the golf ball, so that they fly fast from your clubface and down the fairway. Distance golf balls also often go on a high flight to assist low handicap golfers in getting extra distance, and make par-4 and par-5 holes more achievable. Distance golf balls are also cheaper to make and therefore perfect for occasional golfers looking for enhanced performance, without splashing out on premium golf balls.