The Best Golf Balls for Every Golfer

Published on October 10, 2024 On Golf

Consider All the Factors Before Making a Switch

With a myriad array of models, colors, cover graphics and alignment aids on the market, beginners, experts, high handicappers and seniors can all find a ball to fit their game and budget. Ongoing improvements in materials and technology have made it easier than ever to blend value and performance–and enable players to get a ball that does it all from tee to green.

When deciding which ball is best for you, identify two or three areas of your game where you truly feel a ball could make a difference. Be wary of solely determining a ball’s efficiency on how far you can hit it off the tee. Start your ball-selection process from the green and work your way back to the tee. It’s more helpful than starting at the tee and moving toward the green.

The science behind golf ball manufacturing is very advanced. The layers of a golf ball are molded and assembled to achieve certain desired performance properties and characteristics. It all starts with the core. For most two-piece (or value-based) balls, the core of a two-piece ball is larger and softer to reduce spin, increase distance and maintain a soft feel, though they can also be designed to have a variable hardness from the center out to the perimeter to create more speed.

Two-piece balls are probably the most appropriate option for novices, higher handicappers and seniors seeking increased distance, better accuracy and a relatively soft feel. These balls have a non-urethane cover, usually either Surlyn or ionomer. Relative to higher-priced urethane-cover balls, two-piece balls lack the same degree of spin control and soft feel. However, if you have a double-digit handicap above 10, if you play short game shots along the ground and are looking for more distance off the tee, a non-urethane-covered ball is worth considering, From desert to dunes, TPC Danzante Bay has numerous out-of-play areas. If you’re prone to offline shots, stick with the less expensive Surlyn or ionomer cover balls, which reduce dispersion and fly straighter than urethane cover balls. These balls range from $23 – $40 per dozen.

If your skill level is a little higher, if you’re competent with all the clubs from driver to wedge, you’ll want to explore the world of urethane cover balls. The softer urethane material creates more groove interaction at impact, which translates to more spin. Urethane cover balls are generally multi-layer models with a mantle that aids the core in transferring energy for ball speed and distance. The mantle creates a firm layer for the cover to compress against to create short-game spin, which good players rely on for consistent chipping, pitching and shots played within 100 yards of the green. These pro-level balls offer a greater variety of shot-making options in terms of trajectory, spin control and feel. They cost roughly twice as much ($50 – $55 per dozen) as a two-piece ball.

Golf Balls: The Four Primary Performance Categories

It’s important to find a ball that suits your playing style, visual preferences and auditory feedback. (You have to like the sound a ball makes when you flush it). Remember, a little digging into the ball market is one of the cheapest ways to elevate your game—and maybe even take it to new heights.

Golf balls fall into four primary performance categories:

· Premium. Top-line materials for distance and maximum short-game performance.

· Premium Value. High-end materials and tech at a lower price.

· Distance Value. For golfers who crave more length off the tee.

· Soft Spin Value. Much softer feel and more short-game zip.

“Once you’ve narrowed down your ideal golf ball selections based on brand, performance and price, it’s time to go shopping,” GOLF Magazine stated. The good thing about golf balls is that testing a broad spectrum of options won’t bust your budget. Plus, you can test them on the ultimate proving ground—the golf course.
In the end, finding a golf ball that fits your game will improve your consistency and lower your scores, too.