Do Golf Balls Make A Difference? [Surprising]

If you’ve played golf before, you’ve probably noticed there’s quite a few different types of golf available

on the market. Yes, they’re all about 1.68 inches in diameter, but apart from that, golf balls can vary hugely, from colour, performance, price and more.

And with so many different variations on the market, which golf balls should you be using and does your golf ball actually make a difference to how you play golf?

Let’s have a look and find out more about golf balls.

Do Golf Balls Matter?

Do Golf Balls Make A Difference?

The golf ball you use will make a difference to your golf game.

The golf ball market is flooded with hundreds of different options, all of which have different characteristics that will either help or hinder how well it performs when you play golf.

Every golf ball made is built for a certain type of golfer. The cheaper two-piece balls are much harder and designed for maximising distance for the beginner or lower swing speeds.

They also don’t cost much to buy, so losing them won’t hurt the bank too much. The Srixon Distance golf ball for example, will cost you just over £1 a ball and is designed specifically for greater yards off the tee.

But then on the other end of the spectrum, you’ve got the more expensive golf balls such as the Titleist Pro V1. These balls will cost you much more, but you’ll also get a much better feel and greater spin control.

These are tour balls, used by the best players in the game, so if you’re a mid-handicap golfer or a total newbie, it won’t really make sense to play these golf balls.

As a low single-figure handicap, I use a Taylormade TP5x golf ball. I feel it provides me with an adequate distance off the tee for my ball speed, but the key thing for me is the fact that it has an amazing feel from around the greens.

I know that I can hit shots and the ball will perform just how I like it to every single time. I can get enough spin on chip shots and it feels great off the putter face.

Why Do Golf Balls Make A Difference?

Golf balls can make a big difference to a golfer’s game. This is because of a few different factors based on the characteristics of that ball.

Of course, the price is going to be a key factor in which ball you use, especially for new golfers. But there’s also many other factors that will directly affect your performance when out playing golf.

Here’s a few things to think about when choosing a ball to play with.

Number of Layers

The number of layers and the type of inner core in a golf ball will heavily affect the performance of a golf ball.

Unlike the olden days, where golf balls were made from just one material, the market today ranges from two-piece golf balls, all the way up to six-piece golf balls.

Most average golfers will be best off using a two-piece ball. The two-piece golf balls tend to be a little firmer, cost less to buy and will be aimed at the golfer that needs a little extra distance.

And if you’re thinking about grabbing a few of the range balls, don’t! These one-piece balls are made to be hit shorter than normal golf balls. The one-piece construction is not designed for performance and will lose you plenty of yards off the tee.

The number of layers is a direct factor in the performance of the golf ball and will have a big impact on how it plays out on the golf course.

Core Material

Golf balls have both an inner and outer core. The inner core is built with a mixture of rubbers and can vary in layers.

The outer core will most likely either be a thin Surlyn or a Urethane cover.

A golf ball with Surlyn ionomer cover material tends to be used on the lower-end two-piece balls and will feel much harder off the face.

The Urethane cover material on the other hand, will have a much softer feel off the club face.

Therefore it’s all about the feel and what feels good for you. If the Urethane cover ball works well on the putting green and you don’t like what the Surlyn cover offers, it’s worth investing in the softer feeling ball.

Compression

The compression of a golf ball can have a big impact on how the ball flies when hit by a golf club.

A higher compression golf ball is aimed at the golfers with higher club head speed. With these bigger speeds, the ball at impact needs to be compressed more in order to cope with the added force from the club.

The higher compression provides the feel and accuracy that top golfers need to play their best. They’ll therefore be using a ball with a compression of 100+ to match up with their swing speed.

For most average golfers with slower swing speeds, they can use balls with far lower compression rates. This allows them to get the most distance out of the ball, despite the slower force at impact.

How To Choose A Golf Ball?

Distance

Distance is a huge factor to think about when choosing a golf ball to play with.

It’s what most golfers dream about when they’re watching the top professional golfers hitting drives over 350 yards on the PGA Tour.

For most new golfers, they obsess over this and although distance isn’t the most important thing in golf, it is quite helpful to gain a few extra yards off the tee.

With the right golf ball, there’s a good chance that a golfer can gain up to 10 or 15 yards from the tee.

Balls such as the Callaway CXR Power are built to help golfers hit the ball further. The firmer golf balls will feel harder off the face and not provide as much control, but will most likely go further than soft golf balls.

If you’re looking for extra distance, the best golf ball is probably going to be in the lower price range and it will mean low spin and less control.

Feel

If you’re not looking for extra yards with the driver, you might want to gain some control for your shorter approach shots and chips around the green.

Premium balls will cost you more, but with that, you’ll get a more consistent level of spin and they will feel much softer off the club.

When it comes to a premium ball, the Pro V1 and the Pro V1x is the industry leader. It’s the most used ball on tour but you will be paying a hefty price to use them.

Colour

It’s often overlooked when choosing a golf ball to use, but the colour of the ball can have a big impact on your game.

The most common golf ball colour you will see is white. It’s the traditional style that has been used for many a year. It provides a clean look and won’t be too distracting when you’re over the ball.

You’ve also got a range of other colours which you can pick which might actually help your game.

Choosing a bright-coloured golf ball such as a yellow or an orange will help it stand out more if you hit it into the rough.

However, anything too bright might impact how you feel when standing over a shot. If it doesn’t feel good when you look down, just before you hit it, then it’s best left alone.

Final Thoughts

The type of golf ball you use whilst out playing will absolutely make a difference to your golf game.

With so many golf balls available on the market, using the wrong golf ball can actually ruin your scores, potentially increasing offline shots and reducing distance.

Getting fit for the right ball is hugely beneficial and once you’ve found a ball that suits your game, it’s important to remain consistent with it and use the same ball when they play.

FAQs

Do Expensive Balls Make a Difference?

Whatever the level of golfer, the type of golf balls really can make a difference to your game. A beginner using a softer ball that costs more won’t help them at all and may mean they hit it shorter.

On the other hand, a good golfer may struggle with cheap golf balls as their ball speed will be too high and they won’t have any control.

Do Golf Balls Make a Difference for Beginners?

Yes. Beginner golfers are going to struggle to see any benefits from using expensive golf balls because they’re not at the skill level required.

Cheaper balls will have low spin helping keep the ball straight, but also a lower compression, which will also help beginners hit the ball as far as possible with what they have.