A Short Guide to the Different Types of Golf Balls

In 2020, there were 24.8 million golfers in the US. Considering that this is a sport that’s easygoing, gets you out in nature, and is doable alone, it’s not a shock that there was a 2% increase in golfers during the pandemic.

Are you getting into golfing and you’re researching ways to improve? Then one way to do so is to get the right golf balls.

In this article, we’ll show you what the different types available are so you can pick the right ones!

Construction Type

There are 5 construction types, ranging from 1 to 5-piece. 1-piece is usually used for mini-golf since it’s cheap (it only has 1 layer as a solid sphere), so you don’t want to use that for golfing. They have lower compression, so they won’t go as far.

2 and 3-piece golf balls are durable and can go farther. They both have a solid core (rubber), but the 3-piece balls have an extra middle layer made of liquid rubber, which gives you better control (and spin). The 3-piece ball is actually one of the most popular balls used by professionals.

If you like the 2 and 3-piece balls, then you might feel right at home with the 4-piece, as it’s a combination of both. There’s a rubber core with 2 plastic outer layers instead of 1, like with the 3-piece ball.

Lastly, the 5-piece ball is relatively new. As the name implies, there are 5 layers and they’ll help to perfect your game, no matter what stroke you’re using. However, most serious golfers will tell you that anything over 3 layers is overkill.

Other Factors to Consider

After reading the above, you might’ve decided to go with the 3-piece golf ball. But there are other factors that affect your golfing style.

For example, there are the dimples, which affect how far you can hit a ball. Not only does the number matter (most golf balls have 250 to 500), but also the depth. Most are around 0.01 inches deep, and even the slightest change can affect how far the ball travels.

Also, there’s compression. Most golf balls fall between 40 to 100 in range. You’ll want to get a high compression ball if you have a high swing speed. And if you play in cold weather, you’ll want to go for a lower compression.

Lastly, there’s the spin; balls can be low, medium, or high spin. Low spin golf balls will fly straighter, so they’re better for you if you slice the ball a lot.

No matter which balls you choose, make sure you show off your love for the sport with golf clothing too!

Purchase the Right Golf Balls to up Your Game

As you can see, there’s a wide variety when it comes to golf ball composition. It might be a good idea to get a combination of golf balls so you can figure out which ones work the best for you.

If you want to learn more about golfing and other sports, then check out our blog page!

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About the Author: Scott Bunch