Everything You Wanted to Know About Yours Balls

 

When "modern" golf balls began being constructed with yards of rubber bands on the inside, the world's largest rubber manufacturers (think Tires not Condoms) quickly got into the game.  B.F. Goodrich produced the first wound ball.  Goodyear, Firestone, Dunlop (British), and Bridgestone (Japan) soon followed.

Today's golf balls have solid cores made up of a synthetic rubber usually Polybutadiene.   

 

Top L to R:  Taylor Made TP5, Kirkland, Titleist ProV1x, Callaway Chrome Soft

Bottom L to R:  Titleist TruSoft, Titleist VG3, Srixon Q Star Tour, Titleist ProV1

Golf Ball Anatomy

• Dimples - The small indentations increase lift and reduce air resistance (drag). Most golf balls have between 300 and 500 dimples with and average of 336.  Golf ball manufacturers experiment not with just dimple number, but size, depth, shape, and pattern.  When choosing a golf ball don't worry too much about dimples but rather its overall performance specifics.

 

These Dimplit balls have 1,070 dimples.  Yes, I've counted them myself.

 

Mizuno claims that its 566 dimple design helps the ball delay its descent past its flight apex.  It's always good to delay your descent.

 

 

Without dimples golf balls would fly low and knuckle unpredictably through the air.  Yes, I've seen some of those shots even on golf balls with 1,070 dimples.  These balls were collected on the beach off the 18th hole at Pebble Beach Golf Course.  Over time, the ocean and sand have naturally worn the dimples off.  It would be interesting to see how they perform off the tee.

• Cover - The cover must be as stiff as possible to make the best possible use of the energy generated by the club.  At the same time it cannot be too stiff or it will crack and make the ball feel too hard.  Current covers are made of either Surlyn, an ionomer resin made by DuPont, or Urethane.  

    Urethane covers are used on more premium golf balls, provide more spin and create more "feel".  It provides for better shot shaping and green side performance.

    Surlyn covers are more durable and have less spin.  Because of this they may travel further, decrease hooks and slices, but may be harder to control around the green.  They tend to be more durable and last longer unless hit into the middle of a pond!

Click HERE to see a nice chart to see what covers are on specific golf ball models. 

• Mantle - The mantle is the layer or layers between the core and the cover.  This layer controls the transition of energy between the core and the cover.  By fine tuning the materials and thickness, manufacturers can adjust spin rates and ball flight characteristics.  The mantle layer also allows for "spin separation" which is different spin characteristics the golf ball may have depending on how hard it is hit.  Sometimes this layer is referred to as the "casing layer". 

Top Left:  Maxfli Softfli is basically a simple two piece ball with a large purple core

Top Center:  Kirkland Performance + has similar characteristics as the Titleist ProV1 with a large core and a very thin mantle

Top Right:  Titleist ProV1x has a dual core with a thin casing layer

Bottom Left:  Taylor Made TP5 has 5 layers.  The core plus the the two next mantle layers (grey and black) help with distance off the tee (low spin) while the 4th layer (dark blue) and soft urethane cover provide for high green side spin.  This is spin separation at its finest. 

Bottom Center:  OnCore MA1 has a hollow metal core.

Bottom Right:  Titleist ProV1 has a large core and a thin casing layer. 

• Core - The core is the engine of the golf ball and is responsible for energy transfer from the club face.  The size, material, and compression play vital roles on how the ball behaves.  Performance golf balls use multilayer cores with varying levels of hardness to optimize performance with feel.

    A word about compression -  Golf ball compression is a measurement of how much the ball deforms when force is applied by a golf club.  It is measured in pounds per square inch and expressed as peak pressure or initial velocity.

Compression is the number one feature in a golf ball that you should look out for because your swing speed will determine which ball fits you best.  A low swing speed may not compress a high compression ball enough to make it travel far.  A low compression ball will compress more when hit, transferring the energy from the club more efficiently.

If your swing speed is under 80 MPH (average driver distance 185 to 205) play a softer compression ball (less than 70)  Examples include:  Bridgestone Tour B RXS, Bridgestone e12 Soft, Callaway ERC Soft, Callaway Supersoft, Maxfli Softfli, Mizuno RB 566, Srixon Soft Feel, Taylor Made Soft Response, Taylor Made Speedsoft, Titleist Tour Soft, Vice Pro Soft, Wilson Duo Soft (This is the softest ball rated at 30).

If your swing speed is between 80-90 MPH (average driver distance 205 to 230) play a medium compression ball (70 to 90)  Examples include:  Bridgestone Tour B XS, Callaway Chrome Soft, Kirkland Signature, Maxfli Tour, Srixon Q Star, Taylor Made Distance+, Taylor Made TP5, Titleist AVX, Vice Pro Plus, Volvik Condor.

 If your swing speed is between 90-100 MPH (average driver distance 230 to 260) play a high compression ball (90 to 110)  Examples include:  Bridgestone Tour B X, Callaway Chrome Tour, Callaway Chrome Soft X, Mizuno RB Tour, Srixon Z Star, Taylor Made TP5X, Titleist Pro V1 or Pro V1x, Vice Pro, Volvik VTU.

Cost Considerations

Of course  in choosing a golf ball the cost plays a role.  Currently, the most expensive golf ball is the Taylor Made TP5 at $57.99 a dozen.  That's $4.83 a ball before tax.

 Considering an average golfer on a moderately difficult course will loose 2-5 golf balls per round, that's $9.66 to $24.15 per round or over $850 worth of golf balls per year.  Better invest in a $40 golf ball retriever!

 On the other hand, the cheapest golf ball is TopFlite XL Distance at $14.99 a box.  That's $1.25 a ball.  I remember when the Acushnet  Titleist DT was premium at $1.25 a ball.  Now the Titleist ProV1 costs $4.58 a ball.

Should You Play Used Balls?

In my internet search of studies, comparing new, used, or refinished golf balls with putting, chipping, irons, driver shots there was no discernible difference in player feel or performance and launch monitor data.  One warning, if the used ball is badly scuffed  it may alter its performance.  Also of note is that Pro Golfers go through an average of 8 golf balls per round because they feel balls loose performance over time. -Every 2.25 holes?  I may go through 8 golf balls per round because I loose them over time!

These may be OK

Maybe not these

 Ever wonder what to do with all those golf balls in your garage?

How to Approach Choosing  a Golf Ball

Does it really matter?   Yes. Using the same ball improves your game and confidence.  Rory McIlroy recently changed to the Taylor Made TP5 and started winning tournaments.

 Cost considerations.  Maybe play one premium ball a round and if it gets lost, play your used balls.  Maybe play a Surlyn or ionomer covered ball instead of urethane.

Ball appeal.  Maybe you like a certain brand because Nelly Korda plays it.  

Look up - The golf ball is in her hand. - She also games a Taylor Made TP5

Maybe you like the color, the matte finish feel, the flashy designs on the cover, the putting alignment aids.

 

 

Marketing.  The golf ball market revenue is over $1.3 billion annually.  Golf balls are heavily marketed.  Marketing and packaging costs are often more than manufacturing costs.  Perhaps because of this, you are drawn to one brand over another.  Currently Callaway holds 20% of the golf ball market share.

 Step by Step Guide in Choosing a Golf Ball

1.  What are the playing characteristics most important to you?  Distance off the tee, control off the tee, flight trajectory, spin and hold on the green, putting feel, feel off the driver.  This is the most confusing part because a high spinning ball that checks on the green and feels buttery off the driver may not give you the best control and most distance.

2.  What is your swing speed?  Generally choose a lower rated compression ball for a slower swing speed.

3.   What is your budget?  Treat yourself to a dozen of ProV1's, TP5's, or Chrome Tours?  Maybe try to get the most bang for your buck and look at the $20 to $40 price range? 

4.  Are you drawn to one brand or design?  Consider the other brands that are not sold through retailers.  A quality golf ball may be found online (direct-to-consumer) such as Vice, Snell, OnCore, Cut, Quantix, Trust, Seed, Sugar, and Free Balls Club.  You may be paying $10 to $20 less for a quality urethane ball but you may have to buy a bigger volume to avoid shipping charges.

Sugar Golf Balls come packaged 3x3x3 (27 balls) in a plain white cardboard box that resembles a large sugar cube.

 Want free golf balls?  Join the Free Balls Club at $15 per month and get "free" golf balls, just pay $10 for shipping.  The logo itself makes me want to try one.

 

5.  Does the technology of a particular ball pique your interest?  There are terms like "Fast Layer Core", "Spin Skin with SeRM coating", "AXIALFLOW" 332 Dimple Design, "REATiV iQ" smart cover technology, "VelocityCOR", Urethane with "LRT" (Linking Reaction Technology), Icosahedron Dimple Pattern, Enhanced Alignment Aid, Five Layer Progressive Speed Wrapped Core, Triple Track lines uses "Vernier Hyper Acuity" to improve putting, Hyper Fast Soft Core, . . . on and on it goes down the rabbit hole!  How can you resist a Hyper Fast Soft Core?

6.  Finally, golf ball manufacturers help you choose which ball you should play.  Just spend hours reading the displays and back of boxes at your local golf store and for sure you will have a clear understanding what your forever gamer should be.

Do you want three layers or four layers, more spin or less spin, lower flight, natural flight, or moderate flight, low compression or moderate compression?  Can someone tell me what natural flight is?

 This confusing Bridgestone box has a QR code that directs you to a "MindSet video" to help "think less".  That's exactly what we need - to think LESS!  Anyway there is a "MindSet" dot on the golf ball that hypnotizes you into sinking every put you attempt (under a foot).  Who makes this stuff up?

 This Taylor Made SpeedSoft Ink box is very helpful because it tells you everything about the ball in easy to understand French.  By the way, at $25 a box this ball may be of great value for us senior golfers.  It's fancy design also makes it easy to find on the course.  It's still hard to find when you slice one into a thick bush in the desert.  Also, the Ink brushes on the ball may make you dizzy when putting.

 

Golf ball shopping is fun and cheaper than golf club shopping.  There is nothing like opening a shiny box of brand new golf balls you've never tried before.  Perhaps these are the ones that'll give you the five extra yards off the tee.  

Once you open the main box, there are four more littler boxes that may have circular windows where you can see part of the new balls.  You might even catch a glimpse of what number the ball is.

You select out one sleeve and carefully pry open the flap without tearing the little tab so you can remove one ball and close the little box back up so the other two remaining balls won't roll out.

 The perfectly executed unboxing

 You then place identifying marks on your balls,

tee it up, and pray that you won't loose it on the first shot.  Maybe you don't use it on your first shot and wait till you are warmed up on a hole with a 50 yard wide fairway.  In the mean time you go hunting for other golfer's lost balls, just in case.

 Practical ways of finding the right golf ball for you

• This online ball fitting tool by Ping is called Ballnamic.  Cost is $15 for one fitting to $39 for five fittings.  It asks you some questions and matches you with several golf balls based on 10 factors like Driver Distance, 7 iron carry, Wedge Spin, Putter Feel.
  

Click this heading to get the most comprehensive ball fitting tool

• Some club fitters may do a golf ball fitting using their flight simulators.  It is a tedious process but you'll also get an insight into your swing tendencies.  Note that some flight simulators require a special Radar Capture Technology ball so ball fitting may not work.

• An on course "ball fitting" may be the easiest way to select your gamer.  Play your test ball for a few holes or the whole round, and see if it performs to your liking.  Many times my test ball is the one I just found that I've never played before.

  

  I wonder how these will play?  The BOMB 33 looks particularly interesting.