How To Choose The Best Golf Balls For Your Game

If you are playing golf with golf balls that don't suit your game, they could be adversely affecting your shot making ability. You need to play the right golf balls for your playing ability; you don't want to give up accuracy or control to gain 5 yards.

How do you know which are the best golf balls for your ability and your strength? To make an informed decision, you need to understand what the different characteristics of the golf balls mean.

In this article I will not bore you with technical details about the the number of dimples on a golf ball, the materials that make up each layer of the ball, the diameter of a golf ball, or the weight. These details won't make any difference to you choosing the right golf ball, so I will stick to the most important specifications.

One-Piece Balls

The one piece golf ball is made from a solid material and is normally used on the range as a practice ball and sometimes by beginners. Although it is very durable and inexpensive it doesn't give you much distance.

The Two Piece Golf Ball

Two piece golf balls have a solid core enclosed in a cover which is made of a cut proof material, making them very durable. They are the ones that are used by most casual golfers because they give you maximum distance. This is because of their firm feel and low spin rate that causes them to roll further on the fairway. The drawback is that they are not as controllable as a softer ball.

The Three Piece Golf Ball

Consisting of a solid or liquid core surrounded by an outer core and enclosed in an outer cover, the three piece golf ball is preferred by more skillful golfers. Good players get the most out of these balls as they have more spin and a softer feel than the two piece balls. These characteristics make for a more controllable flight with more spin and control around the greens.

The Four Piece Golf Ball

The latest innovation is the four piece golf ball which combines the best of distance, spin, and feel. These golf balls can be played from the low to mid handicapper up to the pro golfer; there only drawback being their high cost. These balls will give you good distance of the tee, good spin rates with your mid-iron shots, and good control around the greens.

Low Spin Rated Golf Balls

The low spin rated golf balls don't carry as far of the tee but they will roll far after landing on the fairway. These balls are good for high handicap golfers that need to straighten out their golf shots; the low spin also applies to the side spin, so they are less liable to slice or hook.

Mid Spin Rated Golf Balls

Mid spin balls are the most popular and widely used golf ball. They are a mixture of good distance and good feel or control which gives you the ability to hit long drives and with good accuracy. The degree of softness available depends on the brand that you choose though.

High Spin Balls

As these balls spin the most they create more backspin which keeps the ball in the air the longest and so has the biggest carry. Although they won't run far on the fairway, you get the benefit of great control around and on the greens as they have more feel.

Firm Feel Golf Balls

Firm-feel balls will feel hard when you strike the ball with the club-face. The majority of distance golf balls are firm which is fine for distance but not good for feel around or on the greens. You will find that most high or mid handicap golfers will choose these balls because of the extra distance which they are willing to trade for the loss of control onto the green. Apart from the distance, these balls are the longest lasting and are difficult to scuff up or mark.

Mid-Feel Golf Balls

The mid feel golf ball are the preferred choice of the mid to low handicapper, as they combine the qualities of good distance, control, and feel.

Soft Feel Balls

Professional golfers and low handicappers normally go for soft feel balls. These golfers have the ability to make these golf balls do what they like with them. They are particularly suited to the short-game where great feel and spin come into play. High handicappers normally stay away from soft feel balls as they will loose some distance and they also mark easily.

The Compression Of A Golf Ball

The compression of a golf ball is similar to the feel factor. The amount that a golf ball can compress is rated by a number; if you go to the extremes, then a compression 0 will compress by 0.2 inches and higher, and a compression 200 ball will not compress at all. The soft-feel golf balls are also known as low compression balls and are rated as compression 50 to 70. Hard-feel golf balls are high compression balls and have compression 100 to 110 or higher. Sometimes a compression 90 golf ball from one manufacturer will not feel the same as a compression 90 from a different manufacturer - it seams there is no standard way of measuring the compression.

It is generally recommended that slow swing speed golfers use golf balls with a compression rate of 80; golfers with an average swing speed should use compression 100; and Compression 110 is best for fast swing speed golfers.

Finally with regards to compression, did you know that the weather can play a part in choosing the compression of your golf balls? Low compression balls are best for colder weather because the ball doesn't compress as much when it is cold; therefore high compression balls are better for hotter weather.

Also, after a long dry spell when the course is rock hard, you will want a softer feel ball with more spin so that you have a chance of controlling the golf ball when it lands. When it has rained a lot and the fairways are soggy, you will need a ball that will carry further but produces less spin so that you have a chance of maximizes your distance.