Choosing a golf ball.

Many weekend warriors with whom I have had the pleasure to play with over the years seem not to care what kind of golf ball they play. It could be a hard, 2 layer ball on one hole, and a soft 4 layer one on the next. Since weekend warriors are out for the fun of the game, there's nothing wrong with that. However, being consistent with the brand and type of ball you use throughout the round may shave a few strokes off your game. Here are a few facts about golf balls.

The best golf balls usually have a urethane cover, and are constructed with 3 or more layers. Having more layers in a golf ball allows it to perform at levels that are as close to the best of both worlds as possible. In other words, soft golf balls don't go as far as hard ones, simply because more energy is dissipated at impact with a soft ball than a hard one. On the other hand, hard golf balls explode off the face of the club at the faster rate, making it more difficult to control them. As a result of the rate at which harder golf balls leave the club face, it is also more difficult to impart backspin at impact, which explains why they don't check up much on the greens. However, with the marvels of science and technology, manufacturers combine different layers in an individual golf ball so that it has the control of soft ball, and the distance of a hard one.

Manufacturers understand that the weekend warrior doesn't necessarily want to spend
$50 on a dozen of golf balls, so you can also find very good golf balls in the $20/dozen range. The main distinction is that they don't give as much control as the more expensive ones, especially around the greens. They will most likely have a surlyn cover, which is a harder material than urethane, and are made up of two layers, sometimes three. These are what most average golfers tend to prefer and usually get the job done quite well.

Whether you spend $50 or $10 on a dozen of golf balls, try to play the entire round with the same type of golf ball. You will find that it will help you to stay consistent throughout the round, especially around the greens. One more thing to note is that if your swing speed with a driver exceeds 90+ mph, you will most likely benefit from the control of a softer golf ball. On the other hand if you swing slower than 90 mph, a harder ball will help you gain more yardage.

The thing to remember is it all depends what makes you enjoy the game more. Spending more on golf balls will not necessarily buy you a better game, but will probably improve some aspects of your game, especially around the greens.

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