Golf Ball Review

By Ken Freeman

More than 40 years ago when I took up golf, there were only two ways to go about choosing equipment. The first was to buy whatever you could afford. So I started playing Spalding clubs and Wilson K-28, or Acushnet Club Special golf balls, purchased from Korvettes, the Walmart of the 1960s. Most of my fellow golfers did the same. Back in the day, golf balls would lose their roundness, split open, and sometimes your drive would wiggle in the air due to imperfections. So balls didn’t last too long before they needed to be replaced. Of course budget restrictions extended the play of my golf balls. I remember playing a Maxfli that was so out of round I could hardly fit it in the ball washer. Titleist golf balls were notorious for cutting easily, but not my Club Specials. The only things we ever bought in a pro-shop were greens fees, and when trapped, mosquito spray. Later when we became more dedicated to golf and were a little better off financially, we bought what the “big boys” played. I bought a set of Titleist irons, D4 weight, with stiff shafts. Why, you ask? Because that’s what I heard Jack Nicklaus played. Did I think my swing speed, tempo, and strength were like Jack’s? I don’t think so. But it didn’t matter. I wanted to be like Jack. Titleist balls were the ball of choice for us because they were so popular in professional ranks. When we were able, we bought, new, used or x-out, 100 compression Titleist balls. Since then I’ve come to my senses and accepted that I’d come closest to my golfing potential if I used equipment designed for my specific talent and abilities. I still wanted to be like Jack, and now like Tiger.

Today’s golf ball goes further and straighter, rolls longer, stays round, and doesn’t split their cover easily. There are golf balls for every occasion—hit it high or low, no spin, lots of spin, more feel, less feel etc. Finding the right ball for your game can be confusing. Two piece balls, 3 piece balls, solid core, liquid core, surlyn or balata cover……I feel a headache coming on. In spite of all this, and according to golf ball manufacturers, there are only two main classes of balls: spin and distance. Balls with more spin are easier to draw or fade and stop on the green better. Most high spin balls have a thin balata cover, a softer feel, don’t go as far and are less durable than the no spin ball. No spin balls are harder to draw or fade, go a little further, don’t hold the green as well, and are more durable than high spin balls.

Golf ball compression and the purpose of dimples are often misunderstood. Compression tells how tight the ball is wound, how hard the ball may feel, and how much swing speed it takes to compress the ball. The higher the compression number the harder the feel and the less it compresses during impact. A common misconception is that a 100-compression ball always flies farther. This is not true. Club head speed is most important to distance. To experience the full potential of a 100 compression golf ball, one must have the swing speed to fully compress the ball. Seniors, whose swing speed may have slowed down, may find that a lower compression ball will fly farther. With regard to dimples, the number of dimples on a golf ball do not determine the trajectory. Trajectory is determined by the dimple’s depth, not the number.

Summary:

Solid Two-Piece - The workhorse of all balls, beginners should start here. It is a solid, rubbery ball that is durable and affordable. Comprised of a large, uniform inner core beneath a hard cover, players can hit a “thin” or “fat” shot with less fear of cutting the ball. The tradeoff is little spin and less control for greater distance and a longer roll.

Multi-Layered or Three-Piece - Preferred by intermediate players, this softer ball achieves a higher spin rate. The tradeoff is more control for a little less distance.

High Performance - Intended for low handicap players, the ball is less durable with a softer cover for more control. The design provides the best of both worlds - high spin and distance. They are not recommended for beginners since they cut and deform easily. According to Golf Digest, Tiger Woods was attracted to his new high performance ball because it let him be more aggressive when trying to hold a draw into a left-to-right crosswind. Most of us don’t have those kinds of issues.

Compression rating. This is how tightly the ball is wound. The slower the swing, the lower the compression needed. However, a player’s own skill level and personal preference will be the deciding factor. The three most common ratings are:

80 - Lower compression balls are also the softest. This provides a sling shot effect, which propels the ball further. Yet, it is harder to control. Typically chosen by women, juniors and senior players.

90 - Played by the majority of male players and experienced female players.

100 - The hardest compression, this rating is best suited for advanced players with fast swing speeds.

Bottom line is don’t insist on playing the ball Tiger or Vijay plays. Try different type balls. Multi-layered, liquid core balls are recommended for better golfers, and you might not hit the ball consistently enough to recognize all its benefits. Pick a ball that suits your level of play and has your confidence. Al Jones is one of the best golfers I’ve ever played with and he plays Top Flite exclusively. If you mis-hit or top the ball a lot, you’re not going to want an easy-cutting balata-covered ball. Conversely, if you’re a good player, you may not want something that feels hard and gives you less spin and control—even if it won’t cut. Try a few different balls in the appropriate category for you and find one that makes you feel lucky. Whichever ball you finally choose, you must believe in it. Confidence is half the battle! I have never played well with a Titleist ProV1, a popular choice of many professional golfers. I definitely don’t hit it as far, probably because I’m pushing 70 and my swing has slowed down more than a tad. I feel the same about any ball with a balata cover. The good news is that today most golf ball manufacturers market the entire range of golf balls. I think

Titleist makes a great golf ball. While I don’t like ProV1, I can play the Titleist Nxt or DT SoLo, because these balls are more in line with my swing capabilities. It’s important to be brutally honest with yourself regarding your skills and abilities. The objective is to score low and have fun doing it.

Reprint permission from www.bstmllc.com.