How the Golf Ball Affects Your Game
- Distance. Golf balls are manufactured to favor distance or control, although ball manufacturers try to reach a...
- Control. Balls made for control have a soft feel when struck. Their increased spin makes the balls more maneuverable...
- Compromise. According to "The Golf Book," the differences between distance balls and control balls are...
What does feel mean on a golf ball?
3: Feel Equals Performance A golf ball’s compression only tells how relatively firm or soft it feels. It doesn’t predict distance, flight, or spin, and is just one of many design elements working together to determine a ball’s performance. While feel is important to some players, what counts is how the ball performs on every shot.
Does a firmer ball affect your swing speed?
On the flip side, using a firmer ball when you don’t have the swing speed to properly compress the core can have an adverse effect on launch characteristics, spin and control. “If you’re playing a ball that’s too firm for your swing speed, ball velocity goes down and backspin goes up off the tee, he said.
How important is feel in golf?
While feel is important to some players, what counts is how the ball performs on every shot. 4: Little Scuffs And Scrapes Make A Ball Unplayable Don’t worry: You’ve probably just scraped off some paint, and while you might not like looking at it, a scuff or a scrape isn’t going to affect the ball’s performance.
How long do golf balls last in the summer?
Keep balls out of your car or attic, which can get pretty hot during the summer. Store them under normal indoor conditions and they should be good for at least five years, if not longer. Tags:Golf, golf balls, Myths
Do golf balls make a difference to your game?
But as your game improves, the ball you use can make a difference in a number of ways. Some golf balls fly a longer distance and some allow the player to have more “feel” of the shot, while others make it easier to impart more backspin. It all depends on the importance you place on each.
Does it really matter what golf ball you use?
The quality of golf ball you use definitely matters and impacts on your game. Higher quality, more expensive golf balls generally have a urethane cover, leading to greater 'feel' and spin control. Premium balls will usually perform longer and hold greens more consistently, helping you shoot lower scores.
How much difference does a golf ball really make?
They can, but when we tested both types of balls at average-golfer swing speeds, the difference was almost negligible: six yards, usually less. The real advantage of urethane-cover balls is the extra spin, feel and control they offer on shots near the green.
How much do golf balls affect distance?
"When the golf ball gets colder, it can lose a few miles per hour in ball speed, which can mean distance loss due to speed," said Snell. "[The] optimum temperature range is 70 to 90 degrees. At 40-degree temps the ball can slow down and be shorter by 5 to 10 yards.
Can a golf ball improve your game?
Golf balls play an important part of your game. They can improve control, speed, and distance. That's why there are so many different golf ball types on the market; everyone plays differently. Golf ball technology, from lightweight materials to having layers and varied compression levels, can help to improve your game.
Do softer golf balls go further?
Although softer golf balls go further from the tee for lower swing speed players, the gap across the whole range of ball types is only around 5 yards, so it is more important to fit the ball to your irons and then fit your driver to your preferred ball to maximise distance.
Do expensive golf balls help?
The average golfer won't get enough benefit to justify paying the higher price and would be better off using that money to work on their swing. The only benefit to an expensive golf ball would be the increased spin around the green and the nice soft feel at impact.
Do I need an expensive golf ball?
Certainly, players will see no difference between a cheap ball and an expensive ball. If you can't see or feel the difference, there is no reason to spend the extra money. Generally speaking, the better a golfer is, the more it makes sense to use a higher quality golf ball.
Will Pro V1 improve my game?
The Pro V1x helps improve your game in the following ways: Low spin (less spin than the Pro V1) Increased velocity and consistent ball flight.
Does a harder golf ball go farther?
The harder the ball, the further it tends to go with less spin. Harder golf balls tend to be much cheaper than softer golf balls. If you lose balls regularly then harder golf balls could be ideal for you. Soft balls stick to the grooves of your irons and wedges and spin much more.
How much distance do you lose with old golf balls?
A wound ball which is approximately 10 years old, stored at room temperatures and low humidity, will have lost about 0.5 to 1.0 % of its IV (Initial Velocity) which will affect its distance by a couple of yards.
Do hot or cold golf balls go further?
A golf ball will travel less distance in colder temperatures for two reasons. First, when the golf ball and golf club are colder, the transfer of energy is not as efficient, so the ball speed will be less. Second, colder air is more dense than warm air, so there is more friction and drag.
Distance
Golf balls are manufactured to favor distance or control, although ball manufacturers try to reach a compromise between the two with some models. Distance balls have a lower spin rate, which results in a longer shots. The covering is made of a harder material, such as surlyn, rather than the softer urethane.
Control
Balls made for control have a soft feel when struck. Their increased spin makes the balls more maneuverable around the green and out of tough lies. The dimple pattern on the ball facilitates this control. The dimples reduce the drag on the surface of the ball, causing it to stay in the air longer.
Compromise
According to “The Golf Book,” the differences between distance balls and control balls are less obvious than 20 years ago. Advances in technology, manufacturing processes and materials have resulted in the compromise ball, allowing longer distance than a control ball but a softer feel than a distance ball.
Core Considerations
Some balls have a core that gets softer toward the center. Soft cores cause greater energy transfer upon impact, resulting in longer distance — and also softer feel. This design helps golfers with lower swing speeds increase their potential distance. Choose a ball that matches your swing speed and strength.
Constraints
The USGA puts limitations on the size, weight, speed and the potential distance of golf balls. The initial velocity and distance as tested using USGA equipment is limited, and the standards are updated to reflect the currently available equipment. A ball must be no smaller than 1.68 inches, but there is no limitation on how large it can be.
Why do golf balls go the farthest?
Because lower compression golf balls go the farthest, which is just what golfers with a slower swing speed need. So if anyone tells you that compression ratings don’t matter, distance for them is not such a worry as it is for beginner, high handicap, senior, or most women golfers. The sole function of lower compression is to make ...
What is a low compression golf ball?
Firstly, a low compression rating is 80 or below. Secondly, low-compression golf balls travel farther simply because they’re easier to compress, thus also soft. So they rebound or spring off the clubface. Thus, golfers struggling with distance choose low compression, such as these longest golf balls.
Why is my swing speed faster?
That depends on the core of the golf ball and your swing speed. In terms of the latter, a faster swing speed means more compression because of the presence of greater force i.e. energy transfer during impact. As for the core of the golf ball, a harder core compresses less in comparison to a softer core. With more compression, the level of energy ...
Do golf balls have compression?
But, mind you, the hardness or softness of the golf ball cover has nothing to do with its compression. It’s the core of the ball that does, not the cover. And you can’t and shouldn’t use or even refer to both interchangeably.
Why is it bad to use a firmer ball?
On the flip side, using a firmer ball when you don’t have the swing speed to properly compress the core can have an adverse effect on launch characteristics, spin and control. “If you’re playing a ball that’s too firm for your swing speed, ball velocity goes down and backspin goes up off the tee, he said. ADVERTISEMENT.
How long does a ball fitting last?
Depending on how deep you want to go, a typical ball fitting can last anywhere from 20 minutes to 3 hours (the amount of time Tour winner Rocco Mediate spent testing balls recently with Bridgestone ).
Is a softer ball better for a slow swinger?
While it can vary from player to player, Mellow noted there are a number of benefits that can be found from using a softer compression ball if you’re a slow swinger. “If you go to a softer ball that’s more appropriate for your swing speed, the velocity should increase and the spin goes down,” he said.
How long do golf balls last?
Keep balls out of your car or attic, which can get pretty hot during the summer. Store them under normal indoor conditions and they should be good for at least five years, if not longer.
What does compression mean in golf?
A golf ball’s compression only tells how relatively firm or soft it feels. It doesn’t predict distance, flight, or spin, and is just one of many design elements working together to determine a ball’s performance. While feel is important to some players, what counts is how the ball performs on every shot.
