
The exterior surface of the golf ball is referred to as its cover and is constructed either of Surlyn (a thin, plastic resin created and trademarked by DuPont) or urethane (a slightly softer, slightly less durable synthetic compound). What is the best material for a golf ball? The core has always been made in solid rubber.
What golf ball brand is used most by the pros?
What the pros play: A rundown of every ball in the Tour Championship field
- Dustin Johnson
- Jon Rahm
- Justin Thomas
- Webb Simpson
- Collin Morikawa. Justin Thomas’ Titleist Pro V1x golf ball.
- Daniel Berger
- Harris English
- Bryson DeChambeau
- Sungjae Im
- Hideki Matsuyama
Which golf ball should you use?
The answer is most certainly, yes. You may have to bend down and hurt your back and it may be an extremely uncomfortable style of playing golf, but you are allowed to play with a club that you have snapped in rage. Is it permissible to continue to use your club after you have broken it in anger? . . . . . .
What is the best golf ball in the world?
The best golf balls, in order of preference
- TaylorMade Tour Response. This is a great choice for mid-level golfers. ...
- Titleist Pro V1. Titleist likes to remind us that that the Pro V1 is the No 1 ball used by professionals on worldwide golf tours, but that it's a ...
- Callaway Chrome Soft Golf Balls. ...
- Wilson Staff Model R. ...
- TaylorMade TP5x. ...
- OnCore Vero X1. ...
- Titleist AVX. ...
- Vice Pro Soft. ...
What type of golf ball should I use?
What type of golf ball should YOU be using?
- Swing speed and compression are key. (Image credit: TaylorMade.com) Compression is a measure of how much the ball compresses against the club face on impact.
- Golf ball quality. The quality of a golf ball is determined by how many pieces are used in its construction. ...
- Premium golf balls. ...
- Buying the best golf ball: in summary…. ...

Does a golf ball have a solid interior?
These balls tend to have a solid rubber or liquid core, a thin layer of rubber and then the durable cover. These balls are softer and produce more spin than two-piece balls.
How are golf balls coated?
Hot plastic, either surlyn or urethane, is injected and forms a hard, dimpled coating around the core. The ball is painted, stamped with a logo, given a glossy coat and dried. Three-piece balls have a core center, a rubber covering of the core and a final coating.
What is the liquid inside a golf ball?
Contrary to golf folklore, the liquid cores aren't dangerous. Titleist, for example, has used a salt water and corn syrup blend. Today's core is generally made from synthetic rubber -- which may be mixed with bits of metal, such as tungsten or titanium -- or a plastic-like material such as acrylate.
What are the layers of a golf ball?
Typically a five-piece ball will feature three mantle layers, sandwiched between a high speed core and soft urethane cover. Each mantle layer will react to different shots and swing speeds in an effort to produce to the most optimised performance possible.
What kind of paint is used on golf balls?
Painting Golf Balls. Choose how you want your golf balls to look. You can use acrylic paint and paint brushes, or spray paint for a more solid look of one color. Depending on the design, you may need to gather a lot of golf balls.
What does urethane do for a golf ball?
Urethane is a polymer that has many attributes that are beneficial for a golf ball, most notably its ability to have its toughness and hardness controlled when heat is applied. Because Urethane can be reheated and re-moulded, it allows for more precision and design flexibility.
What is the outer layer of a golf ball made of?
The exterior surface of the golf ball is referred to as its cover and is constructed either of Surlyn (a thin, plastic resin created and trademarked by DuPont) or urethane (a slightly softer, slightly less durable synthetic compound). All else being equal, Surlyn can contribute to distance, but tends to inhibit spin.
Should dogs chew on golf balls?
No, golf balls are not safe for dogs of any size. Golf balls pose a choking hazard, especially for bigger dogs. Golf balls also contain toxic materials that can hurt your canine. Furthermore, chipped pieces can damage the intestines or esophagus, while fiberglass material can damage teeth.
What is inside the top of a golf ball?
For TopGolf, the Impinj platform combined to create the perfect system for their games: At the tee, Callaway Golf balls are dispensed when active players wave their golf clubs in front of a motion sensor. A Monza RAIN RFID tag chip embedded inside the ball is read, associated with the player and activated for play.
Are golf balls hollow?
Golf balls are not hollow, as they are made up of several different materials and pieces. The golf ball is solid throughout, and this is partly what helps players get the distance, ball flight, and direction they need.
What are the 2 dominate cover materials in golf balls today?
A golf ball is made up of mostly plastic and rubber materials. A two-piece ball consists of a solid rubber core with a durable thermoplastic (ionomer resin) cover.
Why are golf balls dimpled?
Dimples on a golf ball create a thin turbulent boundary layer of air that clings to the ball's surface. This allows the smoothly flowing air to follow the ball's surface a little farther around the back side of the ball, thereby decreasing the size of the wake.
What were the first golf balls made of?
The first golf balls of leather were made with a bird feather stuffing. They were known as “featheries”. Surely they were burly and not very consistently made. Since they were made from leather they absorbed moisture during play and changed characteristics throughout the round.
What are the two most common covers for golf balls?
The two most common ones are urethane and ionomer/Surlyn.
What is a surlyn golf ball?
Surlyn is a specific type of ionomer resin, developed by the American company DuPont in the 1960s. Ionomer golf ball covers bring something different to the table than urethane. It is the preferred material for distance balls because spin rates are lower and durability is higher. Usually, manufacturing costs are lower than urethane, ...
What is the mantle layer in golf balls?
The mantle layer will have the possibility to increase spin and greenside control on approach shots, or it can reduce side spin on longer shots.
What is the last thing on a golf ball?
Numbers. The last thing on the surface of the golf ball is the writing . It usually consists of the brand name and model, along with a number. You will be able to identify your ball from the numbering, and that is mostly what that is used for.
What are cores made of?
Cores are usually made of some kind of rubber, but some might have liquid, hollow or metal cores. Some even have a combination like these. (this is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commission if you buy through it – at no extra cost to you!)
When did golf balls start to have dimples?
But around the 1910-1920 mark some began experimenting with dimples indented in the surface. This discovery led to even more consistent ball flights and even enabled the very best players to put backspin on the ball and stop it easier. The next major discovery is mostly how we see the golf balls today.
What are the main components of a golf ball?
A golf ball comprises of three main elements. The cover, the mantle and the solid rubber core. These three areas combine to allow golf balls to offer spin rate, compression and initial velocity.
What are the different materials used in golf balls?
What Are The Different Golf Ball Materials? Golf balls are made from different materials from synthetic rubbers for the core to thermoplastic polymer for the mantle to Surlyn for the cover are used to construct a golf ball. All of these different components play a key role of the make up of a golf ball.
What is the mantle of a golf ball made of?
Golf ball mantle is made from different materials within their respective layers. A strong, rigid thermoplastic is found on the outer layer of the mantle. Whereas a thermoplastic polymer would be found in the middle section and a rubber is used in the mantle’s inside layer which is much softer. Before plastics and other synthetic rubbers were used, ...
How to wash golf balls?
Step 1: Washing. The first step, washing involves the use of a machine that washes the golf balls in order to prepare them for the imprinting process . The washing machine is a washer and dryer hybrid that uses high pressure to remove unwanted material, such as oil, from the ball surface.
Why are golf balls segmented?
Finally, the golf balls are segmented for packaging and a metal casing. Compression is important and can have an impact on how the ball travels. Golfers should take golf ball compression into consideration when making a purchase.
What are the three main areas of golf ball performance?
In golf speak, they are referred to as the spin rate, compression and initial velocity respectively. source: intheholegolf.com.
What is the process of making golf balls?
The process for golf ball manufacturing include: washing, imprinting, coating, pressing and packaging the golf balls. Every step must be done in a specific order and there are many different machines involved in order to produce a golf ball from concept to completion.
History of Golf Balls
The first golf ball ever was made in the 15 th century. And guess what? It was made of wood. The beechwood was mainly used to design the wooden golf balls back then. After the wooden golf balls, the feather balls became operational.
Core
The first thing we need to discuss while talking about what golf balls are made of is their core. The core of the golf balls is often made up of rubber, but sometimes golf balls even have a liquid center. There are three compression numbers for a golf ball, i.e., 80, 90, and 100. 80 describes that the golf ball is mainly for women and juniors.
Golf Ball covers
Urethane is basically a polymer that makes a really soft golf cover. This provides the golfer with great control and an incredibly soft feel when chipping and putting the golf ball. The golf balls which have urethane cover are a bit pricey, but they are totally worth the price.
How is a Golf Ball made?
The process of manufacturing a golf ball starts by shaping a solid piece of rubber and then inserting it into a dimpled plastic ball. The complete method of manufacturing golf balls consists of the following steps:
Why are dimples important in Golf Balls?
We all know that dimples make our smiles cuter, but they serve even a more practical purpose when talking about golf balls. The dimples reduce the air drag, ultimately helping the ball travel faster in the air and increasing its distance.
Do Golf Balls break over time?
Most of the golf balls are highly durable, especially the ones from reputable companies. They don’t break down, unlike the baseballs, which lose their air and break down eventually. However, the golf balls do lose their novelty over time.
Why design is important for Golf Balls?
Each golfer has their own skills on the golf course, and golf balls are designed in such a way to help golfer maximize their performance and take their game to the next level.
What Is A Golf Ball Made Of?
A golf ball is a spherical object that is used in the game of golf. It is mostly made of rubber, with a small core of hard material to provide a solid centre.
What Is the Manufacturing Process of a Golf Ball?
In the beginning, a golf ball is a solid piece of rubber that is shaped and then enclosed in a thin ball made of urethane or plastic. The entire production process includes:
THE EARLIEST GOLF BALLS
Golf is old, but a popular sport that was first played in Scotland around the year 1400. The earliest golf balls were made from a material called feathery mix. The feathery mix consisted of goose feathers and tar.
THE FEATHERIE GOLF BALL
Feather is a new golf ball that is designed to maximize distance, accuracy, and control. It does this by being the first and only golf ball on the market made with a liquid core. The liquid core provides superior aerodynamics and flight trajectory.
THE RUBBER GOLF BALL
This is a story about the first golf ball that was fashioned out of rubber. It was developed by Walter Hancock in 1848 and this invention helped the game of golf to take off.
How Golf Balls Are Made – Manufacturing Process
Golf balls, at first glance, are quite simple. However, the process of creating them could be more complicated than it looks.
History of Golf Ball Development
Golf originated from the Scottish hobby of hitting stones with sticks. Over time, this game developed into a popular sport all over the world. Therefore, the ball’s sizes, materials and making procedures have changed accordingly across history and regions.
Types of Golf Balls
In today’s game of golf, balls are normally classified based on their construction, spins, and compression. Each type of ball is specifically designed with certain properties and features, in order to serve different players and areas of golf.
What Materials Are Modern Golf Balls Made Of?
It is found that plastic and rubber are two materials with high durability, easy to manufacture and give a good bounce to the ball. That’s why modern golf balls are made from these materials.
FAQs
The above content may not be exhaustive and you need to know more relevant information. So I put together and answer some frequently asked questions on this topic. Check it out!
Conclusion
Making a golf ball is not simple, but with the above process, it is not difficult to make a series of balls in large quantities for everyone. Hope the above information has helped you answer the question about how golf balls are made.

The First Golf Balls
- Let’s look at what’s inside golf balls. In the 1500s, the original golf balls were made from beech and shaped for the game. Later on, around 1618, they became leather pouches stuffed with wet goose and chicken feathers. As the leather and feathers dried, it shrank into a tightly compacted ball. As you can imagine, they probably didn’t last too long...
The Modern Golf Ball
- While you may not give your golf ball much thought when teeing it up, its genesis and evolution are considerable. Much of it has to do with the internal use of different materials to give golf balls slightly different playing characteristics. Today, you have one, two, three, four, and five-layer balls, each with an increasing number of materials between the core and the cover. Covers are still eit…
What Golf Ball Should You use?
- Before looking at what golf ball would suit you, ask yourself what you want out of your golf ball as well as what level you play the game at – and be honest! Chatting with your coach or local pro will undoubtedly yield some good advice, and DON’T get suckered into buying premium balls because their marketing is so good. Buy a ball that will suit your game and your pocket as a $1 ball make…
Final Thoughts
- The evolution of the golf ball continues, and it’s going to be interesting to see whether the USGA / R&A will consider implementing restrictions on the golf ball design to combat growing calls for reducing distances in the pro game. Developing new materials that could leave the current designs obsolete in a few years will be more interesting. Who knows, maybe they can make a ba…