North Carolina Golf Blog »   Knowing how to pick out the right golf ball, which is best for you?

The right golf ball, picking what's best for your game

Golf balls are some of the most researched and advanced pieces of sporting equipment today. Many people may believe that golf balls are all made alike, but this just isn't the case. In fact, Golf balls are so diverse that there have been over 5,000 design patents for golf balls given out in the last decade.

Selecting the right golf ball that is best for the way you swing the club, is critical to your golf game. It is just as important as picking the right set of golf clubs. It's important to find the right type of golf ball that matches your your golf swing and style of play. Different golf balls have a different spin and a different feel. Golf balls are made with different cover materials, centers, pieces and of varying density. Picking the one that works best for you depends on your skill level and how you hit the ball.

The following abbreviations are used in various combinations to describe the construction of the ball.

    Two-Piece 2P
    Three-Piece 3P
    Wound W
    Liquid Center LC
    Solid Center SC
    Single Cover 1c
    Double Cover 2c
    Other O

Examples:
'2P-SC-1c' describes a two-piece, solid core ball with a single cover.
'3P-W-LC-1c' describes three-piece, wound ball with a liquid center and a single cover.

The spin rating describes the spin performance of the ball (H-high; M-medium; or L-low) when struck using a driver and a short iron.

Example: 'L-M' describes a ball with a low spin rate when hit with a driver and a medium spin when struck with a short iron.

The first thing you might look at is the compression of the ball. This relates to how tightly the ball is wound. The lower the compression the softer the ball. Softer balls are better if you have a slow swing, they will fly farther but are harder to control. High compression balls, on the other hand are easier to control but are best used by those with a fast swing.

To decide which golf ball is best for you, you can divide them into 3 general categories. The solid two piece ball is the most common and, of course, the cheapest. It is comprised of a hard cover over an inner core. This is a good ball for beginners which can often hit the ball thin or fat.

The three piece ball is multilayered. Softer than the two piece ball, it gives you more control but won’t fly as far. This ball is recommended for intermediate players as it will let you get more spin and control over your shots. The three piece ball is more expensive than the two piece but can add an edge to your play if you are past the beginner stage and looking for something to give you an edge.

The high performance balls can be rather costly and won’t last as long as the other types of balls. These balls are for the expert player who wants more control and spin than the three piece ball can offer. Although it is costly, this type of golf ball has what it takes to go the distance.

You have to understand that bals have to carry different weight for different distances. You aren't going to want to hit a heavy ball and expect it to go where you want it, if you are trying to do the opposite anyway. So thats when you scoop the light ball. It's part of technique, it what I heard!

Yeah, the illustration really helped me understand the difference. Like I said, I didn't even know there was a difference!

I learned a while ago that the dimples have a lot to do with how far the balls fly.

I think the dimples are the same size in all balls. they make the balls fly farther than a smooth ball.