Play the right golf ball

Do you have the right ball for your skill level?

There are 850 million golf balls manufactured every year in the United States. Manufacturers like Callaway, Nike, TaylorMade and Bridgestone are household names. Most golfers experiment with different types of balls before selecting one or two preferred brands. The problem is that few golfers understand the differences in golf balls and which ball suits their game. Those little white balls with the dimples are not all the same. Golf balls are like golf clubs—manufactured for the appropriate skill level of the golfer.

In selecting the right ball, golfers need to understand their swing speed and the compression of the ball and be to realistic about their playing ability. Recreational or weekend golfers on average will have a swing speed of 90 miles per hour or less, while pros on the PGA tour have swing speeds that average 115. Bubba Watson, for example, has a swing speed of 122 to 126 miles per hour.  The faster the swing, the greater the compression of the ball and the greater the distance.  Because of the difference in compression, the recreational golfer and touring pro should not be playing the same ball.

The touring pro or low handicap player will use a three- or four-piece ball like a TaylorMade TP Black, Bridgestone B330-RX, Callaway Tour or Titleist Pro V1x. These balls give away a little distance, but have a soft outer covering that produces spin and control around the greens. They are high performance balls for high performance golfers with a high compression rate. 

Recreational golfers need a different ball. If the compression of the ball doesn’t match the golfer’s swing speed, there is a loss of distance. The vast majority of golfers should be playing a two-piece ball with a hard outer cover and a low compression rate. Distance is gained, but at the loss of spin and control around the greens.

The following golf balls are recommended for recreational golfers: Titleist NXT Tour, TaylorMade Noodle, Nike Power Distance Shot, some Top Flight, Pinnacle Gold and Srixon AD 333. These balls are designed for maximum distance with some soft touch around the greens. They are also more durable and cost much less.

 Any golfing professional should be able to suggest the right type of golf ball that matches your playing ability. In addition, most manufacturers will have an online ball fitting service; for example, google Nike’s online ball fitting service.