Many golfers don’t take enough care in choosing golf balls that are right for their particular game. So, the next time you buy golf balls, make sure you aren’t just choosing the longest golf balls on the market or you could be losing accuracy.

So, how can you tell which are the best golf balls for your skill level and your physical ability? First and most important is to understand a few golf ball specifications and what they mean.

In this article I will not bore you with technical details about the the number of dimples on a golf ball, the materials that make up each layer of the ball, the diameter of a golf ball, or the weight. These details won’t make any difference to you choosing the right golf ball, so I will stick to the most important specifications.

1-Piece Golf Balls

The 1-piece golf ball is made from one piece of a solid material and is usually only used on the driving range, as a practice ball, or sometimes by beginners. For this purpose, they are adequate as they are very durable and cheap – the downside is that they aren’t good for distance.

The Two Piece Golf Ball

2-piece golf balls are made from a solid core which is covered with a cut-proof covering making them very hard-wearing. Most week-end golfers use them because they are what is known as distance balls. They have a firm feel and a low spin rate that makes them roll further on the fairway when they land. The disadvantage of these balls is that they lack control.

Three-Piece Balls

The 3-piece golf ball consists of a solid or liquid core encircled by a lining and enclosed by the outer cover. These are the preferred ball of many low handicappers that have the ability to take advantage of the higher spin rate and softer feel. These specifications make these balls more accurate for driving and they have more spin and control for the short game.

Four-Piece Balls

The latest advancement in golf ball technology is the 4-piece golf ball which is a good combination of a distance ball with spin and feel. These balls are more suited to the mid to low handicapper all the way to the professional golfer. They are designed for maximum distance of the tee, give you good spin off your mid-irons, and good control and feel around and on the greens; their biggest disadvantage being their high price.

Low Spin Balls

Low spin golf balls spin less and therefore they don’t carry as far but they will roll further on the fairway. The low spin doesn’t just apply to back spin but also to side spin, which makes them less likely to hook or slice and so are suited to higher handicap players looking for straighter shots.

Mid Spin Golf Balls

Most golfers are quite happy with the mid spin rated golf balls. They give you a good blend of distance and feel resulting in more consistency and a decent length off the tee. The softness factor can differ a lot from brand to brand so you have to try different ones to get the ball that feels comfortable for you.

High Spin Rated Golf Balls

The high spin balls produce maximum backspin that helps keep them airborne longer for maximum carry. When they land on the fairway, though, they won’t run as far as the low or mid spin balls. Around the greens and on the greens you will get great control and feel.

Firm Feel Golf Balls

Firm-feel balls will feel hard when you strike the ball with the club-face. The majority of distance golf balls are firm which is fine for distance but not good for feel around or on the greens. You will find that most high or mid handicap golfers will choose these balls because of the extra distance which they are willing to trade for the loss of control onto the green. Apart from the distance, these balls are the longest lasting and are difficult to scuff up or mark.

Mid-Feel Golf Balls

The mid feel golf ball are the preferred choice of the mid to low handicapper, as they combine the qualities of good distance, control, and feel.

Soft Feel Golf Balls

Professional golfers and low handicappers normally go for soft feel balls. These golfers have the ability to make these golf balls do what they like with them. They are particularly suited to the short-game where great feel and spin come into play. High handicappers normally stay away from soft feel balls as they will loose some distance and they also mark easily.

Golf Ball Compression Ratings

The compression of a golf ball is similar to the feel factor. The amount that a golf ball can compress is rated by a number; if you go to the extremes, then a compression 0 will compress by 0.2 inches and higher, and a compression 200 ball will not compress at all. The soft-feel golf balls are also known as low compression balls and are rated as compression 50 to 70. Hard-feel golf balls are high compression balls and have compression 100 to 110 or higher. Sometimes a compression 90 golf ball from one manufacturer will not feel the same as a compression 90 from a different manufacturer – it seams there is no standard way of measuring the compression.

It is generally recommended that slow swing speed golfers use golf balls with a compression rate of 80; golfers with an average swing speed should use compression 100; and Compression 110 is best for fast swing speed golfers.

The weather can also affect the different compressions of a golf ball so you should choose different compressions depending on the weather conditions. As balls don’t compress as much when it is cold you should use low compression balls. Consequently, use higher compression golf balls when it is hotter.

Also, after a long dry spell when the course is rock hard, you will want a softer feel ball with more spin so that you have a chance of controlling the golf ball when it lands. When it has rained a lot and the fairways are soggy, you will need a ball that will carry further but produces less spin so that you have a chance of maximizes your distance.

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