When you go shopping for golf balls, you will see that some are priced for a few dollars a dozen, while others are close to $50 a dozen.
Many golfers wonder whether or not it matters what golf ball they play with.
With the pricing in golf balls being so widely varied, there are some reasons to consider which would be the best for your game.
The quality of a golf ball does matter.
Whether your handicap is high or low, golf ball quality will make a difference.
Let’s look into some of the reasons you are going to want to play with a higher-quality golf ball.
Does Golf Ball Quality Matter? (7 Reasons It Does)
1. Distance From The Tee
The number one reason that golf ball quality matters is the distance that players can get off the tee.
If you are using a golf ball with great distance capability, you will have an easier time getting around the golf course.
The majority of golfers out there struggle to get the distance they want.
If you can drive a golf ball 250 yards, chances are you will want to hit it 260.
Of course, for a golfer like Bryson DeChambeau who can hit the ball a mile, the characteristics that he will look for in a golf ball are a bit different.
However, distance from the tee is essential.
Golf balls that are of higher quality are made with materials and put together in a way that allows you to get quite a bit of distance.
The golf balls that travel far are typically three- or four-piece golf balls with multiple layers of rubber and impressive materials high in speed.
The distance from the tee that you get with a driver is essential for making scoring easier.
If a golf ball can get you ten more yards from the tee, you may have a nine iron into the green as opposed to a seven iron.
Think about what this can do for your overall confidence in the game as well as your accuracy.
When choosing a golf ball, make sure that you test a few different types and find one that works well for your needs.
You will likely notice that some of the more expensive golf balls will fly further than the cheaper golf balls.
2. Spin Control And Workability
One of the hot topics right now in the world of golf is spin.
A golfer typically needs low spin from the tee and high spin around the greens.
The spin from the tee should be low so that when the ball hits the ground, it runs for quite some time.
The spin around the greens needs to be high so that when the ball stops on the green, it stays right where it landed.
The last thing a golfer needs is a ball that stops on a drive and rolls across the green.
In addition, golf balls with the proper spin characteristics will also be easy to control.
For players who are looking to hit a draw or a fade, the proper spin characteristics can help.
For amateur golfers with higher handicaps, it may seem as though these features are not all that important, but they are.
It is essential to have a golf ball that you can adequately control and work.
If you are trying to break 100 or 80, the fact that you are in control of the golf ball you are using is so important.
More and more golfers realize that, in order to get better at the game, they need to pay attention to the finer details.
The spin control is one of these details that will make a tremendous difference.
If you watch the professionals play, you will notice that the golf balls they hit will strike the green, and then they will even spin backward a few feet.
This is a combination of the grooves on the club face, a good strike, club head speed, and the golf ball they are using.
If these players switch to a golf ball that does not have good greenside spin, they will not have the same results on these shots.
It is no accident these players can do what they do on the course.
They combine their skills with the proper equipment to ensure that they have a successful day.
You can do the same for yourself by purchasing a quality golf ball, even if the overall results are not the same as they would be for a PGA or LPGA Tour professional.
3. Ball Flight
Another critical factor for choosing a higher quality golf ball is the ball flight you are looking to achieve.
Each golf ball has a unique dimple pattern that helps to encourage a certain type of ball flight.
For many golfers, a high ball flight is the goal, and for others, a lower, more penetrating ball flight is essential.
Ball flight is controlled both by the swing and the equipment that is used.
Most of the time, golf balls that fly higher and stay in the air longer are going to get greater carry and distance.
The ball flight of these golf shots is going to impact your ability to get the ball close to the hole and ultimately to score.
Some golf balls have a dimple pattern that helps create a higher launch, and others have a pattern that helps to create a more penetrating launch.
For the slower swing speed golfers, the higher launching golf balls are a great choice.
Often, these players have a hard time getting the ball up in the air and will therefore need the higher flight golf balls to help increase the overall success of the shot.
For players with the fastest swing speeds, the ball flight can sometimes get too high.
The distance will still be good, but the ball will be vulnerable to wind and weather conditions.
For those players, finding a ball with mid-level flight capability is a much better solution.
Ultimately, you will have to find a golf ball that matches the needs of your game.
However, one of those needs is going to be ball flight, and you will have more control over it with a higher quality golf ball.
4. Feel Around The Greens
One of the easiest ways to tell the difference between a high quality golf ball and a cheaper, lower quality golf ball is to test it on the green.
When you take one or two putts with a premium golf ball, you will feel the way the ball rolls off the clubface and how much different it is.
When you put the cheap or lower quality golf ball back into play, it will feel harder and like more of a click.
The problem with this is that, with the harder golf balls, you will have a difficult time developing consistency of feel.
One putt may feel like it was great, and another may feel as though it barely moved off the face of the club.
The idea is that you must be comfortable with the way a golf ball feels around the green.
This is not to say that every player needs to spend $50 for a dozen golf balls.
Some golfers will be perfectly happy with a mid-level quality golf ball and the way it feels when putting and chipping.
However, as important as the distance is off the tee, the feel around the greens is what will help you score better.
You should have a very good idea as to how the golf ball is going to react when you strike it with the club face of your iron, wedge, or putter.
If the ball comes off a different way each time and it does not feel comfortable to you, chances are the golf ball is not a good match.
Some two-piece golf balls that are lower in quality even have a cover that will feel harsh when you strike a chip.
Purchase a sleeve of high quality golf balls and try to see the difference it will make on and around the green.
5. Cover Durability
High quality golf balls typically come with higher price tags.
One of the primary reasons behind this is that the materials used in the golf ball are of much higher quality.
The cover durability of a golf ball is a critical factor in determining the overall value that you get from a golf ball.
Don’t assume that a golf ball is not good after just one round of golf.
Golf balls are designed to last for a long time, even up to ten rounds, before they can become a practice ball in the yard.
The number one reason that golfers stay away from higher quality golf balls is the pricing.
However, if the pricing can be directly controlled by you!
If you purchase a $20 box of golf balls and use them all for one round of golf, you will get 12 rounds in.
However, if you are a straight hitter and barely lose any golf balls, why not purchase a $40 box of golf balls.
If you play each golf ball for three rounds, you get 36 rounds of golf, and chances are the cover of the ball won’t even show any imperfections.
This is one of the major advantages of going with a higher quality golf ball.
In the end, you can play several more rounds of golf with the same ball.
You can easily decrease the overall purchase price and increase value by keeping the ball in play.
The next time you have a choice between a cheap golf ball with a cover that will cut right open, or a premium golf ball with a durable cover, think about this example.
6. Swing Speed And Compression
Compressing a golf ball is what you must do to be able to get distance from your shot.
When you compress a golf ball, the ball will actually get smaller, and then as it expands, it gets excellent ball flight and distance.
However, if you have a slower swing speed, you may struggle to compress a golf ball.
Compressing a golf ball does not happen easily if you are using a very hard or higher compression golf ball.
The swing speed that you have must properly match the compression of the golf ball you are using.
If you are just purchasing any golf ball you can find in hopes that it will be a cheap solution for you, you are making a mistake.
All golfers should have a general idea as to what their swing speed is.
They should then take this knowledge and use it to invest in the proper equipment for their game.
If you are looking to get a measurement of your swing speed, a local golf shop or a personal launch monitor is a great way to get it done.
Then you can look at golf ball options recommended for your swing speeds.
Companies like Bridgestone and Titleist are very open about what golf balls you should be using based on your ability levels as a player.
If you are not playing with golf balls that are a good match for you, then you are wasting money.
The higher quality golf balls are made with specific compressions to match the needs of a particular player.
Spend some time doing your research on these golf balls and which will be the best for your game.
If a ball is a bit higher in quality and a few dollars more, but it is a better match for your skill level, chances are it will be money well spent.
7. Accuracy
Last but certainly not least, it is essential to choose a high-quality golf ball because of its accuracy.
The higher quality golf balls will be more accurate because of the advanced features that they have.
Let’s consider for a moment a two-piece value golf ball made with cheaper materials.
The golf ball gets you out on the course at a low cost and some decent distance off the tee.
However, the ball does not have the technology that will be an exact fit for your game.
Now let’s look at the golf ball that has four or even five pieces.
Each layer of the golf ball is designed for varying levels of performance.
One layer may help with speed, another with feel, and another with spin.
Certainly, these features are not present in the lower quality golf ball.
The idea of putting a more accurate golf ball into your bag should be something that appeals to all players.
As golfers, we work hard to get our swings into the right positions, and many players even work on their bodies to ensure that they have lots of power and control, so it is worth it to play with the proper equipment.
So many golfers get hung up on the idea of their score and forget to focus on hitting one quality golf shot after another.
If you are not capable of hitting one solid and accurate shot at a time, your overall experience on the golf course is going to be quite a bit less enjoyable.
The accuracy of the golf ball is a factor that all golfers need to consider.
Play with something that is going to help you score the way you need to on the golf course.
Are Expensive Golf Balls Worth The Price?
Along with high golf ball quality typically comes expense.
The more expensive a golf ball is, the more materials that were used to make it, and the better it will be at giving you maximum distance and performance.
Expensive golf balls are well worth the price for a majority of golfers.
However, if you are a player who still struggles to keep a golf ball in play, you don’t need to invest in expensive golf balls just yet.
Take your time and invest when you can hit some drives straight.
For those losing three or four golf balls per round, the price you pay for golf balls will just be too high.
However, if you can typically get through a round of golf with one or two golf balls, go ahead and invest in the expensive golf balls, regardless of your handicap level.
This means that even those with thirty handicaps that can keep a ball relatively straight should not be afraid to spend the extra money.
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