The earliest golf balls were made of wood and have been traced to late 18th century in Scotland. They were very susceptible to the elements and ended up with cracks. Early 19th century saw the advent of the feathery ball, made of leather and stuffed tight with feathers. Then the “guttie” made its entry, made of solid gutta-percha rubber. It was more durable and had stronger resistance to the elements.
A lot of science has gone into designing a modern golf ball since and today’s golf balls are a scientific combination of chemicals and polymers making it fly further and more accurately. Today’s golf balls fall into 3 categories – two-piece, three-piece and high performance. The two-piece ball is made up of a solid core and cover and offers better distance with slow swings, while the three-piece ball is made of solid core, wound with elastic and then covered, offering more control. High performance balls are for accuracy.
2 Piece Golf Ball
3 Piece Golf Ball
4 Piece Golf Ball
The two-piece balls are designed for beginners and the other varieties are for advanced golfers. The cover is generally made of Surlyn or Balata. Surlyn is more durable and strong whereas Balata is softer and provides better grip and control with spin. Balata is preferred by most golfers. Two-piece balls are cheaper and highly available. Three-piece and high performance balls are very expensive and designed for professionals and advanced players.
Choosing a golf ball could be tricky, if you choose the ball used by Tiger Woods, it is not necessary that you can have the same handicap that he does. The choice has to be made as per you game style. The wrong ball could give you bigger handicaps and the right ball could make you feel like a champion.
Similar to choosing your golf clubs, choose the golf ball that suits your swing and game so as to eliminate weaknesses and build upon your strengths. Never go by brands, brands are secondary to performance and suitability. Make sure you like a golf ball because it betters your play, not because of by whom it was manufactured.
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