Quest for the Perfect Golf Ball

The Basics

The USGA requires that a golf ball cannot be any smaller than 1.680 inches in diameter. A ball cannot achieve a velocity any greater than 250 feet per second, and it may not weigh more than 1.620 ounces.

Modern golf balls can be two-piece, three-piece, or four-piece, with each layer contributing to the performance of the ball. For example, a soft core supposedly contributes to a high launch angle, and a dimpled cover reduces drag, allowing the ball to stay in the air longer.

An Example of Golf Ball Selection

Suppose you typically miss the fairway with your shots off the tee. Let’s say you find that your ball flares to the right with most of your driver and long iron shots. That probably means you’re imparting too much spin on the ball, and that you might be helped by a ball that reduces spin. Minimizing spin for your driver shots will give you longer and straighter drives. Reduced spin for your long iron shots will increase distance but will give you less stopping power.

If you are generally more accurate with your short irons and partial shots, then you may not need any assistance with spin on those shots, so you can select a ball that reduces spin, such as the Titleist Pro V1x or NXT Tour. The combination of less spin on your longer shots and sufficient spin on your short irons could mean that you get more accuracy when you need it along with enough stopping power on the greens. Visit to this page to learn how to build the perfect golf swing from the bottom up!

Lift, Drag, and Spin

Lift is initially created by the angle of the club face making contact with ball at impact. During the flight of the golf ball, further lift is created by backspin. The spin creates a different amount of pressure on the ball by deforming the airflow, somewhat similar to the lift created by an airplane wing. In simple terms, the more backspin there is, the more list is created.

Selecting a Ball

In general, there are two groups of golf balls - those for recreational golfers and those for advanced golfers. For the recreational golfer, who has a slower swing speed, a two-piece ball with a firm core and firmer cover is probably best. Such balls are less expensive, which is a good thing for those of us who lose a lot of golf balls!

Golf balls for more advanced golfers tend to have three or more layers. These balls accept more spin from lofted shots (such as wedge shots), but are generally harder to compress, so a golfer with a slower swing speed might have trouble getting much distance from these balls.