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Golf Equipment

Choosing the Right Golf Ball

Some amateurs use golf balls they may have found on the course or whatever might have been on sale at their local sporting goods store. Others use the same balls of they see professionals use on TV. These balls are known as tour balls and the Titleist Pro V1 is an example. While using professional equipment can improve an amateur’s performance in many sports, including golf, it can also have little impact or even hurt your performance if your skills do not match the equipment.

Golf ball manufacturers utilize today’s technology to create a wide variety of balls. Golf balls vary from one piece construction to five piece construction. Different materials can be used for each layer depending on the manufacturer. The different combinations of construction and materials allow manufacturers to produce golf balls targeted to many different skill levels and swing speeds.

It is important to match up your golf game with a golf ball that matches your skill level and play that ball exclusively. While professionals can detect the most subtle differences in the performance and feel between different balls, even high handicap golfers will notice differences on some level. Playing the same ball is an easy way to provide more consistency to your game. I’ll grant you it may be a small thing in the grand scheme of your golf game, but knowing your ball will perform consistently will improve your game. Though playing a tour ball may seem like the best thing, they provide a large amount of spin. The spin is partially achieved with the soft cover of these balls which also provides a great deal of feel around the green. This spin is crucial for a professional’s or low handicap golfer’s short game but can adversely affect the high handicap golfer by exaggerating slices off the tee. This is one reason it is important to match up your skills with the ball that is right for you.

Let’s break down the main types of golf balls to find the best one for you.

Two Piece Construction Golf Balls

Most amateurs use a two piece golf ball and it should be the ball every beginner uses. These balls usually have a solid core covered with a hard, durable cover. With a low compression and hard cover, the two piece ball delivers more distance and less spin than other balls. Many high handicap golfers have lower swing speeds that will benefit from the added distance. High handicap golfers also have the tendency to slice the ball off the tee. The lower spin of the two piece ball will help minimize the severity of slices.

Another advantage of two piece golf balls is that they are less expensive than other types of balls. You will feel less pain in the pocketbook when they go into the woods or water.

Some two piece golf balls are:


Titleist DT TruSoft

Callaway Supersoft

Bridgestone Extra Soft Golf Balls

Tour Golf Balls

Tour balls are just that, balls that are used by professional golfers on tour. Unlike two piece balls, they have three, four or even five layers of construction. The multi-layer construction along with a very soft cover give tour balls a large amount of spin and feel around the green. The high amount of spin allows professionals and low handicap golfers to more easily draw or fade their shots along with stopping the ball quickly on the green. Both require golf skills that almost all high handicap golfers do not possess. For this reason, high handicap golfers will not see a return on their investment of the high price tag of tour balls. Some examples of tour balls are the Titleist Pro V1, the Callaway HEX Black Tour and the Bridgestone Tour B330.

Advanced Two Piece / Three Piece Balls

Somewhere between basic two piece balls and tour balls, there are advanced two piece balls and three piece balls designed for the mid handicap golfer. An advanced two piece ball’s core still has low compression for distance off the tee but it usually has a softer material for the cover than ionomer to give more spin and feel around the green. Three piece balls in this category utilize the middle, or mantle layer, to increase spin and feel around the green while the core material still gives the ball low spin off the tee for added distance. Depending on the construction, these three piece balls can either have a harder ionomer cover or a softer cover made from urethane or other materials. As a high handicap golfer builds more consistency and speed into their swing, approaching bogey golf, they should begin playing an advanced two piece or three piece ball to take advantage of the added spin and feel around the green.

An advanced two piece golf ball is:

Titleist Tour Soft Golf Balls

Some three piece golf balls are:

Wilson DUO Spin


Bridgestone e6 Soft Golf Balls

Whether you are a high handicap or beginner golfer, or an improving golfer closing in on consistent bogey golf, it is important to match your game with the correct type of ball. What brand and model ball you choose from the correct type comes down to personal preference. I suggest you try several side-by-side and choose the ball you like best.

116 replies on “Choosing the Right Golf Ball”

You also had mentioned to perhaps use the Wilson Duo Spin, but they don’t make a yellow ball. I have issues seeing white flying in the air.

Hi Jeff,

First off congratulations on dropping your handicap. While playing a ball that matches you is important, it doesn’t drop your handicap 8 points. A lot of hard work does that. Also great job on increasing your swing speed! It’s true that low compression balls are geared toward lower swing speeds, which is probably why you read the Project a is not geared for faster swings. The Titleist Trusoft is also a low compression ball. If you do not lose a lot of balls, it might be time to try a tour ball such as a Titleist Pro V1 or Bridgestone TP5X. If you’d like to stay with a less expensive ball, you could try the Srixon Q-Star or the Titleist Tour Soft which have slight higher compression than most low compression balls.

Hello! I am now a 18.3 handicap. I had planned on switching to the Taylormade Project A from your recommendation prior. However, I am working with Superspeed now and have brought my swing speed to 104-108MPH on the swing radar.

I read that the Project A isn’t good for swing speeds above 100MPH. Should I continue to switch to that ball or is there another ball that may be a better fit for me?

I used the Callaway Chrome Soft (3-piece version) at 26 HDCP, switched to Titleist Trusoft to drop to 18.3.

Hello, I’m 19 Handicap now playing Bridgestone E6. I have a driver swing speed average of 102 (play stiff shaft) and irons swing speed in mid 90’s (just changed to regular shafts). I rarely miss fairways off the tee. My biggest problem is with long irons and the short game (inside 50 yards). I heard good things about the Wilson DUO and was wondering if it could be a good ball for me? or is it too soft?

Would you recommend another ball, or stick with E6?

Thank you very much!

Pat

Hi Pat,

The DUO is softer than the e6. Another difference is that the DUO is a 2 piece ball while the e6 is 3 piece. Since you have a higher swing speed and are keeping it in the fairway, i like you playing a 3 piece. The e6 is a fine ball. You could try the TaylorMade Project (a) or Wilson DUO Spin, both 3 piece balls, if you wanted to try something different.

Hi Greg,
I’m a 22 handicapper who doesnt hit many fair ways but not because of big slices and hooks. I currently use the prov1 which i love. I love the spin and feel around the green which is where i try to practice and improve my golf and justify the price for this feeling as well as how well the ball holds up. Ill worry about driving when I’m really good around the green.

Is there a cheaper ball with similar spin that may be better for a mid aspiring handicapper?

Regards John

Hi John,

Since you’re missing fairways but not due to slices or hooks, I’m guessing you are hitting straight pushes or pulls, or not making consistent strikes on the center of the clubface. These are issues that you could work on with a teaching professional.

As for looking for a cheaper ball with as much spin as a ProV1 but at a cheaper price, there is a reason the professional golfers play the ProV1. It spins the most. Have you tried buying very high grade used ProV1’s and see if you get the same feel?

Great article, I’ve been buying whatever the cheapest or just above the cheapest ball I can find at Target or Walmart. Lately though I’m close to playing solid bogey golf or slightly under bogey golf. I play a stiff shaft driver, average around 270 off the tee. What do you think I should be using for a ball? Don’t want to break the bank.

Hi Greg,

I’ll assume you have a relatively fast swing speed since you’re using a stiff shaft. If you’re hitting them where you want to off the tee I’d go with a three or more piece ball that feels best for you around the greens. Tour level balls will break your bank. The Titleist NXT Tour is a three piece that is cheaper, around $30 a dozen.

Similar to the comment above, about a 30 handicap, with swingspeed 95-101. Lose a lot off to the right, started using stiffer shafts for driver/woods and noticing its helping keep em straight.
I think I’m looking for a 2-piece, low spin ball like the (TMaG Aeroburner Pro or Soft or Bridgestone e6), does that seem accurate?

Hi Jordan,

That seems about right. I would go with an inexpensive 2 piece ball until you are finding more fairways.

I am a 20 Handicap, swing speed around 94-96 using a stiff shaft for driver and then regular shaft for irons ( I like the feel). Hitting my PW about 110-115. Been just using whatever balls but would like to narrow it down to be more consistent. I hit a driver about 265 on average with a slight slice although I do lose some off the T to the right and out of bounds. Would like to keep the distance and be able to stop the ball on the green with a little backspin at most. Thanks for any suggestions.

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