Do you have old golf balls laying around that you don’t know what to do with? Instead of throwing them away, why not get the creative juices flowing and use them for a quick craft?

This blog will teach you how to do two super easy golf ball crafts – perfect if you have bored kids around this summer holidays!

What You Will Need:

• White acrylic paint
• Orange acrylic paint
• Pink acrylic paint
• Black permanent marker
• White craft foam
• Orange craft foam
• Red craft foam
• Googly eyes (optional)
• Glue

Bunny Ball

1. Use white acrylic paint to paint the entire surface of the ball – this make take a few layers!
   
   
2. If you’re using googly eyes, stick them on the top half of your golf ball. Alternatively, you can use a black permanent marker to draw on two dots.
   
   
3. Using pink acrylic paint, add one small pink dot for the bunny’s nose.
   
   
4. Using your permanent marker again, draw on your bunny’s smile and whiskers – don’t forget to add the buck teeth!
   
   
5. Using your white craft foam, cut two long ear shapes.
   
   
6. In the centre of each ear, add a pink streak.
   
   
7. Now to finish your bunny, all you need to do it glue the ears on top! Voila!

Golf Fish

1. Use orange acrylic paint to paint the entire surface of the ball – once again, this may take a few layers!
   
   
2. If you’re using googly eyes, stick those to the top half of the ball. If not, just draw two black dots with a permanent marker.
   
   
3. Using red craft foam, cut out a small mouth shape and use your permanent marker to draw the outline of the lips.
   
   
4. Using your orange craft foam, cut out three fin shapes and one tail shape.
   
   
5. Then all you need to do is stick a fin on each side and the tail on the back! Voila!

Hopefully these hole-in-one golf ball craft ideas have inspired you to repurpose your old golf balls; however, if you still have an abundance of worn-out balls in your kit bag, it may be time to treat yourself to some new ones!

At gimmeballs, we stock a huge variety of top-quality golf balls from the best names in golf, including Titleist, Srixon and Callaway. Click the button below to start shopping!

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At gimmeballs, we know that getting into a new sport can be daunting, especially a sport that is as complex as golf. We are also firm believers that golf is for everyone, which is why we have made this quick and easy guide with some of our best golf tips for beginners. Let’s get started!

As temperatures drop and clouds turn grey, many golfers put their golf gear away, assuming that wet and cold weather is too harsh for a round of golf. While adverse weather itself can make the game less enjoyable, there’s another key factor that is often forgotten: how the weather affects your golf balls.

Like any sporting equipment, golf balls need to be in optimal condition in order to perform at their best. Although they don’t have a specific expiration date like perishable goods, golf balls can deteriorate with age and use. This blog will dive into how golf balls are affected by a range of factors including age, storage and the environment.

What Causes Golf Balls to Deteriorate?

Environment

Golf balls are exposed to a variety of environmental conditions that can speed up their deterioration. For example, UV radiation from sunlight can break down the polymers in the golf ball cover, leading to cracking and discolouration and reducing the ball’s durability and performance.

Extreme heat can cause the inner core of the golf ball to soften, decreasing the ball’s rebound and distance off the clubface. Extremely low temperatures, on the other hand, can cause the core to harden, making it more difficult for the ball to compress properly when struck.

Other environmental factors like moisture, dirt and debris can also deteriorate golf balls overtime and affect their flight and spin characteristics.  

Storage

Golf balls stored in direct sunlight, fluctuating temperatures or damp environments will deteriorate far quicker than those stored elsewhere. To help prevent your golf balls from deteriorating, store them in a cool, dry, temperature-controlled environment, ideally in a storage case or container.

Age

Over time, the materials used in the construction of golf balls naturally degrade. The rubber in the core may harden and lose its elasticity and the cover can become cracked and worn out. The rate at which a golf ball deteriorates depends on factors like the type of ball, how it is stored and how often it is used.

However in general, a high quality golf ball should last around 7 rounds before it starts to lose its original characteristics and performance.  Even an unused golf ball can begin to gradually degrade if stored for more than a few years.

How to Tell if a Golf Ball Has Deteriorated

1. Cracks or visible damage

Any cracks or cuts on the ball’s cover can negatively affect the ball’s performance and is a clear sign that your ball is deteriorating.

2. Loss of compression

If your ball feels hard or doesn’t compress well when hit, it has likely deteriorated and lost some of it’s core elasticity.

3. Discolouration

If your ball has changed colour, particularly to yellow or brown, it has likely been exposed to UV radiation and the cover has degraded.

4. Decreased distance and control

If you’ve noticed a loss of distance or control in your shots, it might be time to retire your ball.

While golf balls can last for several years, the performance can deteriorate with age and use. If you’re playing with balls that show signs of wear and degradation, it is probably worth investing in a fresh batch to help better your performance.

At gimmeballs, we stock a wide range of golf balls from top brands, so you’re sure to find the perfect replacement in our collection!

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Many golfers will tell you to go straight for the Titleist Pro V1 as this is the most popular ball in tournament play and it’s specifically designed for distance. However, there are lots of other distance golf balls on the market, and depending on your skill level, you may find that your shots go further if you look beyond the Pro V1. Many golf balls are even specifically designed to travel long distances, like the TaylorMade Distance+ Tour Response golf balls - but do these designs actually work out on the course?

An experiment by My Golf Spy in 2023 used a robot arm to figure out the best balls for different swing speeds. So, if you want to know which golf balls will go the furthest for you, it helps to know your swing speed first.

Asses Your Skill Level

Distance is impacted by your swing speed. Most new golfers will have a slow swing speed, and in this case, it can be helpful to use a softer golf ball. Softer balls tend to be more forgiving, flying further when hit at low speeds.

However, if you find that you’ve got a very high swing speed, a soft ball could actually result in less distance. You’ll usually want a harder ball if your drives are connecting at high speed.

Soft Golf Balls    Hard Golf Balls

Whatever your swing speed, it’s a good idea to test different balls to see what works well for your skill level. Once you know your swing speed, you can use the below information from My Golf Spy as a guideline for the kind of ball you may need.

Farthest-Flying Golf Balls for Fast Swing Speeds

According to the golf ball experiment, the Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash went the furthest when using a high swing speed driver (115 mph). This was closely followed by the Titleist Pro V1x and the Mizuno RB Tour X golf balls.

Farthest-Flying Golf Balls for Medium Swing Speeds

With a mid-swing speed driver (100 mph) the balls that went the longest distance were the Titleist Pro V1x, the Callaway Chrome Soft X LS, and the Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash golf balls.

Farthest-Flying Golf Balls for Slow Swing Speeds

With a low swing speed (85 mph) the ball that went furthest was the Vice Pro Plus, followed by the Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash, and then the Srixon Z-Star Diamond golf balls.

Which Golf Ball Is Right For You?

Since these results were under test conditions, you might find that you get different distances on the actual course. These distances were achieved using a driver – results may vary when using other clubs.

There are also a couple of other factors to consider when choosing a ball for distance.

If you’re an experienced golfer, you may be used to a particular ball already, and suddenly switching balls could negatively impact your game. This doesn’t mean that you should never switch! But you might need to practise a bit with the new ball before you take it into any tournaments.

Budget can also be a big factor. Though we mentioned the Titleist Pro V1 balls earlier, these are high-end balls that are usually for experienced players. You’ll see that many of the balls mentioned above are also from top brands. If you are a new player, you’ll probably want a ball that travels a lot, but costs a little.

Golf Balls That Go The Distance

At gimmeballs, we offer a huge range of brands at different price points, to cater to all sorts of golfers. Have a quick scroll through our golf balls page to see which balls are right for you!

You can even filter specifically for “Distance Balls” when shopping with us, so you’ll only see balls designed for this purpose.

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If you’re interested in sampling multiple balls to see which one would work best for you, then you can try our Build a Box! This way, you can order a selection of great balls in one helpful package.

Build a Box

This November, we’re collaborating with one of Wales’s greatest golf clubs to bring you two huge golfing competitions. If you want to win some great prizes and step up your golfing game then this is the perfect opportunity.

Cardiff Golf Club has been around since 1921, offering both a great golfing experience and welcoming clubhouse facilities. We are giving away some of their high-quality items in our competitions this month!

We’re giving you the chance to win two excellent golf prizes. The first is this Limited Edition Vokey Design Tour Golf Bag by Cardiff Golf Club.

This beautifully designed bag is also incredibly functional. With 9 storage pockets and an additional 6 club dividers, there’s plenty of room for all of your golf accessories. It’s lightweight, and made to be ergonomic with a comfortable handle and strap. Entry is a great deal at only £1.00 per ticket.

Enter Golf Bag Competition

The other competition is just as exciting. You have the chance to win a PING Anser Putter 2021 with a headcover by Cardiff Golf Club.

This is a reliable putter, that offers a consistent feel from a popular golf club brand. If you’re looking for a golf club you can trust, enter our competition here. This contest is only £0.50 a ticket!

Enter Putter Competition

A massive thank you to Cardiff Golf Club, and their PGA Head Professional, Chris O’Neill!

Not looking for a new bag or club, but still interested in winning? We have a handful of other contests going right now. A variety of golf ball bundles are available for three of our most popular brands: Callaway, Titleist, and Srixon.

Of course, if you really want to test your luck, you are more than welcome to enter multiple competitions at once. For a full list of our available prizes, visit our competitions page below.

 View All Competitions 

Do you know the difference between a Putt and a Punch? When should you use a Chip? Familiarising yourself with different shots and strategies can make all the difference in a game of golf.

Use our quick guide below to study up on different golf techniques.

• Drive
• Fairway
• Approach
• Chip
• Punch
• Flop
• Shank
• Draw
• Fade
• Putt

Drive

You don’t need a driving licence for this golf shot, just a good swing. The drive is usually the first shot on a hole, aiming to get your ball as far as possible. This shot is all about finding a balance between power and aim to get a good distance towards the green.

Fairway

A fairway shot is what it says on the tin - a shot taken from the fairway!

Approach

This is how you get your ball onto the green. A variety of clubs are used to achieve this, as the distance to the green will depend on how successful your drive was.

Chip

Less popular than the potato chip, but still very useful, is the chip shot. This is a quick, short manoeuvre which sends the ball a short distance. It is sometimes needed to get onto the green from a very short distance away, or to avoid a hazard.

Punch

A punch shot is very similar to a chip, but each has its own uses. A punch shot is a flat shot, meaning the ball stays close to the ground - perfect for nailing shots on a windy day!

Flop

Good for mini-golf, a flop lets you jump over an obstacle. Think short-distance, but with a lot of height, like a big arch. Flop shots are particularly useful if you don’t want the ball to roll very far once it lands.

Shank

While a flop may sound like a bad thing, you’re probably actually thinking of a shank. This is when you strike the ball with the wrong part of the club, and it goes careening off in completely the wrong direction. Needless to say, this is not a strategy you really want to use.

Draw

This shot is when the ball spins, curving slightly from right to left…

Fade

…and this shot is when the ball spins, curving slightly from left to right! At least, that’s the case if you’re a right-handed golfer. If you’re left-handed, just flip it the other way around.

Putt

If you’ve made it to the putt, then you’ve made it to the hole! This is usually the last shot. It takes a lot of focus and accuracy, but usually isn’t a very powerful shot. The goal is to cover the final bit of distance between your ball and the hole.

There are a few other shots, such as Lay-ups and Bunker shots (for avoiding and escaping hazards). However, these are ten that will get you well on your way to understanding the language of golf.

Once you’ve got your shots in order, it’s time to start thinking about golf balls. With our wide selection of personalised balls from a variety of well-known brands, we can help.

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Whether you’re new to golf or a pro, it’s easy to get confused by golfing terms. You probably know what a Bogey is, but what’s a Snowman? What’s a Dogleg? With official terms, shots, scores, and common lingo – golfers practically have their own language!

We’ve broken down some common golfing terms into a simple cheat sheet to help you understand. With a bit of help, you’ll be speaking golf before you know it.

Basic Terms

Let’s start with the simple stuff. Here are some basic words that you’ll hear a lot when out playing golf.

• The Green

The Green is the grassy area surrounding the hole. Generally, your first few shots are spent trying to get onto the green.

• Fairway

Outside of the green, you have the fairway. You can tell the difference because the grass is much shorter. If you’re on the Fairway, then you’re aiming for the Green!

• Tee

The place where it all begins. This refers to both the peg that you balance your ball on, and the area that the peg is in.

• Bunker

Pits of sand that act as a hazard. Try to avoid these, if you can!

• Handicap

A score that suggests how good a player is at golf. The lower the handicap, the better.

• Bandit

Someone plays better than their handicap suggests. This is usually frowned upon, so try not to be a bandit.

• Mulligan

A chance to retake a shot that you aren’t happy with (usually not allowed in official tournaments). Supposedly named for Canadian golfer David Bernard Mulligan, after he dared to take a second shot.

• Whiff

If someone says you’ve “whiffed” then that’s not a great sign. This means you’ve missed the ball entirely! Not to worry, have another swing at it.

Other Terms

Now here are some words you’re a little less likely to know, even if you’re a seasoned player. Phrases come in-and-out of fashion, so a few of these may be more popular with some golfers than others. Still, throwing “Fried Egg” or “Snowman” into your golf conversations should help brighten up the fairway.

• Dogleg

A hole with a noticeable left or right turn in the fairway.

• Gimme Putt

If your ball is right on the edge of the hole, everyone might agree that it’s a gimme putt. Basically, everyone agrees that you could probably hit it into the hole, so they just move on instead.

• Fried Egg

When your ball gets half-buried in a bunker, so that it looks a bit like a fried egg (but less delicious).

• Snowman

When you score an eight – so it looks like there’s a tiny snowman drawn on your scorecard. Cute, but not great for your overall score.

• Scratch

A “scratch” golfer usually plays at or below par, because they have a handicap of zero.

• Plumb Bob

When a golfer holds a putter out vertically and allows gravity to help them figure out the angle the green lies at. This is a useful technique.

Now that you know what golf terms mean, it’s time to get out there and practise your new vocabulary. Ask the Bandit if he wants to Mulligan because of his Fried Egg, or ask a Scratch for a Gimme Putt on the Green.

Once you’ve practiced the lingo, you might feel like practising some actual golf. We can help you get started, with great prices on personalised golf balls and golfing accessories.

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