Other than personal opinion, what makes a golf ball good? Is there even such a thing as an objectively ‘good’ or ‘bad’ golf ball? Read on to find out!
Good Golf Balls for Beginners
Here at gimmeballs, we’re committed to making golf as accessible as possible. With that in mind, we’ve made mixed golf ball sample packs so that beginners, or those looking to try out new balls, can more easily find the right balls for their game.
Different golf balls behave differently. This isn’t just based on the player and their club, but on the construction of the balls.
Softer balls (that is, balls with low compression rates) are arguably better for beginners because they offer less spin off the clubface, which means the shots you take should be straighter and more reliable. Low compression rates also mean more distance, which is a top priority for players with low swing speeds, i.e. beginners and seniors.
Harder balls (with higher compression rates) are better suited for golfers with a higher swing speed and a low handicap – in other words, more skilled players – because a higher compression rate means increased accuracy and more control over the ball’s trajectory.
With our mixer packs, golfers can easily try out different balls at a fraction of the cost of buying multiple sets of balls.
How to Choose Your Golf Ball
Choosing a golf ball is mainly a matter of how it performs for you. If the ball you choose consistently flies as far and as high as you wanted, and stops where you want it to on the green without rolling too much, it’s probably going to be good for you. If not, try another one.
Our mixer packs include a variety of balls which offer differing trajectories, heights, spin, and more – all of which will affect your game.
This ultimately means that choosing a golf ball is less a matter of finding the one that “feels right” to you, vague as that idea might be, and more a matter of analysing its performance.
Even the Best Balls Don’t Last Forever!
Once you’ve found your perfect golf ball, you’ll quickly learn how to tell when a ball might need replacing. There are three key questions to ask to determine this:
- Does it have chips or cracks in it?
- Is it losing distance?
- Does it bounce less on concrete?
If the answer to any of these is “yes” then you should probably replace your golf ball.
Performance changes can also occur if there is unseen damage to the core of the golf ball, so you should keep an eye on how your balls perform: if there is any difference from the norm, it might well be time for a change.
What Makes a Golf Ball Bad?
What makes a golf ball good is quite a subjective thing; a ball that doesn’t suit your game at all could be a perfect fit for someone else. However, there are certain qualities that just about everyone agrees are bad.
Here are some of the defective balls that have, at one time or another, shared the ignominious title of “Worst Golf Ball”:
- Pinnacle Gold: poor spin; easily damaged cover; too hard to generate spin
- Callaway Warbird: so hard it has reputedly caused players’ hands to vibrate on impact with the club; low durability; no flight consistency
- Top Flite XL Distance: too hard; too susceptible to wind; no spin; doesn’t roll well on greens
It might be worth avoiding these particular balls, even for an absolute beginner!
Here at gimmeballs, we don’t just make mixer packs for beginners. We offer a wide variety of golf balls for all skill levels, and better yet, we let you customise your golf balls.
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