From the 23rd to the 28th of September 2025, the Bethpage Black Course in New York will be home to the Ryder Cup. The Ryder Cup is held biannually and features the talents of 24 brilliant golfers from the USA and Europe.

But who will those golfers be this year? Figuring out who will be playing at the Ryder Cup in 2025 is a bit more complicated than you might think. In this article, we’ll explain how players are chosen for the Ryder Cup, and who you can expect to see on the green this year.

How are players chosen for the Ryder Cup?

Players for the Ryder Cup are split into two teams, and selection for each team works slightly differently.

For the European Ryder Cup team in 2025, qualification uses points earned from a brand-new tournament banding structure. Essentially, significant tournaments each reward points, and players in those tournaments will earn points that go towards their overall qualifying score for the Ryder Cup.

As an example, Rory McIlroy currently has 3220.78 points, which he has earned from various championships he’s succeeded in. He secured these points through victories like the DP World Tour Championship and The Players Championship on the PGA Tour.

The US team uses a similar points system, with a point or more awarded per $1000 won at certain championships. For example, 1.5 points were earned per $1000 dollars won at the recent Open Championship.

6 players for each team will qualify this way. However, the points system isn’t the only way to play in the Ryder Cup. The team captains for Europe and the USA each get to pick 6 golfers to bring with them. This means that half of the team will earn their place through points, and half will be selected based on their skills.

How are Ryder Cup captains picked?

For the European team, captains are selected by vote through the European Tour’s tournament committee, and then confirmed by the European Ryder Cup players and stakeholder’s board. The US team captain is voted in by the PGA of America’s executive committee.

Ryder Cup captains don’t usually play but they are there to support the team. Generally, a captain is a golfer with a lot of skill and a history of success who can act as a sort of coach throughout the tournament.

2025 Ryder Cup captains and vice captains

So who will be leading and coaching the teams at Bethpage? All captains and vice captains for this historic game have already been decided and are listed below.

UK Team Captain: Luke Donald

The 2025 captain, Luke Donald, led his team to victory once before as captain in the 2023 Rome Ryder Cup. He’s the first repeat captain for the European team that we’ve seen since Bernard Gallacher in 1995.

US Team Captain: Keegan Bradley

Keegan Bradley will be the captain for Team USA this time around. He's a well-known golfer with plenty of experience under his belt. There was speculation that he may even play in the Ryder Cup, but he eventually made the decision to dedicate himself to being team captain instead.

UK Vice Captains:

• Edoardo Molinari
• Thomas Bjørn
• José MaríaOlazábal
• Francesco Molinari

US Vice Captains:

• Jim Furyk
• Kevin Kisner
• Webb Simpson
• Brandt Snedeker
• Gary Woodland

Who will be playing in the Ryder Cup 2025?

European Ryder Cup Team 2025

• Ludvig Åberg
• Matt Fitzpatrick
• Tommy Fleetwood
• Tyrrell Hatton
• Rasmus Højgaard
• Viktor Hovland
• Shane Lowry
• Robert MacIntyre
• Rory McIlroy
• Jon Rahm
• Justin Rose
• Sepp Straka

USA Ryder Cup Team 2025

• Sam Burns
• Patrick Cantlay
• Bryson DeChambeau
• Harris English
• Ben Griffin
• Russell Henley
• Collin Morikawa
• Xander Schauffele
• J.J. Spaun
• Scottie Scheffler
• Justin Thomas
• Cameron Young

Get practising!

Are you hoping to qualify for the Ryder Cup someday? Or maybe you just want to win your local golf tournament? Either way, you’d better get practising with some of the best golf balls that the pros are using. We offer plenty of golf balls used by the players who will be in this year’s Ryder Cup. Check them out below, then try them for yourself.

Shop Ryder Cup Golf Balls

The 2025 Ryder Cup is just around the corner – but where did it all start? Our team at gimmeballs have done the research and put together a complete guide to the Ryder Cup’s history. This event has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1927, to become the huge celebration we know today.

Read on to learn the fascinating history of the Ryder Cup, as well as what we know about this year’s edition of the tournament.

What is the Ryder Cup?

The Ryder Cup is one of the world’s biggest golfing events. It is played every other year, and features 24 of the best golfers from Europe and the United States.

Unlike many other big golfing events, the Ryder Cup is played in teams – so instead of a single individual claiming victory, each tournament is won by either Team Europe or Team USA.

What is the history of the Ryder Cup?

The Ryder Cup was started by Samuel Ryder, an English businessman with a passion for golf. He first held a golf tournament between Great Britain and America in 1926. However, this isn’t considered an official Ryder Cup game, as no cup was awarded. The Ryder Cup officially began in 1927 at Worcester Country Club, Massachusetts, where the USA won by a score of 9.5 to 2.5.

The Ryder Cup continued like this, with a tournament every other year for a decade. Unfortunately, this tradition was halted by World War II, and with the death of Samuel Ryder it seemed unlikely to return. This could have been the end of one of the world’s most celebrated golfing traditions.

In an unexpected twist of fate, though, the game was revived by Rober A. Hudson – an Oregon fruit grower who decided to follow in Samuel Ryder’s footsteps. With the spark reignited, the Ryder Cup continued as it was always meant to. There were a handful of format changes over the years, with the most significant arriving in 1979. This was the year that the British team expanded to become a European team. This allowed more top golfers to participate and allowed the USA’s rivals to draw from a larger talent pool – which was becoming necessary as America hadn’t lost for well over a decade by this point.

DID YOU KNOW? From the tournament’s inception until the end of the 20th century, the Ryder Cup was only played in odd-numbered years. Then the 2001 tournament was delayed until 2002 due to the 9/11 attacks, and for a while after that, the Ryder Cup took place only in even-numbered years. But then the coronavirus pandemic struck and the 2020 edition had to be postponed until 2021, so now the Ryder Cup is back to happening in odd-numbered years again.

That brings us to today! After several changes, and two unlikely benefactors, the Ryder Cup is still going strong. Two teams of twelve, from America and Europe, go up against each other every other year to demonstrate the very best of their golfing talents.

Why is it called the Ryder Cup?

The Ryder Cup is named after the event’s original founder, Samuel Ryder. He made his fortune by selling seeds much more cheaply than his competitors at the time, at only a penny per packet. When his friend suggested he take up golf for his health, he couldn’t have known that it would eventually lead to one of the world’s biggest golfing events.

Do Ryder Cup players get paid?

Generally, Ryder Cup players are not paid, though this has varied somewhat over the years. In 1999, when Tiger Woods began to question where all the profits of the event were going, Team USA players were given some say over which charities the profits were donated to.

For the 2025 Ryder Cup, the American PGA has announced that each American player will receive $500,000 (with $300,000 of that going to a charity selected by the player). The remaining money is a stipend, though some players have reportedly said that this will also be donated to charity.

As for Team Europe, there are no plans for them to be paid to play in the Ryder Cup.

Who won the Ryder Cup in 2023?

The last Ryder Cup, held in Italy in 2023, was won by the European team. Captain Luke Donald (who will be returning this year) led the team to a decisive victory with a score of 16.5 to 11.5. The team included Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, and several other well-known golfers.

Can women play in the Ryder Cup?

Unlike The Open, which has allowed women since 2006, the Ryder Cup does not allow women to play. Female golfers play in the Solheim Cup instead, which is held on alternate years with the Ryder Cup. The last Solheim cup was held in Virginia in 2024, and the next will be in the Netherlands in 2026.

When is the Ryder Cup?

The Ryder Cup will be held at Bethpage Black Course in New York on 23rd – 28th September 2025. If you’ve had enough of history and are ready to look to the future, you can watch live or follow along with this year’s event at home.

Get ready for the Ryder Cup!

The Ryder Cup is fast approaching! If you’re excited about golf, then why not hold your own mini Ryder Cup with our Ryder Cup golf balls? We’ve got a selection of the best golf balls used by the pros who will be playing at Bethpage this September.

Shop Ryder Cup Golf Balls

Callaway is one of the leading brands in golf. They produce all sorts of high-quality golfing equipment, including a wide range of golf balls for different skills levels and playing styles.

In this quick guide, we’ll walk you through five of the most popular Callaway golf balls currently available. We’ll explain the key features of these balls to help you decide which Callaway favourite will best suit your game.

• Callaway Supersoft Golf Balls
  
  
• Callaway Chrome Soft Golf Balls
  
  
• Callaway Chrome Tour Golf Balls
  
  
• Callaway Chrome Tour X Golf Balls
  
  
• Callaway Warbird Golf Balls
  
  
• Callaway ERC Soft Golf Balls

Callaway Supersoft Golf Balls

You can't talk about Callaway golf balls without mentioning the star of the show. Callaway Supersoft golf balls are among our very best sellers, and it’s easy to see why. The Supersoft is very forgiving, with an almost luxuriously soft feel. Boasting a compression rating of 38 and an advanced HyperElastic SoftFast™ Core, Callaway Supersoft golf balls are a favourite of high-to-mid handicap golfers.

If you’re starting out (or just looking to take it easy for a few rounds) then Callaway Supersoft golf balls could be a good choice for you.  

Shop Callaway Supersoft

Callaway Chrome Soft Golf Balls

The Callaway Chrome Soft golf ball collection includes both the standard Chrome Soft, and the Chrome Soft Triple Track.

The Callaway Chrome Soft is a high-quality ball, designed to fly. If you’re looking to make some impressive shots that soar through the air, you can rely on the Callaway Chrome Soft. Here’s what you need to know: this ball has a soft feel and a urethane cover. Low long game spin; high short-game spin. It should offer plenty of control on the green when you need it most. Sound good?

It get's better. The Callaway Chrome Soft Triple Track can help you improve your accuracy with Callaway's iconic alignment line design. All the flight power and spin of a Chrome soft, but with a little extra guidance to help you sink more putts.

Shop Callaway Chrome Soft

Shop Chrome Soft Triple Track

Callaway Chrome Tour Golf Balls

Callaway's Chrome Tour collection is another excellent example of modern golf ball engineering.

To start with, there's the standard Chrome Tour. This Callaway golf ball is used by 2024 Open and PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele - so you know it's good. The Chrome Tour has been designed for experienced players seeking long distances and a great feel.

New for 2025, there's also the Callaway Chrome Tour Triple Diamond. This ball is an elevated version of the standard Callaway Chrome Tour golf ball. The Chrome Tour Triple Diamond offers consistent flight and a firm feel – ideal for more experienced golfers. The real difference is in the spin, which should be lower than the spin provided by the Chrome Tour. This tour-calibre golf ball can help with control and accuracy.

If you love the feel of the Chrome Tour but need a little extra guidance, the Triple Diamonds' alignment lines are here to help. The Triple Track design uses Vernier Hyper Acuity to assist with alignment.

Shop Chrome Tour

Shop Chrome Tour Triple Diamond

Callaway Chrome Tour X Golf Balls

Introducing, the Callaway Chrome Tour X! Not to be confused with the Chrome Tour, this Callaway golf ball is a unique addition to the Callaway line up. The Chrome Tour X, when compared to the Chrome Tour, offers a slightly firmer feel and increased spin. The Chrome Tour X has pretty decent long game spin, but the short game spin is where it really shines.

So, if you're keeping track, you want the Chrome Tour Triple Diamond for less spin, and the Chrome Tour X for more spin - it all depends on what you are looking for. However, like the Chrome Tour Triple Diamond, this is a highly workable golf ball which should offer great control.

As with many other Callaway golf balls, there is also an alignment version of the Chrome Tour X - the Chrome Tour X Triple Track. You should know the drill by now. This ball uses Callaway's Triple Track technology to help you improve your accuracy on the green.

Shop Callaway Chrome Tour X

Shop Chrome Tour X Triple Track

Callaway Warbird Golf Balls

If you’re a golfer who prioritises distance, the Warbird Distance+ is the Callaway golf ball for you. The large core is designed to help your ball travel further at both slow and fast swing speeds.

The Warbird offers both versatility and durability – two of the most important factors when choosing a golf ball. If this all sounds good to you, then you’ll be joining many great golfers who already rely on the Callaway Warbird.

Shop Warbird Distance+ Here

Callaway ERC Soft Golf Balls

An ERC Soft Triple Track golf ball could be the key to your improvement. Out of all the options in Callaway's golf ball selection, ERC golf balls boast the title of the "longest ball with soft feel and greenside control."

With a GRIP Urethane Coating System and Callaway's HyperElastic SoftFast core, these balls are made to perform. You should find that this ball has a great soft feel, and provides increased control on both approach shots and short game shots. Don't overlook Callaway's ERC golf balls, as they are suitable for a wide range of golfers and are surprisingly fast.

If you aren't looking for a Triple Track golf ball, Callaway has another option for you. ERC Soft 360 Fade Technology is a great way to find the perfect alignment for your putts. This innovative alignment design is an ideal match for ERC golf balls, offering visible feedback when putting.

Shop ERC Soft 360 Fade

Shop ERC Soft Triple Track 

Why Shop Callaway Golf Balls?

Callaway is one of biggest names in golf equipment for a reason. They were established in 1982, and have been gifting the world with high-quality equipment ever since. Callaway is known for their golf clubs (which are a popular choice among experienced golfers) and their excellent golf balls. If you’re looking for a reliable brand that has really mastered golf ball engineering, then you can’t go wrong with Callaway.

Want to explore our full Callaway collection? You can shop Callaway golf balls through the button below.

Shop Callaway Here

Golfing in the rain can be challenging, but with the right approach, it's still a fun and rewarding experience. The game can be just as enjoyable in wet conditions – but only if you do it right!

To make the most of your round, here are 12 smart things to do when golfing in the rain...

In this blog, we’ll be comparing two powerful Callaway golf balls: the Callaway Chrome Soft and the Callaway Chrome Soft X.

You might easily get these balls mixed up, given that they have similar names and both feature soft urethane covers. However, these two Callaway balls do have a few differences, and their unique features could have a noticeable impact on your game.

Callaway Chrome Soft Golf Balls

Considering adding Callaway Chrome Soft golf balls to your golf bag? These are ideal for golfers who want a tour-quality golf ball that offers unmatched control on the green. Let’s explore some of the features that make the Chrome Soft such a popular golf ball.

Callaway Chrome Soft: Key Features

Soft Feel: With its Tour Soft Urethane Cover and Hyper Fast Soft Core, this ball has a great feel that will appeal to golfers who prefer softer golf balls.

Low Long-Game Spin: Lower long-game spin can help you achieve better distances, so the Callaway Chrome Soft is a good choice for golfers who are struggling to get their ball to travel far.

High Short-Game Spin: For a lot of short-game spin, which can help you with launch height and ball control, this ball is a great choice.

Construction: This ball has a three-piece construction which contributes to the soft feel.

Buy Callaway Chrome Soft Golf Balls

Callaway Chrome Soft X Golf Balls

Callaway’s Chrome Soft X golf balls are the perfect choice for low-handicap golfers with fast swing speeds. If you want to maximise speed and distance off the tee, then consider switching to this ball, which boasts great driver speeds. The features of the Chrome Soft X are slightly different to the classic Chrome Soft ball.

Callaway Chrome Soft X: Key Features

Medium Feel: With a Hyper Elastic SoftFast Core, this ball is constructed with a soft/medium feel. The Callaway Chrome Soft X ball’s higher compression means it feels a little firmer than the standard Chrome Soft ball.

High Speed & Driver Launch: If you’re looking to improve your driver speed or get a higher launch on driver shots, then the Callaway Chrome Soft X could be a good choice for you.

Low/Mid Driver Spin: This ball has a low/mid driver spin to offer a better distance to golfers with high swing speeds.

Construction: A four-piece construction with a Hex Tour Aero Pattern contributes to the mid/high flight offered by this ball.

Buy Callaway Chrome Soft X Golf Balls

Differences Between Chrome Soft and Chrome Soft X

The key differences between these two golf balls are the construction and feel of the ball.

The Chrome Soft ball only has three layers, whereas the Chrome Soft X has four layers. This is one of the reasons why the Chrome Soft ball gives a luxurious soft feel, and the Chrome Soft X has a more medium feel, though both use a soft cover.

If you prefer a softer ball, the Chrome Soft is probably the better choice for you. On the other hand, if you have a faster swing speed you might prefer a firmer golf ball, meaning the Chrome Soft X could be a better choice.

Personalised Callaway Golf Balls

Your Callaway Chrome Soft and Callaway Chrome Soft X golf balls can be personalised when you order them from gimmeballs! We can print a design of your choice, like a photo or name, onto these golf balls for you.

Shop Callaway Chrome Soft   Shop Callaway Chrome Soft X

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!

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.

Personalised Golf Balls