GOLF balls are always a gift that is appreciated and useful and it makes a great stocking filler.
Golf balls range between €20 – €60 per dozen and here is a simple explanation of the differences between them.
2-PIECE GOLF BALLS / DISTANCE BALL (€15 – €25)
The cheaper golf ball is a two-piece ball, basically it has two layers to the ball, it has an inner layer which is made from rubber and an outer firmer layer.
This golf ball comes usually as a softer compression which means it feels softer and it is the closest golf ball to a ping pong ball compared to a tour ball. Picture when you drop a ping pong ball off the floor it bounces or springs off the ground. The softer the golf ball the more spring it has similar to a ping pong ball. This type of golf ball is more suited to a golfer who hits the ball 200 yards or less with their driver.
This type of golf ball is called a distance golf ball and are suited more for golfers who don’t have a very fast swing. The disadvantage to these golf balls is for the short game you won’t achieve as much feel or spin for putting and chipping compared to a 3 – 5-piece golf ball. The ball will trampoline off the face faster on the wedges and the putter at impact which leads to less spin and feel and can make it harder to achieve consistent distance control for the short game.
I recently tried a 2-Piece golf ball myself and compared to the 5-Piece golf ball I usually use; I was over hitting my chips too far and my putts were also going past the hole because of the trampoline effect you get on a softer compression of a 2-Piece golf ball.
3-Piece Golf Balls (€25 – €40) :
A 3-piece ball is considered the “middle ground” of golf balls. They offer the same distance benefits as a 2-piece, but have an altogether higher spin rate off the tee. Though they feature a lower calibre construction than a 4 – 5-piece ball, 3-piece spheres are still an optimal choice for above average players with a moderate swing speed. Ideal for distance, controllability and consistency, these balls will stand up to the pressures of a long day of hard strikes. These golf balls suit golfers who drive the ball up to roughly 230 – 240 yards off the tee and the main benefit to a 3-Piece ball over a 2-Piece ball is the golfer will get better spin and feel from this ball around the green when chipping or putting. This ball will stay on the face longer giving the golfer more feel which will improve their distance control for their short game.
4 / 5-Piece Tour Golf Balls (€40 – €60) :
The more expensive tour golf balls then are known to be a 4 – 5-piece golf ball, meaning they have four to five layers on the golf ball. The outer layer of a tour ball always has a urethane cover which is the thin outer layer of the golf ball that you can physically see. This soft material provides the maximum short-game spin by allowing the clubface to “grab” the ball, while the intermediate layer(s) between the core and exterior allow more spin and control on well-struck iron shots. The urethane cover stays on the face of the club longer creating more spin for iron shots but less spin for woods which is the perfect combination for golfers who hit the ball well. Usually tour golf balls are the complete overall golf balls giving you long distance from the driver but maximum feel and spin for the shorter shots around the green. These golf balls should be used by all golfers who hit their driver 240+ yards or more from the tee because they are swinging faster than an average golfer and they should be using a ball that won’t easily compress, which will give them a lower spin off the tee leading to even longer drives.
