What a Load of Golf Balls

Through out the history of golf the golf ball has
evolved more than any other piece of equipment used in
the game. From the very first wooden balls followed by
the feathery to the latest 4 piece, high energy core,
tungsten weighted, titanium, super thin covered, go
further go straighter last forever golf ball, advances
in science and the materials used in manufacturing has
taken that little white thing to a new level of
performance.
At the moment in my shop I have 36 different balls to
choose from and there are plenty more types I could
stock. This being the case it is difficult for a golfer
to choose which is the right ball for them especially
when they all claim to be the best thing since the
couch potato was given the remote control.
The Number one
Titleist golf balls have been known for many years as
'The Number 1 Ball in Golf' and it is true that more
tour players across the world use a Titleist ball. Some
golfers think that if Ernie Els is playing with a
Titleist then they should play with a Titleist as well,
however, that is not necessarily the case. Believe it
or not in amongst this huge selection there is the
right ball for you and the ball you choose to play with
needs to suit your requirements and level of skill.
In my opinion the huge range of golf balls on the
market can be broken down into 5 categories.
1) Budget
2) Hard
3) Medium
4) Soft
5) Swing speed
If you are a beginner, or lose a lot of golf balls,
then buying budget balls is the best thing to do. These
are often packaged in 15 ball boxes and are a hard
durable ball that will generally go further when you
hit them. The draw back of this ball is that it is very
lively off of the club face and when it comes to
chipping and putting can lack some of the soft feel
that some golfers prefer.
The harder golf balls such as Topflite XL 3000, or
Callaway CB1 are perfect for the golfer who doesn't
lose too many balls but could do with more distance off
the tee. These balls are not as hard as the budget
type, but are durable and offer some feel around the
green although they still won't stop very quickly on
landing.
If you want the combination of distance, feel and
durability then balls such as the Titleist NXT Tour,
the Callaway Hex 2 or the Strata Tour Straight are
ideal. These are all what I call a medium ball giving
the golfer consistent performance in all areas.
The top players in the world all use soft golf balls.
Up until about 4 years ago the cover of the ball was
actually soft enough to mark with your finger nail and
marked very easily when miss hit. This meant that only
the best ball strikers, or golfers with more money than
sense, would use them. These days the covers on these
balls are very durable and the ball will spin and stop
very quickly on and around the greens. The leading
balls in this category are Titleist Pro V1, Callaway
Hex, Strata Tour Ace, Hogen Apex Tour and the Maxfli M
3. These balls are manufactured to the highest
specification and quality and every golfer could play
and enjoy them. They are however very expensive at
about ฃ10 for 3 balls if you are a bit wayward with
your shots then it could cost a fortune in golf balls.
When it comes to swing speed some players just cannot
swing the golf club very quickly. If this is the case
some manufacturers are now making balls specifically
for those of you who struggle to get any distance
because you just can't hit it hard enough! The Maxfli
Noodle ball is perfect for anyone who has a slow swing
and they are durable and affordable.
Whichever ball you choose, try to stick with that ball
every time you play. You will get used to the feel and
performances of the ball, which in turn will help, play
more consistent golf.
Clay Morrishttp://www.funkyfogey.com/ The community website for the
active, healthy and wealthy over 50 age group.