Finding the appropriate golf ball is difficult, which is why we suggest getting fitted for a golf ball. That mentioned, ball fitter is difficult to seek out (more durable nonetheless when you’re in search of a brand-agnostic possibility), so we didn’t even put Do get matchted on this record (despite the fact that I believe you must).

What you’ll discover here’s what I suppose you would possibly name normal recommendation – a brief record of Dos and Don’ts that can assist you keep away from making the massive errors when selecting a golf ball.

DON’T purchase refinished balls

If you solely take one piece of recommendation from this put up, make it this one.

Avoid refinished (generally marketed as ‘refurbished’) golf balls.

Refinished golf balls have just one factor going for them: They’re low-cost. The drawback with refinished balls is, properly, completely every little thing else.

The end high quality is usually poor, and when there’s a major blemish, typically they’ll paint proper over it.

Beyond that, what’s really underneath the hood is rarely assured. The samples we’ve examined have invariably contained a number of variations of the ball steered by the sidestamp, and after we’ve hit them with a robotic, efficiency doesn’t come near what you get earlier than refinishing.

If value is a serious concern for you, you’re higher off shopping for used balls in AAA situation or shopping for a DTC (direct-to-consumer) providing in bulk.

DO contemplate DTC manufacturers

If you’re balling on a price range, the massive manufacturers could have priced themselves out of the dialog. If $50 a dozen is simply too wealthy in your blood, contemplate shopping for from what are sometimes categorised as DTC manufacturers.

While they’re not all created equal, smaller manufacturers like Vice, Maxfli, and OnCore (coincidentally, those whose merchandise are made by Foremost) supply an interesting mix of high quality, efficiency and extra reasonably priced pricing.

DON’T play a low-compression (aka delicate) golf ball when you’re a excessive swing velocity participant

Despite what you might have heard elsewhere, there isn’t a such factor because the proper golf ball compression in your swing velocity however fairly often there’s a fallacious one.

As our robotic ball assessments have taught us, delicate is sluggish. The correlation between compression and ball velocity is plain. As balls get softer, ball speeds get slower.

To make certain, there’s a level the place swing velocity dips sufficient that the loses are so fractional that they’re not value worrying about however for sooner swing velocity gamers, ball velocity drops may be important. We’ve seen variations of greater than 3 mph with urethane balls alone. With softer ionomer balls, the velocity drops are better nonetheless as sooner golfers will over-compress the ball and lose distance for it.

With that mentioned, there may be an exception to the rule. Faster swingers who generate excessive spin off the tee (3,000+ rpm) will generally see extra distance on account of the decrease spin properties of softer golf balls.

Do give firmer balls an opportunity (even when you’re a slower swing velocity golfer)

The concept that sluggish swing velocity gamers ought to keep away from firmer golf balls is among the most troublesome golf ball myths.

The actuality is that slower swing velocity gamers typically wrestle to generate spin and, whereas most want the texture of a softer ball, the low spin that comes with it typically doesn’t present the stopping energy you want.

The actuality is that slower swing velocity golfers typically profit from higher-spinning “Tour” balls like Pro V1x, TP5, and Chrome Tour X. Even one thing delicate by Tour requirements, just like the Bridgestone Tour B XS is value contemplating.

Firmer balls are nearly universally higher for sooner swingers they usually’re typically higher for slower ones, too.

DON’T play a scuffed golf ball

This one requires a discerning eye or maybe discerning contact however when the duvet of ball is broken, it’s time to say goodbye.

The devilish element is available in distinguishing between a small floor blemish and actual harm. If you’re simply lacking a little bit of paint, it’s no large deal, however when the duvet is minimize or scuffed in a approach that disrupts the dimple sample, there’s likelihood the aerodynamic properties of the ball can be negatively impacted.

Toss it within the shag bag and transfer on.

DO take into consideration high quality

Let’s get actual for a minute. Between the USGA’s guidelines and the huge quantity of mental property that has filtered into the general public area, nearly anybody who units their thoughts to it may well spec out a high-performance golf ball that performs equally to the best-selling balls available on the market.

The advantageous print on that final assertion is that turning that high-performance spec right into a golf ball, after which making that very same ball again and again, is the place a number of manufacturers and the factories that make balls for them wrestle.

The main OEMs are principally good (although I’d argue Titleist stays a minimize above), Foremost in Taiwan is actually good too. After that, the info we’ve collected in our Ball Lab suggests high quality drops off appreciably. The fireplace that closed Launch Technologies has solely made the problem worse.

And, yeah, I’ve heard the “I’m not good enough to notice” argument however whether or not you discover it from one shot to the following doesn’t make the variations any much less actual. Quality and consistency matter.

I’ll concede that when you’re not aggressive, simply trying to have time and don’t care what you shoot, then it actually issues much less.

DON’T play what your mates are enjoying (Maybe)

Consider this your refined reminder that golf ball becoming issues and simply because a ball is standard or your mates are enjoying it doesn’t imply it’s the appropriate ball for you. If you’re not going to get fitted for the ball, you must no less than experiment to seek out one which works for you in each aspect of the sport.

DON’T play matte balls

I get it: matte balls could look cool. Color is enjoyable. Unfortunately, the matte end introduces better inconsistency than you’ll get from an ordinary glossy-finished ball.

The variations are most noticeable in moist situations. That contains every little thing from a contact of morning dew to a full-on downpour. Moisture can be launched anytime grass between membership and ball, which is commonly.

What does all that imply?

A moist ball golf ball will invariably launch larger and spin lower than a dry ball however these variations are extra important with matte-covered balls.

The solely time matte balls make sense is for golfers who wrestle to observe the ball within the air. In these instances, the worth of having the ability to see the flight of the ball could outweigh the efficiency loss.