- Wooden balls were used through the early 17th century before giving way to a ball that was a leather pouch filled with goose feathers and then painted. This ball remained the primary one used for serious play for over two centuries. Because of how tedious it was to produce the feather ball, ball manufacturers could only produce a few in one day. Additionally, when played in wet conditions, this ball would rot and fall apart. In the mid-19th century, the feather ball was replaced by the sap-filled core golf ball (gutta-percha), which was cheaper to produce and offered better performance. Later in the 1900s, multi-layered balls with solid cores wound with rubber thread emerged, and this design has evolved into the many variants seen on the market today.
- Golf ball types can be divided into two high-level categories: those for skilled or advanced players (with handicaps of 10 or less) and those for the beginning to average player. Golf balls for a skilled player with a high swing speed are softer with greater spin. The typical advanced player has a swing speed of greater than 90 miles per hour and the balls for those players are generally created from three or four pieces. Golf balls for the beginning to average player normally are designed for greater distance but only medium spin. Additionally, the average player benefits more from a harder golf ball that is made of two pieces. As players improve to the 10 to 20 handicap range, they should choose balls on the higher end of the average ball market.
- For the average player, increased distance from the golf tee can reduce the long-distance skill shots required on many golf courses, and thus help improve scores. The two-piece balls targeted to these players focus on durability and maximum distance. These balls lose much of the spin found in three- and four-piece balls, but for golfers who do not hit a number of greens in regulation, the extra distance from the tee makes up for the loss of spin. For players in the 10 to 20 handicap range, there are a number of three-piece ball designs that have emerged with an additional layer inside that's comprised of either enhanced rubber or liquid, making them softer and offering greater spin control than a two-piece constructed ball. The three- and four-piece balls geared towards advanced players focus on even greater spin control, and recent developments have targeted increased distance on top of maximizing spin.
- When purchasing golf balls, a common mistake made by the high-handicapper is to overestimate his skill level and buy a golf ball beyond his skill level. The advantages gained by an advanced player from playing a golf ball with greater spin control can work against the average player who plays with a hook or a slice by accentuating the flaws in her swing, resulting in worse play. When choosing a golf ball in the appropriate skill set, many players will forgo trying out the new golf ball before making a large purchase. This behavior can actually result in worse play if the brand of ball being played is not the right fit.
- Although golf is a sport, leveraging the advantages of science and technology when choosing the brand and type of golf ball to play can result in lower scores and better play. By properly identifying your skill level and taking a deliberate approach to testing and evaluating various golf ball brands within the appropriate family of golf balls, you can choose the right golf ball to improve your play.
