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Step 1
Learn as much as possible about golf balls. There are basically two kinds of golf balls---the two-piece ball that's meant to maximize distance and minimize spin and the three- and four-piece balls and the soft-skinned low-compression balls that are built for spin and control. These multilayered balls are more expensive than two-piece balls, but give golfers---particularly skilled golfers---a better opportunity to control and spin the ball and therefore shape their shots.
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Step 2
Assess your golf game honestly and determine what you want from a golf ball. Do you want more distance, or are you looking for more control? This will help you narrow down the kind of ball you want to use.
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Step 3
Test balls. You should select a representative sample of golf balls from the above categories---two-piece and multilayered balls (as well as the soft-skinned, low-compression balls) and test them.
First test them around the green and see how they perform with a putter, when you chip and when you hit them out of the sand. Then test them with your short and long irons and see how they check and release when they land. Finally, hit them off the tee. -
Step 4
Factor in expense. A perfectly good two-piece ball can cost $10 to $15 a dozen, while some multilayered balls can cost over $50 a dozen. The question you need to ask yourself is whether your game deserves---and whether you really need---a $4 ball you'll more than likely hit into the first water hazard you face.
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Step 5
Choose your ball. Make the decision based on how well a particular ball meets your performance needs and how that ball fits into your budget.
