You are here: Home / Golf Balls

Golf Balls

Golf Balls - All Golfers Need More Than One

The golf ball is a small ball used in the game of golf. The object of golf is to compete with others to hit or “drive” the ball into a series of either nine or eighteen holes as quickly as you can. The players begin their game by placing the ball on a “tee” (a stand for the ball to rest on being either wood or plastic)…hence the phrase “tee off”. They then hit the ball with a golf club.

The golf ball today comes in different varieties unlike when the game of golf was first played. In 15th century Holland, the game was originally called colf. When golf (or colf as it was known then) first started as a fun past time, it was played with wooden balls. The downside of using these balls was the distance they traveled. Whereas a good drive today is 300+ yards, the wooden golf ball would seldom go 100 yards.

Through the years, the golf ball has changed in many ways from the content, weight, efficiency to the very appearance. The original wooden golf ball went through many phases to get to the small little white ball we see on the golf course today. It went from wood to a feathery, to the gutty, to the rubber ball and finally to the modern day balata or titanium ball we use today.

Golf balls today are available in a dimpled or nondimpled (smooth) style with the dimpled balls being more popular due to the longer traveling distance. This is a matter of personal preference; however, the balls must all be as symmetrical as possible to be in sanctioned golf games or tournaments. When a golf ball is hit by a golf club, its movement consists of two forces: drag or lift. In simple terms, the drag is what slows it down and keeps it close to the ground whereas the lift is what keeps it higher up and forward. Dimples help increase both the lift and drag.

When the wooden golf ball was used, the game took much longer to play due to the weight of the ball and the inability to hit it very far in one drive. With the advancements made, today’s game is much quicker with more efficiency as the ball has a much smaller size and weight. There are specific standards that must be met today regarding size and weight. The weight of the golf ball cannot exceed 1.938 ounces (45.93 grams) and the diameter must be at least 1.680 inches (42.67mm).

White is the most popular color for golf balls, however many purchase colored balls for practice as they are easier to find in the grass. There are also many different balls for purchase depending on what the golfer is looking for: speed, distance, control or just practice. Whereas it was once a game played only by a few, millions now play and enjoy golf worldwide.

More on Golf Balls