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Golf Ball Construction – Peeling Back The Layers

The golf ball construction industry is a multi-million dollar industry – there are literally hundreds of different types of golf balls available for you to try out, with each one having a different set of base characteristics than the next one.  You may hear a fellow golfer speaking about using a “x-piece” golf ball, where the “x” is a number, usually either two and three.  In actual fact, all balls available for use are either a one, two, three, four or (less commonly) five-piece golf ball.

What Does The “Piece” Part Mean?

Golf balls are designed and constructed according to their final requirements.  For example, a ball which is specifically designed for distance will have a completely different type of construction than a golf ball designed for maximum spin generation.  When the manufacturers decide which key characteristics a ball should have, the construction of the ball must be considered.

When constructing a golf ball based on the requirements, the issue of how many layers the ball should have is paramount.  Outlined below are the different types of balls based on how many layers they have, with a description of what they (in general terms) have been designed for.

One Piece Golf Balls

Golf balls which are referred to as “one-piece” are simply constructed with the same type of  material, from the external layer right through to the core.  These golf balls are, in the main, of a general low quality, providing little feedback on short-iron shots and putts, while offering little or no increased yardage with the longer irons and the driver.  These one-piece balls are quite cheap to buy and are usually sold in bulk quantities.

You’ve probably guessed by now (or you already know) that one-piece golf balls are better known as ‘range’ or ‘practise’ balls.  These are the types of balls you may be used to hitting at your local driving range.

Two Piece Golf Balls

Two piece golf balls generally consist of a tough, solid inner core, surrounded by the thin layer of the cover of the ball (typically surlyn).  This type of ball is mostly designed and constructed with the purpose of providing extra distance.  These two-piece golf balls have a low spin rate, which means that you’ll have a little trouble stopping this type of ball dead on the greens.  On the plus side, any unintentional hooks or slices will be minimised due to the low spin generation.

These are great balls to use if you’re looking add both accuracy and additional distance with your driver and long irons.  The majority of two-piece golf balls also tend to be tougher / more durable than their multi-layered cousins, giving the ball a longer shelf life.  Examples of two-piece golf balls include the Precept Laddie X golf ball and the Wilson Staff DNA Distance golf ball.

Three / Four Piece Golf Balls

Three-piece and four-piece golf balls will generally consist of a softer outer cover, one or two  inner layers, and a solid or liquid core.  These balls have a higher spin rate (due to the extra layers) which will give you a greater level of control.  They also feel softer than the one or two-piece balls, but will ‘cut up’ more quickly too.  This type of ball is generally used by the lower handicapped / scratch golfers, who can control the ball’s flight path better than those with higher handicaps.

The increased control around the greens can also help to enhance the golfer’s short game.  Three / four-piece balls are generally more expensive to buy than two-piece balls, and need to be replaced more regularly due to the softer cover.  A good example of a three-piece golf ball is the Titleist Pro V1 golf ball.

Five Piece Golf Balls

Incredibly, golf ball technology has given us the first commercially available five-piece golf ball.  The Taylor Made Penta golf ball is due for general release in December 2010, and boasts five layers, pushing the boundaries of golf ball construction ever further.  This ball promises to provide additional distance and a low spin rate with the driver and long irons (due to the low compression inner core) whilst delivering a high spin rate and soft feel with the short irons (due to the soft cover and first inner layer).  The second and third inner layers are also optimised for general iron play.

With the Taylor Made Penta release just around the corner, it’s a certainty that other golf ball manufacturers will soon follow suit.  Manufacturers will continue to push the boundaries of golf ball construction, meaning it’s not outwith the realms of possibility that the number of layers a golf ball can have will continue to grow in future.  As the demand for better performing golf balls continues to increase, technology will move forward to continually meet those demands.  I’m willing to bet that, before too long, I’m updating this article to include a section for six-piece golf balls!

Should Hackers Use Expensive Golf Balls?

How many golf balls, on average, do you lose during a round of golf?  Be honest with yourself here – if you like to play golf with a specific brand of golf ball, how many of those babies do you go through in, say, a month?

If you are the type of golfer who regularly loses 3, 4 or more(!!) golf balls during a round of golf, is it harder to justify splashing out the cash on those high-end, expensive golf balls?

My opinion on this somewhat sensitive subject is that, at the end of the day, people can do what they please.  Hey, it’s not my hard-earned cash being spent.   But, by definition, if you are losing balls hand over fist at a generous rate, then you are not a great golfer.  A harsh statement, but the truth nonetheless.

So if you are generally struggling with your game, and can’t seem to score below, say, 100, then it’s fair to say that you’re probably spending a lot of your time on the course mis-hitting your shots, i.e. you’re not putting the golf ball where you are intending to put it.

Don’t get me wrong, not one golfer on the planet can hit a golf ball and know exactly where it is going to stop to the exact square yard – but most decent players are fairly consistent, in that the difference between the “ideal” outcome and the “actual” outcome is not that extreme.

As an example, if a pro hits a mid-iron into a green 160 yards away, his ideal outcome may be to have the golf ball come to rest, say, a foot from the hole.  But they know for a fact that, around 9 times out of 10, this isn’t going to happen.  What they DO know, though, is that the vast majority of the time, the actual outcome is that the ball will either end up on the green, or in the vicinity of the green.  What I am trying to get across here, is that they are in control of where the golf ball is going to end up.

If you find that you are not controlling where you want to put the golf ball (to, say, a diameter of around 50 yards between the ideal and actual outcomes), then inevitably you are going to lose a few golf balls during a round.  Which leads me to the question which has spurred me to write this article:

“If you are a high-handicap  golfer, should you be spending your money on expensive golf balls?”

When I say expensive golf balls, I am referring to the higher-end balls on the market, where you might expect to pay in excess of, say, $30 – $35 for a dozen.  In general terms, higher priced golf balls will probably give you better spin and feel, i.e. a level of control.  But if you are simply not good enough to take advantage of this, what’s the point of buying them?  After all, there are tons of low priced golf balls out there which will provide a decent overall level of playability.

They may not give you great spin generation, or feel fantastic off the face of the putter, but if you’re not good enough to take advantage of the additional features, then you’re not missing out on anything anyway, right?  And by using cheaper golf balls, then you’re saving money into the bargain – it’s a win-win situation, isn’t it?

Like I said earlier in the article, I don’t really care whether someone wishes to spend money on expensive golf balls – that’s entirely their prerogative.  I am asking the question, and essentially “opening the floor” for your opinions on the subject.

So please feel free to leave your comments below on the subject:

Do you think that there should be a direct correlation between the level of golfer ability and the type of golf ball he / she plays with?

Should below-average golfers play with less expensive golf balls?

Who Should Use Power Golf Balls?

First things first – power golf balls are more advantageous for those of us who play off a handicap of anything around the 15 mark or higher.  For the majority of golfers, a handicap of 15 is something to strive for, and not a handicap which most golfers will quickly pass on the way down.  The upshot of this is that most golfers worldwide play off a handicap of 15 or higher.

The good news, then, is that a power golf ball will give most golfers the best possible chance of shooting better scores.  Why?  Because a lot of golfers will invariably struggle with keeping the golf ball on the fairway during the course of 18 holes (and I include myself in that bracket – at the time of writing, my handicap is 14.5).

As a general rule, the better a player you are, the softer a golf ball you should be using.  If you can consistently hit the golf ball straight off the tee, then your game may be suited to a softer golf ball, which will give you more control, feel, and spin around the greens – the perfect recipe for taking advantage of your excellent driver and long iron play.  For most of us though, the ability to at least give ourselves a chance of hitting greens in regulation, this means going with a power golf ball.  One which will reduce the hooking and slicing off the tee to keep you on the fairway more often, and in with a chance of hitting those par four greens in two.

A power golf ball is one which will invariably provide more longer and essentially straighter drives – if you can keep your golf ball in play for the majority of holes, then you are giving yourself the best possible chance of hitting those greens in less strokes, which is what we are all striving for.

Another piece of excellent news is that there are many, many power golf balls available to us which are incredibly varied in terms of distance, feel, spin and price.  With a little experimentation, you should be able to find a distance golf ball which will strike the perfect balance between the aforementioned four factors, i.e. one which will suit your own personal preference.

There are power golf balls available which will give you mammoth drives and exceptional distance with your irons, but may give you less spin, and feel less responsive than others.  If that’s what you’re after, then hopefully my reviews will give you an idea of which type of golf ball to try.

Alternatively, you may be the type of player who requires a distance golf ball which also gives you good feedback around the greens, in which case a more subtle brand of power golf ball may be what you’re after.  Again, there are plenty balls out there which will suit your individual game.  Hopefully, this website will give you a good indication of which type of golf ball you are seeking.

Finally, the price of a power golf ball is something which must be considered – if you’re losing a few balls per round each time you play, then there’s not much point in splashing out a lot of money on the more expensive types of golf ball available – golf should be a game which is played for fun, and there is not much fun to be had in spending silly amounts of money every two or three rounds!  Unless you’re rolling in dough, you should be factoring in the cost of your golf balls when considering which type of ball to buy.

I hope you enjoy reading through my power golf ball reviews – each review gives marks to each ball for the four factors of power, feel, spin and price – so you should be able to get a good idea of the type of ball you require based on your own individual preferences.

The Advantages Of Power Golf Balls

There would be absolutely no point in considering buying power golf balls if they did not give you some kind of advantage, or enhance certain areas of your game.

The question is, what type of advantages are gained by using these golf balls instead of regular, non-power balls? Advantages include:

Longer Tee Shots

Probably the main reason why golfers indulge in power golf balls – the fact that they can add more juice to their drives to take the ball another 10 or 20 yards (or more) further down the fairway off the tee. And it’s not just for aesthetic reasons that this gives the golfer an advantage – a good drive with a power golf ball could be the difference between a long iron approach and a mid iron approach to the green. I would rather hit a mid-iron in to the green than a long iron, and I think most golfers share this preference.

Straighter Tee Shots

The majority of power golf balls made share a set of common characteristic – one of them being that they are generally of the low-spin variety. What this means for the golfer is that he or she is less likely to experience extreme slices or hooks from the tee. High-spin balls will exaggerate any type of spin imparted onto the ball, while low-spin balls will do the opposite. This means that your tee shots should fly a little straighter off the tee, helping you to keep the golf ball on the fairway and give you a chance to get to the green in as few strokes as possible.

Good For Mid To High Handicapper

The power golf ball is generally aimed at the golfer with a mid to high handicap. Low handicappers and professionals will almost always use a golf ball which is softer, to provide more feel and control around the greens, while mid to high handicappers are more concerned with keeping the ball in play, with the ultimate aim of getting the ball on the green in as few strokes as possible. A power golf ball will provide this, by keeping the ball straighter than a soft or high-spin golf ball.

More Durable

Power golf balls, by their very nature, consist of firmer materials than their softer counterparts, and are harder to scuff or cut – a great advantage to this is that these balls will ultimately “live longer” and so assuming you don’t lose any(!!) you are getting a lot more value for money.