Which Golf Ball Should I Use?

Ok, you go to the local golf store to pick up some balls and what do you find? There are about 40 different balls to choose from and you don't know where to begin.

In my humble opinion, most people aren't going to notice a huge difference in their play with different balls. I have tried many different balls and never improved my distance by 20 yards like you see in the commercials. So, what do I do? I tend to make my decision by the price of the ball. Keep it simple right? If the price of a dozen balls ranges from 15 - 45 dollars, which ball is better? Of course, the 45 dollar a dozen ball is the best. But we all know that as a product increases in price, once you get to the top, the differences tend to be a little more subtle.

Most people fall in the average golfer category, otherwise it wouldn't be called average. Personally, I have been golfing for 25 years and the ball I have used has made a difference, but the main things that affect my score are related to my swing, not my ball. I don't mean to say that the ball doesn't matter, it does, but you can play a good game of golf with a cheap ball. You can't play a good game of golf with a bad swing.

So here it goes.

The 15 dollar a dozen ball:

It used to stink, plain and simple. With the improvements today, it's not that bad. If you have a higher handicap with a slower swing speed, all I can say is....use it. See what you think. These balls produce minimal spin which is good for the higher handicap player. If you slice the ball with a higher spin ball, the ball will slice more. The biggest downfall with this ball is the feel. It is a rock, plain and simple. Once you develop more touch around the greens, you will want to move to a different ball, but worry about your swing first. Golf is expensive and putting a ball in the water costs money. If you are already becoming disgusted with your game there is no reason to give yourself another reason to play less. Use a cheap ball.

The 20 - 30 dollar a dozen ball:

This is the ball for most people. They produce excellent distance with a soft feel and spin that will check up nicely. Let's face it. How many people can suck the ball back 6 feet? Yes, you have done it a few times, but you can't do it on command. Most golfers will notice little difference from this ball than the tour balls other than the cost.

The 40+ dollar a dozen ball:

These balls are nice. Not all, but some require a high swing speed for them to perform properly. They have a higher compression rating so you need a higher swing speed to compress the ball and make it travel the distance you are looking for. They also have a higher spin rating. If you slice the ball, it will slice more. For many golfers, distance will be lost, but performance around the greens and with shorter irons improves so if you have the money, give them a shot. I recommend heading over to ebay and picking up some used balls first. You can save a lot of cash and get a good idea if the balls are worth the extra money for you.

Well there you have it, my humble opinion. Your golf ball matters, but get that swing in order first. After that, then start worrying about the finer details of your golf ball.........and remember, golf is a game........HAVE FUN!!