Golf Equipment Buying Guide - Overview

Purchasing new golf equipment should be a fun and educational experience. To that end it is important you start the process prepared.

1. It is important to make an honest appraisal of your golf skills and physical limitations. Golf equipment is designed to help every level of golfer. If you are just starting out, playing with expert golf equipment will hurt your golf game. Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses. How is your putting? Do you hook or slice the golf ball? Are you a long or short hitter? You must know these qualities of your golf game. Your self awareness will assist the experts at Golfers’ Warehouse in finding the proper golf club fit.
   
   
2. Set a realistic budget for your golf equipment purchases. Sticker shock is not fun! You have to have a budget in mind. There are golf equipment and golf accessories designed for every budget; your Golfers’ Warehouse staff can help you find the golf equipment within your budget.
   
   
3. Determine your goals and why you’re purchasing new golf equipment. More consistency? Hit farther or straighter? Is it because you want to play golf at least twice a year with your business partners and you do not want to feel left out among their circle? Or, is it because you are sincerely and devotedly interested enough to learn and play golf for as long as you get the chance?
   
   
4. How often do you play golf? If you’re just starting to play golf, will you be playing golf for business or solely recreational? It is ill advised to purchase professional grade golf equipment if you will only be playing a few rounds of golf a year with friends. However should you travel competing and playing golf, you will need quality, durable golf equipment to tolerate the frequency and level of play.
   
   
5. Know your current golf clubs: Head style, shaft material and flex. Do they have customized length and/or lie angles? If unsure, bring golf club(s) you’re looking to replace with you. What are your likes and dislikes of your existing golf equipment?
   
   
6. Do your own research. Go to demo days at your local Golfers’ Warehouse store, and golf shows. Read golf magazines, articles, newspapers, and articles online. Check golferswarehouse.com for information. Proper research will help insure you get not only what you want, but what you truly need.

This information is invaluable in assisting the golf equipment specialists at Golfers’ Warehouse in directing you to the best golf equipment for your individual needs. By being able to identify your goals your wants and your needs before you actually go out there to shop, you make it easier for yourself to select the kind of golf equipment you should buy.

Click on the tabs above for tips on buying a specific product category OR visit a Golfers’ Warehouse store in Connecticut, Massachusetts or Rhode Island to speak with one of our golf equipment specialists. They will make it easy for you!

KNOW YOUR GOLF SKILL LEVEL

It is essential to choose golf clubs that best match your golf swing, your golf course and your current skill and physical conditions.

There are three basic skill levels: low, mid- and high-handicaps. A handicap is the difference between a set standard and your golf score based on the ranking of difficulty of the holes on a golf course based on a mathematical formula developed by the USGA.

The Low-Handicap Golfer
A low-handicap scores 10 strokes or less over par. Recommended golf clubs include:

Woods: A driver and at least 1 fairway wood, most likely the 3-wood
Irons: 3 or 4-iron
Wedges: 3 wedges, pitching wedge, sand wedge, and either a lob wedge or approach wedge, with a maximum four-degree difference between each one

The Mid-Handicap Golfer
The mid-handicap scores 1 over par on each hole, or somewhere in the 11-20 handicap range.

Woods: In addition to the driver and a 3-wood and a 5-wood, consider adding a 7-wood or even a 9-wood. These fairway woods give much better control and consistency than the harder to hit long irons.

Irons: Most sets are comprised of the pitching wedge and irons 3 Hybrids and 4 through 9

Wedges: Three different wedges are recommended--pitching wedge, sand wedge, and either a lob wedge or approach wedge

The High-Handicap Golfer
The high-handicap golfer is either a beginner or has not had the time to hone his game to reach the mid-handicap level. The high-handicapper usually shoots close to or over 100.

Woods
You may not even want to have a driver in your bag. Instead, go with the 3-wood as your off-the-tee wood and add the easier-to-hit 7- and 9-woods. High-lofted driver, 3& 4 Hybrids, 5-wood, 7-wood,.

Wedges
Up to 3 wedges--pitching wedge, sand wedge, and either a lob wedge or approach wedge--should be carried

Irons
Game Improvement Hybrid Set or 5-9 irons.

Drivers - Golf Equipment Buying Guide

Driver Club Head Design: Size and Weighting
Size is the first thing to consider when choosing a driver. Many models are offered at the USGA’s legal limit for golf club head volume size (460cc). The larger head size results in a larger “sweet spot,” which promotes improved consistency for many average golfers. Smaller golf club driver heads (around 380cc-410cc) allow seasoned golfers with consistent swings more control.

Oh, you want to hit it straighter too! Golf club designers continue to design golf clubs with internal and external weighting with draw or fade bias features. Many golf equipment manufactures offer clubhead designs. They achieve this through internal and/or external weighting that affect the speed of clubhead rotation during the golf swing (faster to draw, slower to fade.) Slicers can also look at golf club head models that offer a closed (pointed to left for right handed models) golf club face. The theory here is that slice spin is created by an open clubface at impact. Closing the golf clubface by design is intended to counter the tendency to leave the clubface open resulting, hopefully, in a squarer clubface at impact. Or if you want flexibility in controlling golf ball flight choose a golf club with moveable weights. Initially it may feel uncomfortable to have the larger golf club head at the end of the golf club shaft. You will appreciate the added forgiveness and power a larger driver provides. Larger golf club heads possess a higher moment of inertia (MOI) What this means to the golfer is that off center shots lose less golf ball speed and will generate less sidespin. In other words, your bad golf shots are longer and straighter. There is a high-performance driver to fit your golf game, no matter your preference: weight screws, lightweight carbon crowns or distinctive head shapes.

Loft of a Driver
Current golf balls available and larger golf clubheads necessitate higher launch angles. Higher loft promotes a higher launch angle and a higher launch equals greater distance. Launch is the angle of trajectory, measured in degrees of the golf ball as it leaves the golf club face. Launch has a significant effect on distance. A higher loft to maximize distance is ideal. If you are currently hitting a 3-wood from the tee box a new driver is something you should really consider. You may ask if it is really necessary to purchase a driver. If the world’s best players have 460cc drivers in their bag, it may be time for you to upgrade.

Ok, you’re thinking that’s all very interesting but how do I find out what my optimum launch, spin and golf ball speed are and what is the best golf club head design for me? It’s simple, contact the golf equipment specialists at your nearest Golfers’ Warehouse and make an appointment for a launch monitor analysis and let the fun begin!

Individual Irons and Iron Sets - Golf Equipment Buying Guide

The proper iron set will assist in hitting the golf ball more precisely and help lower your scores. Nowadays, such new terminology as “perimeter weighted forged irons”, “cast-blade”, and “constant MOI” (moment of inertia) are the catch phrases which leave many golfers nothing but confused. Advancements in casting technology as well as new materials to have resulted in golf clubs with lower Center of Gravity (CG) and less loft. Cavity-back and perimeter weighted golf clubs, are inclined to be less lofted than those of forged irons. Today’s average golfers seem to prefer additional distance for all their golf clubs. As a result many golf equipment manufacturers have begun to sell less lofted irons for additional distance. An example the 8-iron from a decade ago may be the equivalent to today's 9-iron. Most irons are still manufactured with steel golf club shafts which are more forgiving and resilient. However, some iron sets also feature graphite shafts like the drivers. Newer manufacturing methods, have devloped steel shafts that are often lighter and have increased shaft flex not found in older steel shafts. Another important new feature in irons include perimeter weighting and offset heads. The perimeter weighting increases stability for a better chance of getting the golf ball airbourne. The offset head is designed for better alignment by keeping hands in front of the golf ball to reduce slicing when making contact. Other new features, offer greater forgiveness and stability by providing mass below the golf ball; these include inserts of tungsten or other materials. These improvements offer a real enhancement to the high or mid handicap golfers game.

The Iron Club Head
Golf club head size is the first thing to consider when choosing a set of irons

Oversize Game Improvement Golf Club Heads: These golf club characteristics enhance the forgiveness of the golf club similar to deep cavity-back designs for utmost forgiveness, wider soles that lower the CG and allow the golf ball to be in the air more rapidly. For the shank, vibration absorption is sometimes used to assist in lowering the trembling. The oversize game improvement golf club heads also offer better accuracy on off-center hits. It is a wise choice for beginners to consider this style of golf club head. These types of irons have wider soles and a lower center of gravity. Midsize Golf Club Heads: For those looking to improve their game with flexibility, this cavity-back design and soles are not as deep or wide as oversize and offer a good compromise. Traditional or Blade Style Golf Club Heads: This style golf club head has smaller, shallow cavities which allow golfers to “work” the golf ball.

Iron Golf Club Design:
Typically the irons make up 70% of the golf club set. This is why the irons are so important. The features in a golf club iron head determine the playability of the golf club. Following are the most common features:

• Loft – The angle formed by the centre line of the hosel (center of the shaft) and the clubface
• Lie –Influences the direction of the gofl shot, lie is the angle formed by the hosel and the base line of the golf club head which is more pronounce the shorter the golf club shaft. Too upright will result in contact with the ground in the heel area. This will cause the golf ball to go to the left for a right handed golfer and right for the left handed golfer. Too flat of an angle will result in the golf ball shooting in the opposite direction.
• Offset - The bend in the hosel that postions the golf club head slightly behind, or ahead of the front line of the golf club shaft
• Sole Design - Often golf equipment manufacturers claim that an increased sole camber or a rounded sole reduces turf drag. This will result in improvement in tough lies. The shorter the irons, the more bounce, normally. The camber sole is to prevent excessive contact with the ground and thus increasing the playability of the gofl club. It may be two ways camber or a four ways camber.
• Bounce angle - This angle which is created when the golf club is placed in its playing position by the leading edge and the base line. Most iron sets have a very slight bounce angle to prevent damaging divots and allowing for an easier swing through. To prevent burying into the sand bunker bounce angle is most significat in the Sand Wedge.

Production Method
Golf equipment manufactures produce two foremost and visible market segments for Irons: Cast Irons or Forged Irons

Cast Irons - Golf Equipment Production

The casting process most prevalent is the "lost wax method" which involves the creation of male molds first made of wax to create the female molds which later are filled with molten metal, typically stainless steel. Cavity back construction, also known as perimeter weighted irons Proprietary weighting system allows its engineers to create a lower center of gravity with most of the weight on the outside of the head A larger sweet spot because it puts more weight on the edges of the club face Beginners who tend to miss hit the golf ball more often would benefit from cavity back/perimeter weighted irons because they are more forgiving Tungsten-Titanium Irons weighting system makes its CG very low.

Forged Irons - Golf Equipment Production

Forged irons are forged from a solid piece of soft carbon steel and then finished by hand. No special weight distribution on the back of the golf club head The center of gravity is in the center of the golf club head Small sweet spots, offers lower handicapper more control More advanced golfers who tend to strike the golf ball consistently in the center of the golf club would benefit from forged irons.

Perimeter Weight Forged Irons - Golf Club Production

• One of the most notable recent trends in the irons market is perimeter weight forged irons, which are manufactured by the double or triple forging method.
• As opposed to the traditional chromium plating finish, perimeter weight forged irons are often nickel plated for a softer feel.
• Many golfers confused the forged Iron with the term "blade", but many current forged irons feature cavities and somewhat bigger club-heads.
• This provides greater opportunities for varying skill levels to experience the “softer feel” of a forged iron, and still maintaining the additional “forgiveness” of the cast iron.

Irons Golf Club Head Materials

Titanium

• The use of titanium has not been proven to be valuable in the design of irons as it has with drivers and some fairway woods.
• The Iron club-head can be much heavier therefore titanium demonstrated to be rather senseless, unless used in mixture with heavier, denser metals.

Steel

• Most golf club iron manufacturers continue to use stainless steel as their primary choice for golf club production.
• A number of producers of both forging and casting irons utilize carbon steel because of its forming ability and greater feel distinctiveness.
• Due to its exceptional combination of strength and softness, nickel is used for castings, and plating.

Wedges - Golf Equipment Buying Guide
Ensuring you have the proper wedges in your golf bag can lead to immediate improvement in scoring by hitting it closer to the pin more often. There is not one recommended wedge makeup for all golfers. The most common fault is for a golfer to carry a pitching wedge and sand wedge and no gap wedge. This can be a problem if you have trouble hitting a 3/4 effort pitching wedge or are inconsistent powering a sand wedge the distance you need. So, if you currently carry a pitching wedge and sand wedge think about adding a gap / approach wedge (50-52°) to help you fill in the space between clubs so you can hit a full shot. The goal is to have 4-5° between your wedges to maximize distance control.

Loft of Wedges in a Golf Club Set
Choose wedge lofts that will help you hit it closer to the pin from your most common approach yardages. It is preferable to have a 4 to 5° difference in loft between each wedge. Following is a breakdown of wedge lofts.

• PITCHING WEDGE – 46 to 48°
• APPROACH WEDGE / GAP WEDGE – 51 to 53°
• SAND WEDGE – 54 to 58°
• LOB WEDGE – 58 to 60°

Golf Club Bounce
Bounce is the angle of the sole to the ground due to the extra metal on the back that when swung prevents the clubhead from digging into the turf or sand (too much) and allows it to glide through instead. A higher bounce angle performs best out of the fluffy sand or tall grass. Lower bounce will achieve well with tight lies and thin bunker beds. The bounce of a wedge plays a key role in determining how it performs in different conditions, especially with your sand wedge. A high bounce wedge will benefit most, when playing on courses with lush conditions and fluffy sand. Therefore low bounce wedges are a better choice for tight fairways and harsh conditions. Use chart below to determine which environment you come across most often:

• High bounce (above 14°) for tall grass, deep rough, and fluffy sand
• Standard bounce (10°-14°) for normal to soft conditions or those who leave shallow divots.
• Low bounce (0-10°) for tight lies, fairway shots, and tight, compacted sand.

Finish
The raw finish (RTG) is the only finish with a performance advantage by affecting the golf ball spin. There are a variety of finishes including polished chrome, satin, and black/gunmetal. With time all finishes wear slightly, the raw finish will, rust. Choose the one that sets up best to your eye at address.

Fairway Woods - Golf Club Buying Guide
The golf club head designs and technology of fairway woods have been quick to follow that of drivers. Draw / fade biasing, movable weights, offset hosels, deliberate positioning of center of gravity to promote different launch and spin conditions, maximum COR (coefficient of restitution) and MOI (Moment of Inertia) are all available options in today’s fairway woods. You guessed it…having your golf swing analyzed on a launch monitor with one of the golf equipment specialist at Golfers’ Warehouse is the most efficient means to find the best fairway woods for your individual needs.

Be prepared for some surprises. It is quite possible that the launch monitor may reveal that you can hit a 4 wood or 5 wood farther (carry yardage) than a three wood! This is true for some tour players as well. More and more the 3 wood is being used as an alternative driver. Don’t be afraid to break away from the traditional 1-3-5 wood set make up. When you have identified the golf club head design and loft that optimizes distance and control when hit “off the deck” (not from a tee) then all you need to do is add 3˚ or 4˚ of loft for each subsequent fairway wood.

Side Bar for Fairway Woods
* Modern Specifications:

• Three Wood 13-15˚
• Four Wood 16-17˚
• Five Wood 18-20˚
• Seven Wood 21-23˚
• Nine Wood 24-27˚

* Lofts were higher when golf club heads were made from wood. I.E. Seven wood used to be 27˚

Hybrids - Golf Club Buying Guide

What are Hybrid Golf Clubs?
The Hybrid, part fairway wood part long iron was born from golfers who struggled with making consistent contact with fairway woods. This versatile golf club replaces hard-to-hit long irons and fills the gap between forgiving fairway woods and even easier-to-hit mid-to-short irons. Hybrids incorporate the forgiving hollow construction of a metal wood head, but the shorter overall golf club length of an iron to promote greater control. The wider, fairway wood-like sole forces the weight lower in the clubhead to deliver accuracy and trajectory that a traditional long iron just can’t deliver. Golfers with upright swing planes tend to have problems with the longer shaft and flatter lie angles of fairway woods as opposed to long irons (2,3,4 etc). Using a shorter shaft and more upright lie angle and taking advantage of the design advantages of a wood styled head (lower CG for higher trajectory and greater MOi for forgiveness) they were able to create a golf club that hit the golf ball higher and longer than a traditional long iron yet easier to make consistent contact with than a fairway wood. As evidenced by the myriad of hybrid offerings in the marketplace it has become a very successful product category. Hybrids now are also being used to replace long irons all the way up to the 6 iron. In fact some manufactures offer complete sets of hybrids.

Replacing Hard to Hit Golf Clubs
Yes, PGA Tour players are using hybrids. Hybrids give them the capability to hit the greens knowing shots will land softer than with conventional long irons. Hybrid construction moves the CG lower and farther back for higher flying & softer landings. If you can’t hit your long irons (Nos. 2, 3, 4 or 5) consistently and you struggle to get the golf ball in the air, it’s time for a hybrid. Golfers with driver swing speeds less than 85 mph simply can’t generate enough golf ball velocity at impact to get golf shots airborne with less forgiving long irons. When replacing a traditional iron with a hybrid you need to be careful in choosing the loft. A 21˚ #3 hybrid will most likely yield greater distance than your traditional 21˚ 3 iron in your set. If, for example, when you hit your current 3 iron well it goes 180 yards then you would want a hybrid that also goes 180 yards regardless of its loft, this will prevent you from creating too big of yardage gap between golf clubs. So figure out the longest iron you can hit well and consider changing out all the others with hybrids. Yes, the launch monitor can help you identify the correct hybrid loft to replicate the distance of the iron you are replacing. Don’t be afraid of having two golf clubs in your bag of approximately the same loft as long as they go different distances. Golfers get pleasure from an enhanced golf game after replacing their long irons with hybrid clubs.

Want to make the switch? Use this guide to determine which golf clubs a hybrid can replace:

Putters - Golf Equipment Buying Guide

A putter is a very personal club. Each golfer addresses and stroke differently, and each one has certain preferences and aesthetics. Spending nearly half of the strokes on the green, the putter is the golf club that has the most potential of reducing your score. The ability to consistently roll the golf ball straight with proper speed is the challenge of good putting.

Clubhead Design
There are three-types of putter head designs to consider:
Traditional / blade The basic, classically styled, flat-shaped putters are thinner in depth from face to cavity, small-headed and are typically heel-toe* weighted. Many golfers use traditional style putters because they grew up using them and they “look right.” Generally, they are metal. Some have different materials on the face of the putter for better feel., Some golf equipment manufacturers use different blends of metals for a softer feel or to reduce spin as the putter face contacts the ball. Blade putters are ideal for players who like soft feel and tend to putt with an inside-to-square-to-inside putting stroke, are made from forged mild steel or other soft metals such as beryllium copper.
Mallet-style putters have greater mass for increased stability, more depth from face to the back of the cavity; look more like a wood than a blade putter. Some mallet-style putters have softer inserts as mentioned above on the face of putters for better feel and offset shafts, all which offer more forgiveness, easier alignment and improved feel. Mallet-style putters are characterized by large, rounded head designs. The main performance feature associated with the mallet design is face-balancing which facilitates a straight-back, straight-through stroke.

*The heel-toe design could be mallets or blades, all of which can be characterized by a weight distribution that places the bulk of the putter's mass at the heel and the toe. The heel-toe putter is designed for a larger sweet area and to stabilize the putter-head through impact.
Alignment putters are intended to help golfers “see the line.” They have a series of lines or directional enhancement aids that make it easier to start the golf ball on the proper target line. Alignment putters help you keep your putter head aligned to the target at address. Alignment putters are the choice of many Pros who also need help sinking more putts.
Blade putters would be a good choice if your stroke arcs. Mallets and oversized grips are useful for a more straight-back/through stroke. Many golfers change putters depending on the course or the condition of the greens. When the greens are rough or rolling slowly, try a heavier putter. When the greens get faster and harder, use a lighter putter to ensure you lag the golf ball to the hole every time.
When buying a putter, there are a number of technical matters to consider. Just like drivers and irons, putters have undergone some major development in recent years. By changing the way the weight is distributed, and by incorporating composite face inserts, new putters are designed to provide "softer" contact with the golf ball while still providing a lively feel, and the lower center of gravity on most new putters reduces backspin and unwanted skip and skid for a truer roll.
The process of a milled face putter, if performed correctly, ensures a flatter contact area. This is Key in terms of consistency. If a putter isn’t labeled as face-balanced, it’s considered toe-down.

Golf Putter Production Method: Many different production methods are used in conjunction with the traditional casting and forging methods. Today's putters often include face inserts and/or perimeter designs. Computer milling or milled face is one of moderately new techniques which have become popular in recent years. This method involves a modern metal cutting machine that carves a block of metal with tremendous precision to provide a very consistent, flat putter face.

Golf Putter Technology: Performance improvement materials are inserted into the clubface to create a smoother roll and enhanced feel. They vary in color, firmness and material and are designed to improve the feel of the golf ball striking the putter and to get the golf ball rolling and reduce skidding off the club face. Try different inserts to find the one that feels right to you. These inserts are designed for better control of speed and direction. It's all a case of what feels right to the individual. Aluminum, mild steel, copper based alloys, tungsten, and titanium can provide what many golfers believe to be superior feel to cast stainless steel. There is also an increase in the use of compound materials. Compound materials are not only softer but also lighter than metals; the materials can be used to help increase perimeter or heel-toe weighting for additional forgiveness as well as different feel and feedback.

Golf Putter Length
There is no restriction in the length of putter. Putter length has a huge effect on your stroke. 35" is the most common length in the market, and most golf equipment manufacturers cover the range of 33" - 36" all with designs to keep your eyes over the ball. One size does not fit all. Find the length that feels most comfortable ultimately choosing a putter that fits your putting stroke rather than changing your stroke to fit the putter. Make sure the length you choose allows you to keep your shoulders relaxed, does not cause too much pressure on your back, and gets your eyes directly over the golf ball. A belly putter or long putter may be useful if you experience back-pain while putting or during long practices. They are also good if you struggle with standard length putters. The best way to determine the appropriate putter length is to assume your normal putting stance, with your eyes over the ball. The putter that fits in your hands without your having to make too many adjustments is the one that fits you the best.

Putter Weight: It's sometimes easier to get the ball moving with a heavier putter. Many players, especially beginners, are less likely to pull or twist a heavier putter during the stroke. It is all a matter of physics; the heavier something is, the harder it is to move it from its course. Again, it's a matter of preference.

Golf Putter Alignment: Most putters have lines on the top of the putter to help you line up your club face square to the hole on the putting green.

Face-Balanced Putter - When you hold a putter on your index finger at the balance point above the hosel, if the putter face points straight up in defiance of gravity, this indicates that the putter is face-balanced, meaning with a neutral putter face position. Face-balanced putters are considered effective for promoting a straight-back, and a straight-through putting stroke.

Loft - Putters have loft, normally from 3° to 5°. Generally, the slower the green, the more loft needed to produce a smooth roll. If, however, you play on very fast greens, it will take less loft to get the ball rolling smoothly.

Putter Grips – There are two primary putter grip styles. The paddle grip features a wide flat part for the placement of thumbs, which is preferred to a one-piece stroke. The pistol grip is evident by the projecting section of the grip which offers increased control.

Junior Golf Clubs - Golf Equipment Buying Guide
Starter golf club sets offer child-specific designs. Children just learning the game of golf have certain requirements.

• Children should not learn on an adult-sized set of golf clubs
• Children should not use a cut-off set of adult golf clubs because the shafts will be too stiff

Junior golf clubs are usually fit by age. If the child is taller than average it may be advisable to move to the next age bracket for a proper golf club fit. Having the child fit for the proper golf club set is always an option if uncertain of their size. The junior golf club set continues to be one of the best values in golf equipment. Choosing the correct set can be difficult with the number of selections that are offered today.

• Undersized grips: Junior golf club sets have narrower grips for the smaller hands of children.
• Length: Starter golf club sets are sized for children as young as preschoolers through teenagers.
• Weight: Golf clubs should be balanced to replicate adult sized clubs, yet light enough to make it easy enough for children to swing.
• Number of golf clubs: Typically children's starter sets have fewer golf clubs for a couple of reasons: to decrease the weight of the golf bag and to lessen decisions they have to make as they learn the game.
• Irons / Woods:
  • A 6-iron is normally the lowest iron.
  • The 3-or 5-wood is now replacing the driver in starter sets as they are easier to hit.
  • Putter: It is critical to have the proper sized putter. To determine proper club length for a child, measure him or her from just above the waist to the ground.

Golf Balls - Golf Equipment Buying Guide

It's amazing how something so small can cause so much grief or enormous joy! Today's golf balls may be very different from what you know about golf balls. Like other aspects of golf, technology drives the abundance in today’s golf balls. Combined with more and more original aerodynamic dimple designs, golf balls are being designed for specific types of golfers and playing distinctiveness like low trajectory, low spin, etc. There is an unlimited combination of core and cover options depending on the materials golf equipment manufacturers use. Many current golf balls are designed for a softer feel and distance with realistic resilience. It is believed that choosing the right golf ball is vital for golfers of all skill levels. It is the cheapest and fastest way to see important results. The “characteristics” of a golf ball are typically: distance, spin rate, trajectory pattern, durability, and feel at impact. Even the best golf player in the world will lose their ball on the course at some point, so it’s important to make sure you have back-ups. Most golfers like to keep anywhere from 3 to 9 extra golf balls in their bag, just in case.

The following covers all of these based on the golf ball types and construction.

Construction
A standard golf ball circumference is 1.68 inches. Below are the various factors that influences the performance traits and also determine a golf ball's trajectory toward a trap or toward the hole.

• Spin rates (control and distance)
• Initial velocity (distance)
• Compression (feel)

Dimples on the golf ball's cover determine its aerodynamics by helping the golf ball travel further and higher. The dimples create two layers of air going around the golf ball; the top layer is going faster than the bottom layer. This turbulent effect reduces the drag and allows your golf ball to travel further. Small, shallow dimples create a lower and longer flight conversely deep, larger dimples create a higher trajectory.

Compression is determined by the amount a golf ball will deflect upon impact by the golf club. Compression is what gives you a “feel” for the golf ball. Weather influences a golf ball's compression. Golf balls will harden when placed in a cold environment. Golf ball speed, spin and angle of launch can be affected, depending on the golf ball's core and cover. It is advisable to keep a few golf balls inside for several hours prior to playing in cold conditions.

Core Construction is made up of two basic combinations: three-piece balls offer fewer trajectories but can spin for better accuracy and provide a great feel and a two-piece solid core golf ball that are usually made of a high-energy rubber compound and provide less spin and a firmer feel.

Golf Ball Cover helps determine feel on soft hits and is essential for a golf ball's durability. There are three primary materials that dominate the market: Urethane, Elastomer or Surlyn. The cover materials together with the core construction alter the spin rate and feel of the golf ball.

• Urethane Covers are generally softer with greater feel and control. Generally on multi-layer golf balls and total performance golf balls.
• Elastomer Cover is a thin coating designed for low-handicap players desiring more spin without sacrificing significant durability.
• Surlyn is a thermoplastic resin which is the most common golf ball cover material due to it's amazing durablity. This cover is cut-resistant, cost effective and travels further with less spin. Feel is sacrificed for such a hard-wearing cover.

Golf Ball Types

Distance Golf Balls - Distance golf balls are often two-piece construction with cores designed to respond swiftly off the golf club face for utmost momentum that results in distance.

Spin Control Golf Balls -Created to reduce spin and help control the inclination to hook or slice.

Total Performance - Often multilayer, multi-construction golf balls are the total performance golf ball and is designed to stabilize spin, distance and control. Because not all Total Performance golf balls are the same, carefully review the characteristics of each brand to find the golf ball that is best suited to match your goals. If you prefer the soft feel on approach shots and around the green, but distance is your goal off the tee, a total performance golf ball is the right choice.

Two-Piece Golf Balls feature dual construction made up of a large solid inner core. This facilitates utmost power transfer to the golf ball at impact resulting in a low spin and high velocity. The thin, durable outer cover is harder than the average golf ball. This offers increased scratch resistance. This combination offers reasonably priced golf ball that makes golfing more enjoyable for the high-handicapper. Two piece golf balls with solid centers, which increase the spin rate at a higher ball velocity, are generally made of rubber or thermoplastic elastomer compound (urethane based material is very popular for today's high performance golf balls for better players).

• Distance Two-Piece golf balls on average launch higher. The solid inner core causes exceptional distance. These golf balls spin less to reduce the hook or slice that many beginners experience.
• Low Compression Two-Piece golf balls improve distance resulting from core materials that are easier to compress. This type is great for mid handicap players with moderate swing speeds looking more feel and control than a Distance Two-piece ball.
• The Performance Two-Piece golf ball has a larger core and thinner cover. Designed for providing greater distance by facilitating compression of the core at impact. These golf balls are similar to the Low Compression Two-Piece golf balls but offer greater feel, spin, and control for shorter shots.

Multi-Layer Golf Balls are three or four layers wherein the core wrapped in one to two inner layers under an outer cover. These golf balls are designed for the performance characteristic of each layer. The hard center core provides longer distance on the drive while the soft cover improves feel on the green. The second layer and sometime third layers provide explicit trajectory and spin traits for short and mid-iron shots. These golf balls are designed for the low handicap players with higher swing speeds and control.

• Fluid-filled inner core for driver distance, add a protective membrane, and an inner cover you've got a multi-purpose golf ball that's perfect for full iron shots.
• Solid center muti-layer consists of materials such as improved plastics, silicone, rubber and composite materials which offer durability and accuracy. They outperform fluid center golf balls in distance while the feel and control is not sacrificed. These golf balls are a good match for golfers with moderate to high swing speeds with distance and feel.
• Multilayer or multiple covers are advanced materials in conjunction with aerodynamic dimple patterns and are often used for the optimal launch conditions such as golf ball velocity, launch angle and spin rate for distance, as well as the better feel, true roll and control. High end solid-center multilayer golf balls are usually made of a larger core. It can be solid one piece or multi-layer as well as another layer for spin control and a thin urethane elastomer cover.

It is important to be realistic about your skill level and purpose. Utilizing the information provided choose a few different golf balls to test on the golf course. Choosing the appropriate golf ball for your golf swing can make a spectacular difference in your scores, as well as your overall pleasure of the game of golf.