As one of the most popular sports in the world, golfers have a plethora of golf clubs, gear and accessories to choose from as their tools of choice when stepping onto the tee. Of course, this included their trusty golf balls.
However, given that there are so many different types and brands available at different price points, some golfers struggle to choose the right ball for them and immediately opt for the most popular or expensive options – also known as “premium” golf balls.
But is there really a difference between premium golf balls and balls of lower price points? And what advantages, if any, do more expensive golf balls hold over their less expensive counterparts?
What can be categorised as a “premium” golf ball?
Generally speaking, a premium golf ball can be classed as such if it meets the following factors:
- Is one of the more expensive golf balls on the market
- Is used consistently by tour professionals
- Is made by one of the leading golf manufacturers
However, from a technical standpoint, most balls that are classed as premium tend to feature between 3 and 5 layers internally, whereas non-premium golf balls only have between 2 and 3 (more on these layers in a moment).
The Titleist Pro V1, for example, is one of the most popular premium golf balls used by professionals on tour and is widely recognised as one of the most reliable golf balls for achieving great distance and spin control, while meeting all of the above characteristics.
What are the key differences between premium golf balls and cheaper golf balls?
If you want to dig a little deeper, there are several specific traits you can look out for to help you differentiate between premium golf balls and regular ones the next time you’re looking to grab a box:
Cost
The clue is in the name – premium golf balls come in at a far more premium price point than standard golf balls.
If you’re willing to pay top dollar for a top-quality ball, you can expect to pay up to four times the amount you would pay for a lesser-quality ball, on a per-ball basis.
This is, in part, due to the premium appearance the golf ball manufacturers want to give their products; the more expensive something is, the better it must be, right?
Having said that, premium golf balls as a whole do cost more to produce because they’re made with higher quality materials and, in fact, more materials because of their extra layers compared to the competition.
Spin
We spoke about the difference in layers between cheaper golf balls and more expensive ones earlier. But those layers accomplish far more than making the ball more expensive…
The more rubber layers a golf ball has, the easier it is to control and command spin in the ball – a skill that the professionals rely on constantly to land their shots with the accuracy they need for the lowest possible score. So no wonder tour professionals and golf superstars choose to spend their money on the most expensive golf balls money can buy.
Because it’s more than a status statement – when a player is able to utilise these golf balls correctly, premium golf balls can be the difference between winning the biggest matches of their lives or dropping needless strokes that could lead to disaster.
Compression
When a club strikes a golf ball, that ball will compress slightly before taking off due to the impact – you’ve probably seen the videos of golf balls being struck with super slow-motion cameras, right?
Well, this compression can also be an indicator of quality. Cheaper golf balls have a tendency to compress very well on impact and are on the softer side. This is to help beginner players with slower swing speeds achieve more distance in their shots, as power is transferred between the club and the ball very effectively. However, that does make these balls much less durable and slightly less accurate than more premium ones.
Premium golf balls, on the other hand, are almost always firmer and feature compression ratings which give players a far more accurate indication as to the level of compression the ball will experience when struck, which in turn gives them an indication of how the ball will respond when hit with a certain level of force.
Length
Distance-wise, it’s not necessarily the case that a more expensive ball will carry further than a cheaper one. Whether you’re using your irons, fairway woods or your driver, you won’t see a vast difference in distance between hitting a cheap ball and a premium ball.
However, premium golf balls tend to respond slightly better off the tee than cheaper alternatives. So if you’re seeking the longest drives possible it could be wise to pick up a more expensive option. Premium golf balls are also better for controlling distance, thanks to their usefulness in applying spin, as we discussed earlier. So if your intention is to hit the ball with force and have it sit down upon landing, a premium ball is the ball for you if you’re able to pull this technique off.
Which golf balls are right for you?
If you’re a newbie golfer, starting with the cheapest, run-of-the-mill golf balls will do you no harm as you get to grips with the game and get used to how striking the ball feels. Then, as you get better, you can begin to work your way to more premium-level, more expensive golf balls.
Remember: You’ll lose a lot of golf balls when you’re just starting out, so opting for cheaper balls could save you a lot of financial strife. But the more you practice and the better you get, the closer you’ll get to picking up a box of premium golf balls and utilising them to their full advantage.
If you’re unsure exactly which golf balls will serve you well given your experience level, get in touch with a reputable golf gear provider who’ll help guide you through the ins and outs of golf balls and help you make a decision.