Choosing the right golf ball for you
It can be really overwhelming to choose a golf ball. There are so many different types of golf balls on the market.
There are a lot of golf balls specifically marketed to women. Are they really “female” golf balls? Here’s a few tips when choosing the right golf ball for you.
Color and Look
Golf balls come in many different colors. The right color for you will depend on what you can easily spot against the green of the golf course. Being able to see your ball easily is important because after you hit, you want to be able to find your ball quickly to keep up your pace of play.
White and yellow are the most popular colors for visibility.
I have played pink golf balls in the past. I love the look of a hot pink golf ball. Although in the fall they are nearly impossible to spot when leaves are on the ground.
For me personally, the neon green and purple balls are incredibly hard to see.
There are also patterned golf balls - ones that look like a soccer ball, for example.
You may need to try a few different colors to understand what your eyes can spot the quickest on the golf course. Don’t be afraid to experiment but when you find a color that works for you: stick with that color.
Glossy or matte?
The matte finish golf balls feel so smooth and look really neat. One advantage of a playing a matte ball is that the finish on the ball can make it easier to see on the golf course. You’ll need to try it to see if that’s true for you - everyone is different.
On the other hand, the glossy golf ball feels a bit sticky to the touch especially when they are new. An advantage of having that sticky finish is having more control of the ball on the greens.
Ladies only golf balls?
It’s a myth that women should only play golf balls labeled as and marketed to them. In general, the average swing speed of a woman is 20% slower than the average man’s.
The “women’s” marketed golf balls have a lower compression cores - a lower compression means the ball compresses using lower pressure - aka slower swing speed - and theoretically you can then achieve better ball speed with the slower swing speed.
The golf balls marketed to women would also work for seniors and juniors who have slower swing speeds.
What NOT to do
Don’t play with driving range balls or balls labeled “PRACTICE” because they are the property of the golf course or driving range. :-)
I don’t recommend buying the multi-color packs of golf balls - the Top Flite Empower ball for example. You are going to reach for a different color every time you open a sleeve of 3 - and this can be confusing if you have to switch colors during a round of golf.
Don’t use just any random golf balls you’ve collected over time. This could be an OK strategy in the very beginning when you are playing Par 3’s for practice, but once you are playing consistently you want to stick with one specific type of golf ball and play that for at least the entire round.
In conclusion
There’s a ton of golf ball technology out there, and I’m not getting into much of it for the purposes of this post. If you’re just starting out, choose a few sleeves of balls that you like and try them out on the golf course. If you don’t notice a difference with the higher priced or technology-heavy golf ball, then maybe you buy the cheaper packs of golf balls for now.
Choose one type of golf ball for the season and stick with that one. As you look to build consistency in your golf swing, playing the same ball consistently will help you do that! You will come to know what that type of golf ball is going to do when you hit it. That’s important!
Most golf ball manufacturers do not charge any extra to personalize your golf ball - so you can buy a few boxes at a time online, personalize them with your initials, have them shipped for free to your door and then you are set for the season. This will differentiate your ball from other players. You won’t have to worry about marking your ball with a sharpie before a round.
What golf ball do you currently play? Drop a comment down below!
