New Golf Balls

At face value golf is a pretty simple game .  You use a club to hit a ball into the hole 18 times in fewer shots than the competition.  As in all sports there are gains to be made in performance through improving the equipment.

Golf clubs are a common target for technical enhancement. Optimising the balance between club weight and swing speed will effect the force transfer to the ball.

Different sized club heads may work better for different swing styles. But when it comes down to the ball surely a ball is just a ball?

You can look at this in a couple of ways. For balls that are good but pricey you would be happy using them as logo golf balls for a corporate golf event as personalised golf gifts.

Nothing will kill your reputation quicker than giving a cheap ball in that circumstance. Some cheaper balls can perform very well however.

It is not unusual to find a golf pro that uses a mid priced ball for top level competition. Something in that ball matches the pro's style.

What are the features than can be exploited to improve a ball's performance.

So the simple golf ball has become a highly competitive multi-million dollar industry. If millions of dollars can rest on just a small handful of shots no wonder each aspect of the game is optimised.

Many years ago it was observed that scratched and dented balls performed better than clean new balls.  It is air turbulence caused by the dents and dimples that gives the improved performance.

It is the turbulence around the ball that forms pockets that reduces drag on the ball.  Through this effect the ball can go further and straighter.  This is of course good news if you use golf balls as personalised golf gifts.

A battered and old ball with your corporate logo may perform better but it doesn't really look the part.

So why are all balls not identical and made by one manufacturer ?.  This is far from the case.  There is a wide range of golf ball makers out there .

And each manufacturer offers better performance and features than the other. The science of this simple ball is crazy.

A quick browse of the major vendors whom all supply balls to  professionals, amateurs and also personalised golf balls to corporate golf event organisers, Callaway, Pinnacle, Srixon, Wilson, Titleist offer many areas of focus on performance improvement.

A lot of talk on ball softness.  A slightly un-scientific concept.  Greater distance and velocity are prime features of most balls on the market.  A responsive short game for accuracy and controllable ball spin.  Improved accuracy off the tee and thin outer ball cover that grabs the green for precision.

Multi-layer balls ensures channeling of the power from the club to the ball with minimal dissipation.

Going back to our dimples. Dimples are not any old dimples, the shape and arrangements are tested aerodynamically.  Icosahedral arrangements plus even patterns within patterns.

Are we being blinded by technology, this is just a golf ball after all.  Is it only going to be the pro that is looking for the small improvements that benefits?  Unless you have a scientifically accurate technique yourself will the randomness of your ability result in no performance increase.

Is it the case that the more expensive the ball the better you play.

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