2008 Ball Buyer's Guide

In golf’s modern era, the small, round dimpled orbs that fill the pockets of your golf bags are truly the sum of their parts. From the materials that make up its cover to how it’s filled inside, a golf ball’s composition greatly affects its behavior on the course. Among other things, it determines how high or low it launches off your clubface and spins around the green and how much it compresses when hit. In short, the modern golf ball is a technological masterpiece, with a number of different varieties built specifically for players of varying skill levels. They’ve truly come a long way since a bunch of feathers were sewn inside a ratty piece of leather.

The question today is, how do you choose the right ball? To start, pay attention to the writing on the box. Two-piece golf balls tend to favor slower swingers who want maximum distance. Multi-layered golf balls are generally reserved for fast swingers who want some added control, especially from the fairway. Decide first what type of ball best suits you, then consider trying a few different brands to see which works best for you.

Understanding Our Charts
Key Features: The characteristics of the golf ball, including an overview of the cover, core and spin.
What We Like: We have our preferences, too, and share what we like in the particular ball.
Who It’s For: What type of golfer would most likely benefit from playing this ball.
Construction: The material used for head construction.
Cover: Indicates the material used for the strike area.
Dimple Design: Indicates the club’s general shape. Generally, wedges fall into two shape categories—blades or cavity-backs.
Distance: Whether or not custom options are available. This includes shafts, grips, etc. 
Spin: The stock shaft offerings from the manufacturer.
Feel: The relative softness of that model.