"Everything About Golf Balls"... 'From Peace to Fitting'

The golf ball is the only equipment used throughout all holes.

[Asia Economy Reporter Nowrae Noh] "Use anything."

Among golf equipment and gear, golf balls receive the most neglect. Some weekend golfers don't even buy balls separately but find lost balls on the course to play their rounds. Because they can lose more than 10 balls in a single round, the cost burden is considerable. For this reason, the proportion of amateur players who use only specific golf balls is around 10%.

However, with advancements in related technology, golf balls have become an important variable in performance. Some golf balls even have effects that increase driving distance. Let's explore everything about golf balls.

45.93g and 42.67mm

Only approved products can be used in official tournaments. Only golf balls recognized by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A) are allowed. Violating this results in disqualification. The USGA and R&A certify only products that pass regulatory standards in six categories: size and weight, initial velocity, distance, spherical symmetry, and golf ball construction, listing them on the Conforming List.

The most representative standards are weight and size. A golf ball must not weigh more than 45.93g and cannot be made smaller than 42.67mm in diameter. Resilience is also controlled. Various tests are conducted based on standards for initial velocity and total distance.

The Core and Dimples Are Key

Structure of a Golf Ball

A golf ball consists of a core, dimples, cover, and casing layer. Depending on the number of internal layers, it is classified as 2-piece, 3-piece, or 4-piece. The core is the engine of the golf ball. It converts the energy transferred from the club to the ball into distance and spin. Most cores use polybutadiene material, which is the main ingredient used in car tires. If the core is eccentric, consistency decreases.

The cover forms the outermost part of the golf ball. Durability is important because it directly contacts the golf club. The casing layer is located between the cover and the core, enhancing durability and responsiveness. The casing layer is generally applied to urethane cover golf balls with three or more pieces. Dimples act as the wings of the golf ball. Their pattern or coverage changes the ball’s flight, including trajectory. Dimples increase lift (the upward force) and reduce drag (the resisting force) on the golf ball. Titleist Pro V1 has 388 tetrahedral dimples, and Pro V1x has 348.

12 Steps Taking a Total of 72 Hours

Titleist Pro V1 Core

It takes a total of 72 hours to produce a single golf ball, going through roughly 12 steps. These include core manufacturing, casing layer molding, core finishing, molding and cavity preparation, urethane molding, auto buffing, vibration processing, prime spraying, pad printing, clear coating, full inspection, and packaging. From raw material testing required for golf ball manufacturing to product and process, physical properties, and final product inspection, a total of 235 manufacturing and quality control processes are conducted.

All golf balls have performance differences. To reduce variables in play, it is essential to play with one golf ball. Superior golf balls produce the same results from the same shot. Although golf balls may look similar externally, their structure, dimple design, and engineering produce different performances.

No Performance Difference Even After Years of Storage at Room Temperature

Titleist Pro V1x Dimple

Golf balls differ in properties depending on their type. Having more pieces does not necessarily mean a better golf ball. What matters is whether the structure suits the development purpose. Also, golf balls with the same number of pieces do not always perform the same.

The same applies to dimples. Consistency in their arrangement is as important as the number of dimples. Golf balls themselves do not have a specific lifespan. If stored properly at room temperature, they can be used for years without performance differences. However, lost balls suffer a 22.3% loss in spin and a 14.4% loss in distance.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.