Anatomy of a Golf Ball

There are three main classes of golf balls:
Distance Balls - Usually made with hard, durable covers and solid cores, these balls are often made of two-piece construction with a core designed for maximum velocity off the club face. These balls tend to eliminate the side spin on your shot, reducing the chances of a big hook or slice. Due to the limited spin on the ball, these balls tend to roll further once they hit the ground.
Spin Balls - These balls are designed to produce spin when hit in the air. Usually made of three-piece construction, these balls have a central core (often liquid in the highest spinning balls), surrounded by rubber windings and covered by a soft, thin material called balata. Because of their softer feel they don’t travel as far as distance balls, but because of their spin they tend to hold the green. The added spin on the green allows a player more control if they know how to use it properly.
Total Performance Balls - This type of ball is designed to balance spin, distance and control. These balls are often multilayered, multi-construction balls and tend to be preferred by advanced players.

Golf Ball Construction
The construction of a ball is indeed quite a science. Golf balls with a harder core (called a high compression ratio) tend to travel further because they hold their shape upon impact and produce a greater transfer of energy between the club and the ball.
Two piece balls feature dual construction with a large, solid inner core that is surrounded by a strong outer cover, allowing for maximum energy transfer to the ball upon contact. Multi-layer balls have large synthetic cores wrapped in multiple covers (usually several mantle layers and then an outer cover). In multi-layer balls, technology allows manufacturers to combine various materials, degrees of hardness and specific gravity to enhance overall performance.

The Effect of Dimples - Dimples on a golf ball allow the air to travel over the surface of the ball, providing less drag. Golf ball dimples play a key role in determining the distance travelled by the ball and help provide increased stability in the trajectory of the shot. While most of us may not realize it, golf ball dimples are strategically placed in both alignment and depth, with an ideal pattern including one shallow and then one deep depression.

Hitting the Distance

The distance a golf ball will travel is affected by a number of factors, including:

• The initial speed of the ball
• The angle the ball is hit into the air
• The spin on the golf ball

These factors are impacted by a number of external factors, including:

• The level of contact between the club and the ball
• The speed of the golf head upon impact
• The swing path
• The weather/wind conditions

Customized Golf Balls & Golf Accessories
From Caledon Country Club

Never have trouble finding your own golf ball again. Caledon CC can customize your personal golf balls starting at just $5.95/sleeve. Or for your next company event, tournament or promotional campaign, consider customized balls, golf shirts or hats in your choice of colour and style. We offer highly competitive pricing, and will take care of all the work for you. Talk to our Pro Shop staff for all the details.

Proshop & Tee-Offs: 905-838-0200 ext 1