Can a golf ball lower my score?

Welcome to GOLF's “Firsthand with a Fitter” series, where with the help of True Spec Golf we delve into the most common questions golfers have about club fit, the problems they face on the course, and how a fitting accessory can help fix it. those problems and make the game easier.

In this edition of Firsthand with a Fitter, we dive into the most discussed part of fitting: the golf ball. From two-piece range options designed to help guide the ball's flight to multi-layered balls designed to fine-tune tee and green performance, there's a ball to suit every golfer. Let's dive in.

Before we begin, let's first discuss one of the biggest concerns that consumers face when it comes to golf balls – price.

Compared to less expensive Surlyn or Ionomer-coated balls – aimed at combining price and performance – urethane offerings are often at the higher end of the price range due to the complexity of their construction and the precision tools required to produce them.

This doesn't mean you can't get value and performance at any stage, but it's important to understand that Surlyn golf balls can't offer the same kind of control in the shorter games as their urethane counterparts.

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Where distance and value are key

Let's start with two-piece golf balls because although they may look similar on the outside there are many performance variables to consider, including colors and cover graphics.

Srixon Q-Star Splits Golf Balls

$34.99

A NEW WAY TO SEE THE GAME 50/50 MATTE VISUAL PERFORMANCE Meet the all-new Q-STAR TOUR DIVIDE, a golf ball that stands out on the course with its unique 50/50 matte urethane cover. The DIVIDE boasts all the drive-enhancing, chip-stopping performance of the classic Q-STAR TOUR but comes in three exciting colors. SEE YOUR LINE The longer your line of sight, the easier it will be to line up your putts. And with a one-of-a-kind DIVIDE seam line that runs across the entire golf ball, you get 360˚ of alignment so you can place the perfect goal. SEE YOUR SPIN When it comes to pitches and chips around the green, DIVIDE's unique two-tone cover produces a strobe effect as it spins, revealing the speed and direction of each spin of your shot. It's a powerful tool for tracking and improving your consistency, and you can only see it with Q-STAR TOUR DIVIDE. BEYOND GOOD LOOKS The new IQ-STAR TOUR DIVIDE is a performer, through and through. Unlike painted golf balls, DIVIDE's thermoplastic urethane cover is all coated in a bright color, so the color won't scratch or tear. Plus, that premium urethane adds more control spin around the greens. A strong middle player increases the speed off the tee. And the FastLayer core—soft in the middle but gradually firming at its edges—provides the range and soft feel you'd expect from a fully padded tour ball.

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If you're a golfer who tends to lose a few golf balls around, choosing one that fits your budget is a good place to start but there are still things to consider. If more distance and reduced spread is what you're looking for, then a ball that helps a lower driver and a longer game rotation will reduce the amount of golf ball that can go offline – and longer and straighter is always better.

“While from a playability perspective, urethane golf balls offer the best of both worlds for distance and short game spin, a two-piece ball that focuses on distance can quickly help reduce spin due to its low spin performance on all clubs including the driver. .” Kris McCormack, VP of Tourism and Education at True Spec Golf.

As for visual performance, golf balls like Srixon Q-Star, TaylorMade Distance +, and Callaway's ERC Soft offer visual aids to help with placement and alignment off the tee.

Premium performance variable

Now it's time to dive into the nitty-gritty.

From low-pressure, low-spin options to balls that feel solid and spin a ton around the green, the premium urethane golf ball category allows any golfer to find one that matches their preferred look, feel, trajectory, and spin. That's why working with a fitter using a launch monitor to analyze data is such an important step when talking about getting the right fit.

Due to the multilayer construction of the urethane golf ball, it is possible to have a golf ball that feels solid but still provides a lot of spin. This works because the mantle and core are the main factors in the acoustics and when the soft urethane is pressed between the inner layers of the ball and the face of the wedge it will hold the texture of the face and create rotation.

Callaway 2024 Chrome Tour X golf balls

$54.99

Chrome Tour X is the new gold standard in Tour Balls. From start to finish, every detail on the new Chrome Tour X has been optimized for the best players who want speed and maximum control. HYPER FAST SOFT CORE The new Hyper Fast Soft Core is designed to produce high ball speed over long distances. SEAMLESS TOUR AERO New Seamless Tour Aero delivers consistent ball flight on every shot. URETHANE SOFT COVER TOUR URETHANE SOFT TOUR New High Performance Urethane Soft Cover always delivers superior greenside control.

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This spin can translate to the bag to help provide different trajectories based on the golf ball model, which can help generate more stopping power and reduce dispersion on approach shots.

Speed ​​and aerodynamics

Aside from the driver, aerodynamics is an important factor in trajectory due to the speed the golf ball travels, and finding the right trajectory to fit your game and your terrain can make a big difference.

We certainly do not recommend changing golf balls for one round of golf but if you are a golfer who often plays at a certain height or in certain situations using a ball like those can help with control and consistency of the ball flight. For example, if you play a lot of desert golf without a lot of wind, a high-flying golf ball can help produce more carry.

On the other end of the spectrum, if you play in windy conditions, a golf ball that creates a higher bottom length and a more balanced parabolic trajectory can increase control and help reduce the need to swing or adjust equipment to control the trajectory.

Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash Golf Balls

$54.99

The Pro V1x Left Dash golf balls are designed for players who want the same high flight as the Pro V1x with full low spin and a solid feel. PLAYER BENEFITS The Pro V1x Left Dash was originally designed for the PGA Tour as a Titleist Custom Performance option in 2018. This model brings a different combination of performance features than the Pro V1 and Pro V1x and allows players to adjust their Flight, Feel and Spin. Given the positive player feedback, we are now making the Pro V1x Left Dash available to golfers by special order. Unusual range of consistent flight Fuller swing than Pro V1x Slightly lower flight than Pro V1x Firmer feel than Pro V1x Drop-and-Stop short game control

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So the next time you work with a club fitter to dial in your launch conditions, be sure to have a conversation about golf ball performance to get the most out of your game!

Check out our latest Fully Equipped podcast for more on the latest gear news and information.

Golf.com Editor

Ryan Barath is GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com's senior editor of equipment. He has an extensive fitness and club building background with over 20 years of experience working with golfers of all skill levels, including PGA Tour players. Prior to joining the staff, he was the lead content strategist for Tour Experience Golf, Toronto, Canada.