Many golfers don\’t take enough care in choosing golf balls that are right for their particular game. So, the next time you buy golf balls, make sure you aren\’t just choosing the longest golf balls on the market or you could be losing accuracy.
So, how can you tell which are the best golf balls for your skill level and your physical ability? First and most important is to understand a few golf ball specifications and what they mean.
In this article I will not bore you with technical details about the the number of dimples on a golf ball, the materials that make up each layer of the ball, the diameter of a golf ball, or the weight. These details won\’t make any difference to you choosing the right golf ball, so I will stick to the most important specifications.
One Piece Golf Balls
One-piece balls have no separate core and covering -they are just made from one solid material. You will find these balls on some driving ranges and they can be used by the beginner who doesn\’t want to loose expensive balls all the time. Although they don\’t have much distance, they are hard-wearing and low-cost.
2-Piece Golf Balls
Two-piece golf balls have just a solid core and a tough outer covering which makes them very resilient. They are very popular with the casual golfer because of their maximum distance. They get the distance from the fact that they are a firm feel ball with a low spin rate – this causes them to roll along the fairway when they land. The downside is their lack of control because of the firmness of the ball.
The Three Piece Golf Ball
Consisting of a solid or liquid core surrounded by an outer core and enclosed in an outer cover, the three piece golf ball is preferred by more skillful golfers. Good players get the most out of these balls as they have more spin and a softer feel than the two piece balls. These characteristics make for a more controllable flight with more spin and control around the greens.
The Four Piece Golf Ball
The latest advancement in golf ball technology is the 4-piece golf ball which is a good combination of a distance ball with spin and feel. These balls are more suited to the mid to low handicapper all the way to the professional golfer. They are designed for maximum distance of the tee, give you good spin off your mid-irons, and good control and feel around and on the greens; their biggest disadvantage being their high price.
Low Spin Rated Golf Balls
Low spin golf balls spin less and therefore they don\’t carry as far but they will roll further on the fairway. The low spin doesn\’t just apply to back spin but also to side spin, which makes them less likely to hook or slice and so are suited to higher handicap players looking for straighter shots.
Mid Spin Balls
Most golfers are quite happy with the mid spin rated golf balls. They give you a good blend of distance and feel resulting in more consistency and a decent length off the tee. The softness factor can differ a lot from brand to brand so you have to try different ones to get the ball that feels comfortable for you.
High Spin Rated Golf Balls
As these balls spin the most they create more backspin which keeps the ball in the air the longest and so has the biggest carry. Although they won\’t run far on the fairway, you get the benefit of great control around and on the greens as they have more feel.
Firm Feel Golf Balls
Firm-feel balls will feel hard when you strike the ball with the club-face. The majority of distance golf balls are firm which is fine for distance but not good for feel around or on the greens. You will find that most high or mid handicap golfers will choose these balls because of the extra distance which they are willing to trade for the loss of control onto the green. Apart from the distance, these balls are the longest lasting and are difficult to scuff up or mark.
Mid-Feel Golf Balls
The mid feel golf ball are the preferred choice of the mid to low handicapper, as they combine the qualities of good distance, control, and feel.
Soft-Feel Golf Balls
Soft feel golf balls are preferred by low handicappers and professional golfers. The best players can use their skill to work these balls any way they like. They are great for the short game where spin and the soft feel make them ideal. They are generally not suited to the casual golfer because they are not so good for distance and the soft cover scuffs easily.
Golf Ball Compression
The feel factor relates directly to the compression rate. Most golf balls are rated by the amount that they compress; a compression of 0 deforms by 0.2 inches or more and a compression of 200 does not compress at all. Soft feel balls are low compression golf balls that have a compression rating of around 50 to 70; whereas hard feel golf balls are high compression that are rated at around 100 or 110. Manufacturers can use different systems to rate their balls so they can differ from brand to brand.
As a general rule of thumb, if you have a fast swing speed you should use compression 110; golfers with an average swing speed should use compression 100, and a slow swing speed golfer a compression of 80.
Finally with regards to compression, did you know that the weather can play a part in choosing the compression of your golf balls? Low compression balls are best for colder weather because the ball doesn\’t compress as much when it is cold; therefore high compression balls are better for hotter weather.
When the golf course is very wet you will need to choose a golf ball that has more carry and less spin to achieve maximum distance. On the other hand, when the course is baked hard by a prolonged dry spell, choose a golf ball that has a soft feel and higher spin rate for more control.
Find more info on choosing a golf ball that is right for you at the website of Mick Euan Tait where you will also find information on the best golf balls. Grab a totally unique version of this article from the Uber Article Directory
As the golf grip is so important, here are some free golf tips for beginners on the golf grip. If you are a more experienced golfer then these golf tips might help you to reassess your grip. If you have a certain swing fault such as a hook, use the description of the different grip types and positions to learn how to fix it.
The three basic grip types are the interlocking grip, the overlapping grip, and the ten finger grip (or baseball grip.) Each grip has three different grip angles; distance, neutral, and control. There are also three different grip strengths; a weak, strong, or neutral grip. The grip you should use will depend on your strength, hand size, finger length, and how you want to shape your shot – just find the grip that suits you and that is comfortable.
Grip Styles
The ten finger grip is not recommend for most golfers as the overlapping or interlocking grips are far more adaptable. This grip gives you good leverage and is a substitute grip that can be used by children or women. The disadvantage is that it produces less club head speed which means less distance.
If you have larger hands or longer fingers try the overlapping grip which is considered by many professionals as the best grip to unify your hands. This grip is not good for people with short fingers as they tend to place their right hand too far over or under the club when trying to get comfortable.
The interlocking grip is when the pinkie of the right hand interlocks with the index finger of the left hand. It is used by golfers with small hands or fingers; just be careful of gripping the club in the palm of your right hand as it should be a finger only grip.
The Three Grip Angles
For maximum wrist flexibility, use the distance grip which will create more distance and more sensitivity. To take advantage of this grip you will need more strength and skill to keep a square club head through impact. The position of the grip is across the base of the fingers of the left hand, starting from the base of the index finger to the pad at the base of the little finger.
Probably the best grip angle for most golfers is the neutral grip. This grip runs diagonally from the base of the index finger to the middle of your palm below the heel pad. You have the most flexibility for any type of shot making ability and it is a good balance between distance and accuracy.
The last grip angle you can use is the control grip which runs from the base of your index finger to the point on top of your heel pad. This grip gives you maximum control for more accuracy but results in less distance due to less flexibility in the wrists.
Grip Strengths
The strong grip is used to reduce slicing and is also good for distance but don\’t use this grip if you want to fade the ball. This grip variation requires you to move your hands around so that when you look down at your left hand, the \”V\” between your thumb and forefinger will point towards your right shoulder. Also, the point between the two tendons in the wrist above your thumb should be in line with the right side of the club shaft.
The neutral strength grip is what the majority of golfers use. You have more ability with this grip to fade the ball or draw the ball more easily but it requires a bit more strength to keep the clubhead square at impact. Now the \”V\” will be pointing towards your right ear and the point of your wrist will be in line with the center of your shaft.
The weak grip is when the point in your wrist is lined up with the left side of your shaft and the \”V\” points to your chin. This grip can be used to eliminate hooking the ball but you won\’t be able to hit a controlled draw. It also requires more strength to square the club at impact.
Summary
Which ever grip you use, remember that the palms of your hands face each other. The grip is held in the fingers of the right hand and the palm and fingers of the left hand. Also, when gripping the club, leave a half inch of the grip protruding beyond your left hand. Your hands should fit snugly together and feel unified and you should grip the club tightly and consistently throughout the entire golf swing. I hope these free golf tips for beginners for gripping the club will help you with your golf.
Author Mick Euan Tait is a golfer, golf fan, and golf writer. Head over to his website where you will find free golf tips to improve your game and golf tips for beginners, and sign up to get an exclusive free ebook on \”Creating A Perfect, Consistent Golf Swing.\”
Are you struggling to come up with good golf gift ideas? It is not that hard to come up with some great ideas for golfers as there are so many options. Just think about the golfer and what they would like to receive – you can tell a lot from their personality and tastes. To get you started, here are four of my favorite ideas for golfing gifts.
Useful Golf Gifts
Normally, the safest golf gifts that you can buy are practical ones. Things like golf balls are a good bet. If you can find out which type and brand of golf ball the golfer uses then you could buy a box of the same ones or perhaps buy them more expensive golf balls. Make sure you know the golf ball specifications the golfer likes – high spin, distance, soft feel, etc.
One more idea for practical golf gifts is to buy brand name replacement club head covers. If the golfer uses Cleveland golf clubs, for example, and the head covers are scuffed and worn or just missing or mismatched, then you could buy some Cleveland replacement head covers.
A Personalized Golf Gift
As an unique golf gift you can\’t beat personalized golf gifts. There are several options of personalized golf equipment or accessories. Probably the most popular are personalized golf balls, where you can have up to three lines of text imprinted on the golf balls of your choice.
Other items of personalized golf accessories are monogrammed golf shirts, golf caps, and golf towels. You can also get personalized golf bags with two lines of text from the likes of Nike and Callaway Golf.
Golf Memorabilia
For an exclusive and unusual golf gift there is nothing better than golf memorabilia. You will need to make certain that the item is authentic and certified golf memorabilia. Every autographed product should come with a certificate of authenticity (COA) and a guarantee. You will definitely find that unusual golf gift that any golfer would be thrilled to receive.
Corporate Golf Gifts
Most business owners that are also golfers have probably completed some business on the golf course. But have you thought about custom logo golf products; they are a fantastic way to promote your company. Custom logo golf balls are the best value and you can even order them with their own custom logo packaging.
These are my top 4 golf & gifts ideas – there are others which you can check out below. With these ideas, you should be able to find the ideal golf gift – whether it is for a loved one, a friend, or a business associate.
To help you selectthe best Golf Accessories Gifts, check out Mick\’s website where you will find even more ideas for buying Golf & Gifts. Visit the Uber Article Directory to get a totally unique version of this article for reprint.
categories: Golf Gifts,Golf Memorabilia,Golf Accessories,Personalized Golf Gifts,Corporate Golf Gifts,Golf
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