Types of Golf Ball Construction

The modern golf ball has evolved over the years. It started as a cut baseball stuffed with feathers, becoming one of the most sophisticated balls in modern sports. Golf balls come in different varieties based on their construction, distance, and spin.

Essentially there are five different types of golf balls based on their construction. They include one-piece golf balls, two-piece golf balls, three-piece golf balls, four-piece golf balls, and five-piece golf balls.

Although they are rarely used in modern golf games, the one-piece golf ball is the most basic type of construction. This ball consists of just one material making it more durable and spinning less when struck.

On the other hand, two-piece balls appear more frequently in modern games. As the name implies, two-piece balls are made up of two different materials. To make a two-piece, a stout rubber center is dipped in a shell made of soft urethane or surlyn. Because it generates less spin than the one-piece balls, two-piece balls are usually considered the best for beginners and intermediate golfers. Two-piece balls are more durable and cover a farther distance when swung.

Two-piece balls are relatively harder compared to more advanced golf balls. Therefore, most professional golf players prefer balls with more layers. Similarly, players who intend to enhance short games tend to opt for balls with more layers. Because two-piece balls swing less, they pose difficulties around the greens. They also prevent golfers with slower swings from getting sufficient lift from the golf ball.

Further, three-piece balls are usually used by professional players. This is primarily because they achieve moderation in texture and distance compared to the one-piece and the two-piece balls. The third or extra layer is placed between the core and the ball’s cover. The extra layer of the three-pieced ball gives it a softer feel and allows it to spin better than two-piece balls. However, the urethane cover of three-piece golf balls slightly reduces its spin rate, leaving slower swingers with distance difficulties.

Four-pieced balls and three-piece balls are significantly similar. Consequently, it is often disputed in professional settings whether the extra layer of the four-piece ball results in any significant difference. Nonetheless, the extra layers of four-piece balls result in spin separation. Spin separation involves activating the extra layers of the four-piece ball when swung at a significantly fast speed.

The preceding implies that short irons have more spins with four-piece balls while driver shots have lesser spins. It takes professional golfers to notice this difference, as intermediate and professional can barely tell the difference. Professional golf players primarily use four-piece balls, so it is advised not to go for them if your swing speed is not high. Similarly, the extra layers of the four-piece balls mean that they are more expensive than three-piece balls.

Finally, a five-piece golf ball performs optimally regardless of the type of club used. The five-piece ball has the most layered and sophisticated construction. As the name implies, it comprises five layers: the core, the innermost mantle, the mid mantle, the outer mantle, and the cover. The extra soft urethane of the five-piece ball makes the ball spin and respond better to short shots. In 2009, the TaylorMade TP5 was the first commercially available five-piece golf ball.