Differences Between Two-Piece and One-Piece Golf Balls

A one-piece golf ball is very different from a two-piece golf ball. The differences pertain to the design of each type, as well as the feel and distance received from each type of design. A beginning golfer requires a different ball than an experienced or professional golfer to compensate for accuracy problems.

  1. Design

    • A one-piece golf ball is made from a solid piece of plastic, or Surilyn, with molded dimples. The two-piece golf ball has a hard core surrounded by a dimpled cover. The one-piece golf ball is a good design for beginners because it is cheaper to make and beginning golfers have a tendency to lose a lot of golf balls. A two-piece golf ball is more expensive, but provides the ordinary golfer with better workability.

    Distance

    • One-piece golf balls provide a golfer with less distance than a two-piece ball. Once a one-piece ball hits the ground, less roll is attained because of the compression of the design. A two-piece ball provides maximum distance with more roll because of the high-energy acrylate or resin placed in the hard core of the ball. Most one-piece balls are found on driving ranges because of distance limitations.

    Control

    • Two-piece golf balls have less control than a one-piece golf ball. The more distance a golf ball achieves, the less control a golfer has over the flight of the ball. Since one-piece balls achieve less distance, it is easier to control the trajectory and direction of the golf ball. Beginners do not strike the ball accurately, so the extra control gained with the one-piece golf ball compensates for the mis-hits. The more experienced golfer can play with a golf ball that has less control because he or she makes better contact with the golf ball than a beginner.

    Feel

    • The feel of a golf ball is the amount of pressure felt when the golf ball is struck by a club. One-piece golf balls feel softer when struck. The two-piece golf ball feels harder when struck by the golf club. Beginning golfers require this softer feel because it allows them to swing the club more smoothly. The experienced golfer wants a firmer feel from the ball in order to discover their mis-hits. A firm ball, like the two-piece golf ball, allows the experienced golfer to feel where the golf ball strikes the club face. Beginners only require consistent striking of the golf ball; they don't need to feel where the golf ball hits the club face.