How to Evaluate Golf Balls

Selecting the proper golf ball for your swing and handicap is just one way to improve your golf game. Reading the marketing copy on golf ball boxes and the equipment reviews in golf magazines won't tell you which ball is best for your unique form. Golf is a game of confidence, and knowing you are playing the ball best suited to your individual game gives you a mental edge against your competitors. The most effective way to evaluate golf balls is to test them yourself on the golf course.

Things You'll Need

  • Golf balls
  • Golf clubs, glove and shoes
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Instructions

    • 1
      Buy three balls of the same brand and category.

      Buy one sleeve (three balls) of each of the different golf balls you want to evaluate. Buy the same category of ball for each brand: If you buy Brand A's distance ball, buy Brand B's distance ball. If you buy Brand A's spin ball, buy Brand B's spin ball. By evaluating golf balls in just one category, you compare "apples to apples."

    • 2
      Hit a bucket of range balls to warm up before you play.

      Make a tee time at the course you play most often. Follow your usual stretch and warmup routine.

      Play nine holes of golf with each of the evaluation golf balls. If you lose a ball or hit into a water hazard, replace it with another from the same sleeve.

    • 3
      Play nine holes with each evaluation ball.

      Rate the balls as you play, using a three-point scale, with three as the highest score. When you hit your driver off the tee or hit a fairway wood on the par 5 holes, rate the ball for distance based on whether your tee shot was shorter than it usually is, longer, or about the same. On your approach shots, rate the ball for control, accuracy and feel. Rate for control based on how the ball responds when you try to draw or fade a shot. Rate for accuracy based on how many greens you hit in regulation, and how close your approach shots come to the hole. Rate for feel based on how much you can spin your chip shots. As you rate, base your ratings on the way you usually play on this golf course. Rate putts separately, based on accuracy and feel.

    • 4
      Look for cuts, scuffs and scratches on the ball.

      Examine each of the evaluation golf balls closely after your round. Rate each ball for durability based on the visible wear on each ball after nine holes of play. Stand on the cart path and drop each ball from shoulder height and measure the amount of bounce that remains in each ball.

    • 5
      Rate the appearance of the ball.

      Rate the appearance of the ball. Did the ball have a logo that made it easy to line up your putts? Which ball made you feel more confident as you looked down at it? Which ball was more pleasurable to look at overall?

    • 6
      Tally the golf ball ratings.

      Add the distance, control, accuracy, putting, durability and appearance. A perfect score is 18. Evaluate the golf balls based on how close each one comes to a perfect 18.