Walk into any pro shop these days and you’ll find golf balls priced from anywhere between $15 to $60 per dozen. That’s quite a price discrepancy for what appears to be the same, round, white object. Manufacturers want you to believe the premium balls will make you a scratch golfer while budget balls will have you scrounging for a hundred. But is it really that simple?
Most golfers automatically assume that the more expensive the ball, the better it is. They’d be wrong. But it’s not also the same as the cheaper balls, either. Knowing what actually makes a difference, and what’s a total waste of money, can save you hundreds of dollars per year, or finally make you feel like you can justify the extra cost in the first place.
What You’re Actually Paying For
The construction is where the rubber hits the road. Budget balls are generally two-piece constructed (a solid rubber core with a cover layer made of a more durable material called Surlyn). That’s it. Premium golf balls are often three, four, or even five pieces. Each layer has its own purpose, from spin control on approaches to maximum distance on drives.
The kicker is that those extra layers make a difference for good players. A two-piece budget ball does not spin much at all – but that’s good for most mid- to high-handicappers because as much as we don’t like that slice, spin creates it. However, premium balls that boast softer covers and more pieces generate more spin greenside, but they also create sidespin.
The material of the cover tells you most of what you need to know. Surlyn-covered budget balls are durable and last longer. They feel harder off the clubface and generally do not spin as much. Premium balls boast urethane covers that feel softer off the clubface, grip more on approaches and chips, and maintain spin around the greens. Golfers on tour need that. Weekend warriors who are topsy-turvy? Maybe they don’t.
Performance Gaps That Actually Matter
Distance claims are thrown about by golf professionals all too often. Premium balls will get you further; budget balls feel different; premium balls will perform like tour-level. The reality is that distance gaps are much smaller than people think. When a driver is used, budget balls go 5 to 15 yards shorter than premium balls depending on swing speed.
That gap shrinks immensely once the clubs get smaller, as well. The longest gap comes from spin generation on scoring clubs. If a 60-degree wedge takes a full swing from 80 yards out with a budget ball, it might check once or twice; it could check five or six times with a premium ball. If someone is shooting low 70s to low 80s, that command matters – but if someone is shooting in the 90s, it may not make all the difference.
Durability is where budget balls win more often than not. Surlyn covers take a beating. You can hit the same ball for multiple rounds and it might not look worse for wear; premium urethane covers scuff easily and cut more easily in play. Hit it thin with your wedge and you’ll see a smiley face cut into your ball that changes everything about how it flies. It’s the price you pay for feel and command.
Compression and Feel
Compression ratings confuse most golfers. It’s how much a golfer compresses the ball at impact (typically between 70-110). Balls that fall under 70-90 are considered lower compression (softer) and easier to compress, this helps if someone has a slower swing speed as they can generate distance more effectively from lower compression lines. Balls that fall above this number require quicker swing speeds to properly compress.
Budget balls fall anywhere between 70-90 compression; premium balls are usually 90-100 or higher. If your driver swing speed is under 95 mph, which describes most golf enthusiasts, then low compression lines actually work better for them. But they feel better at all speeds off the putter or around the greens, and premium lines get money for that.
Sound factors in for many players as well; budget balls have a harsh “click” off the clubface; premium balls sound softer and less distinct off of drivers, irons, putters and wedges. Neither sound is objectively better but tour players overwhelmingly favor softer sound and feel. It’s part psychology but confidence counts in golf.
When to Choose What
If you generate over 105 mph with your driver and have consistently enough speed to compress a premium ball, it makes all difference in the world, distance control, more spin when necessary, better feel around the greens, players at this level can actually utilize those aspects.
If your swing speed is between 85-95 mph (which describes most golfers), however, things get tricky. Premium balls still make sense but not for as great advantage. Premium balls may improve feel on the greens and around but if someone’s slice hooks drive capitalizes on increased spin with a premium ball, their score will reflect their shortcomings, especially if they score in the high 90s.
Course conditions matter more than they should. A soft course where everything lands hard but soft? Premium balls reign supreme. A hard public course where everything runs out? Premium balls have less spin than budget options where they may actually perform better because they run out once they land.
The Numbers Behind Losing Balls
This is where some honest self-reflection comes in handy, if you constantly lose three or more balls in one round, buying premium balls does not make sense financially. You’re literally throwing money into bushes and water each round you play.
A golfer who loses six balls per round at $4-5 per ball has already spent $25-30 in lost balls alone, play 30 rounds per year and that’s $750-900 spent on just losing golf balls.
Budget balls valued at $1.25-2 make losing them far less appealing, a golfer who loses six at this price values them at $7.50-12 per round or $225-360 per year which is a big difference for any budget-minded golfer. The psychology makes sense as well, you’re less likely to take chances when you know you’re paying $5 for each strike out of bounds.
Better players keep their balls in play all day long so when they have to lose one every two or three rounds if they’re lucky, they recognize that premium costs are worth it because if they can afford to hold onto their golf balls, then improved scoring potential from extra spin control and feel justifies that expense when they’re not buying new ones constantly.
What Testing Shows
Independent testing shows numerous tests done between budget and premium golf balls break down similarities and differences. Distance differences with drivers are real but modest to most swing speeds, the larger the gap with those who can strike harder shots.
The short-game performance shows much larger gaps, the spin value on pivots and chips with pitching wedges is stronger with premium; durability rarely favors them as Surlyn covers maintain their integrity longer.
Feel accessibility is subjective but consistent premium scores make them significantly softer off putters and wedges compared to budget options; whether such better feel makes sense for better scores depends on who’s scoring. For some golfers, less feedback puts them into nicer putting/ruling zones; for others, the soft feel does not help their confidence levels.
But too often do golfers not put golf balls to test properly: playing one round with one ball and a separate round with another option does not create concrete evidence, confirmation bias kicks in as conditions vary depending upon skill and also how poorly any given golfer strikes can cause differences in scores.
Making Your Decision
Buying premium balls makes sense if you’re a low handicapper who rarely loses them if you value feel and spin control as well as if you can actually use those benefits, which also makes sense if you’re someone who just enjoys how they perform without having to worry about cost.
Budget balls are smart for mid-level improving players who consistently lose them or for golfers with slower swing speeds who cannot adequately compress premium lines properly, along with anybody who values durability and price reduction over minuscule performance increases.
There exists a middle ground; several manufacturers sell mid-priced golf balls (around $25-35 per dozen) that act like a happy medium: three-piece construction that boasts softer covers than budget items but far more durable than tour-level options work best for 10-20 handicappers looking for better feel without the premium price tag.
Your golf ball decision should be based upon your skill level in addition to your swing speed plus what fits into your budget realistically, do not fall victim to marketing hype as businesses want you to believe what golfers on tour use, they’re not paying for theirs nor using them at all levels of play, focus instead on what could more realistically help your score and enjoyment without bankrupting you in the process, sometimes it’s a premium ball; often it’s not.
