The golf ball that we play with may look like a hard plastic ball but the materials of a golf ball consist of many different components. All of these components combine to make the golf ball travel better than the golfers hundreds of years ago would ever have imagined. Golf may have started out as a game for fun to pass the time, but is much more today. Still for fun, it has turned into a national sport loved and played by many. Professionals now are able to have golf balls designed and made specifically for them. There are also rules and regulations governing how they are made. While determining the materials of a golf ball, they must keep in mind:
• The weight of the golf ball must meet certain specifications.
• The size of the golf ball must meet certain specifications.
• They cannot exceed a maximum initial velocity.
• The golf ball must be like a spherically symmetrical ball.
• The lift, drag, and carry of the ball must be consistent.
The materials of a golf ball consist of the core, the intermediate layers and the cover. The core for many years has been solid rubber. The cores are also made of titanium components and similar hybrid materials.
Most golfers use two layered golf balls because of the strength and durability. These balls are made with a single solid core, usually hard plastic acrylate or resin. They are then covered with Surlyn, a hard plastic. Suryln is a man made substance designed for a harder ball to avoid nicks and scratches. Surlyn is used on the cover of the ball for this very reason. One disadvantage of these balls is the lack of good ‘spin’. These balls, however, are very inexpensive and have a long life span, which makes them popular.
Three layer golf balls (also known as wound balls) have either a solid rubber or a liquid center (core) which is covered by many yards of elastic windings. They are then covered with suryln or balata. Wound balls (with balata) give you more spin and therefore more control. Balata golf balls, though more expensive, do not have the long life span that surlyn balls do. The materials of a golf ball contribute to the durability, the cost and the efficiency of the ball.
There are also golf balls with only one layer, usually called one-piece balls. These balls are generally used on the driving range for practice. They are made of a solid piece of suryln with the dimples on the outside. They are a softer ball and not designed for long distances.
When purchasing golf balls, it is important to know the materials of a golf ball to help determine which balls to purchase depending on your intentions on the golf course.
