Golf Tips: Play the Right Ball

You may have heard the term "ball fitting" in some golf ball manufacturer's marketing campaigns.  The term ball fitting, and the need to match a ball to your game, isn't just a marketing ploy.  In fact, having the right ball can be a big stroke saver. The Process You don't necessarily have to go to a golf ball manufacturer's ball fitting session.  Most modern golf shops who have launch monitors can help you find the right ball.  Set up a session and try out a few of your favorite ball models and take a look at the specs.  You may find that switching to a better matched ball for your swing will help you not only increase distance, but accuracy as well. Primary Specs Ball fitting will measure a few key specifications.  Your club head speed will be a big determining factor in the type of ball which is best.  Slower club head speeds may need a softer core ball to gain full compression of the ball and the distance it will produce. The launch angle of the ball can vary depending on the type of ball as well.  There are optimal launch angles based on club head speed and ball speed.  The faster the ball speed, the lower the launch angle can be.  Most amateur's launch angles should be 12-15 degrees. Side spin is huge, and perhaps the most important spec for the average amateur.  If the ball has a high side spin rate, the shot will curve accordingly.  If you are able to find a ball with the best side spin characteristics for your swing, your accuracy can greatly increase. Not All Premium Balls Are The Same On a recent fitting I was primarily narrowed down to two premium golf balls.  Their launch angles and side spin were excellent and virtually identical.  The deciding factor for me was the ball speed.  One clocked in at 135 miles per hour while the other clocked in at 141.  I chose the ball with the higher speed, because it will go farther than the slower speed ball. Conclusion There are great amounts of math which go into finding the best specs, but in a nut shell you want the optimal launch angle for your swing speed, combined with a ball which you can compress and which has the least amount of side spin.  Optimizing carry, launch angle, ball speed and side spin will increase accuracy and distance.