Golf Glossary
Golf ball
In short
A golf ball is the small, usually white ball that you play with your club from the tee into the hole. It consists of a core and one or more layers, and the surface carries small dimples. Under the Rules of Golf, golf balls must meet set limits for size, weight and velocity.
Golf ball: size and weight under the Rules of Golf
A golf ball cannot be built any way you like. The equipment rules of the R&A and the USGA set limits so that competition stays fair:
- Diameter: at least 42.67 millimetres (1.680 inches). There is no upper limit, but in practice all balls are about the same size.
- Weight: at most 45.93 grams (1.620 ounces). There is no minimum weight.
- Initial velocity: at most 76.2 metres per second (250 feet per second), with a tolerance of two percent in testing.
- Spherical symmetry: the ball must behave like a uniform sphere. It must not be built so that it prefers to fly in one direction.
There is also an overall distance test that prevents balls from flying too far at very high clubhead speed. The R&A and the USGA publish a list of conforming golf balls that meet the rules.
Golf ball construction: core, mantle and cover
Most golf balls have between two and five layers. The construction decides how far the ball flies, how much spin it has and how it feels at impact.
Two-piece balls have a large, firm core made of synthetic material and a hard cover, usually Surlyn or a similar material. They are durable, fly far and spin less. That helps players who often miss the ball sideways.
Multilayer balls (three to five layers) have extra layers between core and cover. The cover is often made of urethane, a softer material. They give more feel and more spin, especially on short shots to the green. In return they are usually more delicate and more expensive.
The number of layers says nothing about quality on its own. A good two-piece ball can be a better choice for a beginner than a multilayer ball.
Dimples: why golf balls have indentations
The small dips on the surface are called dimples. They are not decoration. A smooth ball would fly clearly shorter. Dimples stir up the air right at the surface. As a result the airflow separates from the ball further back and drag falls. Together with backspin they also create lift. The ball climbs and stays in the air longer.
How many dimples a ball has is not prescribed. Roughly 300 to 500 is usual. Manufacturers differ in number, depth and pattern of the dimples and use them to shape a particular ball flight, for example higher or flatter.
Important for players: damaged dimples change the flight. A badly scuffed ball may no longer fly like a new one. You usually notice this only in a direct comparison with a fresh ball.
Which golf ball for which handicap?
There is no fixed assignment, but some rules of thumb help with the choice:
- Handicap 36 or beginner: a durable two-piece ball with a soft cover or low compression is usually a good choice. It forgives mistakes, flies far and is cheap enough that losing one does not hurt.
- Mid handicap: here it is worth trying a three-piece ball. It offers a little more feel around the green.
- Low handicap: players with higher swing speed and a reliable short game often choose a multilayer ball with a urethane cover. It gives more spin on approach shots and more control.
Slow swingers often benefit from a low-compression ball. It deforms more easily and is therefore accelerated well even at lower speed. In the end it depends on your game: where do you lose the most strokes, off the tee or around the green?
Compression, spin and feel
Three terms come up again and again with golf balls.
Compression describes how firmly the ball deforms under pressure. If the ball squashes more at impact, it is called low compression. There is no standardised scale; manufacturers give numbers or words such as soft and firm. As a rule of thumb a soft ball suits slower swings and a firm ball suits faster swings.
Spin is the rotation of the ball around its own axis. More backspin means the ball climbs higher and stops faster on the green. Too much spin, however, costs distance and exaggerates sideways misses.
Feel is what you sense at impact and when putting, meaning sound and feedback. That is subjective. Measured values such as ball speed, spin and carry show which ball gives better results with your swing.
Rules about the golf ball
In play, too, there are a few rules about the ball that beginners should know:
- Conforming ball: you must play a ball that meets the equipment rules. Playing a non-conforming ball can lead to disqualification.
- Marking: mark your ball with a pen or a number. That way you recognise it in the rough or among playing partners using the same model. A player who cannot identify their ball risks problems with a wrong ball.
- Damage: if a ball is visibly cut or cracked, you may replace it during the hole. Scratches, scrapes or discolouration are not enough.
- Changing balls: between two holes you may play a different ball. During a hole the change is allowed only in certain cases, for example after a lost ball or because of damage.
In competitions the organisers sometimes require that only balls from the list of conforming golf balls may be played.
Tips: how to choose and look after your golf balls
A few practical hints:
- Stick to one model. If you change balls all the time, you never learn how it reacts on the green and in the short game.
- Test two or three models on the range and compare carry, total distance and dispersion.
- Buy cheap, durable balls at the start. A beginner loses many balls in the first rounds.
- Check your balls for cuts and cracks before every round. Damaged balls fly unpredictably.
- Store the balls dry and at normal temperature. Very cold balls fly shorter.
If you are unsure, ask a coach during a lesson which ball construction suits your swing. With measurement data the decision is much easier.
Try it at Golf Lounge
Measured values show which ball suits your swing better than a rule of thumb. At each of the 32 covered hitting bays on two levels at Golf Lounge Resort Hamburg, TrackMan measures carry, total distance, launch angle and ball speed, among other values. There is also a TrackMan range app for your smartphone. Every bay has three irons and a ball box ready, and the range can be used all year round.
Frequently asked questions
How big and how heavy is a golf ball?
Under the Rules of Golf a golf ball must have a diameter of at least 42.67 millimetres and weigh no more than 45.93 grams. There is no upper limit for the diameter and no minimum weight. In practice all balls are almost the same size. The initial velocity is limited to 76.2 metres per second.
How is a golf ball constructed?
A golf ball has a core and one or more further layers. Two-piece balls have a firm core and a hard cover. Multilayer balls with three to five layers usually have a softer urethane cover. The construction determines distance, spin and feel. More layers do not automatically mean a better ball.
Why do golf balls have dimples?
The indentations stir up the air at the surface. That reduces drag, and together with backspin they create lift. A smooth ball would fly clearly shorter. Roughly 300 to 500 dimples are usual, and the exact number and pattern are chosen by the manufacturer.
Which golf ball is suitable for beginners?
Beginners usually do well with a durable two-piece ball with a soft cover or low compression. It flies far, forgives sideways misses and is cheap enough to lose in the water now and then. Multilayer balls with a urethane cover are worth it once swing and short game are more reliable.
Which golf ball suits which handicap?
There is no fixed rule. High handicaps often benefit from softer, durable two-piece balls and low handicaps from multilayer balls with more spin and control. Your swing speed and your short game matter more than the handicap. Measured values show best which ball suits you.
As of: October 2026