How Much Does A Golf Ball Weigh?

A best golf balls is one of the essential equipment used in playing a round of the golf game. Many of the players consider the golf ball as just something that they need to use to play without caring to know much else about what makes it or what it is. Knowing how much a golf ball weighs is probably something not too many people care about when they are teeing.

However, if you plan to become an expert player, you need to know all the fundamental factors concerning the sport, including the average weight of the golf balls. Other things you need to learn are:- types of golf balls, how their weight affects performance on the greens, among other things. Before we get to the kinds of balls weight effects the performance, let us first answer the one question that many people ask. How much does a golf ball weigh?  

The Average Weight of a Golf Ball

If you are a golf enthusiast, you probably know that the average weight of a golf ball is slightly less than 46 grams, making it one of the lightest golf equipment. Having ten golf balls is the same as one pound. You may wonder, if the golf ball weighs any more substantial than the 46 grams, would they hit better and more precisely.

Golf rules set by USGA, are exact with how much a golf ball should weigh. The USGA rules stipulate, "The weight of the ball must not be greater than 1.620 ounces or 45.93 grams." Rounding up the figure gives us 46 grams, which is easier to work with, without the decimals.

I set out to check if it is true all golf balls weigh the same by experimenting. I took 30 balls to my garage and using a digital scale that came with a tenth of a gram resolution, and I weighed them. I was amazed at the results because out of the thirty balls, only one of them exceeded 46 grams by a very tiny margin. Only one of the balls fell below the average weight range of 45.93, again by a minimal margin.

To ensure that the results were fair, I made sure that I got golf balls from different manufacturers, which goes to show that they provide golf ball weights per the rules set by USGA.

Golf Ball Weight and Effects on Performance

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Another question that you may ask is whether how much a golf weighs affects the performance. According to USGA, the golf ball weight allows it to move at a velocity of fewer than 250 feet per second, for an average of 280 yards. Anything beyond the stipulated weight of 46 grams would have the ball move at a higher velocity to cover a larger space.

To prove the theory that weight affects performance, I set out to carry another experiment using golf balls with different weights. I used a golf club that weighed six more grams above the average weight. The ball went another 13 yards at a higher velocity. The more weight I added to the ball, the better the performance, which is why USGA limited the weight to a standard 46 grams.

However, you have to be a heavy hitter to attain the extra yards with the heavier balls. Surprisingly, if you are a heavy hitter, you can also manage more yards with a lighter ball than you would with the standard 46-gram ball. I tried the same with a 40 gram and managed to score a further 8 yards from the one I scored with the 46-gram golf ball.

The explanation as to why a heavier ball would perform better than a lighter one is that its initial ball speed is lower. The forces that influence a ball on a flight are a drag, lift, and weight.

Although golf balls do not come with significant differences in weight, they vary in many other ways, including construction, dimples, compression, and types.

Types of Balls

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A golf ball is one of the most intriguing and confusing parts of golf. Even though golf balls weigh the same, they come in different types from various brands. The top-selling golf ball brands are Callaway, TaylorMade, BRIDGESTONE, MAXFLI, TOP-ELITE, Titleist, SRIXON, NIKE, PRECEPT, SCWETTY, VOLVIK, and NITRO. The categories of the balls are Chrome Soft, Chrome Soft X, E.R.C Soft, Superhot, and Supersoft.

Several factors help to differentiate the types of golf balls used on the greens. The elements are construction, the dimple designs on the surface, compression, and physical appearance, including color.

Based on Construction

The construction of the golf ball is one of the main factors that affect performance. Golf balls come in different constructions, namely the one-piece, two-piece construction, three-piece, and four-piece balls.

One-piece golf balls are not conventional on the greens, but they are famous for crazy golf. The main characteristic of the one-piece golf balls is its material, which is just one kind. The material that makes one-piece golf balls is sturdy and durable, usually made from a duff hunk of Surlyn. They are best for crazy golf because they can stand any kind of terrain. They have a tinny heavy feel, and they generate a low spin.

The two-piece golf balls come with a thick cover that provides the ball with added protection against damage from wayward shots. The balls are ideal for people with slower swing speeds, such as beginners and high-handicap golfers. They have a large core that helps to maximize speed while at the same time minimizing movement and spin. Some of the best two-piece golf balls are the Titleist Velocity, Srixon Soft Feel, and the Bridgestone e5.

The three-piece golf balls provide the best compromise between feel and distance. They appeal more to expert golfers than they do to beginners. One of the most popular three-piece golf balls played on European Tours, and the PGA is the Titleist Pro V1. Another similar high-quality 3-piece golf ball also performed in major tournaments by professionals is the Srixon Z-Star. The extra layer on the golf ball helps to produce more spin, and it comes with a softer feel as compared to the two-piece constructed golf ball. The balls also come at higher costs as compared to the 2-piece balls.

A lot of controversy surrounds the four-piece golf balls. The majority of the professionals and other players are skeptical about whether the extra layer makes any difference to the feel and spin of the ball. The extra layer should supposedly provide spin separation that activates after reaching a fast swing speed.

It is hard for a beginner to understand the science behind the extra covers in a 4-piece golf ball, but some of the most experienced golf professionals appreciate the construction. The most common 4-piece golf balls that professionals use during significant tournaments are the Titleist Pro V1x, the Callaway Chrome Soft, and the Srixon Z-Star XV.

Five-piece golf balls are even more complicated than the 4-piece balls. A good example of a five-piece golf balls is the TaylorMade TP5, which dates back to 2009. Like the 4-piece golf ball, the 5-piece comes with extra layers that enhance spin separation and enable compression for maximized performance. The cover of the 5-piece golf ball is super soft urethane that enhances short shots responsive time. Only a few players use the five-piece constructed golf ball.

In conclusion, the Multi-layer golf balls are the best for players with faster swing speeds. They come with a thinner cover that helps to enhance spin control and provide a crisp and soft feel of the ball. They also come with core layers that help to elevate shot sculpting, feel, and control of the ball.

Distance/Feel Construction Cover Color
         
Chrome Soft Straight flight, best forgiveness, with the softest feel 4-piece Soft urethane White
Chrome Soft High forgiveness, with a soft feel and a workable flight 4-piece Soft urethane Yellow
E.R.C Soft Soft feel, excellent control and maximum speed 3 piece Ionomer and urethane blend White, Yellow
Superhot Covers super long distance with great control and spin 3 piece Ionomer Bold matte red, bold matte yellow, bold matte orange, white
Superhot Super soft, super long, and super straight 2 piece Tri-Ionomer Multi-color, pink, yellow, white

Based on Dimples

Have you ever wondered why golf balls have dimples? I must admit that the first thing that made me curious about the balls when I was learning how to golf was the dimples. Dimples are on the golf balls not merely to make them look unique but to provide them with the power to fly. The primary purpose of dimples on a golf ball is providing the surface with a thin layer of air.

The clinging thin air helps to increase the lift and decrease the ball's aerodynamic drag. The dimples come in varying patterns, shapes, and sizes, affecting the ball's stability, spin rate, and distance. If the golf ball were utterly smooth without any dimples, it would travel for about half the distance a ball with dimples would travel.

Based on Compression

Another interesting thing about golf balls is that they come with varying compressions. Balls with a lower compression are softer than higher compression balls. The difference in the distance, both the higher and lower compression balls cover is minimal. Beginners and people with lower handicaps or slow to moderate swings prefer playing the lower compression golf balls because they feel softer than those with higher compression do.

Players with high-speed swings of 105 miles per hour or above that are the most suitable for high compression balls. Because of the high speed, the ball needs to keep a specific amount of shape to help in delivering fuller distances and the best energy transfer. Higher compression balls have a rating of 90 and above compression.

If you have a swinging speed of playing between 85 and 105 miles per hour, Medium compression balls are most suitable for you. The balls come with have a rating of between 80 and 90 compressions. If you do not know how fast your swing is, using a medium compression ball would be your best option.

Low compression golf balls are ideal for players with less than 85 miles per hour swing. They help to improve distance played and control of the ball when using long clubs. The balls have a rating of below 80 compressions, and they are great for beginners, seniors, and junior golfers.

Physical Explanation

The physical appearance of a golf ball adds to the personality of the game. Some golf balls come in bold colors with matte patterns and finishes. Using colored ball golf makes it easier for you to track the ball on the ground and as it cruises through the air, which in turn helps to speed up the pace at which you play the game.

The bright-colored balls also help to enhance your concentration on the green. The matte finish also reduces the sun's glare while the patterns help improve alignment and focus. Another physical feature that adds to ball personalization is branding. Personalized balls are popular gifts amongst the most accomplished golf players.

The balls stand out on the greens, making it easier to locate them. The most common things that golfers brand to personalize their balls with are initials, their names, or favorite sayings.

FAQs

What is inside a standard golf ball?

Some people probably assume that the inside of a golf ball is all air. The following are the things that make up a golf ball.

The core

The core is one of the first things you see when you cut open a golf ball. Golf ball cores consist of synthetic resins and tightly packed rubber. Cores vary in both cost and composition. Multi-layered golf balls place a cover on top to surround the core.

Cover

The cover of the golf ball helps with aerodynamics during flight. It also provides the feel of the ball. The three most common golf ball covers are urethane, Surlyn, and Balata. Of the three, Surlyn is the cheapest and the best for seniors, juniors, beginners, and budget-conscious players. The material comes with a soft feel and provides players with more distance hits.

Urethane and balata covers provide the balls with a synthetic rubber mixture that comes with a soft feel. They are also durable but more costly than the Surlyn cover balls. Many professional golfers prefer urethane cover balls to the other two.

How many dimples does a standard golf ball have?

Golf ball dimples influence your performance on the greens. One of the questions people ask is the number of dimples n the ball and whether that too has any effects on the performance. The number of dimples on golf balls varies depending on the brand and model. However, the average number of dimples is anything between 300 and 500.

One of the most popular golf balls used by professionals is the Titleist Pro V1, which comes with 352 dimples. Another Titleist model, the Pro V1x, comes with 328 dimples. Both models came out in the same year, and there is no explanation as to why they have a different number of dimples. The most significant number of dimples recorded on a golf ball was 1070.

Besides the golf ball weight being consistent, does the same go for the size?

In the past, golf balls came in varying sizes, but today, they have a consistent size, just like their weights. The differences in the sizes were in play because the two golf-governing bodies R&A and USGA could not agree on one standard size. R & A rules stipulated that the balls' diameter should be 1.62 inches, while USGA kept their stipulated diameter at 1.68 inches.

It was not until 1990 that the two bodies agreed to have just one standard golf ball size. According to the USGA rules, a golf ball should have a diameter of not less than 42.67 mm or 1.680 inches, which remains the standard size. However, the two bodies maintained that the golf ball weighs 1.62 ounces, which remains the same to date.

Wrapping It Up

The science behind the golf ball is hard to grasp, especially for anyone new into golf because as much as it is intriguing, it is also confusing. The weighing process that I carried out to confirm that all the golf balls weigh the same was tedious but worth everything, because I was in doubt about whether the weight is standard. With the weight aside, you need to consider all the other factors of a golf ball that influence your performance in the greens, especially if you are learning the game.

I hope that this article provides you with all the information you need to know about the golf ball before you go teeing. If you have any comments or questions to ask regarding this article, you can reach out to us by filling the form below.

 

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