What gives a golf ball more distance?

While many golfers tend to think that in order to increase distance they must upgrade to the newest and most expensive golf clubs, that is only part of the solution.  Sure, having better golf clubs can increase distance but why pay hundreds if not thousands on new clubs when you can increase distance simply by changing your golf ball?  Golf balls make a difference when it comes to adding distance, hitting more fairway and this article will go into depth on what makes them do so not only on fairway golf shots but off the tee as well.  

Golf Ball Construction

To first understand what gives a golf ball more distance, you need to know about how golf balls are constructed.  Golf balls are constructed with an outer cover along with layers inside of it leading up to a core.  The outer cover is comprised of what are known as dimples, and these are important because they help to reduce overall drag when the golf ball goes into the air on fairway golf shots in particular.  The lower the drag, the more distance the golf ball will go.  Most if not all golf balls have the same dimple construction of circles so what really separates golf balls are the layers.

Layers – The key to distance

Most golf balls on the market today are comprised of either two or three layers.  Why do layers matter?  The main reason is that the fewer the layers there are to reach the inner core of the golf ball, the more distance it will provide.  Hence, two layer golf balls such as The Flamingo from Fairway Golf or the Titleist Velocity provide the most distance, especially for those who have swing speeds around 80 mph or lower.  The main downside to a two-layer golf ball is that the spin rate is much lower, which means fairway golf approach shots will not have the same amount of control as a three-layer golf ball would.  You can notice the difference especially around the greens, where chip shots are more likely to check up on the green as opposed to two-layer golf balls that tend to roll out more.  

Three-layer golf balls such as the Fairway Golf Eagle Pro balls are more suited to those who are looking for that additional spin that added layers provide.  The main difference is that it takes a higher swing speed to reach the inner core of a three-layer golf ball as opposed to a two-layer, so those with lower swing speeds may not be able to get the same amount of distance as result.  

Distance or Spin?

Knowing the differences between two- and three-layer golf balls, which one should you choose?  It comes down to two main factors, swing speed and handicap.  Those with a lower swing speed should opt for two-layer golf balls as they provide the higher amount of distance, while those with a higher swing speed should opt for the three-layer.  Handicap should be considered as well.  Even though three-layer golf balls may not provide the same amount of distance for lower swing speeds, if you are struggling with fairway golf approach shots and shots around the green it is worth considering trading off distance from a surlyn golf ball for the additional spin of a 3-piece urethane golf ball.