Golf Balls — 1400s to the Present

The long and interesting evolution of the golf ball.

There are dozens of different models of golf balls on the market today, from at least a dozen different manufacturers. 2-piece, 3-piece, 4-piece, low compression, high compression, Surlyn cover, urethane cover, and of course, varying dimple patterns — all components and factors that combine to create unique feel, spin, and trajectory characteristics. If you have the patience and pocketbook to try them all, you are sure to find a ball that suits your swing and game the best.

Can finding the right golf ball make a difference in your game? In the Chasing Majors podcast series by Evin Priest, Tiger Woods’ former caddie, Steve Williams, tells the story of Nike working with Tiger for about a year to develop a golf ball that fit his swing and personal preferences. As Steve tells it, Tiger ultimately got a golf ball that was extremely predictable in terms of distance, trajectory, and spin, and that the ball alone gave Tiger a few strokes advantage each round over his competition.