Golf balls have evolved in several ways since their invention hundreds of years ago in Scotland. Dimples have been installed on the exterior of the ball to improve its flight through the air. Instead of wood, golf balls are now made of synthetic materials in a laboratory. These materials can vary depending on the cost of the ball and can have a significant influence on the way the ball should be played. Additionally, some golf balls may feature more materials than others.
Cover Material
There are typically three different cover materials that are used on golf balls. The type of cover material used usually helps to determine the price of the balls. Surlyn is the basic synthetic material used for baseline golf balls. It features a harder, more durable covering that helps it to travel farther and last longer, particularly when it comes to the aggressive and clunky hitting by beginning golfers. This is also the cheapest type of golf covering. Balata is more expensive and less durable, but it allows for more spinning of the ball and an improved feel for golfers who can tell the difference from baseline golf ball cover materials. Elastomer is usually employed by high-level golfers with low-handicaps due to its high cost. It offers the best of both worlds, combining high spin rates with better durability than balata.
Ball Center
Most golf balls features a molded, synthetic core at their center. This core is responsible for transferring energy from the club to the ball and creating a powerful rebound off the club's impact. The more bounce a ball can produce, the farther the club's interior will be able to carry it. Hard cores are made of different ingredients that are heated to form a substance similar to rubber. Pressure is also applied to the core to compress the material into a 1.5 inch ball. Some liquid and gel cores are used, particularly in more advanced golf balls. Golf ball centers typically contain sugar and water, according to MadeHow.com, and are often smaller because they are wrapped in rubber threads.
Rubber Thread
Most three-piece balls also utilize a rubber thread placed around the interior core underneath the synthetic cover. This thread is high-tension and improves the ball's ability to travel by creating better rebound from being hit by a golf club. Golf balls made with rubber thread are typically made with a liquid center and are molded through compression rather than heat, as high temperatures can cause the rubber thread to break.
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