Everything you need to know about golf balls

No piece of golf equipment can have such a profound effect on your game as the golf ball you play. Consider this: When Justin Thomas wanted to test the about-to-be-released 2021 version of the Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x, the company sent Fordie Pitts and J.J. Van Wezenbeeck, two of its highest-caliber PGA Tour promotions managers, to oversee Thomas' golf ball testing at his home course in Florida. Bridgestone has done the same thing with Tiger Woods and other brands routinely do this with their elite staff players because any change to a ball can alter how it flies, how it spins and how it behaves on the course.

Most low-handicap players are sensitive to the differences between golf balls, but many mid- and higher-handicap golfers still think that one ball is the same as another - except when it comes to price. This article aims to help you understand how golf balls are made, how they are each slightly different and to help you discover which golf balls should help you get the performance traits you are looking for to improve your game and lower your scores.

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Let's start with the basics …