| There are many answers on how to lower your | | | | - Titleist |
| golf handicap. But the fastest and cheapest | | | | - Pinnacle |
| method for some golfers is to use the longest | | | | - Bridgestone |
| distance golf balls. However, do note that legal | | | | - Precept |
| USGA golf balls have a distance limit of 278 yards | | | | - Callaway |
| under controlled test conditions. | | | | - Top-Flite |
| CNN's Golf Labs have actually tested 54 golf balls | | | | - Nike |
| from 12 of the top manufacturers. They used a | | | | - Srixon |
| machine to drive the golf balls at the normal swing | | | | - TaylorMade |
| speed of amateur golfers, with the perfect golf | | | | - Noodle |
| swing mechanics. The lab discovered that the | | | | - Volvik |
| best golf ball models produced by any of these 12 | | | | - Wilson |
| companies have very similar performance in | | | | The problem with using any of the top golf balls is |
| terms of distance. Their maximum distance, both | | | | the price. At the time of writing, a quick check on |
| flight plus roll, all fall within 10 yards of each other. | | | | Amazon shows that one dozen balls will set you |
| The main difference is in terms of ball control. | | | | back at least $19. Many of them actually cost |
| The ball with the lowest distance, Nike's One | | | | more - around $25 per dozen. Wilson's Staff Fifty, |
| Platinum, is used by Tiger Woods because it gives | | | | which travels 250 yards, costs $15. I wince at the |
| him maximum control. With this ball, he gains | | | | thought of losing these balls in the water or the |
| maximum control and accuracy in his short game, | | | | rough. |
| enabling him to win his many tournaments. | | | | On the other hand, there is nothing stopping you |
| It is obvious that with modern technology, we can | | | | from buying secondhand golf balls. Modern golf |
| already create golf balls which can go much | | | | balls are extremely resilient, and can last quite a |
| farther than the USGA distance limit. This explains | | | | few games. You can even find them on Amazon |
| why most of the best golf balls can so easily | | | | - Titleists NXT Tour, which travels 254 yards, |
| reach 255 yards - the farthest, Noodle+, travels | | | | sells at $37 for 36 balls. That is about $12 per |
| 259 yards. The shortest ball, Nike's One Platinum, | | | | dozen balls. For a bit more risk, you can get even |
| travels 240 yards - sacrificing distance for control | | | | better deals on Ebay. With these recycled long |
| and accuracy. | | | | distance golf balls, you will be able to get a lot of |
| So, should you use Noodle+ or One Platinum? If | | | | practise to improve your golf swing techniques. |
| you are good at course management, you should | | | | Clearly, many companies produce the longest |
| probably use a model like One Platinum. As an | | | | distance golf balls. Any of these golf balls are |
| amateur, you probably will not gain more than one | | | | good, but expensive. You can get good deals on |
| or two yards with Noodle+. But the extra | | | | used balls still in good condition, and these will |
| accuracy and control given by One Platinum could | | | | definitely still help you to lower your golf handicap. |
| probably save you many strokes off your short | | | | You will need to experiment with different balls, to |
| game. Consider the statistics of which clubs are | | | | discover whether it is worthwhile for you to trade |
| used in a typical golf game - 30% to 40% putter, | | | | off a few yards of distance for better accuracy. |
| 10% to 20% driver, 15% to 20% wedges. | | | | Do you have these 3 problems with your golf |
| For your information, here is the list of the 12 top | | | | swing: 1) inconsistency; 2) slice; 3) distance? Click |
| golf ball manufacturers, in no particular order: | | | | here to find out how to lower your golf handicap. |