Golf was first played with a leather-covered ball stuffed with goose feathers before the first "Gutta" ball, which is believed to have been made in 1848 from gutta-percha packing material. With the durability, lower cost and improved performance, the Gutta balls replaced the leather-covered feathery balls. The rubber ball was then invented in 1898 and replaced Gutta balls. The ball featured rubber thread wound around a solid rubber core. Later, the Balata cover was developed in the early 1900’s. The dimple pattern similar to today's golf club was first used in 1908. Then, in 1930 the first golf ball standard was set by the British Golf Association, followed by the USGA. The standard of today was set at a maximum of 1.620 ounce (45.93 g) in weight, and the diameter of less than 1.680" (4.27 cm). 

Market Trend - Tour pros have changed their golf balls from wound balls to solid center mutilayer balls. New solid-center multilayer balls outperform wound (liquid center) balls in distance while the feel and controllability is not sacrificed. The durability and precision of today’s golf balls owe to the development of new materials such as improved plastics, silicone, rubber and composite materials. Today's golf balls are very sophisticated. Special elastomer (urethane based material is very popular for today's high performance golf balls for better players) with multilayer structure for softer yet longer balls are commonplace.

Except for the lower end of golf balls with Surlyn cover 2-piece balls, the most of today's golf balls are designed for a softer feel and distance with reasonable durability. The retail price varies in the range of $15 - $60 for a dozen new balls; however, most of the high performance golf balls cost in the range of $30 - $60 (retail) nowadays. The core material and structure as well as the cover material and dimple patterns determine the specifications of golf balls. As to the performance characteristics, traditionally golf balls can be classified into three different types: 1) distance and durability (DD); 2) distance and control (DC), and 3) control and feel (CF). The market trend, however, is toward new high performance balls providing additional distance and durability as well as control and feel (DCF).

Core Construction - Differences in core construction influence the performance characteristics: spin rates (control and distance), initial velocity (distance) and compression (feel). Traditionally, there are basically two types of core constructions -- wound and solid -- more specifically three-piece wound core ball and a two-piece solid core ball. The wound ball (no longer available) consists of the center, the windings and the cover. The center is either liquid-filled or solid. Normally, balata-covered golf balls featured a liquid filled core, which lowers the spin rate at a higher ball velocity. Two piece balls with solid centers, which increase the spin rate at a higher ball velocity, are generally made of rubber or thermoplastic elastomer compound. High end solid-center multilayer balls generally consist of a large core (either solid one piece or multi-layer), another layer for spin control (i.e. ionomer casing by Titleist) and a thin urethane elastomer cover. It lowers the amount of spin at a higher ball velocity (i.e. driver shots.)

Cover Materials and Design - The golf ball cover was either balata, elastomer or Surlyn. However, balata balls are no longer sold today. The cover materials together with the core construction alter the spin rate and feel of the ball. The distribution of mass toward the outer layer makes the moment of inertia larger, therefore the revolution of the golf ball at the landing tends to be higher without having higher initial revolution rates. It helps stop the ball on the green without sacrificing the distance. Tungsten is occasionally used for golf balls for the composite layer underneath the cover for larger moment of inertia. In the meantime, it is believed that the optimal revolution for long driving shots are in the range of 2,300 -2,800 rpm. Multilayer or multiple covers with advanced materials in conjunction with aerodynamic dimple patterns are often used for the optimal launch conditions such as ball velocity, launch angle and spin rate for distance, as well as the better feel, true roll and control. The dimple number and pattern influence the ball trajectory.

Four Types of Golf Balls - Traditionally, there have been three types of golf balls. First, 3-piece models, which consist of a small, liquid-filled or solid rubber core wrapped by rubber thread and then covered with a balata, urethane or balata-derivative cover, are for feel, spin and control. (This type of balls are no longer sold.) Second, so called "Double Cover" models combining a large, solid core with two layer covers are, in a sense, reasonable in both feel and distance. The outer cover is usually soft and the inner cover tends to be made from harder and sometimes heavier materials. Third, Surlyn-covered wound balls normally have a solid rubber center. The harder, and durable Surlyn cover decreases the spin rate of the golf ball. However, today's high performance balls are solid center multilayer structure providing more distance without sacrificing feel, spin and control.

Compression - Ball compression used to be one of the most important specifications to choose a golf ball. The compression rating, 80, 90 or 100 (even 110 was approved), denotes the hardness of core. The lower the compression, the softer a golf ball feel at impact. In the past, low compression balls were sold for ladies or seniors. Today, however, golf ball manufacturers abandoned to use compression as a specification to sell the balls. It appears that today's golf balls featuring sofler feel are in the range of 70 - 80 compression (most of the makers do not publish the data.) Top-Flite publishes the data, and the Strata Tour Premier, a high-end performance golf ball, is 80 in compression. Some manufactures are now selling very low core compression (i.e. in the 40s) balls.


 Golf Ball Manufacturers and Products - Many types of golf balls are sold today from such major brand names as Titleist, Maxfli, Precept, Top-Flite, Slazenger, Srixon, Taylor Made, Pinnacle, Dunlop, Callaway and Nike. Golf balls offered by the ball manufacturers have changed significantly. As recent as in 2000, Titleist, one of the leading golf ball companies, for instance, used to offer golf balls named: Balata, Prestige, Professional, Tour Distance, HP Tour, HP Eclipse, HP Distance, DT Wound, DT 2-piece (from softer to harder/distance). However, as of 2004, these golf balls were replaced by a completely new line of golf balls: Pro V1, ProV1x, NXT Tour, NXT, and DT Solo (less varieties) using new design and technologies.