How is a golf ball made?

More than a white ball

Making a golf ball is easy. Making a good one is hard. Every layer has a job, and small differences show up in your game.

Here's how it's done, step by step.

Step by step

1. 1
   The core

   It starts with a core of synthetic rubber, pressed and heated into a solid ball. The core accounts for most of the speed off the tee.
2. 2
   The mantle

   In multi-piece balls, one or more mantle layers wrap around the core. They control how much the ball spins with different clubs.
3. 3
   The cover

   On the outside sits a thin molded cover, usually urethane or Surlyn. The cover is what meets the club, and it decides feel and spin around the green.
4. 4
   The dimples

   The dimples are formed when the cover is molded. Pattern, depth and count all affect how the ball flies.
5. 5
   Paint and print

   The ball is painted, printed and tested for weight, size and compression.

Why dimples?

A smooth ball would fly about half as far. Dimples create a thin layer of turbulent air around the ball. That cuts drag and creates lift when the ball has backspin.

Most balls have between 300 and 500 dimples. Manufacturers test patterns in computer simulations and wind tunnels to find the right balance between height and distance.

Rules and tolerances

A golf ball has to follow the Rules of Golf. It can weigh no more than 45.93 grams and must measure at least 42.67 millimeters across. There are also limits on how fast it can leave the clubface. That's why development is as much about feel and control as it is about distance.

"It's just a golf ball. Until you see how much work goes into it."

Stripe Golf

Wondering which ball suits you? Read our guide to choosing the right golf ball.

From feathers to urethane: a short history

The golf ball has changed more than almost any other piece of equipment in the game.

1. 1
   The feathery

   Until the mid-1800s, a ball was a leather case stuffed with boiled feathers. Expensive to make and no friend of wet weather.
2. 2
   The gutty

   Around 1850 came balls made of gutta-percha, a natural rubber from trees. Cheaper and tougher. Players noticed that scuffed balls flew better than smooth ones.
3. 3
   The Haskell ball

   Around 1900 came a ball with a core wound in rubber thread. It flew farther and quickly became the standard.
4. 4
   Solid balls

   In the second half of the 1900s, solid balls with synthetic cores took over. They were tougher and cheaper to make.
5. 5
   Multi-piece balls

   Around 2000, multi-piece balls with urethane covers went mainstream. It's the construction most tour players use today.

Quality control

A golf ball should behave the same way every time. That's why balls are tested closely during production.

• Weight and size. Every ball has to stay within the limits set by the rules.
• Roundness. A ball that isn't perfectly round flies unevenly.
• Compression. How much the ball squeezes at impact. It should be consistent across balls of the same model.
• Centering. The core should sit dead center. Otherwise the ball can wobble in the air and on the green.

Balls that don't pass are sorted out. It's one reason there's such a gap between cheap and expensive balls.

What does the number on the ball mean?

The number on a golf ball is usually just for identification. It helps you tell your ball from your playing partner's if you both play the same model.

Numbers used to indicate compression too. Today, almost nothing printed on the ball affects how it plays. What matters is the model, not the number.

Golf balls and the environment

Golf balls break down very slowly in nature. So pick up the balls you find, and keep playing the ones that are still in one piece.

There are also companies that collect and clean balls from ponds and lakes. Small choices, like playing a used ball or using bamboo tees instead of plastic, add up over a season.

Why do golf ball prices vary so much?

The price gap between a cheap and an expensive golf ball can be big. Most of it comes down to construction and manufacturing.

Multi-piece balls with urethane covers take more production steps and more precision. A thin urethane cover is harder to mold evenly than a thicker Surlyn cover. Careful quality control also costs money, and the pricier models are usually sorted more strictly.

For many players, a simpler ball is all they need. What matters is picking a ball that suits your game. Read more about how to choose.

Frequently asked questions