How are Golf Balls Made?

Modern golf balls are available in two-, three-, four- and even five-piece versions, but all must meet the specifications set forth by the R&A and United States Golf Association (USGA), which govern the sport of golf. The two-piece construction, which is the most popular, consists of a spherical core, made of real or synthetic rubber, which is coated with a plastic resin, such as Surlyn™ or urethane, by injection moulding.

The three-piece construction is similar, but adds a rubber covering, in the form of liquid rubber or rubber string, between the cover and the core. Likewise, the four-piece construction adds a further layer of rubber, of intermediate hardness, between the cover and the core.The five-piece construction, introduced in 2010, adds yet another layer of rubber, for high launch and high spin rates, which afford more backspin and control. In each case, once the cover cools, each ball is sprayed uniformly with two coats of paint, stamped with a logo and mechanically dried.

Obviously, golf ball construction varies slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer depending on the desired characteristics of the finished ball. Generally speaking, though, two-piece balls are tailored towards distance and durability, three-piece balls offer a compromise between distance and ‘feel’ and four- and five-piece balls are soft, responsive and offer high ‘spin separation’, making them best suited to low handicappers with faster swing speeds.