What Are Golf Balls Called?

While the most straightforward answer to what are golf balls called? is, well, golf balls, that's only scratching the surface. The world of golf balls is surprisingly deep, filled with different designs, materials, and even slang terms that can feel like a secret language if you're new to the game. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from the basic types of balls you’ll see on the shelf to how to choose the right one for your game right now.

So, What Is a Golf Ball, Really? A Brief History

You’ve got the right name - it’s a golf ball. There's no secret, technical name you're missing out on. But the ball we hit today is a world away from what golfers used centuries ago in Scotland. The game started with golfers hitting wooden balls, which as you can imagine, weren’t great for performance or for the lifespan of their wooden clubs.

Things improved with the arrival of the "featherie" in the 17th century. This was a leather pouch stuffed tightly with boiled feathers. When it dried, it became a hard, somewhat aerodynamic ball that flew much better than wood. Creating a single featherie was a detailed craft, making them expensive and out of reach for many.

The next big step was the "gutty," or gutta-percha ball, made from the sap of a Malaysian tree. It was cheaper to make and more durable. Interestingly, golfers discovered that older gutties with nicks and scuffs on them flew straighter and further than brand new, smooth ones. This accidental discovery led to club makers intentionally adding patterns to the balls, which was the birth of the modern dimpled golf ball.

Today, of course, we play with multi-layered, high-tech orbs of rubber and plastic, each engineered for a specific kind of performance. So while the name is simple, what's inside is not.

The Different Types of Modern Golf Balls

Walk into any golf shop and you'll see a wall of golf balls with terms like "2-piece," "3-piece," "tour level," and "soft feel" printed on the boxes. It can be overwhelming. Let's break down what it all means in simple terms.

Think of golf ball construction in terms of layers. The more layers, the more specialized the performance can be.

2-Piece Golf Balls: The Workhorse

• What they are: A large, solid rubber core with a firm cover over it. Simple, effective, and durable. The cover is usually made from a tough material called Surlyn or Ionomer.
• Who they're for: The vast majority of amateur and beginner golfers.
• What they do: These balls are built for two things: distance and durability. The firm construction helps reduce spin, especially off the driver. Less spin means less curving side-to-side (a slice or hook), so the ball tends to fly straighter and farther, which is a huge help for players still developing a consistent swing. The tough Surlyn cover can also withstand those occasional thin shots or cart path encounters without getting scuffed up easily.

3-Piece Golf Balls: Adding a Little Finesse

• What they are: A solid rubber core, a second thin layer of rubber or soft plastic, and then a cover. This middle layer is where the magic happens.
• Who they're for: Players who have a more consistent swing and are looking for more control and feel around the greens.
• What they do: The extra layer allows manufacturers to fine-tune performance. It allows for a soft feel on impact while still maintaining good distance off the tee. The covers on these balls are often made from Urethane, a much softer material than Surlyn. A urethane cover is “grabbier,” meaning it interacts with the grooves on your wedges to produce significantly more spin on chips and pitches. More spin gives you the ability to stop the ball on the green more quickly.

4-Piece and 5-Piece Balls: The High-Performance Sports Cars

• What they are: These are the "tour" balls you see the pros use, like the Titleist Pro V1 or TaylorMade TP5. They have multiple inner layers, each designed to do a specific job. For example, one layer might activate on a high-speed driver swing for low spin and distance, while another layer works with a slower wedge swing for high spin and control.
• Who they're for: Highly skilled amateurs and professional golfers with very high swing speeds and consistent ball-striking.
• Why you probably don't need them (yet): These balls are incredible feats of engineering, but they are also very expensive. More importantly, it takes a high level of skill to unlock their benefits. A beginner or high-handicap player won't consistently compress the ball enough to notice the nuanced performance difference between these and a good 2 or 3-piece ball. You'd be paying a premium for technology you can't yet use.

Decoding the Box: What the Logos, Numbers, and Dimples Mean

Now that you know the basic types, let's demystify what you're actually looking at on the ball itself.

What do the numbers on a golf ball mean?

You'll notice almost every golf ball has a small number printed under the brand name (usually a 1, 2, 3, or 4). This number has zero effect on performance. It’s strictly for identification. If you and your buddy are both playing the same brand and model of ball, you can use the number to tell them apart. One of you plays the ‘1’ an one plays the ‘3’, so you always know whose ball is whose. That's it.

What do alignment lines do?

Many golf balls come with a printed arrow or a line on the side. This is an "alignment aid." The idea is that you can line this arrow up with your target line when you're on the putting green a line over it correctly, or from the teebox, you can point that arrow down your intended line before you swing as a starting line target . A lot of golfers also draw their own lines on the ball with a stencil and a marker for a more pronounced guide.

And what about those dimples?

The dimples are the single most important aerodynamic feature. A smooth golf ball would fly chaotically and only travel a fraction of the distance of a dimpled one. The dimples create a thin layer of turbulent air that clings to the ball's surface. This reduces drag and increases lift, allowing the ball to stay in the air longer and fly on a more stable and predictable path. Every manufacturer has their own proprietary dimple pattern, but they all serve the same fundamental purpose.

Talking Like a Golfer: Slang for Golf Balls

In the casual, friendly environment of a golf course, you’ll hear golf balls called a few different things. Using these terms can make you sound like you’ve been around the game for a while.

• Pill: This is a common, slightly old-school slang term for a golf ball. "I hit a good pill on that last hole."
• Rock: Sometimes used, especially when referring to a very hard-feeling distance ball. "Playing a cheap rock today."
• Range Ball: A low-quality, extremely durable 2-piece ball used exclusively at driving ranges. They are often painted with a colored stripe and fly significantly shorter than a standard golf ball. You should never play a round of golf with one.
• Lake Ball / Water Ball: These are used balls that have been recovered from water hazards, cleaned, and resold at a discount. They can be a good value, but be aware that extended time underwater can sometimes affect a ball's core and slightly reduce performance.

Your First Golf Ball: The Best Choice for a Beginner

So, with all this information, what golf ball should you actually buy when you're starting out?

Here is my simple, direct advice: Buy an inexpensive, 2-piece "distance" or "soft feel" golf ball with a Surlyn cover. Don't even look at the premium urethane balls for now.

There are two powerful reasons for this:

1. You are going to lose golf balls. A lot of them. It's a rite of passage. Whether they go into the woods, a lake, or just disappear in the middle of the fairway (it happens!), you'll be hitting a lot of replacement shots. It's much less painful to lose a ball that costs $1.50 than one that costs $4.50. Don't add financial stress to your round.
2. You won't feel the difference of an expensive ball. The main benefit of a premium "tour" ball is its high spin and delicate feel on short shots around the green. To get that spin, you need to make very precise, clean contact. As a newer player, your focus is on making solid contact of any kind. You simply won't have the consistency yet to notice or benefit from what a premium ball can do. A durable, lower-spinning distance ball will actually serve you better by flying straighter on miss-hits.

Look for popular models like the Titleist TruFeel, Callaway Warbird, Srixon Soft Feel, or TaylorMade Distance+. They offer great performance for the price and are a perfect starting point.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, a golf ball is much more than just a small white sphere. Understanding the basic differences in construction, materials, and design philosophy can help you sort through the noise and make a smart, simple choice that saves you money and helps your game.

This same idea of removing uncertainty so you can play with clear confidence is exactly what we created Caddie AI to do. We want to take the guesswork out of golf, whether that’s standing on a tee wondering about the right strategy or being stuck in a tricky lie and not knowing the best way to get out. You get on-demand advice, smart strategy, and instant answers so you can focus on swinging with total commitment.