The world was still Jon Rahm’s oyster in 2022 despite questions swirling about his performance following a career-defining season the year prior. Entering January as the world No. 1, fresh off a campaign that saw him finish inside the top 10 in 15 of 24 starts while capturing his first major championship at the 2021 U.S. Open, Rahm looked have to retained this momentum in the early parts of the new year. 

Having one of the highest floors in the sphere of professional golf, the Spaniard disappointingly lost in a shootout to Cameron Smith at the Tournament of Champions, showed visible frustration over the conditions at The American Express and scuttled over the weekend at Torrey Pines.

Concerns surrounding Rahm’s short game began to reverberate through the golf world when a relative lull surfaced in early spring that included three top-20 finishes in five starts. Relinquishing his spot atop the Official World Golf Rankings and needing to squash any naysayers, the 28-year-old came to the Mexico Open as a heavy betting favorite and delivered in such a way.

Rahm’s triumph in Mexico propelled him to weekend contention at the U.S. Open and a runner-up performance at the BMW PGA Championship before notching victories at the Open de España and the DP World Tour Championship. Three wins in his final 14 worldwide starts of 2022 saved what many considered a down year for a player of Rahm’s caliber.

“Hopefully, people can stop telling me that this was a bad year,” Rahm said following his victory at the DP World Tour finale. “Three wins worldwide. Three wins on three different continents. Yeah, there wasn’t a major championship, but it was still a really, really good season.”

A really, really good season? Yes. A great season? No. Harsh, perhaps, that is not to say 2023 will be the same as the clip at which Rahm wins continues to be absurd.

His 2021 season showcased quality. Penciling him in for a victory at the Memorial — where he had to withdraw before the final round with a six-stroke lead due to a positive COVID-19 test — and breaking through for his lone major title at the U.S. Open, Rahm was simply dominant.

The golf course, the weather, the competition — none of it mattered. If there was a tournament to be played, Rahm was going to be in contention. That’s how high his floor was, but more importantly, how high his ceiling was.

Rahm’s 2022 was inherently different despite totaling a higher win count. The quality lacked as he contended in only one major championship, and his lone PGA Tour title came against one of the weakest fields of the season. Winning matters, and Rahm checked that box this past year. But in 2023, expect him to return to his ways of two years ago.

While the standard of his wins was downgraded, Rahm remained the standard for success off-the-tee. Gaining 1.025 strokes per round with the driver in hand, Rahm led the PGA Tour in the statistic and was nearly two times more effective than Patrick Cantlay, who ranked 17th on the season, three times more effective than Scottie Scheffler (37th) and four times more effective than Billy Horschel (50th).

The most predictive strokes gained statistic, Rahm’s blend of distance and accuracy off-the-tee will allow him to tally those 2.5 victories a year. It’s a weapon, yes, a difference-maker, for sure, but it is not the club which will allow him to add major No. 2 or possibly No. 3 in 2023.

That honor goes to his putter. Finding something in his setup on the back-nine of his second round at the 2022 BMW Championship, Rahm rolled the rock with the best of them coming down the stretch of the calendar year. Averaging +1.45 strokes gained putting per round over his last five measured events, Rahm returned to the 2021 version of himself.

Whether this is only for a brief stretch or a prolonged period will define Rahm’s 2023. If the former reigns supreme, look for Rahm to nab a couple wins on the DP World Tour, and maybe even one of the newly elevated events on the PGA Tour. However, if the latter prevails, the world No. 5 will have a real chance to end his year as he began the prior: atop the world of golf and with a shiny, new major championship trophy on his mantle.

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Do you know what the loft of your driver is? Do you know if it’s the correct loft for your golf game?

Loft is kind of a misunderstood concept in the game of golf, and we are here to clear that up. Most modern golf drivers have an adjustable loft, therefore making it easier to fine-tune the performance that you need.

Whether you are a beginner or a more accomplished player, you will still need to understand what loft in the driver is and how it will impact your golf game.

What is The Loft on a Driver?

The loft is the angle of the clubface of a driver. Most drivers have a loft between 8 and 13 degrees. The 8 degree driver will have a much lower launch than the 13 degrees, and it will also impact overall distance and forgiveness.

Many players think that the loft on the driver will impact only the launch angle of your golf shot, but there is quite a bit more to it than this.

How Driver Loft Affects Your Ball Flight

The interesting thing about the loft of your driver is that it is not just about how high you hit the golf ball. In addition, the loft will help you with distance, accuracy, and forgiveness.

Distance

The total distance of the golf shot is impacted by the club’s loft. One of the myths of the game is that when you can keep the ball lower, you will get more distance. For some golfers, a lower lofted driver does maximize distance, but that is more about their path and their speed than the driver.

Many professional golfers can hit a driver with 8 degrees of loft and get it to fly 300 or more yards. When you watch the ball flight of this drive, it is still quite high. The higher lofted shot allows the ball to stay in the air for quite some time. The air provides less resistance than the ground.

However, slower swing speed players often struggle to get the distance they need with the lower lofted driver. The lower a loft gets on a golf club, the harder it is to get the ball up off the ground.

High lofted drivers that are 11 or 12 degrees offer great distance for the slower swing speed players.

Forgiveness

In addition to golf driver loft impacting distance, it will also impact forgiveness. The forgiveness of a golf driver is considerably higher when it has a higher loft. The higher the loft, the easier it is to get the ball straight down the fairway.

You may be wondering why golfers don’t want to use higher lofted drivers all the time.

The reason here is that for certain swing speeds, you will eventually hit the ball so high that it costs you the distance.

Golfers need to find that perfect combination of loft and launch angle to ensure maximum distance. Luckily with modern fitting equipment, this is easier than it ever has been.

I have always played with a 10.5 degree driver. Most recently, I tried to adjust the loft down to 9.5 to see if it would give me a more piercing ball flight, something that I thought would be helpful.

The ball flight was more like what I thought I needed, but the total distance from my golf shot was lacking. This just further proves the point that the best loft is the one that works the best for your speed and your angle of attack to the golf ball. For me, that is 10.5 degrees of loft.

Accuracy

Forgiveness and accuracy can go hand in hand. When golf drivers are the right loft for your swing speed, you should have an easier time controlling them. For instance, a player may find that with an 11 degree driver, they can be more accurate than they can be with a 10 degree driver.

The way to fine-tune this is to test your accuracy while setting the club to several different lofts.

You will quickly be able to see that at certain lofts, the slice and hook start to come out. The club feels considerably less forgiving, and your dispersion rates increase. Better players can hit their drives within a few yards of a target.

I found that the difference between swinging a 9 degree driver and a 10.5 was enough to make the sport incredibly frustrating!

How Much Difference Even 1 Degree of Loft Change Can Make on a Driver

When I’ve tested the difference that one degree of loft change makes on a driver, I’ve found the results to be within 3 to 5 yards. Where you really see the difference is when a player who was using a 12 degree driver switches to a 10 degree driver.

If you are not careful about this, you could see differences of up to 10 yards, which significantly impacts the approach shot you will have to the green.

PGA Tour players will tell you that in addition to the difference that loft makes in their shots, it is also crucial to consider the shaft in the club. The shaft can increase launch, have an impact on spin rates, and even make it so that you have a faster swing speed.

Is a Higher Loft Driver Better?

A higher lofted driver is almost always better for a golfer with a slower swing speed. When you use a higher lofted driver, the ball will stay in the air considerably longer. With a golf ball that has plenty of time in the air, you almost always see more distance.

However, if you are a fast-swinging golfer that has a steep angle of attack, the higher launch angle can create problems in your game.

You may notice that the ball goes too high, and when it lands, there is almost no forward roll. This is where you will need to work on lowering the ball flight a bit by adjusting the loft or the angle of attack.

How to Figure Out What Loft You Should Be Using on Your Driver

Now that you can see how important it is to have the right loft in your golf driver, let’s take a look at a few ways you can determine if your golf driver loft is correct.

Go to a Golf Club Fitting

A golf club fitting is a great way to narrow down which golf club driver loft could be best for your golf game. When you go to a fitting, you will work with a professional that gives you information on the perfect angle of attack and the way that impacts the actual loft of the club.

With a golf club fitting, you will tap into some great technology but also the advice of a fitting professional that understands the science of the game.

I like to go for golf club fittings where I can see the tee shot. Even though simulators are incredibly accurate, there is something about seeing the complete ball flight that makes it easier to pick the proper loft for the driver.

Get a Portable Launch Monitor

If you don’t want to go for a fitting, you can always conduct your own! Portable or personal golf launch monitors have come a long way and are now more affordable than ever. For less than $500, you can hit golf balls on the range and get some accurate information about the shots you are hitting.

Portable launch monitors may give you less information than you get during a complete custom fitting, but this is a great place to start.

I like to hit 5 shots with a certain loft and collect measurements, and then switch to another loft and collect some more data. You will quickly be able to see which golf club is the one that could work for you.

Test It Out The Old School Way

If technology is just not your thing, feel free to pick a target on the range and experiment with different lofted drivers to see which gives you the best results.

I highly recommend testing on the course and the range so that you get a better idea of how the ball spins and how accurate it is. Sometimes, with a wide driving range, we assume the strike was relatively good, but it’s just a bit off. The golf course gives us more accurate results.

Use an Arccos Grip

The Arccos Grip may be something you already have in your golf club. Many Ping and Cobra clubs have this grip in place, and it will essentially track information about your drives as you play.

With the Arccos Grip, you can experiment with different driver lofts and get concrete evidence as to which is the right fit for your game. These grips work for slower swing speeds, average swing speed golfers, and even fast swing speeds.

The grip is less accurate than something like a Trackman golf simulator, but it’s a good step toward getting you some information.

Brittany Olizarowicz

Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children.

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It’s been quite a year for Rory McIlroy. Three wins, another FedEx Cup title, a return to world and European no.1, and a major role as an outspoken critic of LIV Golf, have thrust the 33-year-old from Northern Ireland into the global spotlight like never before. But what does the man in question think of his status as pro golf’s senior statesman as we head into 2023 and his 16th season on tour?

When you first set out on your professional career back in 2007, what ambitions or expectations did you place on yourself, and how do look back on what you have achieved so far?
It may sound a bit clichéd, but I think I just took it one step at a time. I wanted to get my European Tour card and once I did that, I wanted to play in the majors and the World Golf Championships. I didn’t start off with grand ambitions. I just wanted to become the best golfer that I could, and whether that meant I was at a certain level or the levels I have reached, I’ve just always tried to get the best out of myself.
When I look back over the last 15 or so years, I know that I have had a pretty amazing career and it has provided me with an amazing life and has enabled me to do some amazing things, but you still have to remember where you came from. I have to pinch myself sometimes and try to put a little perspective on things, as I know that I am incredibly privileged to be in the position I am today. I’m getting to live out my childhood dreams, and not everybody gets to do that, so it’s an unbelievable position to be in.

You’ve been in great form this year and had a great run of results over the last few months. What are your main takeaways from 2022?
Yeah, it’s been great. I feel like almost every time I’ve teed it up this year, I’ve been in contention on a Sunday. You’re obviously not going to win every week, but if you give yourself a chance at least every week, that’s a really good start. As long as I keep putting myself in good positions, keep giving myself chances to win, that’s what I’m really happy with.
Getting back to world no.1, given where I was a year ago, also makes me feel proud. I’ve worked so hard over the last 12 months to get myself back to this place. I feel like I’m enjoying the game as much as I ever have. I absolutely love the game of golf. When I go out there and I play with that joy, the results have been good and long may that continue.
Another thing that I’m really proud of is that I don’t feel I have to rely on one aspect of my game to get me into contention. If my driving isn’t quite there, then my putter bails me out. If my putter isn’t there, my iron play bails me out. I feel like when you get to this level, it’s like, okay, how can you make those incremental improvements to get better, and I think my goal has been to just become a more complete golfer and I feel like I’m on the journey to doing that. I’m as complete a golfer as I feel like I’ve ever been, and hopefully I can continue on that path.

What specifically brings you joy out on the golf course?
Just the journey of trying to get the best out of myself, I think that’s the satisfying thing. I never feel like I’ve figured this game out – I don’t think I ever will figure it out – but every day I wake up trying to get closer. That’s the beauty of this game and why we all keep coming back for more.

It’s obviously been a year of great highs, but how long did it take you to get over the disappointment of not winning The Open Championship this year, especially after getting into such a strong position?
Once The Open was done, I just reset my goals on what I thought a successful season would look like, and that’s what I went off and did and that’s what I was able to achieve. Of course I was disappointed not to win at St Andrews, but you lose more often than you win in this game, so I couldn’t afford to sit around moping in the middle of the season, I had to look forward and see how I could make the best of the rest of the year, which I think I have been able to do.
I feel like any time I’ve had a setback in my career, whether it be missing a cut, missing a chance to win a tournament, trying to get my first win on the European Tour or win my first major championship, I feel like I’ve been able to bounce back from some adversity. It’s been a learning curve, but I think my resilience, and my ability to respond to setbacks, is one of the things that I’ll look back on my career in 20 years’ time and be most proud of.

With the commitment to play 20 events on the PGA Tour next season, it’s hard to see how you’re going to find so much time to play in Europe. What is your schedule going to look like on the DP World Tour next season?
Pretty much the same as it has been the last few seasons to be honest. I’ve set my life up in the States, and that’s where my family is now, so the PGA Tour is where I will continue to play the majority of my golf, but I will continue to play in DP World Tour events where it fits my schedule and where I feel like I can and should play.
I’m an ambitious person. I want to play where the best players are playing and for the last decade or more, the best players have predominately played in the United States. There are a lot of changes going on right now in the schedules, but that probably won’t fully roll out until 2024, when the PGA Tour starts its calendar year season, rather than the wrap-around season which it currently operates.
I think that’s when will properly start to see the benefits of the strategic partnership between the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. It will unlock more of a global schedule with some of the bigger European events incorporated into that January to August time frame. The two tours are going to run side-by-side and while that means I’m probably not going to play in the Dutch Open anytime soon, or some of the smaller events, more co-sanctioned events are going to attract stronger fields and that can only be good for sponsors and for fans going forward.

Do you see a time when the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and LIV Golf will sit down and sort it out, or have we reached an impasse and golf will be forever split?
I’ve always said I think there is a time and a place where everyone that’s involved should sit down and try to work together. It’s very hard for that to happen right now when there are all these lawsuits going on. There’s obviously this court case that’s going to happen in February with the DP World Tour and then the one in the States later next year, so that makes it very difficult to know what’s going to happen. There’s a natural timeline to let temperatures just sort of settle down a little bit and people can maybe go into those mediations with cooler heads and not be so emotional about it all.
But look, I don’t want a fractured game. I never have. The game of golf – at the professional level – is ripping itself apart right now and that’s not good for anyone. It’s not good for the players on whichever tour their on. In an ideal world, you want the best players competing against each other all of the time, or at least for more of the time, and currently that isn’t happening. So, I’m all for everyone sitting around the table and trying to figure something out.

Do you feel that LIV Golf events should be ascribed world ranking points?
I would certainly want the best players in the world ranked accordingly. I think Dustin Johnson is somewhere around 100th, so it’s not an accurate reflection of where he is in the game. But at the same time, you can’t make up your own rules. There are criteria to be met and everyone knows what they are. I have no problem with LIV players getting world ranking points, but the events have to meet the criteria laid down by the OWGR, and if you don’t meet the criteria, it’s going to be hard to justify why you should have them.

Are you surprised by how much you’ve come to be seen as an unofficial spokesperson for the established tours? Do you feel comfortable in that role?
I don’t know. I’m speaking up for what I believe in. I guess that’s the only thing I can say. Again, I’m speaking up because I believe in the game of golf, and look, the other side will say the exact same thing. But I don’t see how having 48 hand-picked players is growing the game in any way. There have to be pathways. There has to be a meritocracy. You need to give someone the ambition or opportunity to know that if they are playing on the Challenge Tour that in one, two or however many years’ time, that they can be challenging for major championships, which are the pinnacle of our sport. There is this pyramid and this funnel that has been so good for golf for so many years, and I don’t think it’s a broken system. So, whenever something like this comes along that is incredibly disruptive and they are saying things about how golf needs to change, it doesn’t need to change. Golf is the most wonderful game in the world. It doesn’t.
Could there be things that we could do to make it more entertaining from a TV perspective? Of course. That’s something that I think we can do from inside the walls. I don’t think we need to go outside of what we have already to figure that out.
But the game of golf post-COVID has been thriving, and I just want to make sure that it continues to thrive. It’s incredibly divisive, and does LIV Golf bring more eyeballs on to golf? Probably, at the moment, yes, because people are interested in the soap opera of it all, but that’s not golf. The most interesting thing about LIV over the last six months or so have been the rumours about who is going and who is not going. It’s not about the golf. It might be at some stage, but right now it’s the rumour mill that’s fuelling it. So when you you’re watching the PGA Tour or the DP World Tour, you’re watching because of the golf and you’re watching to see who is going to win tournaments that have context and mean something. That’s why I’m speaking up.

Finally, the European Ryder Cup team is most likely going to have a very different look to it next year, with a new generation of players coming through and some of the older players having moved over to LIV Golf or fallen out of form. How do you rate Europe’s chances against what, on paper, always looks like a strong US team?
As you say, our Ryder Cup team is going to look very different next year, and so will the American team to a certain extent. There’s going to be quite a few rookies on both teams, I would imagine. Europe’s had an unbelievable run in the Ryder Cup for the past couple of decades, and we haven’t lost a home leg in 30 years. The US team is very, very strong and doesn’t have lot of scar tissue compared to some of the past teams. They have a lot of their pairings locked down and because of the Presidents Cup, they get a chance to do it every year, which I think benefits them hugely. I think the Hero Cup, which replaces what was once the Seve Trophy, will be very useful for us next year and help us all to get a feel for the team and for Luke [Donald] and the guys to help formulate a plan.
As I said a few weeks ago, when I was playing in the Italian Open, it is time for a rejuvenation of the European Ryder Cup team. We need to blood some new guys, and a home Ryder Cup is the best way to do that. You’ve got the crowd acting as the 13th player on your side, and if you can introduce some of these new guys to the team then it’s the best way to go about it. But, of course, we’ll be the under cogs going into Italy and with how young this American team is, it looks like they will be very strong for a very long time. Either way, I’m excited. It’s a new challenge, a fresh challenge, they’ll be a lot of new faces and I’m excited to be a part of it.

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Let’s face it. Our poor earth takes a beating from us on a daily basis. From big diesel engines to materials that simply can’t be recycled, our environment is always fighting some sort of battle.

Unfortunately, this also happens on the golf course whenever a ball is hit into the woods or water. Thankfully, golf ball manufacturers now offer biodegradable golf balls that are much easier on the environment. These are some of the most remarkable inventions in modern-day sports!

We’ve researched all of these types of golf balls and have come up with the following list of the 4 best biodegradable golf balls. Using any of these options will make golfers feel better when they hit an errant tee shot into the trees or a pond.

1. Biodegradable / Water-Soluble Golf Balls

Pros

• Available in 1,2, or 8 dozen packages
• Currently on sale for 43% off if you buy 1 dozen
• Bulk discounts are available for golfers who buy 2 dozen ($2.91 each) or even 8 dozen ($2.81 each)
• Made in Vancouver by folks who are passionate about golf and protecting the earth
• Each golf ball will completely dissolve if it’s hit into the water, which helps protect marine life
• No more feeling guilty after hitting a lousy tee shot or approach shot into a water hazard
• It will also gradually dissolve in the woods once enough moisture hits it
• These still perform well and feel like you’re hitting regular golf balls
• Made mainly of corn starch and have a polyvinyl alcohol coating on them

Cons

• Not recommended for pro-level golfers or folks with high swing speeds
• These eco-friendly golf balls won’t roll as well as traditional golf balls on the greens
• More expensive than most high-performance golf balls but won’t hold up quite as well
• Some folks have had shipping issues where some golf balls were missing from the box

These biodegradable golf balls are made by a company called Biodegradable Golf Canada Inc. These folks are the industry experts at creating golf balls that are easier on the environment. They use a unique formula of corn starch and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to make their fully biodegradable golf balls.

Each of these golf balls will fully dissolve in water after 3 to 4 weeks, which is excellent news for all animals living in lakes, ponds, and rivers. In some cases, these golf balls will fully degrade in as little as 2 weeks. There are 2 videos on Amazon that confirm this.

Biodegradable Golf Canada Inc. was founded because of the ongoing plastic pollution problem that’s been going on in North America for several decades. Little plastic fragments from traditional golf balls pose a dangerous threat to all marine life and our drinking water as well. By switching to fully biodegradable golf balls, golfers can join in the fight against plastic pollution.

2. Dixon Wind Eco-Friendly Max Distance Golf Balls

Pros

• Designed with no toxic materials so that no ponds, lakes, rivers, or oceans will be harmed
• Made with 428 huge dimples to produce maximum distance off the tee and pinpoint accuracy on all shots into the green
• The external layer has an incredibly durable eco-friendly cover
• Produces just the right amount of spin for approach shots and short game shots
• Engineered with a unique core that gives each golf ball more recoil resulting in extra distance off the tee
• A non-toxic product that still performs well on the golf course
• An excellent choice for golfers with slower swing speeds in the 60-80 MPH range
• It has a superb alignment tool on the side that will assist with all of your putts
• Uniquely designed to generate a low amount of sidespin, which increases accuracy on tee shots

Cons

• Though these golf balls are 100% biodegradable, the process may unfortunately take up to 40 years
• The price is a little bit steep, but some folks claim these perform just as well as the Titleist Pro V1
• Advanced golfers or folks with higher swing speeds won’t get the same type of distance from these golf balls
• Some golfers may not like the relatively high compression rating of 110

Many golfers shy away from trying environmentally friendly golf balls because they fear they won’t get the same distance as regular golf balls. Thankfully, the fine folks at Dixon Wind have solved that problem. These golf balls are made out of re-processable materials but will still produce plenty of distance off the tee.

Dixon Golf is committed to the process of “Going Green.” All of the company’s team members are required to use reusable coffee mugs and water bottles. The company also does all of its invoicing through email to cut down on the use of paper.

What else is cool about Dixon Golf? They donate to over 8,000 charity golf tournaments each and every year! It’s so nice to do business with a company that consistently gives back to its communities.

3. Dixon Earth Golf Balls

Pros

• Performs better than most 3-piece regular golf balls
• It provides a nice, medium trajectory on all golf shots
• Golfers love how soft these golf balls feel on impact with the clubface
• The compression rating of 80 makes it an excellent choice for a wide range of golfers
• Designed to generate a medium amount of spin on all approach shots and short game shots
• Both the golf balls and the packages are made up of 100% recycled materials
• Dixon will give you $1 per ball if you choose to recycle them
• One of the few golf balls on the market that’s truly “green” to the core
• Built with a special polymer that retains each golf ball’s playability
• USGA tournament quality golf ball that won’t harm marine environments

Cons

• The compression rating of 80 may be too higher for golfers with slower swing speeds
• Not quite as much distance off the tee as the Dixon Wind golf balls
• These are slightly more expensive than the Dixon Wind line

Dixon makes it on our list twice because both their Wind and Earth lines are made from 100% recycled materials. The company goes to great lengths to ensure that no dangerous heavy metals like lead, cobalt, or tungsten are used in their manufacturing process. The Dixon Earth golf balls perform beautifully, just like the Dixon Wind ones do.

4. EcoBioBalls by Albus Golf

Pros

• This is the best choice for driving ranges that are near bodies of water
• Bought and sold in over 50 countries around the world
• 100% safe for all types of water and won’t harm any marine life
• You can practice your golf swing and feed the fish at the same time
• It entirely breaks down in 48 hours or less, which is the fastest on the market
• No more feeling bad when you hit a golf ball into the water

Cons

• These don’t perform anywhere near what a standard golf ball does
• The EcoBioBall is only meant to be hit 1 time, so you’ll need to buy lots of them
• They only give you about 30% of the distance of a traditional golf ball

You may not believe this, but these biodegradable golf balls are made with fish food! How cool is that? Not only is the EcoBioBall 100% safe for all marine flora, but they’re also perfectly safe for fish to eat.

This single-use golf ball is ideal for folks who want to hit balls into bodies of water for fun. The EcoBioBall is sold to lots of cruise ships and massive beachside resorts. Fun fact: World-renowned motivational life coach Tony Robbins uses EcoBioBalls.

FAQs

Golfers who’ve never used biodegradable golf balls are bound to have lots of questions about how they perform. To help with that, we’ve created the following frequently asked questions section.

Our hope is that this will help you make the best decision when it comes time to buy new biodegradable golf balls. After all, the only thing better than shooting a low score is doing it while not harming the planet.

Are biodegradable golf balls good?

Well, that depends on what you mean by good. Are biodegradable golf balls better for protecting the environment? Absolutely! Will they help you shoot lower scores like some of the high-performance regular golf balls out there? That’s where things get a little bit tricky.

Thankfully, a lot of the golf balls on our list have performed very well, even when going up against big-name brands like Titleist, Bridgestone, Callaway, etc. Both of the Dixon golf balls on our list have performed just as well as a Titleist Pro V1 in various tests.

How long do biodegradable golf balls take to decompose?

It all depends on the brand and the elements that they use to make the golf ball. Some biodegradable golf balls will fully dissolve in a matter of weeks after being hit into the water. Other brands can take several years to dissolve completely.

That’s in stark contrast to regular golf balls, which can take hundreds or even thousands of years to disintegrate in the water fully.

What makes regular golf balls so bad for the environment?

Traditional golf balls may perform beautifully on the golf course, but they’re made up of materials like plastic, zinc oxide, and zinc acrylate. Needless to say, these elements may seem harmless on the surface, but they can do lots of damage to the fauna surrounding them in water.

Why are biodegradable golf balls more environmentally friendly?

Golf manufacturing companies create biodegradable golf balls by taking out all of the materials that can pollute the earth. They replace these harmful elements with natural substances like corn starch or even fish food.

Which golf ball performs well on the golf course but is also eco-friendly?

If you’re a serious golfer who’s also conscious of the environment, we recommend either the Dixon Wind or Dixon Earth golf balls. Both of these will perform, feel, and sound more similar to a traditional golf ball. The only downside is that they’ll take longer to degrade than some of the other brands on the market.

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.

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It may not seem like the golf tee makes all that much of a difference in the game or matters when you play a round. However, it really does.

Golf tees are more than just a preference and can get in your head. At the risk of making myself seem like a complete golf nut, if I don’t use my regular type of tee, I feel like I lose a few yards.

This article will cover some of our favorite tees and everything you should know about how a golf tee is going to impact your game.

For golfers that just need a quick recommendation, here are our top choices:

Main Differences Between Golf Tees

Golf tees have some differences in how they are produced that will, in turn, lead to how they play on the golf course. The three biggest differences between golf tees are the materials, the length, and the style.

It’s important to remember that there is no perfect golf tee; there are, however, players that have very specific preferences as to which tee is going to be the best fit for their game.

Materials

The main materials that golf tees are made up of include plastic, wood, and bamboo. Wood tees are the most common and have been around for quite some time.

Wood tees are biodegradable and will not do much damage to the environment when the lawn mower hits them the following day. This is especially the case when they are the natural color and not painted.

Golf tees can also be plastic. The plastic golf tees are typically not as good for the environment or the golf course, but they hold up for a long time.

The plastic tees are a good fit for golfers that break tees.

Bamboo tees are becoming increasingly popular as they are great from a durability standpoint and will deteriorate and break down over time. With a bamboo golf tee, expect a slightly higher price, as the cost to the manufacturer tends to be a little higher than the wood golf tees.

Some golf courses are starting to limit the types of tees players are allowed to use. Keep this in mind if you are playing somewhere and they do not allow plastic tees.

Length

For many years golf tees all were about the same length. However, over time the 460cc drivers were released, and players realized that they needed something considerably longer to be able to make contact with the center of the driver’s head.

Some players choose an oversized tee, over 3 inches, and just push it down into the ground when they are on a par 3 or not using the driver off the tee.

Other players struggle with getting these longer tees down into the ground and would prefer to have both long and short golf tees. This is a personal preference.

I’ve always just purchased a one-length golf tee and used it for all the holes, and it’s never been an issue.

Style

Through the years, the types of golf tees have also expanded from a style standpoint. As you probably very well know, golfers will purchase anything that they think may help their game. Therefore companies have come up with a few different models.

• Traditional: A regular tee with an indentation at the top where the ball can sit
• Martini: Looks as though they have a cup at the top (or martini glass); the ball rests in the tee with very little friction.
• Step Tees: A tee that will only allow you to push it into the ground so far; this helps to ensure the proper height on all shots.
• Brush: Instead of having the ball sit on a tee, it rests at the top of a brush and helps to improve overall distance.
• Anti Slice: Tees that help players visualize and strike the proper location of the ball to promote better spin and the proper flight.

How to Choose The Right Features For You

With all of the different tee options out there, many golfers are unsure how to choose the tee that will be the best fit for their game. Here are a few of the things that you will want to consider:

Skill Level

If you are a new player, it may be difficult to understand how high to tee the golf ball. This is where something like the step tee could come into play. Although it won’t always make or break your shot, there are times that keeping the ball teed at the right height will help you become a better player.

In addition, some lower handicap golfers are very particular about the tee that they use. Some will only want wood tees, with no paint, to ensure their equipment does not have any impact from the tee itself.

Budget

As with all other golf products, there are both cheap and expensive golf tees to choose from. Typically, a mid to short-size wood tee will be the most affordable. The most expensive tees are rubber plastic tees that will last round after round.

It is essential to keep your budget in mind as you may play a lot of rounds in a year, and if you spend money at the beginning and use those tees for the entire year, it could be well worth it.

Ball Flight

The tee that you use can impact your ball flight. For instance, if you are a player that tends to hit the ball really low, it could be because you are not teeing it high enough on the face.

Of course, there are other reasons behind ball flight issues in golf, but this is something that should at least be kept in mind as you play and practice.

Angle of Attack

How do you approach the ball?

We know that with a driver (the most likely club to be teed up), the angle of attack is supposed to be more upright, and the ball is hit on the upswing. However, this isn’t the case for all players.

The chance of breaking the tee is quite high for players that tend to have a slightly steeper angle of attack that may clip their drive on the downswing.

These players may take into consideration their angle of attack so that they do not continually have to purchase new golf tees. Plastic tees are typically a bit more durable and will not fall apart after a single swing.

Environmental Regulations/Consciousness

Some golf courses are forcing golfers to care about the environment and ensure that they are playing with equipment that will be biodegradable. However, not all golfers will need the golf course to help them become more environmentally conscious.

Many golfers care a great deal about the environment, and they want to ensure that they are using a golf tee that will deteriorate a bit more naturally and not cause harm. The best thing any golfer can do is try and find their golf tee after they take a shot.

The Top 7 Golf Tees You Should Consider Buying

Now that you have a better idea of the differences in these golf tees let’s look at the ones you should consider buying. Keep these styles, lengths, and preferences in mind as you choose something that will work best for your needs.

Pride Professional Tee Systems (Best Wooden Tees)

The Pride Professional Tee Systems are the best wooden tees on the market. In fact, they also make some pretty great plastic tees as well. These golf tees are used as the number one tee on the PGA Tour, and it’s easy to see why.

One of the first things that stands out about the Pride Professional Tee System is the thickness of the tee. The tees come in various lengths, but the overall width or thickness of the tee is very thin.

This thin feeling allows players to swing through without losing even the slightest bit of speed. These tees are 100% natural hardwood and are built for golf clubs of all sizes and types.

Each tee features a color bar that helps players determine the exact tee height that they are looking for.

Pros

• Made with natural hardwood
• Color bar to help indicate tee length
• Good for larger drivers over 400cc
• Tour-proven model

Cons

• A bit more money than some other options on the market

Green Keepers 4 Yards More Golf Tee (Best Plastic Tees)

Although we mentioned that the Pride Professional Tee Systems have some great plastic tees, there are other companies that compete with them quite well. These Green Keepers 4 Yards More tees are obviously all about distance. Players seeking more distance will be impressed with some of the studies on these Green Keepers tees.

One of the features that help the Green Keepers tees stand out is the flexible 6 prong tip. With these small and flexible prongs, the tee has very little grab on the ball, making it easier to get your full distance.

The tees are also built to last for over 100 drivers. This may not be a large package of tees, but expect to get plenty of use out of it.

Pros

• Impressive testing was done with this tee
• Less resistance on drives
• Built to last more than 100 hits
• Reduced ball spin

Cons

Champ Zarma Golf Tees (Best Golf Tees for People Who Like to Experiment)

If you are one of those golfers that like to experiment with different types of golf tees, then the Champ Zarma Golf Tees could be something to try. All of these different tee manufacturers have tried to come up with something unique that stands out as a great option for players.

With the Champ, Zarma Golf Tees expect a 6-prong head and a very shallow cup. The idea is almost to have the ball balance on the top of the tee instead of sitting in it, as we see with other golf tees on the market.

The ability to set the height of your golf ball to the same position every time is a great reason that the Champ Zarma Golf Tees work for the mid to high handicappers trying to bring about some consistency in their game.

If you are smart about this process, a few extra yards and a bit of consistency is a nice benefit of a new tee.

Pros

• Less surface area of the ball touching the tee
• Can customize the height of the tee easily
• Shallow cup on the top of the tee

Cons

• Not as well known or as widely used by professionals

Thiodoon Golf Tees (Best Value)

The Thiodoon Golf tees are the best option if you are looking for value. Even with these golf tees being some of the most affordable on the market, they are also made with 100% n natural hardwood and are non-toxic.

With Thiodoon Tees are said to be low resistance and have a lower friction tip, but they are mostly like standard golf tees that offer very little friction, to begin with. You can buy this product with a mix of colors and heights to find something you like.

Golfers have been finding that this Thiodoon brand offers variety across several different categories, not just golf tees.

Pros

• A great option when looking for shorter tees
• Fair pricing
• 100% Natural Hardwood

Cons

• Break rather easily
• Don’t come in heights quite as tall as other brands

Zero Friction ZFT Maxx 3-Prong 4″ Distance Golf Tee (Best Premium)

The Zero Friction ZFT Maxx 3 Prong is the best premium golf tee on the market. This tee will add up to 5 yards of distance to your drives according to Zero Friction. When we tested and played with these tees in the past, we also noticed an increase in total distance.

The 4” height on the tee is great for golfers that have a large 460cc golf driver. In addition, you will get a tee that is biodegradable and made with recycled materials. Certainly, something you can feel better about using on the golf course.

This is just a 3 prong design, but the ball balances on the top of the tee quite easily, making it a smart option for many players.

Pros

• Won’t break as easily as other tees
• Lower the chance of golf drives that are not getting the proper launch
• Some golfers notice an increase in total distance

Cons

• Premium tees like this cost quite a bit of money; make sure to find them after you hit!

Callaway Par-Tee (Best For Durability)

If you are tired of snapping tees, the Callaway Par-Tee could be a good option to consider. This low-spin tee is made with a durable co-molded material that will not easily break. The rubberized top and plastic base does a great job of ensuring you will have this in play round after round.

We noticed when we used the tee that the bright color and design made it easy to find after each swing. In addition, the 3 ¼ inch height seems to be plenty for getting distance with a 460cc driver.

If you trust Callaway with the rest of your game, the Callaway Par-Tee is a great option.

Pros

• Very easy to push into the ground
• Durable design
• Has several colors and is a low-spinning golf tee design

Cons

• Only comes in a pack of four
• Not environmentally friendly

Consistent Tee Durable Plastic (Best For Consistent Tee Height)

If you worry about finding the proper tee height, the Consistent Tee Durable Plastic is a good option to consider. This is made for the largest drivers on the market and will ensure you tee the ball properly each time.

This tee helps eliminate those sky marks on the top of your club and keeps you from losing distance. The Consistent Tee is USGA compliant, and it comes with a pack of 10 tees that are quite durable and long-lasting.

Pros

• Easily see how high to tee the ball
• USGA compliant
• Longer, straighter, and more consistent drives

Cons

• Not as lightweight as some other golf tees on the list

Golf Tee FAQs

Now that you are ready to purchase some of the best golf tees on the market, here are a few last things to consider. Remember that some of this comes down to personal preference, and some will be more about performance.

Which Tees Do The Pros Use?

Many golf professionals use hardwood tees that have long tee lengths and less friction. These are often produced by Pride Professional or the Zero Friction Tour tees. The brush tees or martini-type tees are typically not used by professionals. In addition, it’s rare to see bright colors used by pros.

Which Tees Are Better – Plastic or Wood?

Both wooden tees and plastic golf tees can be good, but there are some problems with plastic tees and the environment. If you are concerned about durability and plan to use a tee over and over again, plastic is great. However, bamboo tees or wooden tees are better for those who want something biodegradable.

Can Some Tees Really Help You Hit Longer Drives and/or Slice Less?

Most tees will offer about the same distance for players. However, some offer a bit less friction, while others offer more stability. The difference is usually only a few yards, but for some players, this amount is very important and something well worth taking advantage of.

Brittany Olizarowicz

Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children.

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Collin Morikawa was unsuccessful in picking up a victory at the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba. He was barely in contention, but when the dust settled on one of the last PGA Tour events of the year, Morikawa still found himself at the center of the story.

Earlier in the week, Golf Channel commentator Trevor Immelman had posited that perhaps the reason Morikawa has been struggling in 2022 — a year during which he has failed to secure a win — was because of how difficult it is to live up to the high bar he set for himself early in his career when he won five of his first 50 PGA Tour events and two of his first eight major championships.

Morikawa’s reaction to the very innocuous comment from Immelman was strange, and made me think he had completely misunderstood what Immelman had said.

“Wow, that’s hard to hear from him,” Morikawa told Golf Channel. “I couldn’t care less what he says there because I don’t think that’s my bar. I think I’ve got so much more to improve. I’ve been near last on putting. I don’t think I’ve even finished close to being average on putting. If I can just get my putting to be average, I think there’s so much more to improve. I don’t know where that came from, but that kind of stings there. I don’t like to hear that.

“I don’t know if that was a compliment, I’ll be honest. If he did, maybe it came off wrong from what I heard. For me, I’ve never seen a ceiling. I just want to keep improving. Obviously, we took a couple steps back this year. It’s just trying to get better every day and trying to improve on little things. I expect myself to play well. I set really high goals for myself. It just sucks when they don’t come through.”

Immelman later confirmed that the entire thing was in fact a misunderstanding, but between Morikawa’s reaction, his hiring of a putting coach and his early-week monologue about the plight of getting old (Morikawa turns 26 next February), it made me wonder what else was going on with the two-time major champion.

“It was a lot more stressful this year,” Morikawa said of his 2022. “I’ve just been kind of trying to figure out what was wrong when it was simply just kind of a body thing and just the way my body was moving. Unfortunately, it took seven, eight months throughout the year to at least find that, but that’s on me. Everything is on me just to know what’s going on. I’ve got a great team around me, but that’s the best thing is that, you know, I still have to be aware of what I’m doing.

“I just wasn’t kind of being able to make sure everything was where I wanted it to be. It’s a grind, but that’s what’s great. Even though we are kind of heading towards this offseason, this fall area, I’m putting a lot of pieces together and putting a lot of work in to make sure this kind of next 2023 is going to be [the] best ever.”

To be clear, Morikawa was talking about the way his body functioned in 2022.

“I think it’s just getting old,” said the 25-year-old. “Yeah, no, it’s just getting old. I mean, man, I drank way more in college than I ever do now, but apparently when you get older, your body just moves differently. I still feel great, like everything feels great, everything moves great, but it’s just not as clean as it was. And the maintenance I have to do now is just a little bit more. It doesn’t mean I need to do anything crazy, I’m not changing anything really, it’s just getting my body to where I need it to be.

“Last year, I didn’t really have to focus on it, but when I look back and you think about how much travel I’ve done over the past three and a half years, it’s a lot. It doesn’t stop. I love it, but travel takes a toll on your body and it takes a toll on you and you’ve got to be able to kind of work your way through that and that’s what the best athletes are doing.”

It’s clear that there is frustration from Morikawa that he has been unable to back up his spectacular 2020 and 2021 campaigns with something similar in 2022, and he sort of proved Immelman’s point — and to be fair, the same point many pundits and even players have made over the years — that when you don’t achieve what you once achieved at such a young age, it can wear on you mentally, physically and emotionally.

As for the golf itself, not a ton changed statistically, which should be encouraging to Morikawa. He dropped slightly in ball striking from 2021 (1.62 to 1.47 strokes gained per round) but not nearly enough to be worrisome. He was actually a better putter in 2022 than he was in 2021, although his short game suffered the biggest categorical drop compared to any other part of his game.

One interesting nuance is that while Morikawa’s very best performances and very worst performances were nearly identical to what he did in 2021 (his expected wins did drop from 1.97 to 0.94 from 2021 to 2022), his median performances in 2022 were far worse than they were in 2021. This, theoretically, shouldn’t matter as it relates to winning (you only win with your best performances anyway), but it might matter in regards to how he feels like he is playing.

The point here is that Morikawa is going to be fine. He’s a high-variance player, which if you’re intent on collecting a lot of trophies is what you want to be. It would serve him well mentally and emotionally to understand that just because a few tournaments went his way early in his career, that doesn’t mean his baseline is somebody who wins three or four regular events and a major every year. Data Golf had him at 0.20 expected majors in 2020, and he won one; it had him at 0.45 expected majors in 2021, and he won another. This matters because, while he was good, he was not overwhelmingly great in 2020-2021 yet the expectations after winning two majors started to pile up. We wouldn’t even be having this conversation if Morikawa was a three-win, no-major guy.

If you take the long view, wins and losses often happen randomly, which means they can sometimes happen in bunches. Just because you win two of your first eight majors doesn’t mean you’re the second coming of Tiger Woods. Just because you don’t win any of your next 15 doesn’t mean the Korn Ferry Tour is in your future.

Morikawa exceeded both expectations and statistical probabilities in terms of winning over the first few years of his career. He overachieved. That happens, but it doesn’t mean a winless year has changed him as a player or a competitor even if it can often feel that way. 

Are there things to work on? Sure. Can the iron play get a tad better? Yes. Does he need to clean up his short game a bit? Absolutely. But if Morikawa continues to play like he did in 2022, he’s going to have more seasons (in terms of wins) like he experienced in 2021. That can seem counterintuitive, but as we’ve seen so many times throughout the history of golf, this game makes absolutely no sense. If you let it, the sport can befuddle even those who have seemingly every answer.

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Golfers often make the mistake of thinking golf books can’t actually improve your game.

They think hitting 100 balls at the range would be a better use of time.

You have to have a club in your hand to improve your game right?

Wrong.

Hitting 100 balls at the range with the wrong swing thoughts and bad form will not make you a better golfer.

Read the above sentence again.

…

What will make you a better golfer?

Golf books.

Reading the right golf books will give you insights on how to think about the game, the proper form, and course management.

Knowing “WHY” you do the things you do in your golf swing is just as important as actually swinging the club.

Knowing the science along with the art will give you the confidence you need when standing over the ball.

With that confidence, you will improve your handicap.

The first 4 books of this list helped me take 15 strokes off my handicap.

Read them and you will become a better golfer.

30 Best Golf Books That Will Make You a Better Golfer

1. Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf

An all time classic.  This book will teach you the five fundamentals that lead to a classic and consistent golf swing.  This is one of the integral books that started me on my journey to taking 15 strokes off of my handicap.

2. Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book: Lessons And Teachings From A Lifetime In Golf

The best-selling golf instruction book of all time.  Guaranteed to improve your game.

3. Dave Pelz’s Putting Bible: The Complete Guide to Mastering the Green (Dave Pelz Scoring Game Series)

Another book on the list that played a massive role in dropping 15 strokes off my handicap. Dave Pelz’s is well known in the golfing world for his Scoring Series.  He has ruthlessly studied putting and has put his scientific research to work to improve your game.  Dave’s writing is heavily science based, but will give you the understanding of WHY you are doing what you do on the greens.

4. Dave Pelz’s Short Game Bible: Master the Finesse Swing and Lower Your Score (Dave Pelz Scoring Game Series)

The same concept as Dave’s Putting Bible but focused on your short game.  This will help you score around the green and quickly make you a short game wizard.

5. Golf Is Not A Game Of Perfect by Dr. Bob Rotella

Golf is just as much mental as it is physical, if not more.  Golf Is Not A Game Of Perfect focuses on the psychology of the game.  It will teach you the thoughts that should be going through you head while you golf, and give you the confidence to make the crucial shots that will drastically improve your game.

6. Bunker Play by Gary Player

7. Tiger Woods: How I Play Golf

This book directly improved my game.  No matter how you feel about Tiger, his game is undeniable.  This book not only gives you a look into how he plays, but also the thoughts he has while standing over the ball.  Something we could all use!

8. Golf in the Kingdom by Michael Murphy

9. Zen Golf by Michael Murphy

“Golf is played on a 6 inch course, the space between your ears.” – Bobby Jones

10. The Big Miss: My Years Coaching Tiger Woods by Hank Haney

11. The Match by Mark Frost

12. Practical golf by John Jacobs

13. The Greatest Game Ever Played by Mark Frost

Great golf story.  Has since been made into a movie that is worth a watch as well.

14. Golf My Way by Jack Nicklaus

15. The A Swing: The Alternative Approach to Great Golf by David Leadbetter

16. Secrets of the Short Game by Phil Mickelson

If there’s anybody who has the right to teach short game, it’s Phil.  Known for his creativity around the greens and phenomenal short game, this is a good look into how he is able to get up-and-down so consistently.

17. The Seven Laws of the Golf Swing by Nick Bradley

18. Golf for Dummies by Gary McCord

Better for beginners.  Still worth while for experts.

19. The Search for the Perfect Golf Club by Tom Wishon

20. Your 15th Club by Robert Rotella

21. Fearless Golf: Conquering the Mental Game by Gio Valiante

22. Golf Is a Game of Confidence by Robert Rotella

23. Golf My Own Damn Way: A Real Guy’s Guide to Chopping Ten Strokes Off by John Daly

24. Every Shot Counts: Using the Revolutionary Strokes Gained Approach by Mark Broadie

25. Dream Golf by Stephen Goodwin

26. Ernest Jones’ Swing The Clubhead Method

27. The Putting Prescription: The Putt Doctor’s Proven Method for a Better Stroke

28. A Good Walk Spoiled by John Feinstein

29. Training a Tiger: A Father’s Guide to Raising a Winner in Both Golf and Life by Earl Woods

30. The Bogey Man: A Month on the PGA Tour by George Plimpton

There’s your of 30 golf books that are guaranteed to make you a more complete golfer. 1, 2, 4, and 6 were the four books that set me on the path to completely changing my game.

Each book offers something different, but in the end will bring you closer to playing the golf you’ve always dreamed of.

So the next time you think about going and spending two hours at the range…

Spend the first hour with a golf book instead.

August Noble

August Noble was first introduced to golf at 7 years old. In 2013 he started seriously working on his game and was able to reduce his handicap from 19 to 3.4 in less than two years. He’s been helping other golfers do the same ever since.

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If you are an average golfer, it can be difficult to find the perfect golf ball for your game.

There are tons of golf balls out there, but if you’re an Average Joe, which ones are best for you? We break down what type of golf ball is best for average golfers and which brands to try.

For golfers that just need a quick recommendation, here are our top choices:

What Kind of Golf Ball is Best Suited for the Average Golfer?

Average golfers typically have slow to moderate swing speeds. They also tend to struggle with accuracy issues like huge slices and duck hooks off the tee box. If you are an average golfer, here are a few key features to look for in a golf ball.

1. Opt for a Softer Golf Ball Instead of a Harder One

Average golfers usually need a soft golf ball since their lower compression rating will help make it easier to hit the ball a decent distance. Soft golf balls provide plenty of yardage for average golfers with slow to medium swing speeds.

Soft golf balls also have a better feel at impact than hard golf balls. This is especially true if you are playing in a colder climate. Golfers who hit soft golf balls won’t have to deal with nearly as many painful vibrations versus folks who choose a hard golf ball.

2. Choose A Golf Ball that Limits Side Spin

Some select golf balls on the market are aimed at helping reduce sidespin. Sidespin is what causes those annoyingly inaccurate slices and hooks that we all hate while on the course. Since the average golfer often fights these directional problems, a ball with lower sidespin will help limit the damage when he happens to mishit a shot.

3. Choose a Golf Ball with Lots of Greenside Spin

Though you want to limit sidespin as an average golfer, you do need plenty of spin when it comes time to hone in your short game. Find a golf ball with a higher greenside spin. This will help you hit more accurate pitches, chips, and putts.

We know it’s a bit confusing to recommend a golf ball with a low amount of sidespin as one feature but a high amount of greenside spin as another feature. Put your mind at ease though, because many golf ball manufacturers make balls with these attributes.

4. Find a Golf Ball that is in the Medium Price Range

We’ve talked in some previous articles about how more expensive premium golf balls aren’t necessarily better. It all depends on each golfer’s swing speed and swing type. For most average golfers, it makes sense to find a golf ball that is in the medium price range.

Can an average golfer play with an expensive Titleist Pro V1? Absolutely, but he must keep in mind that those types of golf balls are designed for the experienced golfer that shoots low scores regularly.

With so many good choices on the market, there’s no reason why an average golfer should have to overpay for golf balls. Average golfers should expect to pay around $20 to $35 per dozen golf balls.

9 Best Golf Balls for Average Golfers

1. Callaway 2021 Supersoft Golf Balls

The Callaway Super Softs take home our #1 spot for average golfers. Callaway is a great company that makes fantastic golf balls. The are a fabulous choice for average-level golfers. Folks who want plenty of distance off the tee, accuracy on all shots, and a soft feel on impact will love the Supersoft.

The Supersoft’s new Hybrid cover provides extra ball speed, a high trajectory, and a plethora of greenside control. This ball is also made with Hex Aerodynamics, which results in less drag and even more launch. This means this ball is going to give you more control on all of your approach shots toward the flagstick.

This golf ball also has a thick black line on the side to use as a putting alignment tool on the greens. All in all, this is one of the best balls on the market for average golfers. Loads of golfers have been playing with the Callaway Supersoft for years.

2. Bridgestone Golf e12 Contact Golf Balls

The Bridgestone e12 checks all the important boxes as far as good distance, soft feel, and plenty of greenside spin. The cost of the e12s is also very affordable.

These golf balls are made with Bridgestone’s unique Contact Force Dimple Pattern that creates 38% more surface contact on impact. This dimple pattern also makes your ball fly longer and straighter than any other golf ball that is marketed to the average golfer.

This ball has a soft core, which means you’ll love the nice feel it gives you when you make contact. Bridgestone also invented this ball with a sidespin reducing mantle, so your typical hooks and slices won’t be nearly as pronounced as it is with other brands.

The e12 also provides plenty of greenside spin to help make your short game a bit easier. The Reactiv cover on this ball gives it a softer feel when you are putting.

3. Titleist Tour Soft Golf Balls 2020

Titleist is the most renowned brand in the golf ball manufacturing business, so you can rest assured that you are getting a great product with the Tour Soft.

Average golfers who desire extra distance and a more consistent ball flight will love the Tour Soft golf balls. Titleist makes this ball with special technology that results in less spin when hitting your longer clubs (driver and fairway woods). This is a huge advantage for the average golfer because the longer clubs are more difficult to control.

If it’s short game control and a soft feel you are after, you’ll love the Tour Soft. The Tour Soft also comes with a nice side stamp that makes it easier to line up your putts. It’s kind of nice to not have to mark up your golf ball with a permanent marker.

4. Srixon Soft Feel Golf Balls

Srixon has come a long way since arriving on the golf scene in 2000. The brand has been highly successful at making quality golf balls. The Srixon Soft Feel is an excellent choice for lots of average golfers.

This ball is made with a FastLayer Core that provides plenty of yardage and a nice, soft feel on the greens. The secret to Srixon’s extra distance is their 338 Speed Dimple Pattern. This pattern helps reduce drag during the launch of your shot and increases lift on the downward portion of your shot.

The soft, thin ionomer cover provides lots of control on pitches, chips, and putts. The compressing rating of 60 means it’s perfect for average golfers with slower swing speeds.

5. Wilson Golf Staff Fifty Elite Golf Balls

If you’re an average golfer who is looking for the most value, you may want to consider buying the Fifty Elites from Wilson.

These little beauties perform exceptionally well on the course and they cost only a little more than one dollar each. That price is by far one of the cheapest in the industry.

This golf ball features a responsive cover, low spin while hitting the driver, and a soft feel both at impact and around the greens. Wilson strikes the perfect balance with its rubber core and firm ionomer cover.

This ball has a compression rating of 50, which means it is an ideal choice for average golfers with slower swing speeds. Wilson has been an established name in the golfing world for several decades and the quality of their products is unquestioned.

6. Titleist Velocity Golf Balls

Titleist makes its second appearance on our list with their Velocity golf balls. These are a little less expensive than their Tour Soft counterparts but they still offer plenty of outstanding features.

The Velocities are known for reducing side spin on every shot. This means that average golfers with a pronounced hook or slice will appreciate how this golf ball increases accuracy. The Velocity also provides the exceptional distance that the Titleist brand is known for around the world.

Lots of golfers love the high ball flight that the Velocity provides. They also rave about how the Velocity makes it easier to stop their iron approach shots. The Velocity used to only be available in white, but now it’s offered in green, orange, and pink as well.

7. TaylorMade Distance Plus Golf Balls

TaylorMade checks in at the #7 spot on our list for best golf balls for average golfers.

This golf ball is specifically designed for maximum ball speed, which leads to more distance. The React Speed Core helps give this ball a fantastic feel at impact.

The Distance Plus has 342 dimples that are aerodynamics friendly and able to reduce the drag on your shots. Though this is a two-piece golf ball, its compression rating is 77. This means it’s a good choice for average golfers with slow or medium swing speeds.

TaylorMade has also added what they call a Plus Alignment Aid on the side of the ball. This makes it easier than ever to start your putts on the correct line and sink more birdies. The ionomer cover provides a high level of durability and resistance to scuffs and nicks.

8. Vice Tour Golf Balls

Vice is a newer brand on the golf ball manufacturing market. However, the brand has exploded in popularity over the last couple of years. Vice has figured out how to offer a three-piece golf ball at a much cheaper price than other brands.

Most three-piece or four-piece golf balls run in the $4 apiece range, regardless of the brand you buy. The Vice Tour golf balls are in the $2 apiece range. Enjoy the extra softness and increased spin of a premium golf ball, but at half the price!

This ball has a 392 dimple design that leads to more stability than other brands. The Soft Energy Speed Core provides some extra distance off the tee and a wonderful feeling at impact. Most golfers are amazed at the minimal amount of vibration this ball gives off, even on shots that aren’t hit on the sweet spot.

This golf ball holds up incredibly well, even in tough weather conditions. The ball flight seems unaffected and consistent, even on windy days. Vice also adds its KIL (Keep In Line) putting line on the side to help you line up your putts.

9. Volvik Vimax Soft Golf Balls

The Volvik brand came to the forefront of the golfing world because it was one of the first golf balls with striking matte colors.

These balls are available in red, green, orange, and yellow so there are plenty of options for folks that like a golf ball that stands out on the course. Lots of golfers claim that the matte colors are easier to focus on during their swing.

The core of this ball is soft and is designed for lots of ball speed. This leads to maximum distances off the tee box and a high trajectory. Volvik also manufactures these golf balls with a patented dimple design that promotes a steady ball flight.

This ball also has a super soft ionomer cover that leads to more control for your short game shots. This ball is made up of two pieces and has a compression rating of 75.

Golf Ball FAQs

Does it really matter what golf ball you use if you’re an average player?

Yes, it matters quite a bit what type of golf ball an average golfer chooses. Though it’s not a hard and fast rule, most premium golf balls are designed for low handicappers. Low handicappers typically have much faster swing speeds than average golfers.

Make sure your golf ball matches your swing speed. Most average golfers will benefit from playing with a soft golf ball that limits sidespin.

Do expensive golf balls make a difference?

Yes and no. It depends on what your skill level is as a golfer. Average golfers won’t notice much of a difference between an expensive golf ball and a cheap one. That’s because average golfers aren’t trying to shape shots or stop their iron shots on a dime.

As a general rule, we recommend that average golfers select a golf ball that is right in the middle as far as price is concerned. Leave the premium-priced golf balls to the single-digit handicappers and save your money.

How to Select the Right Golf Ball for You

Still not sure how to pick the right golf ball for your game? Here’s a brief checklist of factors to take into account before deciding on which ball to buy.

1. Price

Like we mentioned above, only highly skilled golfers will benefit from premium golf balls (Titleist Pro V1, Bridgestone B RX, etc). Average players will not notice much difference between an expensive four-piece ball and an inexpensive two-piece ball.

2. Compression Rating

This one has a lot to do with swing speed. Golfers with a slower swing speed will perform better with a low compression golf ball. On the other hand, golfers with faster swing speeds won’t get nearly as much distance with a lower compression golf ball.

3. Spin Rate

Most average golfers have accuracy issues, especially with the driver and other long clubs. These folks will benefit greatly from a golf ball that limits sidespin. Along those same lines, advanced players need higher spin rates so that they can shape shots on certain holes.

4. Type of Course

What are the greens like at the main golf course you play at? Are they super fast? If so, you may want a ball with a little less greenside spin.

Are the greens a little on the slow side? If so, you may want a golf ball with as much greenside spin as you can find.

How about distance? Is the course you typically play on super long? If so, opt for a golf ball that is designed for maximum ball speed. If your course is shorter, distance is less of a concern.

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.

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I could tell you that consistent practice and lessons will guide you to a scratch handicap, but from my experience, that is untrue. A combination of practice and playing, a strong mind, and talent are essential to achieving this goal. In this post, I share 10 expert tips on how to become a scratch golfer.

I have played team golf with four players that are now professional golfers playing their trade on various tours around the globe. We all had the same coach and practice regiment. However, they had a natural talent and a strong mindset that led them to a zero handicap and a tour card.

Some players have what it takes, and others do not. But I will explain how to best position yourself to achieve this goal.

What Is a Scratch Golfer?

Simply put, a scratch golf player has a handicap index of 0. Therefore, they must shoot even par in 18-holes to play to their handicap. If the total par is 72, a scratch golfer is expected to return that score on an average day.

When a scratch golfer plays well, they will card several birdies and finish their round under par. Conversely, bad days lead to the scorecard reflecting over par.

How Realistic Is It to Reach This Level of Play?

Not everyone can reach the level of a scratch golfer. I want to remove the fairytales and focus on the facts. You need to possess an element of talent and dedicate yourself to playing and practicing consistently.

Casual players who hit the golf course a couple of times a year are unlikely to lower their number of strokes to the range of a scratch golfer. Conversely, those who train and play consistently are not guaranteed to become lower handicap golfers.

It is realistic if you thoroughly understand golf swing mechanics, course management and improve the weaknesses in your game. Plus, you must have a steel mind that shrugs off a bad shot and encourages resilience.

10 Tips to Help You Become a Scratch Golfer

1. Get Fitted for The Correct Equipment

The first step to becoming a scratch golfer is to get fitted with the correct equipment for your game. A high handicap golfer is typically oblivious to which golf clubs and ball best suits their golf swing. That is why I suggest visiting a professional fitter sooner rather than later.

They will set you up on a launch monitor and analyze each part of your swing through impact. Statistics provided to you by the launch monitor include clubhead speed, club path, backspin, sidespin, apex, direction, and distance. Plus, they assess your putting stroke to find the ideal design for your setup.

Fitters have you test various clubs during their search for your holy grail. In addition, they determine which golf ball is compatible with your swing.

Although their work involves analyzing stats, posture, swing, and ball position, they have two objectives. Find the equipment that maximizes your distance without compromising accuracy.

Without the correct tools, you cannot expect to reduce your total number of strokes from that of a bogey golfer to the level of scratch players. That is much like sending a soldier to the front line with a knife, expecting them to win the battle.

2. Take Lessons

Hopefully, you took a golf lesson or three from a PGA professional when you first took up the game. That would have taught you the basics, such as How to grip the golf club, alignment, ball position, and rotation.

However, a couple of lessons will not cut it. You need to consistently work with a coach to neutralize any issues as soon as they arise. Otherwise, you walk off the golf course, pondering how one lousy hole prompted a disastrous round.

Then, you hit the range and keep making the same mistake without comprehending your errors and how to fix them. The experienced eyes of a coach will detect your issue, help you correct it, and then work with you to get back on track.

Regular lessons basically prevent bad habits from seeping into your game and imploding your mission to be a scratch handicap.

3. Practice with a Purpose

One of my friends, Pete Arnott, coaches amateurs and professionals in Scotland. We recently spoke about practicing with a purpose and how that sets amateurs from the pros.

He used the example of Tiger Woods, who would pick out a spot on the driving range and hit different shots to reach that point. For example, he would hit a full, straight 7-iron to the target, followed by a draw and a fade. Then he would hit a 6, 5, 4, and 3-iron and attempt to land it on the desired spot.

The point is that Eldrick had a mission to land as many balls as possible in the same spot by playing different shots. This gave him multiple shot options from that distance to navigate varying weather conditions and golf course layouts.

By the end of his practice session, he had improved his ability to stick it close to the target from that distance. Therefore, practicing with a purpose helped boost his game.

Before you learn how to hit a draw or fade, I urge you to improve your accuracy and distance control with a straight flight. Start with your highest lofted wedge. Pick out a point in line with your average full wedge distance, and hit 20-shots to that target. After your 20th shot, take a break and analyze the results.

If you achieved a 70% success rate, move on to your next wedge and follow the same procedure. Work your way through your bag and dial in every club in your bag. That is one example of numerous methods to practice with purpose and actually see improvement in your game.

4. Play Often

While some golfers make our game look like it requires minimal fitness, that is fake news. You can practice all you want on the range, but if you do not take those teachings to the course, you will struggle to lower your handicap.

There are 3 elements involved here; walking, winging the club, and your mental state. You need endurance to navigate 18-holes of golf consistently, which comes when you play golf frequently.

When you are exhausted after the hole 12th, it is impossible to focus. That leads to a lack of power on your downswing and reduced hip and shoulder rotation.

As a result, you produce inaccurate shots and lose distance. That is one way to rapidly ruin your round. A couple of duffs and miscalculations can add those feared squares to your scorecard.

5. Master Your Short Game

A solid short game is vital to reach a scratch handicap. If you cannot execute chip shots and struggle to putt, a scratch handicap is an insurmountable challenge. Pencil in a short game session, at least once a week, to hone in on your performance around the green.

When you possess the ability to get up and down from around the green, it enables you to escape disastrous situations. Instead of a bogey, you walk away with a par and do not destroy your round.

Besides, saving your round increases your chances of carding birdies. Golfers who know how to stroke a flat stick stand a higher chance of carding birdies during their rounds. 1-under par holes are essential to becoming a scratch golfer.

We have a guide dedicated to the 9 best short game drills. Give this a read if you are searching for exercises to boost your greenside skills.

6. Learn How To Scramble

Players unfamiliar with the term should read our guide called what is scrambling? But, if you know how to scramble, you should improve your skills. You will rarely achieve a 100% fairways in regulation record every round. As a result, you need to prepare to escape tricky situations.

When you are in the thick rough, the sand, or behind a tree, you need to learn how to escape with minimal wounds. Therefore, you need to play smart and put yourself into a position where you can attack the flag and one putt to get down for a par.

High handicappers would implode in this quagmire and try and hit the ball through a 1-foot gap in the tree. Despite missing the 21-yard fairway, they still think they can execute with precision.

7. Shape Your Shots

I said earlier that you should focus on hitting the ball straight before embarking on a shot-shaping mission, and I stand by that. However, as you lower your handicap and know your way around the course, the next step is, shaping your shots.

The ability to hit a draw or fade enables you to position yourself optimally on doglegs and work your ball around trees and obstacles. Plus, working your ball from left to right allows you to remove hazards and trouble from your line. Plus, you can induce these shapes to play with the wind rather than into it, resulting in a loss of distance.

8. Play with a Caddie

Certain golf courses do not offer caddie services, but if your local does, take advantage of their knowledge. I credit most of my results on the course to my caddies as a junior. Edwin guided me to make the right club and shot selections, taught me how to read greens, and play off different lies.

Having a caddie gives you one less element to worry about when on the golf course. You do not have the heavy load of your bag on your back, and you have a second opinion before making a shot decision.

Finally, it helps if you can build a long-term relationship with a caddie, as I did with Edwin. He understood my game, my thought process, and what shots I could and could not execute. Thanks to him, I made better decisions that saved me strokes when I could easily have carded a double or triple bogey.

9. Improve Your Course Management

Amateurs often step onto the tee box and start swinging. There is no thought about the hole’s layout and where they should place their ball. Course management requires you to think astutely and play for your position. Effectively, you ask where should my ball land on this shot to give me the best chance at attacking the flag on approach?

Manage each shot and think about position. It is, of course, easier to make birdies from the fairway than from the woods.

For example, if water runs along the left side of the hole, you should avoid this area like the plague and instead aim to the right. That completely eradicates the threat of the water hazard.

10. Learn Green Grass Grains

My final word of advice revolves around grass strains. Each type of turf performs differently and impacts the result of your putt. For example, Bermuda grass produces fewer breaks when putting with the grain of grass. Conversely, bentgrass grows upwards and enables balls to break in every direction.

Bermuda greens are slower, while bentgrass produces increased speed. In addition, there is a third strain of grass used on golf courses, called Poa. This grass creates inconsistencies on the green by offering a pure roll one moment and deviating bobbling ball the next.

The point is that each grass strain impacts your putting experience. If you do not know how to play these greens, you will battle to play to a scratch handicap. Especially when you play at away courses covered in grass that you are unfamiliar with.

Further Reading: If you are a beginner, I suggest you learn to crawl before you can run. Study our review on how long it takes to get good at golf, and then come back to this post.

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

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Golf often gets a bad wrap sheet for stuck-up individuals who do not welcome outsiders to their private establishments. Despite that stereotype, there is a lighter side to the game.

In this post, I take you through 30 funny golf terms and sayings every golfer should know.

I have compiled a list of classic terms that golfers globally can relate to. Plus, I included some that I learned growing up in South Africa. These terms refer to the conditions of courses, shot shapes, and scores.

1. Goat Track

When you grow up in a rural area as I did, you become used to poorly-maintained layouts and cheesy livestock references. A goat track was the term of choice in my neck of the woods for shoddy golf courses. You struggle to distinguish the fairway from the rough, and the greens are actually brown.

A goat track in my town meant the same as the phrase dog track that you employ in the United States.

2. Robbed

I am well versed in this term. Being robbed on a golf course happens when your ball lips out of the cup. Then it stops on the edge of the cup or just rolls by. On a good day, that would drop, but when the Golfing Gods are against you, you cannot win.

3. James Joyce

James Joyce was an Irish novelist praised for his intellect and wit. However, his work is lost on many readers who find it difficult to understand and follow. The golf term references putting lines that are near impossible to judge. This is especially true on links courses where undulation attacks at every turn.

4. The Cat Box

A cat box in golf references a sand trap. While you fill your feline’s toilet with absorbable clay, bunkers generally contain Silica sand. Either way, you do not want to drop your cat’s litter or a sand bunker.

5. Dew Sweepers

When possible, I prefer to grab the earliest tee time of the day. The course is quiet, and you do not have anyone in front of you, enabling you to set the pace of play. Getting up this early makes me part of the elite global senior’s club called the dew sweepers. Jokes aside, a dawn patrol round is an ideal way to start your day.

6. The 19th Hole

Although your scorecard only caters to 18-holes, it is the 19th which is most important in my eyes. This is the bar. A social environment to reminisce about the round and forge lifelong friendships. No matter how well or bad you played, the 19th hole makes you remember what matters in life.

7. Fresh Air Shot

None of us wish to admit it, but we have all had a freshy at some point in our golfing careers. A fresh air shot happens when you swing and miss the ball completely. Despite not touching the ball, your intention to strike it counts as a stroke. This is unfortunate for the victim but forever hilarious to their playing partners.

8. Banana Ball

Think about the shape of a banana. It curves slightly, the same direction your golf ball does when you catch it with an open or closed clubface. A banana ball describes a sliced shot, where your ball curves from left to right if you are right-handed. Yet another term you do not want to hear.

9. Rainmaker

If you generate excess backspin rpm off the clubface, your ball balloons into the heavens before falling rapidly back to earth. The term rainmaker suggests that your ball flew so high that it descends rapidly from the sky like a rainstorm.

10. Texas Wedge

My putter is my favorite club in my golf bag. So much so that I use it off the green whenever I can. I am not alone in this philosophy, and there is a slang term to describe this heathenism. It is called a Texas wedge.

Ben Hogan is said to have coined the phrase based on his experience in the lone star state. The small dome greens, high winds, and tight lies made it safer to putt than pitch your ball.

A recent example of spectacular Texas Wedge play came from Cam Smith at the 2022 Open Championship. He putted the ball from off the green, around a bunker, setting himself up for a testing par attempt:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqgPmJk5vCQ

11. Four-Jack

Four-Jack, like Three-jack, refers to the number of putts you had on a hole. Four-Jack specifically represents a 4-putt, which is painful and humiliating. Especially if you hit a par 5 green in 2 and a 4-putt for a bogey.

12. Snowman

A snowman is a score you never want on your scorecard. An 8 represents a snowman, based on the shape of the number. If you make an 8 on a par 3, you record a quintuple bogey, while the same score on a par 4 is a quadruple bogey. Finally, an 8 on a par 5 is a triple bogey.

13. Fried Egg

Landing in the bunker is demoralizing, but as bad as you think it is, there is always the chance of it being worse. A fried egg is one way to rain on your parade.

This means that most of your golf ball is lodged into the sand, and only the top part sticks out. It resembles a fried egg, with the yolk towering over the egg whites below. A fried egg is difficult to control for amateurs and professionals, leading to erratic results.

14. The Dance Floor

A funny synonym for the green is the dance floor. This is where all the action happens, and you must bring your A-game. If your putting stroke is off, you miss opportunities, lose strokes and go home feeling sorry for yourself. Much like a night out with the lads.

15. Mickey Mouse Course

A Mickey Mouse course takes a goat track to a new level. These layouts have short holes compared to other golf courses and suffer from poor maintenance. You needn’t be a long hitter to knock your ball onto the green. However, good luck trying to read the putts on the cabbage patch greens.

16. Victory Lap

When your ball does a victory lap, it is nerve-racking for every golfer. Your ball makes it to the cup and decides to inspect the layout of the land. It circumnavigates the hole before dropping in. Rolling around the cup counts as the victory lap before the ball sinks into the hole to secure a lower score.

17. The Drink

There is nothing intelligent about this term, only logic. The drink refers to the nearest water hazard in play. When the drink is in play, you can play safe and lay up or go for glory, bearing in mind a high risk.

18. Oscar Bravo

I like the name Oscar Bravo, it has a ring to it. This slang term takes the code words from the phonetic alphabet for O and B. O represents out of, while B stands for bounds. Therefore, you say Oscar Bravo when you are your playing partner sacrifices their ball out of play.

19. An Ostrich

As an African, I had to throw in one term that was thrown around my club. An ostrich is the grandest known living bird, but it cannot fly. However, it gathers some impressive speed, sprinting up to 43 mph.

On the links, we called an ostrich a shot that struggled to get off the ground but ran an impressive distance.

20. Yips

Yips are a psycho-neuromuscular impediment that hampers your muscle memory and ability to swing the club and strike the ball. I remember watching Sergio Garcia at the Nedbank Million Dollar when he got the yips. He literally couldn’t strike a golf ball. A few years later, I experienced the same. I could not stroke anything within 5 feet cleanly.

21. Scrambling

Scrambled eggs generally contain a mix of ingredients that form a delicious creamy texture to be enjoyed on toast or as is. Scrambling references a mixed bag of shots, yet you still manage to make a par.

For example, you hit your drive into the woods, then your second into the bunker. Next, you send your third shot 15 feet past the hole and drain the putt. Therefore, you were all over the place and still managed a par.

22. Breakfast Ball

An unwritten rule among buddies. When you tee off first thing in the morning, casual golfers enable a breakfast ball. This credits you with a mulligan should your first shot finish in an undesirable lie.

23. Ace

Ace is derived from the Latin term ‘asa.’ Asa was the smallest coin denomination in Ancient Rome. Therefore it is featured at the top of the list of denominations. The English later adopted the term to mean the ‘first one’ or the ‘best one at something.’

Therefore, when you card a hole-in-one the term Ace is fitting, as it describes you being the best one at that hole. Hole-in-ones are most common on par 3’s, where the achievement is also called an eagle. In addition, I have played with two players who carded aces on a par 4. That is also known as a double eagle or albatross.

24. Foot Wedge

I am not condoning this behavior but instead telling it how it is. A foot wedge is not a golf club. The term describes a golfer who kicks the ball into a favorable position. This is cheating and should not happen on a golf course.

25. Chicken Stick

A chicken stick is the most trustworthy golf club in your bag. No matter the lie, you can rely on this club to get you out of trouble and back into play.

26. Hosel Rocket

Another term you never want to hear coming your way is ‘hosel rocket.’ This is a classic shank where your hosel connects the ball and sends it rocketing directly right if you are right-handed. After a freshy, this is the most embarrassing result for a golfer.

27. Duck Hook

A duck hook is an unpleasant sight if you are the one who struck the ball. However, your playing partners find it hilarious. Your ball leaves the clubface and hooks violently to the left for right-handers.

Golf Monthly alleges that the animal reference in the name has less to do with the fuzzy creature and more to do with the action. When your ball hooks ferociously, it ducks into the rough or woods, leaving you with limited options for your second shot.

This definition of duck refers to taking cover or evading duty or responsibility. Therefore, your ball ducks behind trees, evading the fairway.

28. Platypus

The opposite of a duck hook is a platypus. The rarity of sighting a platypus makes it an apt comparison for hitting your ball out of bounds and still making par. It is uncommon and deserves a unique name.

Over in my neck of the woods, we would use fitting names for the area, such as a white rhino.

29. Swing Oil

Every time I hear this saying, it reminds me of Bender from Futurama. He needs hard liquor to keep him oiled and operational. On the golf course, swing oil generally means a beer. However, if hard tac or wine enhances your performance, keep doing what works for you.

30. Toothed It

If someone says they toothed their shot, they hit the ball off the bottom of the clubface. This means the ball produces less spin, flies low, and does not sit down rapidly. Plus, it sends vibrations up the shaft and shocks your hands.

Related Reading: Speaking of golf terms, we have more where that came from. Find yourself the perfect golf companion with our 50 pick-up lines to help you score.

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

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