How Much Do Golf Balls Weigh: Everything Explained 

Golf balls come in different weights while maintaining the guidelines provided by the USGA. All golf balls must follow the USGA regulation, which is set to ensure a balanced game every time and prevent players from having unfair advantages.

So, how much do golf balls weigh and why should you bother learning the details on this? Knowing these minor details can significantly impact your next game of golf.

Here’s how much golf balls weigh and all the vital pieces of information that you should know about picking the right golf balls for your games. 

How Much Do Golf Balls Weigh?

Golf balls are super lightweight as golfers need them to be light to be able to hit the ball and get good height on it. A lightweight ball helps with that and gives the golfer more speed to work with. That being said, a golf ball typically weighs around 45.93 grams and 52.71 grams, and this rule is set by USGA. The USGA regulation binds golfers to not cross the 1.62-ounce and 1.86-ounce weight limit that’s been set for a fair and balanced game. 

However, you need to know that many factors can make a golf ball vary its weight. For instance, the material used in the ball is the #1 factor that plays a huge role in the weight of the ball. Most golf balls use rubber cores, polymers, and thread wrapping, making them vary in weight. Also, the length and width are other key factors that can influence the weight of the ball.

Pro players always take these factors into consideration and choose the right ball for their games, which gives them greater control and accuracy over their shots. You’ll learn to do the same as we explain heavy vs light balls and explain the impact both of them have on the course. 

Heavy Vs Light Golf Balls: The Ultimate Comparison

You’ll find heavy and light golf balls in the market that are still under the 1.62-ounce and 1.86-ounce weight regulations set by the USGA. Both heavy and light golf balls have their own advantages and disadvantages. Knowing them will help you make a better purchase and make better progress in your golf-playing journey. 

Heavy Golf Balls:

• Heavy golf balls give you more accuracy as they are not super affected by the wind trajectory and you’ll feel more confident in landing your shots closer to your target. It’s perfect for windy weather.
• Due to the excessive weight, it’s hard to get speed and height compared to lighter balls. The distance is significantly cut and might not be ideal for newbies. 
• Heavier balls perform excellently around the greens as they’ll provide you with excellent control over your shots. There’s less spin with a heavier golf ball and more stopping power allows you to hit your target easily. 

Light Golf Balls

• Light golf balls are perfect for beginners as you can get a lot of distance and speed with them. As a newbie, you might not have the right techniques down for taking powerful shots. 
• Having less control is one of the biggest downsides of lighter golf balls. That can be pretty apparent when you’re playing on the green. You should expect more spin and less stopping power with a light golf ball. 
• Lighter golf balls are not ideal for windy settings as they’ll greatly reduce the accuracy of your shots. You need to take note of that and prepare your shots accordingly to be able to land the shots properly. 

Why Golfers Play With Heavier Balls?

Most golfers play with heavier balls to gain better control over their shots. A heavier ball has better wind resistance and makes it easier to get better accuracy with each shot. Due to that, the distance is greatly reduced, which is a big disadvantage of using heavier balls in a golf game. Also, a heavier ball cuts through the green with fewer spins and helps you score. 

Heavier golf balls are suited for golfers who are a bit experienced in the game as a beginner might find it super hard to get distance with a heavy golf ball. However, as it decreases the height you get with the ball, it might help to correct your shots if you struggle with always hitting the shots super high. That being said, with the control and accuracy it brings to the table, there’s no denying that heavier golf balls are a solid option for many golfers. 

Why Choose Lighter Golf Balls? 

Light golf balls are a perfect choice for anyone, especially a beginner player. That’s because getting a fair distance with a light ball is pretty easy. On the other hand, it’s not something a complete newbie can achieve with a heavy ball. You’ll need to develop your techniques a lot to be able to get good height and distance with heavy balls. But lighter balls make it super easy for players to achieve that.

But there’s a drawback, which is you’ll lose a lot of control over your shot. If you are cool with compromising accuracy for speed and distance, then it’s a no-brainer choice for you. At the end of the day, try both types of golf balls and pick the golf ball that feels right to you. 

What Kind Of Balls Pros Use?

Professional golfers are known to use the best equipment possible to get even the slightest advantage in their games. They don’t cut any corners with their gear so that they are on top of their game consistently, and regular golfers can learn so much from them. 

When it comes to golf ball weight, the pro players use both heavy and light balls in their games. For instance, world-famous golfer Tiger Woods likes to play with heavier balls while Rory Mcllroy goes with lighter balls. It all comes down to personal preference and the pros go with this approach as well. Some prefer lighter golf balls while others gravitate towards heavier balls. 

Choosing The Right Golf Ball Weight For Your Next Games 

As you learn the core differences between heavy and light golf balls and see what type of golf balls the pros use in their tournaments, it is easy for you to pick your preferred fit. Remember, you should play a few games with heavier golf balls and also a few with lighter balls. That way, you’ll know exactly which one suits you better. It’s the best way to pick the perfect golf ball for your next games. 

Final Words

Now you have a clear understanding of how much do golf balls weigh and the impact it has on your games of golf. You must choose the right golf ball for a fair and pleasant game. As it’s already under USGA regulation, there’s no space for mistakes in pro games. Abiding by these rules can significantly help you balance out the game for both you and all the golfers across the world. 

That being said, make sure to pick a good quality golf ball as it can have a huge impact on your play as well. And if you followed our in-depth discussion, you should have absolutely no issue picking the right ball for your next games.