Despite their external similarities, when you peel away the covers most golf balls on the market differ greatly, offering different benefits for different types of golfers.

Golf ball buyers guide

Using the same premium ball in practice as you do in competition will heighten your feel for a more reliable short game. But which ball should you settle on? Here are our thoughts to help you whittle your options down.

Urethane or Ionomer?

The more expensive Urethane cover is softer and provides more feedback off the face, which should help you with your distance control. If you are unable to justify the steeper price tag of Urethane, cheaper Ionomer covered balls still provide plenty of feel for the average club golfer.

Soft or firm?

A few of the premium balls, like the Titleist Pro V1 and Srixon Z-Star, come in alternative versions, which spin slightly less for players who prefer a firmer feel and less spin off the tee. Try both types from tee-to-green to find your preference.

Tee or green?

Different brands have conflicting fitting messages. Brands like Bridgestone like to measure your swing speed and fit you for a ball that will give you more distance off the tee, while brands like Titleist base its fittings around your short game. So consider if your game will benefit most from extra yards off the tee or better distance control around the green.

Budget or premium?

Gone are the days when budget balls felt like rocks and looked just as bad. Nowadays you can get some reasonable quality for less than £20 a dozen. Again, test multiple ball types to see which you get the best results with.