Golf ball
A small, firm, dimpled ball struck with a club and played toward the hole on a golf course.
Overview
A golf ball is small, firm and covered in dimples. The dimples are not decoration: they shape the airflow around the ball in flight, which is what lets a struck ball carry a long way and hold a stable line rather than dropping quickly.
Balls differ in construction — how many layers they have and how firm the cover is — which changes how they feel off the club and how much they spin. Beginners lose balls regularly, so most start with inexpensive ones and worry about construction later.
Good to know
- The dimpled surface is what allows the ball to carry and hold a steady flight.
- Construction changes feel and spin more than it changes distance for most players.
- Losing balls is normal while learning, so inexpensive ones are the sensible start.
- Balls are marked so players can identify their own on the course.
Where it’s used
Sports that use golf ball:
How it connects
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Frequently learned together
Taught side by side in the same stage of a learning path.
- Golf clubBoth are taught in the “What you’ll need” stage of the Golf learning path.
- Golf teeBoth are taught in the “What you’ll need” stage of the Golf learning path.
- Golf gloveBoth are taught in the “What you’ll need” stage of the Golf learning path.
- Golf bagBoth are taught in the “What you’ll need” stage of the Golf learning path.
- Golf courseBoth are taught in the “What you’ll need” stage of the Golf learning path.
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Facilities
Learning paths
Skills
- ChippingThe short lofted shot played from near the green to get the ball rolling toward the hole.
- PuttingThe skill of rolling the ball along the green so it drops into the hole.
- DrivingThe skill of hitting a long tee shot that sets up the rest of the hole from a playable position.
- ShootingThe skill of striking or releasing the ball toward the goal or basket to score.
Techniques
- Bunker ShotThe greenside sand shot where the club enters the sand behind the ball and lifts it out on a cushion of sand.
- One-Handed BackhandA backhand groundstroke struck with a single hand on the grip, driving through the ball with a full extension of the hitting arm.
- Chip ShotA compact lofted shot from close to the green that carries a short distance and then rolls to the hole.
- Golf Full SwingThe complete rotational swing used for tee shots and longer approach shots, from setup through backswing to a balanced finish.
- VolleyA shot played near the net by blocking the ball out of the air before it bounces, using a short, firm punch rather than a full swing.
Rules
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How this page is maintained
- Content type
- Equipment
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
- Verified external sources
- 0
- Content updated
- 2026-08-30
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