What is a Woman's Golf Ball?

[pittpanther]

I guess I've been out of the loop in the 1.5 years I've been playing, but I found out today that there is such a thing as "women's golf balls."

What is the difference compared to men's golf balls? Do LPGA players typically use women's balls or men's balls?

[GDWindowpane]

I'm sure you get a much more detailed answer but I believe the difference to be compression. Men's golf balls are in the 90-100 range and women's tend to be in the 70-80 range.

I believe this to be the main reason many, including myself, will play a women's ball in the winter when it's colder and harder to compress the ball. Hope this helps and please let me know if I'm wrong...

[87vert]

I belive they are for "slower swing speeds" not necessarily for women. Could be for kids or seniors. Anyone who's swing cant compress a standard ball.

[RCF]

What swing speed is necessary to compress a ball?

[Leftygolfer]

What swing speed is necessary to compress a ball?

Pro v1 95ish with the driver.

Most pro women use PRO V1s.

[RCF]

Pro v1 95ish with the driver.

Thanks. Just getting restarted with golf and never considered swing speed and compression. I have a slow swing (guessing about 80) but I get about 150 with a 6 iron on a driving range.

[Leftygolfer]

Thanks. Just getting restarted with golf and never considered swing speed and compression. I have a slow swing (guessing about 80) but I get about 150 with a 6 iron on a driving range.

I would recommend the Precept Ladie or something that is easier to compress like the new bridgestone b330rx. One less thing to think about.

[MonkeyClaw]

The Callaway HX Pearl is the nicest women's ball I've seen. It's the only 3-piece ball I could find and my wife loves them. She won't hit anything else now (unless she's going over a hazard - then she'll hit her old Slazengers).

[HytrewQasdfg]

It is a golf ball designed for slower swing speeds, everything else is the same.

The story that floats around is some guy won the Alabama amateur golf championship one year using a ladies golf ball (Precept Lady). Precept repackaged them as the "Precept Laddie" men's ball. Exact same ball, different name printed on the ball.

I have heard good things about the Callaway HX Pearl. Is there a men's version of this one?

[pittpanther]

I belive they are for "slower swing speeds" not necessarily for women. Could be for kids or seniors. Anyone who's swing cant compress a standard ball.

Interesting comments about "compressing" the ball, and swing speeds. I'll be honest - I don't know what the idea of compressing the ball really means, as it pertains to the golf swing.

In other words, if you have a high swing speed and use a ladies ball, what would be the negative effect? If you have a slow swing speed, but use a mens ball, what is the negative effect? Is this "high compression" factor the reason that people complain about range balls?

[sp33d]

I found an HX pearl in the rough... Drives are ok. But man you can spin those things like crazy. has a very nice soft feel.

I bought the lady some of those wilson womens balls, their outer layer is clear, they look cool as hell.

[buttuh]

There are a lot of non-women's balls that are low compression too.

[87vert]

In other words, if you have a high swing speed and use a ladies ball, what would be the negative effect?

The ball won't go as far.

[Guest]

The HX Pearl is as close to a "unisex" golf ball as I've seen. The main element for a woman's ball is, as others noted, the difficulty with compressing the ball at a slow swing speed. The balls designed primarily for women are designed not only with low compression but also to launch higher at a slower swing speed. With that in mind, those balls like the HX Pearl would be good for golfers who need to increase launch angle. There was a good sidebar about womens golf balls in the May Golf Digest issue that rated golf balls. It was a pity the womens balls were relegated to the sidebar and not to the main article, but the sidebar was informative. You'll find it here:
http://www.golfdigest.com/equipment/...t_womensmarket

[sam004]

Still a little confused here. According to the GD link above and the discussion here, these balls are designed for lower swing speeds to gain loft and carry.

However, with a higher swing speed it won't carry as far.

Found a Precept Laddie on a course I was playing the other day. was only driving around 240-250. Teed this one up and I got 275 out of it twice and dead straight. Been trying to iron out my swing latley, so maybe that was it ?

I will try out a sleeve or 2 of these and compare with some of the other balls I play.
Pro V1, Warbird, Bridgestone. I've never really believed a particular ball makes much of a difference with a mid to high handicapper. 5-10 yds at most ?

[lordhamster]

For my wife the #1 criteria for ball choice is it must be pink.

She plays the pink precept balls like Paula Creamer. She also insists on playing from the Men's tees and beating me every time we play.

Particularly embarrassing to get out-driven by your wife's pink balls. :)

[dansensel]

For my wife the #1 criteria for ball choice is it must be pink.

Amen. I need to move my wife to the men's tees. She gts excited when her drive is further than mine, but then again she is getting the extra yargade form the Womens tees. I should make her play a round from the whites just to stop hearing about it.

[captpat]

Found a Precept today...nice gold color....hit it several (safe) times and liked it!