They may be traditionally white (aside from the obvious branding) but golf balls do, in fact, come in a range of colours and patterns that differ from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Aside from mixing things up in a visual way, patterned or coloured golf balls do offer some strategic advantages on the course, often depending on things like the weather conditions and your own approach to the game. Truvis balls made by Callaway, for instance, offer players a distinctive look that helps them make better decisions concerning angle and direction.
At Clarkes Golf, our UK store is home to a giant range of golf balls - including patterned and coloured golf balls - all from the world’s biggest and best golf brands, like Callaway Golf and Titleist to name a few. So if you’re wondering whether to pick up a pack of these golf balls for your bag, or if you know a golfer who may find them useful, here are a few ways they could help you out if you’re stuck in a jam during your next round.
How coloured and patterned golf balls can make a difference in your game
Winter/snow golf
Let’s get the obvious one out of the way. The main reason players invest in golf balls of differing colours (usually orange or yellow) is to make them more visible on the golf course.
This can be a godsend when our ball strays off into the deep rough. While white golf balls can often blend in with the lighter tones of some of the long grass, orange or yellow golf balls are bright enough to be spotted by the eye with relative ease. Especially if they’re not buried too deep.
But golf balls of this colour come in handy during winter games, too. If there’s frost or snow on the ground, spotting a white golf ball can be almost impossible - even if it lands on the fairway. That’s why having a golf ball that stands out against the white snow can be infinitely useful in these situations and save you bucketloads of time.
Some patterned or coloured golf balls are a marker of quality
As any experienced player knows, not all golf balls are built the same. They may look the same from the outside, but their internal and external makeup can differ greatly, with varying types of materials and techniques used to construct said golf balls.
That’s why some golf ball manufacturers can demand a higher price point than most; because of the time, effort and resources they put into creating the most effective golf balls possible. Titleist golf balls are an excellent example, with the Titleist Pro V1 sitting atop the list of ‘The Best Golf Balls’ in many players’ books for years now.
To keep their products fresh and with an extra visual flair, these higher-end golf balls often feature new and evolving patterns and colours, to keep regular buyers interested and to attract the attention of new players as well.
Be sure to double-check and read reviews before you buy, but you’ll often find golf balls with these types of intricate patterns, colours or designs to be of top quality.
Using the pattern to line up your shot
A little ‘cheat code’ that many amateur and professional golfers like to employ at the tee is using the brand name featured on the design of the golf ball to help line up their shot. In effect, the brand name becomes a guiding arrow players can use to try and hit the ball straighter.
This works pretty well with just the standard logo. But some golf ball designs feature patterns and markings that can give this cheat code an extra boost. Particularly, long, straight stripes - like the ones featured in some TaylorMade golf balls - are very effective at bolstering this technique, in essence creating a ‘runway’ golfers can follow to help them hit the ball in precisely the right direction.
Do manufacturers take this into account when printing their golf balls? Who knows. But it’s always fun to see if this trick works and if the ball winds up where we want it to!
Explore coloured golf balls and patterned golf balls at Clarkes Golf
If you’re running a little low on golf balls or you want to see if different brands, styles and colours could help elevate your game in certain situations, choose Clarkes Golf. With a wide range of golf balls from virtually every major brand in stock, we’re bound to have a pack that will take your fancy. Whether you're looking for practice balls, larger golf ball packs, or golf balls designed to offer greater spin or distance, we'll have something to suit. Or if your game is suffering and you need a little extra forgiveness, we've got plenty of soft-feel golf balls you can try.
Take a look at all our golf balls at the link here, and be sure to explore other pages on the Clarkes Golf site for the very best deals on golf clubs, shoes, accessories and so much more. Or contact the Clarkes team if you need any more information on specific product details, how to pay, or delivery costs.