Is there a real difference between golf balls?

[stinkypete]

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I seem to remember reading a Wall Street Journal article about the insane amount of money spent on golf ball marketing. The point of the article was basically all balls are created equal, but marketing budgets are not.

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the wall street journal is dumb.

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I'm reasonably sure all balls must pass a USGA test for distance and if the go too far they fail and can not be sanctioned.

The reasoning is obvious. Golf courses are fixed in length. The game would be too easy if a ball went 25% further with equal effort.

The rules regarding clubs are not so strict. This has really changed the game but the balls all go the same, all other things being equal.

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not all balls reach that maximum. and distance is only one of many important aspects - spin and feel being the two other major ones.

the rules regarding clubs are just as strict imo, but obviously it's comparing apples to oranges.