What would perplex extraterrestrials if they unexpectedly arrived at the pro shop—it seems like anything is possible nowadays—you know what would perplex them? The rack for displaying golf balls. Consider all of those gleaming boxes, all of the various brands and types. Then, with two scaly green fingers, opened the package to find... In a sleeve, there are always three dimpled orbs, each measuring 1.68 inches in diameter and weighing 1.62 ounces. Why do there seem to be so many different versions of the same thing?

Up to an extent, most golfing humanoids could explain things. The balls may appear to be identical, but they perform differently for different types of players and cost different amounts of money. If that isn't enough to drive the aliens back to their universe, perhaps our muddled follow-up attempt to explain which golf ball is best for whatever player would. Maybe you want to be ready when the aliens arrive, or you want to know how to pick the right ball for you once and for all. In any case, we now have the blueprint, which has been declassified in three parts. And we come in peace, so you can rest easy.

THE FIRST STEP IS TO LEARN YOUR PIECES.

The Core – The center of the ball that propels everything forward. Its significance just cannot be emphasized.

Why is it required: It is the engine that controls the speed, velocity, and performance of the vehicle. The ball won't travel anywhere if it doesn't have a core. It should come as no surprise that the core occupies the greatest amount of space beneath the cover.

How it works: The key to success is energy retention. When the club collides with the ball, it explodes off the face with all of its energy. When the ball is in the air, however, some of the initial energy is lost. A well-designed core will aid the ball in retaining as much energy as possible—hopefully, 80 percent—to guarantee it sails through the air with the proper speed, spin, and launch.

A sphere is compressed-molded from a slug of uncured or barely cured polybutadiene rubber. To offer core-specific speed or spin properties, different types of rubber are often employed.

The Mantle – Located between the core and the cover, the Mantle assists in fine-tuning spin and distance.

It seals the ball, preventing moisture from entering the core through the permeable surface. Performance attributes for different areas of the bag can also be modified depending on the number of mantles employed.

Spin can be changed up or down depending on the thickness of the hard mantle layer. It also helps maintain ball speed (energy retention) after impact without sacrificing spin by switching to a tougher cover. It's a ball-powered turbo booster.

Materials: A mix of several ionomer materials to provide the desired hardness and speed.

The cover has an impact on two key characteristics of the ball's performance: spin and aerodynamics.

Why is it required: It protects the core and mantle by encasing them. It's also the layer that helps add spin to the ball while also housing the crucial dimple pattern that disturbs airflow to keep your pellet aloft.

How it works: The stiffness of the material has an effect on the distance and/or spin. Wedge grooves may readily grasp the elastic cover at lower impacts (deft chips) to generate enough spin to stop the ball on a dime.

Urethane is the most often used polymer in premium multi-layer balls.

For golfers who don't mind sacrificing some feel and spin for a few extra yards off the tee, a stiffer surlyn is often utilized on distance balls.

STEP 2: RESEARCH AND EVALUATE WHAT YOU WANT

The age-old quandary. When it comes to golf balls, the answer is to grasp the four general performance categories, which are as follows:

Premium: Tour-level balls with distance off the tee, greenside spin, and control in one package (at a premium price).

Premium Value: Has some of the same features as a premium ball (urethane cover and mantle layer), but at a cheaper cost.

Soft Spin Value: Designed for moderately fast golfers who value soft feel and greenside spin. Distance Value: A firmer alternative for the golfer looking to gain distance all across the bag.

How much money do you have to spend?

You're a Premium gamer if money isn't an issue and you want the best of everything. The case is now closed.

Premium Value: I don't want to spend a fortune, but I do want the best for my game.

Soft Spin Value: I understand that my pace isn't what it used to be. With a better short game, I'll score lower.

Distance Value: Give me as much distance as you can.

As a general rule, approach and short-game shots should receive the most attention. (A good driver fitting can help you get the most out of any ball that's good for finesse shots.)

Because you are unique and not a rule of thumb, examine and assess your strengths and limitations before selecting a ball that will help you negate your major flaws.