Golf Lessons - Golf Balls: Some Little Known Interesting Facts

Golf Balls: Some Little Known Interesting Facts

Posted on June 21st, 2011 by Larry D Keen

Without golf balls we would not be able to play golf. but often we don’t give a second thought to those little balls we play with each and every game we play. So I researched about golf balls and found some of these little known facts, and now I’ll share them with you.

Bridgestone Golf is the number one golf ball maker out of Japan and is used by such notables as Fred Couples and Davis Love III. the company was founded by Shojiro Ishibashi in 1931 and began making golf balls in 1935. the company also owns the Precept line of balls.

Callaway Golf, founded by Ely R. Callaway Jr., based in Carlsbad, California, got started with golf clubs initially and then moved into making golf balls. Callaway developed the Rule 35 golf ball, which they claim will allow the player to use just one ball regardless of the conditions because it contains a unique combination of control of distance, spin, and durability, along with a great feel allowing the golfer to no longer need to second guess himself when hitting the shot. through smart buys they have acquired Top-Flite Golf and Ben Hogan Golf.

In the United States, Dunlop Sports, who manufactures equipment for many sports, is owned by Sumitomo Rubber Industries. Two top golfers who play with a Dunlop ball are Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke, who follow a long line of competitors to use the Dunlop ball since the first ball was manufactured at Dunlop’s factory in Kobe, Japan, in 1930. most recently they have begun production of the Srixon Z-Star golf ball, which is quickly becoming known for its great spin, its good arrow alignment and its great sound. the other ball the company has introduced this year is the Srixon Z-Star X golf ball. These balls have the industry buzzing because of their ability to stop on approach shots, while maximizing yardage regardless of the weather, and their ability to transfer energy while feeling great on the greens.

A golf manufacturer you may have never heard of is Kasco Golf. They started producing balls in 1982 and they make a series of balls named RR Soft, RR Long, Dualmode, and Kasco Royal. the company originally produced golf gloves in their factory and the production of the golf ball gave birth to Kasco Europe. Their ball manufacturing process was patented in 1988 and is designed so that the golfer looses less power and distance if they hit off center.

The most profitable name, with annual sales of $1.2 billion, in the golf ball industry is Titleist, along with their Pinnacle line. Both companies are owned by Fortune Brands which was started in 1932 by Philip E. Young and Fred Bommer. However on December 8, 2010, the company announced their plans to sell the Titleist line. the plan is to sell the company to maximize profits for their shareholders.

So the next time you hit that little white ball you will know a little more about who made it. And even though you may have favored one brand over another, as you’ve found out, it’s common for companies to have more than one golf ball brand under their umbrella.

Golf Balls: Some Little Known Interesting Facts