Why Are Golf Balls White? Are There Other Color Golf Balls?
When first seeing this blog title, you might wonder why we are asking this question. Surely we have all seen golf balls that are made in colors other than white? Therefore, if there are already golf balls in yellow, orange, pink and a whole host of other colors and styles, why ask why they are white? The thing is, despite other colors making it into the wider golf ball family, the prevailing standard color of golf balls is still white, and that is why we ask the question.
Golf balls are most commonly white dating back to almost the game’s inception. Although initially, golf balls were made from feathers and leather, white was later chosen for its visibility and the availability of white pigment. While colored golf balls are now more common white remains the standard due to tradition.
Discover the fascinating history behind the traditional white golf ball in our comprehensive guide. Explore why this color has prevailed, the advent of colored golf balls, and how color influences players’ performances. A must-read for golf enthusiasts looking to deepen their understanding of the game’s subtleties.
Why Are Golf Balls White?
As you might expect, the decision to make balls white goes all the way back to the earliest days of the game. The first golf balls were made from feathers wrapped in leather, the colors of which would naturally blend in with the colors of the golf course.
That being the case, and given how expensive these balls were to produce, their users wanted a way to ensure that they would remain visible during the game, and so the white coloring was chosen.
This much we might have been able to guess, but why choose white over other pigments? White was a particularly abundant and affordable pigment, not to mention bright and highly visible.
Back then, people of many different trades relied on white pigments manufactured from lead and chalk to create white paint for all kinds of uses. Artists in particular favored the lead variety for its vibrancy over other white pigments.
Had other colors been readily available at the time, it’s quite possible that golfers would have found bright orange, yellow or other colors preferable to white as they can stand out even more against the course’s natural features. As it happens, though, white was the best choice available to those people at that time.
When Did Manufacturers Start Making Non-White Golf Balls?
An obvious problem with everyone using white balls was that white is not always the most visible color in nature, especially when it is lost in the rough. On top of that, if many people were on a course, then it gets harder to tell different people’s golf balls apart.
It was for these reasons and more that sports product giant the Wilson Sporting Goods Company — you might know the best for their tennis equipment — decided to bring more color to the world of golf balls.
Wilson’s first colored golf balls were fluorescent to help improve visibility of the ball when lost in the rough, as well as in adverse weather conditions with poor light, for example. Their first fluorescent balls were launched into the market back in 1923, but there was something of a trade-off that meant some resisted purchasing them.
While Wilson’s new fluorescent balls were certainly more visible, they were also of a lower quality because of the pigments and dimpling patterns that had to be used in their manufacture.
The first two non-white colors that Wilson introduced were Oriole Orange, and Canary Yellow, and they called the ball the Hol-Hi Ball. Despite the drop in quality, however, they were priced very highly because of the difficulty in making them, costing the equivalent of about $136 in today’s money. It wasn’t until the early 1980s that Wilson made the concept commercially viable, reintroducing their new colors and quickly cornering a massive one fifth of the market for themselves.
Impact of Color on Player’s Performance
The color of a golf ball might seem inconsequential, but some golfers swear by their color choice, attributing it to psychological impacts on their performance. Research in color psychology suggests that colors can influence mood, concentration, and even physical reactions.
For instance, some players prefer yellow or orange balls because they believe these bright colors increase their focus and visibility on the course. Conversely, others stick to traditional white as it provides a stark contrast against the green fairway and blue sky, helping them maintain accuracy in their shots.
While the exact influence of color on a golfer’s performance might vary between individuals, it’s clear that this seemingly minor choice can hold significant meaning for many players. While golf balls may be traditionally white, golf tees, hats, bags and even carts come in all sorts of different colors.
Influence of Television and Media
The persistence of white golf balls isn’t only tied to tradition and visibility on the golf course. The advent of televised golf in the mid-20th century played a significant role in reinforcing the dominance of white golf balls.
During the era of black-and-white television, white balls were much easier for viewers to track against the green backdrop of the golf course.
Even as color television became ubiquitous, the image of the white golf ball had already been firmly ingrained in the public consciousness, reinforcing its position as the standard choice for golfers and viewers alike.
What about the Golf Pro
Professional golfers often have their unique preferences and superstitions when it comes to golf equipment, and color choice is no exception. For instance, Bubba Watson, a two-time Masters champion, famously opted for a pink driver and pink golf balls
Similarly, Hale Irwin, has been seen using yellow balls, and jerry pate an orange ball. Which was also the first non white ball to win a Tournament, behind the club of Wayne Levi though! You can read more about this on Golf Focus.
We have more golf ball articles on the site you can check out below.
- How do you know where the ball lands.
- How many dimples on a golf ball
- How far can a golf ball travel
- How fast is a golf ball
- why does my golf ball curve right
- Can you keep golf balls you find
- Why are golf balls white?
- Can you use colored golf balls
Can Non-White Golf Balls Be Used in Professional Competitions?
Just as Wilson was relaunching their Canary Yellow and Oriole Orange balls back into the market in 1982, Wayne Levi used them in a PGA tournament that very year, namely the Hawaiian Open. His yellow golf ball caused quite a stir, with some wondering why he would choose such a ball when it was known among golfers that the white balls were generally of a higher order of quality.
Of course, Wilson and other companies quickly closed this quality gap, which is one of the reasons these balls were able to become more popular and enjoy a second lease of life in the 1980s onwards. By the 1990s, they were just as popular in golf as white balls because more and more people could plainly see that the only difference remaining was in outer color.
The non-white balls were being made with the same high-quality materials and processes as the white ones.
As current rules stand, there is nothing that says one can’t use a colored golf ball in a round and a professional tournament. The ball only has to adhere to the main requirements of any ball in the PGA tournament, among which color is not mentioned. S
o, a regulation ball could be any color the golf player chooses, perhaps even something customized to help them stand out, or reflect an aspect of their personal style or flair.
You can check out the current price of some colored golf balls on Amazon here.
What Makes a Good Golf Ball?
To wrap up, let’s talk about what makes a good-quality golf ball. There’s always a lot of choice in the golf marketplace, with each claiming to be a ball that will change your golfing life forever. But how do you really tell the difference between the stars and the duds?
- Get a sample ball and bounce it on the ground; golf balls in good condition will bounce well, whereas older and worn golf balls will have a sluggish bounce
- If it’s allowed, you could also perform a float test on the ball to make sure that it floats in water
- A ball with a large core and thinner exterior is what you want if you’re trying to maximize distance; so if you play on a course with a lot of par 4 and par 5 holes, then a good distance ball suits you well
- If you’re someone who is trying to cut down on slicing and spinning the ball, then you can look for balls that offer spin control
- High level golfers who want to play as close as possible to the professional game should invest in “Tour Performance” balls that feature multiple layers that activate different features on the ball depending on your swing, speed, force, club choice, and so on
We have a range of articles on golf balls that should answer the most common questions. Feel few to dive in.
- How do you know where the ball lands.
- How many dimples on a golf ball
- How far can a golf ball travel
- How fast is a golf ball
- why does my golf ball curve right
- Can you keep golf balls you find
- Why are golf balls white?
- Can you use colored golf balls
- Can you wash golf balls in a dishwasher
Conclusion
Remember that color is mostly an aesthetic choice in golf, and there are other more important features to consider when looking for quality and performance. However, if you want to move away from white, or play on that frosty morning then its good to know there is nothing stopping you grabbing some pink balls and heading out.
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