What makes a golf ball “Illegal”?

Golf equipment in the past 50 years has improved and undergone a tremendous technical revolution due to the latest golf technology. The huge changes in the capabilities of these equipments threaten the golf courses to extend. Widening of golf courses is not the problem but the main focus here is the issue on golf course real estate that is becoming more costly than before. With this, the United States Golf Association (USGA), which is the governing organization for golf in the United States, appoints performance limits on approved golf equipments to regulate the changing golf technology especially on golf balls.

USGA formulated golf ball specifications concerning weight, size, spherical symmetry, initial velocity, and overall distance standard. The Rules governing the five is defined by the R&A/USGA, Appendices III.

1. Weight - must not weigh more than 1.620 ounces avoirdupois (45.93gm)
2. Size - a diameter of not less than 1.680 inches (42.67mm); weight does not exceed 1.620 ounces
3. Spherical Symmetry - symmetrically spherical in shape
4. Initial Velocity - not be greater than 250 feet (75 m) per second (255 feet [76.5 m] per second maximum)
5. Overall Distance Standard – must not be more than 280 yards (256 m)

All golf balls are tested and subject to approval by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and the United States Golf Association. If golf balls do not conform to regulations or exceed to these specifications and generally have different performance characteristics like soaring too high, they are considered “illegal golf balls.” These illegal golf balls are banned by the USGA. However, they are still generally used by the public because of the believed greater distance, and improvement these balls can bring.

There are a lot of illegal golf balls in the market. These illegal golf balls are a bit smaller in diameter, a little heavier in weight, and with a core engineered for maximum velocity, and soar with extra 20 to 25 yards off the tee, but do not break off or spin in the air. Professional golfers do not recommend these golf balls for the main reason that they do not develop and improve a golfer’s game instead they give a false sense of distance attributed not to the golfer’s ability but to the ball itself.

Cayman Desperado is an example of an illegal golf ball. Its core is designed to soar at maximum velocity and there is an estimated gain of 20 to 25 yards off the tee. You also have The "A" Ball, Fireball, Cayman Pirate, and The Hot One. These balls are designed and engineered not to spin back or stop, just soar far.

You may want to try playing with all the illegal balls offered in the market but just remember the feeling of accomplishment does not suffice the natural way o f learning how to improve our play within the established rules.