Volvik Golf Balls Review

Golf is such a unique sport because of how many factors determine a successful performance. Even though only one player is hitting the ball, the caddie is also a crucial adviser that helps the player make decisions and analyze each shot.

This shows that golf is just as much a mental game as a physical game. This is why athletes like Tiger Woods can be physically in such good shape yet simultaneously perform poorly. Every nuance of the performance matters, from your strength and swing form all the way to the color of the ball you use and the pair of pants you wear.

Volvik is a company that focuses on subtler elements of the game, making uniquely colored golf balls for advanced players. In this article, we give a brief overview of golf balls more generally, describing the history of their development as well as their modern construction. Then, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of Volvik’s golf balls. Finally, we offer our thoughts on the future of the golf ball industry.

The History of Golf Balls

The first golf balls that were used were made from wood in the early 15th century. Many historians think the modern game of golf originated in medieval Scotland around this time.

Many early players realized that these wooden balls were not durable and did not maximize their performance. So featheries were invented, which were golf balls made from cow or horsehide that were stuffed with soaked goose or chicken feathers. This was a very intensive process that involved hand sowing the leather around the wet feathers and then letting the ball dry. As the ball dried, the leather contracted while the feathers expanded, which gave the ball a hard, compact construction.

One of the main weakness of this featherie was that it was ineffective when encountering moisture. In addition, the featherie was often split open if struck at a certain angel with an iron club. Furthermore, the process to make it was very slow and costly. Despite these imperfections, the featherie was the most popular kind of golf ball until the middle of the 19th century.

Eventually, the featherie was replaced by a gutta percha golf ball that was made from the dried sap of a sapodilla tree. These were much cheaper to make and helped make the game of golf more accessible to the general public.

The Development of Modern Golf Balls

As many technologies were developed throughout the 19th and early 20th century, the shape of the modern golf ball began to take form. Rubber was featured prominently, and indentations were spread across the surface of the ball to make it more aerodynamic.

Modern golf balls feature anywhere from a 2-layer system to a 5-layer system and feature a combination of rubber, synthetic resin, and sometimes liquid cores. Even further, many companies not only emphasize the durability and construction of the ball but aesthetic features like the color of the ball and various linguistic engravings. This has turned golf balls into an extension of the player’s personality, with every detail being important during play.

The Advantages of Volvik Golf Balls

Most of Volvik’s golf balls, like the Crystal Model, the Vibe model, and the Vivid Model, feature 3-layer constructions that make them ideal for advanced players with relatively slower swing speeds.

Additionally, they feature a soft outer layer that is contrasted with a more solid inner core. This combination allows for greater shot distances as well as more control over the spin of the ball. Many customers have noted that Volvik’s golf balls have a very soft feel when being hit, which is satisfying and helps build their confidence.

The Color of Volvik’s Golf Balls

Unless you are an avid golfer, most players cannot distinguish between the quality of different golf balls. This is because it’s difficult to draw causal conclusions between the distance and spin of the hit ball and the players swing. Ultimately, many players blame the golf ball for their poor performance when in reality their swing is the problem. Alternatively, many players attribute their optimal performance to the kind of golf ball they used when in reality their swing and style was the basis.

This is all to say that Volvik’s golf balls are unique for emphasizing the aesthetics of the ball rather than purely the performance of the ball. Sure, they are well-constructed and trusted by professionals, but what really distinguishes them is their color.

In particular, within each model, customers have the option of choosing from at least 5 different colors, and sometimes as many as 10. These colors are quite vibrant, with options like sherbert orange, bright pink, and ruby among customer favorites.

These colors make finding the golf ball much easier, as they contrast greatly with the green course. This is perfect for players that often hit errant balls that get lost in the woods or an adjacent forest. They also make it much easier to spot your ball when it’s on the fairway or green, which can speed up the game. This allows you to focus more on your strategy rather than locating your ball.

These unique colorings also make the ball perfect for children, as many kids love personalizing their balls with vibrant colors. This makes the child stand out amongst their peers who are often using bland white balls. While this might seem insignificant, every detail matters when it comes to golf. Golf is a very mental game and being able to be confident with your equipment can translate to a more aggressive swing and a better score.

The Price of Volvik’s Golf Balls

What also makes Volvik’s golf balls unique is their price. Despite their high-quality construction, they are actually relatively affordable when compared with other more expensive golf balls from companies like Titleist and TaylorMade.

In particular, customers can buy 12 balls for about $30. This price is even more affordable when you consider how unlikely it is that players will lose these balls due to their color. Lost balls are the most common cause of having to purchase new balls. Thus, Volvik’s golf balls are a great investment that will pay off over time.

This lower cost is also significant because it means that beginner players can train using some of the best golf balls on the market without worrying about spending a fortune. Many beginner players are often forced to invest in the cheapest golf balls since they are likely to lose their balls due to inaccurate swings. With Volvik’s golf balls, beginners do not have to worry about this as much, as each golf ball costs only a couple dollars.

Thus, beginner players can develop their understanding of the game by analyzing the connection between their swing, the characteristics of the golf ball, and their final score. Cheaper golf balls are often less dynamic and are not as sensitive to subtle adjustments in a player’s style. Thus, these cheaper golf balls are not conducive to self-analysis and growth, which is crucial for a beginner golfer. Volvik’s golf balls, on the other hand, are both affordable and sensitive to adjustments.

The Disadvantages of Volvik’s Golf Balls

Many players have noted that Volvik’s golf balls are distracting and their neon colors are overemphasized. Instead, many players wish Volvik had concentrated on making a more nuanced golf ball with more layers. This would have made the ball even more versatile, allowing it to travel farther and allowing players more control over its spin.

Many professional players have commented that the color of the ball is insignificant when it comes to performance. Not only that, many players assert that focusing on the aesthetics of the ball can detract from focusing on more important factors, like environmental conditions, swing form, and endurance.  These customers assert that the various colorings available are more a marketing gimmick, then an enhancement in the golf ball. Thus, they claim that Volvik’s golf balls cannot be trusted since Volvik has motives based on profit rather than performance.

The Future of Golf Balls

While we agree that the colorings offered by Volvik do not necessarily translate to improved performance, we do think that personalized golf balls are an emerging trend that is only going to increase in popularity in the future.

Increasingly, sports are becoming more than just a side hobby but instead a way of living a healthy, active life. Thus, it’s difficult to separate the personality of the athlete from the skills of the athlete. More than ever, the mental strength of athletes is becoming an important part of the game. Many athletes, especially golfers, have obsessive personalities. They are hyper focused on details, and even a slight hesitation in a swing can result in a botched shot that leads to losing a tournament.

Obsessive Athletes and Reduced Stress

In this sense, we think future golf balls are going to cater to the obsessive needs of each athlete. Future players will have their golf ball uniquely customized to fit their style of game, and this includes not only the layer system in the golf ball but also the color, design, and words written on the golf ball.

Golf is such a high-stress sport that we think any method to reduce the player’s stress will result in better performance. This could entail writing motivational quotes on the golf ball so that the player can remind himself of some idea before making a put. Alternatively, this customization could be as simple as altering the color of the golf ball to better match the player’s mood and intensity.

Some golfers have even claimed that the brightest, most vibrant colors help them to concentrate on each swing instead of being distracted by all the spectators. What’s ironic about golf is that because silence is emphasized during each swing, this environment makes it easier for the golfer to isolate any sound coming from the spectators.

In this sense, the silent environment can actually be a double-edged sword that works against the player. Thus, being able to customize your golf ball could be seen as an attempt to focus the player on the shot, drawing his attention to the color of the ball instead of coughing or chatter from spectators. More importantly, if the player can customize his own ball, then it will allow him maximum control over each moment.

Our Final Thoughts on Volvik’s Golf Balls

We think Volvik’s golf balls represent an emerging trend that is only going to be deepened and enhanced in the future. While we think their desire to color their balls is a great marketing strategy, we think greater care could be put into producing a better golf ball.

We think that Volvik’s golf balls are perfect for players looking for an affordable golf ball with style. This would be ideal for children who are concerned not only with performance but aesthetics.

In addition, we think Volvik’s 3-layer construction is ideal for advanced players with slower swings, as the contrast of materials within the ball allows for greater control over speed and distance. Advanced players with faster swings might experience diminishing returns if they purchased Volvik’s golf balls. We recommend that the most advanced players buy a golf ball with a 5-layer construction, as this kind of golf ball will be more sensitive to adjustments in their form, which will allow them to deepen their skills.

Volvik’s Position in the Golf Ball Market

We think that Volvik is well-positioned in the golf ball market for a huge shift that is on the horizon. Essentially, we think athletes are going to eventually realize how important every detail of their equipment is. This will lead athletes to demand more customizable equipment, and the color of this equipment is only the beginning.

Eventually, we think Volvik is going to allow customers to customize every element of their golf ball, from the number of dimples on the surface to even multiple colors displayed on the ball. Furthermore, we can imagine a future where professional athletes have various tips and reminders written on their golf ball. While this is already happening, it’s certainly not ubiquitous, as many athletes think that such antics are distracting.

Regardless, we can’t wait to see how Volvik’s golf balls will evolve in the future.

 

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