Last Updated on March 27, 2024 by Britt Olizarowicz
I try to play with urethane balls because I feel like they give me better control in the short game. However, surlyn balls are a lot cheaper and hold up better. I’ve tested some recently, like the TaylorMade Distance+ and Titleist DT Tru Soft, that actually felt good and made me want to do a deeper dive into this surlyn vs. urethane golf ball concept. As a golf professional, I’ve tested a lot of golf balls over the years. If cover material is something that you are still guessing about, hopefully, I can help.
Surlyn vs. Urethane Golf Balls – Which Is Better?
The urethane golf balls are better than the surlyn when it comes to feel and spin rates. Surlyn golf balls are great for durability, straighter ball flight, and affordability. Professional golfers almost exclusively use urethane golf balls, but let’s not forget they are not paying for their golf balls!
Some amateur players find that cart paths, poor strikes, and tree collisions really beat up on the outer layer of a golf ball. If that’s the case for your game, the best golf ball will be the surlyn cover.
What Are The Differences?
The main differences between the surlyn and the urethane golf balls are the durability, feel and spin rates. Here’s a brief look at what you can expect.
Pricepoint
The surlyn golf balls are cheaper than the urethane. The material is thicker, easier to work with and is a better option if you are looking for golf balls on a budget.
Durability
The surlyn golf balls are also the winner when it comes to durability. Good players tend to have cleaner strikes and they don’t damage the cover of the golf ball when they hit it. Higher handicappers often hit a shot or two off the cart path or a tree, and they make poor contact with the ball at times. Surlyn-covered golf balls hold up better in these situations.
Feel
Urehtane is the clear winner when it comes to feel. The urethane balls have a more responsive feel. Sometimes the urethane can also feel softer than the surlyn but the softer or firmer feel can also be a result of the compression of the golf ball.
Spin Rates
It’s easier to spin a urthene ball than a surlyn cover ball. When you watch tour players put a ball on the green and spin it back 10 feet, it’s not just the player. They are also using the golf clubs (with groove technology) and the right golf ball to make the ball back up when it hits the green.
| Feature | Urethane Golf Balls | Surlyn Golf Balls |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Made of soft urethane elastomer | Typically, $45 plus |
| Feel | Softer feel | Harder feel |
| Spin | Higher spin rates, especially on short irons and wedges | Lower spin rates, leading to straighter flight paths |
| Durability | Less durable compared to Surlyn, may cut or scuff easier | More durable |
| Performance | Preferred by professionals and low-handicap players | Suited for high-handicap and recreational players |
| Price | Typically $45 plus | $20-$40 a dozen |
| Target Players | Players seeking more control and feel around the greens | Players looking for distance and durability |
What’s The Difference Between Surlyn and Ionomer?
Although we consider Surlyn and Urethane to be the two different covers on the market, you may have also hear of Ionomer.
Surlyn and Ionomer are often confused, but they are related materials and are not the same. Surlyn is a brand name for a type of ionomer resin. Not all ionomer resins are Surlyn. Ionomber covers can provide more spin than Surlyn covers but they are still harder and not as good at creating spin as the urethane golf balls are.
If you are shopping for golf balls and come across an ionomer cover ball, expect it to be very similar to a Surlyn cover ball.
Surlyn Golf Balls
Not sure if the golf ball you are currently playing with is Surlyn or Urethane? Here’s a quick tip. Most golf ball manufacturers will advertise like crazy when they put urethane covers on the ball. When it’s surlyn you may see marketing terminology like “durable” or even “powerful” cover. Here are a few top golf balls you may know that have a surlyn cover:
Urethane Golf Balls
All the premium golf ball names that you hear of being played on the PGA Tour are urethane covers. Some of the most popular include:
Surlyn vs. Urethane: Which One To Use?
Now that we have the basics down, how can you choose which of these golf balls is best for your game? I hate it when amateur golfers say, “I’m not good enough to tell the difference.” You are absolutely good enough to tell the difference.
Head to the chipping green with a few urethane and a few surlyn golf balls. Take three chips each. Then, put the golf balls on the green and make a few putts. You’ll instantly feel the difference.
Here’s how to decide which one is the best for your game:
| Goal | Golf Ball Choice |
|---|---|
| Save Money | Surlyn |
| Increase Spin | Urethane |
| Increased Durability | Surlyn |
| Better Feel | Urethane |
| Professional-Level Performance | Urethane |
| Enhanced Control Near Greens | Urethane |
| Longer Distance | Surlyn |
| Lower Spin Off the Tee | Surlyn |
| Soft Feedback on Impact | Urethane |
| Higher Launch Angle | Surlyn |
Which Do I Play?
The better you get at golf, the easier it is to say that the urethane cover golf balls are the best types of balls on the market. However, I can’t quite say that’s the case. I test a lot of golf balls on the course, and I can almost always tell urethane cover balls from surlyn cover balls.
However, they aren’t always the right fit for the performance I’m looking for.
I recently tested the TaylorMade Distance+ golf balls, and I was really impressed with the performance they have for slower swing speeds. I had no trouble getting distance and straight flight from the tee. The approach shots were long, and there was even some spin on the full swing approaches to the green.
Compared to the TaylorMade TP or Titleist Pro V (both of which have urethane covers) the TaylorMade Distance+ has terrible greenside spin.
Let’s remember, not every golfer wants high greenside spin!
If you can live with letting a golf ball roll towards the hole a bit instead of being more aggressive and going right for the hole, you’ll be fine wth a quality surlyn cover golf ball.
Also, here’s a pro tip: if you want to get the feel of a urethane cover golf ball without paying urethane prices, try the Vice Pro Plus. It’s an excellent ball for an average golfer looking for top performance without breaking the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before I took a deep dive into the surlyn vs. urethane golf ball concept here are a few of the questions I had.
Are all two-piece golf balls Surlyn covers?
Some golf companies, like Saintnine, make a two-piece premium urethane ball. Outside of that, most two-piece golf balls are Surlyn.
Do any professional golfers use a Surlyn golf ball?
Professional golfers use urethane golf balls to maximize spin and improve feel around the greens.
Do urethane golf ball covers cut easily?
For fast-swinging golfers, the urethane golf ball can cut easily. However, golf ball technology has improved, and players are getting a few more rounds out of a urethane cover than they could in the past.
Is a high-spin or a low-spin golf ball better?
A high spin golf ball gets you more control around the greens, the low spin ball is better for longer distance and straighter shots.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, you now have a better idea of what the surlyn and urethane golf balls are and how golf ball construction and cover material can impact your game. It’s easy to say that you should stick with at least a three piece golf ball with a urethane cover, but you may not have the budget to do that. If you have questions about whether or not a golf ball is right for your game, leave them in the comments for me. I’m happy to answer, as I’ve tested dozens of different models in the last year. What’s your material of choice for the golf balls you play?
