Modern golf balls are constructed from raw materials such as resin or rubber. Their outer shells are made of different types of plastic, the most popular of which are surlyn, ionomer, urethane, and balata.
Golf balls must pass special tests to be approved by the R&A (the collective name for a group of companies that collectively play a significant role in the game of golf-the R&A is headquartered in St. Andrews, Scotland), and the USGA (United States Golf Association-the US national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf in the US and Mexico).
The ball must have the basic characteristics of a spherically symmetrical ball, which generally means that the ball itself must be spherical and must have a symmetrical arrangement of dimples on its surface.
