My Polara Golf Balls Review

There’s an old adage that you’ve probably heard before. It goes something like this:

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Most of us agree with that expression in principle, and I’m certainly no exception.

So when I first heard about a self correcting golf ball, my cynicism immediately shifted into high gear.

However, it’s unwise to immediately dismiss a claim without some research or testing, so I decided to put together a Polara Golf Balls review for myself and every other recreational golfer who’s hoping to correct a terrible slice.

Prepare to have your mind blown (I may be overselling here, but I’d encourage you to read on).

Some Polara Golf History

Polara Golf has a rather interesting backstory, and I think its worth highlighting before jumping into my Polara golf balls review.

Back in the late 70s, a physicist/chemist (who wasn’t a golfer) made a radical adjustment to the dimples of a golf ball.

The fix went something like this:

• Make the dimples shallow at the top and bottom of the ball
• Make the dimples deeper around the center of the ball

The result? Straighter ball flight.

So why didn’t the Polara Ball take off?

This golf ball actually did take off. In fact, more than 100,000 packages of golf balls were sold in 1977 alone, but as you could imagine, that success came with a price.

Leading golf ball manufacturers had a significant stake in the game, and some of the top dogs went to the USGA and contested the construction of this ball. 

Polara Golf claims that their ball met all existing USGA standards, but a new USGA rule was implemented: Golf ball designs that modified ball flight using dimple depth were not legal.

As a result, the Polara ball was labeled as an illegal golf ball. 

Polara Enterprises Inc. sued the USGA and eventually reached a settlement. You can read up and draw your own conclusions.

Dave Felker, Polara Golf’s CEO, had this to say about the company’s first golf ball:

They were originally conforming, but the golf companies wanted them out…It’s a fascinating story about the politics and the crap that goes on behind closed doors at the USGA.

History lesson over.

What did we learn? The balls actually worked, or competing golf ball manufacturers and the USGA wouldn’t have wasted their time.

Now for my Polara Golf Balls Review…

I’m an average golfer, so there are a few marketing phrases that really appeal to me:

• Maximum distance / Extra distance
• More ball speed
• Straight flight

I also root for renegades and outcasts, so now that Polara Golf is back on the scene, I had to try the Polara Ultimate Straight (their current offering) for myself.

In celebration of the New Year, I picked up the Polara Ultimate Straight Ball (US) and some Polara XD (the XD stands for Extra Distance). 

Worth Noting: There was also an Ultimate Straight XS option, which offers extra spin, but I left that alone.

You can expect to pay about $40/dozen for these 2 piece golf balls, so they aren’t a cheap option, but they aren’t one of the most expensive golf balls either.

My Polara Ultimate Straight Golf Ball Review

These golf balls claim to reduce a hook or slice by up to 75%. I don’t slice very often, but I do tend to hook the ball, so I’m an ideal candidate for testing.

What I can say is this – the Polara Ultimate Straight Golf Ball does a much better job of fixing my shots than a normal ball. Every tee shot resulted in straighter ball flight.

I don’t have fancy testing equipment to verify just how much straighter my shots were, but my eyes and my lies (see what I did there) testify that there was a noticeable improvement.

If you are considering the Ultimate Straight for yourself, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed, but there are a few quirky instructions worth mentioning.

1. There is an arrow on the ball. You’re supposed to point the arrow at your target (this helps line up the dimples correctly).
2. You should tee the ball up high when possible.
3. You should use a club with a loft of 10.5 or higher. Some drivers will have a lower loft, so you need to pay attention to this detail.

That makes this ball ideal for a tee shot, but less ideal when you’re in the fairway. My advice is to switch to a more forgiving golf ball once you’ve teed off.

The Specs for the Polara Golf Ultimate Straight

• 2 piece construction
• Weighs 45 grams
• Compression of 85
• Ionomer cover
• 386 dimples

My Polara Extra Distance Golf Ball Review

The Polara XD appealed to me because of the “two birds with one stone” mantra that I often carry into my decision making.

I figured if I can get more distance and a straighter shot, that’s a win-win.

The downside is that more distance means Polara Golf can only offer a 50% correction on draws and fades. It makes sense that there would be some trade off to achieve both distance and accuracy.

I was less impressed with the XD golf ball. That’s not to say that it didn’t make a difference, but I appreciated the more obvious results from Polara Golf’s Ultimate Straight ball. 

On the upside, this ball had less quirky instructions. Golfers just need to point the arrow at their target and swing.

If I were making my purchase again, I would just go with the Ultimate Straight. There are plenty of distance balls on the market that are both USGA legal and offer extra forgiveness.

The Specs for the Polara Golf Extra Distance

• 2 piece construction
• Weighs 46 grams
• Compression of 85
• Surlyn cover
• 336 dimples

Should You Try Polara Golf Balls?

If you’re a recreational golfer who struggles to stay on the fairway, a Polara golf ball will have a positive effect on your game.

I think you could make the case that this is the best golf ball for high handicappers…the only problem is that it’s considered an “illegal ball” for tournament play.

Since I rarely play in tournaments, using a non conforming golf ball isn’t a deal breaker for me. I go to the golf course to get fresh air and have fun.

If you fall into this same group, you should definitely give Polara Golf Balls a try.

If you’re planning to play on the Tour someday, you should probably refrain.

Other Polara Golf Ball Questions

Does the Polara Golf Ball work?

Yes. The Polara Golf Ball does fly straighter than a normal golf ball.

Is Polara Golf still in business?

Yes, Polara Golf is still in business. The company has experienced its fair share of ups and downs, but it now sells its products online through an easy-to-use website.

Which Polara Ball is best?

This is a tough question to answer without seeing your golf swing. It’s best to try the Polara Ultimate Straight golf ball first and see what type of results you experience.

If you feel like you benefit from straighter shots but need more distance, then it would make sense to try the Polara XD instead. Those who want more spin should experiment with the Polara XS.

How do you hit a Polara Golf Ball?

It’s fairly simple to hit a Polara Golf Ball. All you need to do is tee the ball up high and point the arrow on the ball on your target. Once everything is set, take your normal swing.

Are Polara Golf Balls Legal?

Unfortunately, Polara Golf balls are not legal for tournament play. They are considered a non conforming ball by USGA rule. However, they are a great ball for playing a casual round on your own or with friends.

Where Can I Buy Polara Golf Balls?

You can buy Polara Golf balls online through Amazon, Walmart or Polara’s official website.