Different golf balls have very different properties and can affect your game for both the good and bad if you do not choose wisely. Make sure your ball choice is suitable to your ability and budget.
Beginner golfers typically have a very inconsistent swing, constantly “topping" the ball. This means that the ball is hit by the leading edge of the club rather than the centre of the club face. This can damage the ball, especially if it has a soft cover.
Two-piece balls are adequate for the vast majority of golfers, offering excellent distance and control. The only drawback with these golf balls is that they lack the finesse that can be found with multi-layer balls.
Multi-layered golf balls are more expensive because of the more advanced manufacturing process. The materials used allow for an inner core a mantle and the very thin cover. This combination allows for varying spin rates depending on the club that is used to hit the ball, providing optimum spin on drives and excellent backspin around the greens.
You should look to the compression of the ball to determine the distance you will get from it. The faster your swing, the harder or higher the ball compression should be. Golf ball manufacturers seldom display the compression values of their balls but instead give a rough guide by using soft to mean low compression and hard to mean high compression.
A final consideration you could make one of personal preference. When putting, many people find that a soft ball is easier to judge distance with, although this can change depending on the putter and greens.
Lake balls, like new golf balls, come in several different types; with big differences in price and quality. The term "Lake Ball" is used loosely to describe a number of different balls which are second hand.