1990: Soft-covered balata (Top)

In 1990, most Tour pros played soft-covered (balata) wound balls,which were comprised of a liquid-filled core encased by rubber windings. The soft design allowed players to "squeeze" the ball and impart backspin on it for maximum control. This was great for shots into and around the green, but off the tee balatas tended to float when launched at too high an angle. "That was a problem," TaylorMade's Snell says, "so Tour players would take 8- or 9-degree drivers and turn them down to 5- and 6-degrees to get that spin rate down and prevent the flight from ballooning."

2007: 3-piece balls

A look inside TaylorMade's newest three-piece balls, the TP/Red (near left) and the TP/Black (far left), reveals how subtle differences in a ball's composition influence trajectory. The Red has a larger core and thinner mantle designed to promote a lower launch angle for more control and softer feel (for players like Sergio Garcia), while the Black's slightly smaller core and hicker mantle (by .015 inches) promote a higher launch angle and lower spin off the driver.