Supplying your logo for printing golf balls

A crisply printed logo starts with a well-prepared file. On this page you will read exactly which file works best, why a vector file is preferred and which mistakes to avoid — so that your logo comes out razor-sharp on the ball.

Why a vector file works best

A golf ball is small and round, and the printable area is limited. That means your logo has to stay sharp at every size. A vector file (EPS, AI or PDF) is made up of lines and shapes that are infinitely scalable: whether we place the logo large or small, the edges stay crisp. An ordinary photo or screenshot (JPEG, PNG) is made up of pixels and becomes grainy or blurry when enlarged.

Do you only have a JPEG or PNG? We can often work with that, especially for a simple logo — but we will let you know honestly if the quality is too low, and Mark will help you find the best solution.

Recommended file formats

Preferably supply your file as EPS, AI or PDF (vector). Make sure fonts are converted to outlines, so that the text looks exactly the same at our end as it does at yours. A high-resolution PNG with a transparent background is an acceptable alternative for simple logos.

Colours and brand identity

We print golf balls in spot colours (1 to 5 colours). Let us know your brand colours — preferably as PMS/Pantone values — and we will match the print to them. The fewer colours and the simpler the shapes, the crisper the result on the curved surface of the ball.

Common mistakes

The most common issues: a logo with very fine lines or small text (which disappears on a small area), a low-resolution image pulled from the internet, or a design with lots of colour gradients. Keep the logo clear and high-contrast; that reads best on a white golf ball.

And after that?

You do not need to have the perfect file right away. Upload what you have in the configurator; you will always receive a digital proof first, showing you exactly how the logo will appear on the ball. Production only starts once you have given your approval.

What exactly to ask your designer or marketing team for

The fastest route to a usable file is a specific request. Do not ask for "the logo" but for the original vector file in EPS, AI or PDF, with the fonts converted to outlines and the colours defined as PMS or Pantone values. Whoever built your brand identity almost always still has it; usually one email and a day's wait.

Say what it is for: a spot-colour print on a small, curved surface. Ask for a one-colour variant too, if one exists — all black or all white. You will need it as soon as you opt for a single-colour print, as described under the number of colours on a golf ball.

Text in your logo: what stays legible and what does not

The print area on a golf ball is small and curved. Anything already small on paper becomes smaller still and disappears towards the edges. A strapline beneath your logo is therefore the first casualty. In practice it works better to leave it out and place only the symbol plus the company name.

Have a web address or a year that must be included? Do not put it under your logo; consider a separate line in a second position. What is possible in positions and size depends on the ball model and the shape of your logo, and is agreed in discussion. The page on personalised golf balls shows which combinations of logo, name and text are usual.

If all you have is a small file or a website logo

Not everyone has a vector file. A logo lifted from a website is usually a PNG a few hundred pixels wide: fine for a screen, not enough for print. Say so honestly. With a straightforward logo made up of clear shapes, redrawing to vector is often an option, subject to discussion and complexity.

Have a look in the less obvious places: an old letterhead PDF, a presentation template or a signage file from the firm that made your building sign. The logo is often still embedded as vector artwork there. If you are not sure what you have is usable, send it through via contact; Mark will tell you honestly whether it works.

Two logos, a sponsor or a club combination

At a sponsor competition or club order you often want two marks on the ball: the club logo and the sponsor's. The trap is that both end up half the size and neither reads. Better to spread them across two positions, or make one dominant and mention the second party with a line of text.

Agree in advance who supplies the files and who approves the print. With balls carrying a club logo those are regularly two different people, and that is exactly where days go missing. One contact with the authority to decide speeds things up considerably.

How the proof round runs in practice

Once your file is in, you receive a free digital proof: the logo on the ball, including position and colour use. Look not just at the logo but at the spelling of names, the year and the balance between logo and ball. Print the proof at actual size if that helps.

Small corrections are part of the process. Production only starts after your approval, and from that moment a lead time of five to fifteen working days applies for delivery in the Netherlands and Belgium. The whole sequence is set out on how it works, the delivery detail under shipping and delivery.

A checklist for your artwork email

Send everything needed in one go. That saves emails back and forth, and therefore days of lead time.

• Logo as EPS, AI or PDF, fonts converted to outlines
• PMS or Pantone numbers for your brand colours
• The ball model you want and the quantity, with 144 as the minimum
• Any additional text, spelled exactly as it should be printed
• The date the balls need to be there, plus the delivery address

Not settled on the ball model yet? That is fine: supply the file now and choose the model later; the golf ball selector will help you on your way.