The Most Important Mini Golf Ball Brands at a Glance

In this article, we introduce you to the most important mini-golf ball brands that shape the German and European market today. This way, you'll know what you're holding in your hand the next time you buy a ball.

This article was written by One Putt Minigolf.
- The mini-golf outfitter for pros and beginners -

Table of Contents

• An Overview of the Brand Landscape
• The Six Licensed Main Producers
  • 3D (Austria)
  • Fun-Sports (Germany)
  • Sport Reisinger (Germany)
  • M&G Minigolf (Germany)
  • Game 'N' Fun / Ravensburg (Germany)
  • SV Golf (Czech Republic)
  • NIFO (Sweden)
  • 2F Sondermaschinen (Germany)
• Cult Balls and Legendary Nicknames
• How Do I Choose the Right Brand?
• Conclusion
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Further Reading

An Overview of the Brand Landscape

Unlike classic golf, where a few large brands divide the global market among themselves, the mini-golf world is more fragmented and personal. Six manufacturers dominate the scene, each with its own history, its own paint, its own recipe. Four of these companies are located in Germany, one in Austria, and one in the Czech Republic.

What unites the manufacturers: All are licensed by the World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF), meaning their balls are officially tournament-approved. What distinguishes them: playing characteristics, paint, hardness, bounce, tradition. Those who play in a club learn over time which brand suits which lane. And that's exactly what makes the sport a collector's game: an experienced player rarely has less than three different brand worlds in their bag.

Choosing the right ball is a central strategic element for any ambitious mini-golf player.

The Six WMF-Licensed Main Producers

3D Minigolf (Fun-Sports)

Location: Gumpoldskirchen (Austria)
Sub-brands: Ball of Fame (BoF), Number Balls, Birdie, Pingvin, other special balls

3D Minigolf is a brand headquartered in Austria. The brand belongs to Fun-Sports GmbH and is one of the world's leading manufacturers of professional tournament equipment. The core of their product range is the production of extremely precise mini-golf balls that cover all combinations of weight, hardness, and bounce height. As an official partner of renowned associations, the company has played a decisive role in shaping international competitive sports for decades.

An absolute highlight in the ball cases of professionals is the legendary "Ball of Fame" (BoF) series. These balls are created by world and European champions according to their exact specifications. Furthermore, 3D developed the number ball series, which is based on a three-digit system. The digits successively encode the properties of bounce height, hardness, and weight. The higher the respective number (0-9), the faster, harder, and heavier the ball. In addition, there are various special balls for anniversaries, tournament events, and more.

The ball type 593 with the pictured logo of the manufacturer 3D

Fun-Sports

Location: Bamberg (Germany)
Sub-brands: Fun-Sports Ball Series

Fun-Sports is the economic and planning powerhouse behind the worldwide distribution of 3D equipment and one of the largest global full-service providers in mini-golf. While "3D" is the label for the world-renowned ball and club production, the Bamberg-based Fun-Sports GmbH acts as the overarching company, covering everything from planning, sales, and assembly of turnkey mini-golf courses to worldwide wholesale. At the same time, Fun-Sports has its own ball series, which is particularly suitable for beginners.

The range of services offered by Fun-Sports extends far beyond mere ball distribution. The company is a leader in the new construction and renovation of standardized tournament systems (such as miniature golf/eternit and felt golf) as well as modern adventure golf courses.

Sport Reisinger

Location: Lappersdorf near Regensburg (Germany)
Sub-brands: Championship title balls, Fun For Kids, other special balls

Sport Reisinger is an absolute veteran and one of the most respected pioneers in the world of mini-golf tournament sports. Long before the company started its own highly specialized ball production in 1992, the name Reisinger was already a household name in the scene.

The company motto "Quality over quantity" continues to shape production to this day: high-quality ball material for competitive sports, supplemented by more affordable series for hobby and recreational players. Reisinger works closely with top players who test new balls and provide feedback for development. There are various balls by top female and male players for national and international successes, as well as ball series like the Fun-for-Kids series and other special balls for anniversaries, tournament events, etc. The characteristic Baumer lacquer with its special surface is a trademark of many Reisinger balls.

The ball Brücken-Ass with the pictured "R" as a symbol for the manufacturer Reisinger

3. M&G Minigolf

Location: Osnabrück (Germany)
Sub-brands: Starball, mg, Maier Classic, It's a Maier, Pacman, Gebi, Blue Chips, Deutschmann, other special balls

M&G started as a premium brand for tournament and performance sports and has since developed into one of the most versatile manufacturers. The company not only produces balls but also develops its own clubs. Furthermore, M&G is also a sports facility builder and constructs miniature golf, felt golf, and adventure golf courses.

The ball assortment is characterized by an enormous variety that offers the right material for every conceivable course situation. A special focus at M&G is on collaborations with absolute top players in the scene and the associated ball series: Starball. But successful series such as the Maier Classic series (developed in collaboration with record world champion Marcel Noack) or the Pacman and Gebi series also enjoy absolute cult status in the tournament scene. In addition to these high-caliber tournament series, M&G regularly releases individual special balls for tournaments, club anniversaries, and championships.

The Starball DM 2022 Sarah Schumacher with the pictured "M&G" as a symbol for the German manufacturer M&G

Game 'N' Fun

Location: Ravensburg (Germany)
Sub-brands: Ravensburg series, various tournament and club balls, other special balls

Game 'N' Fun is a traditional and absolutely established player in German mini-golf. Over the years, the company has built a solid reputation and is considered a reliable partner in the tournament scene. In addition to equipment distribution, the Ruff family is also a historic figure in facility and course construction: company founder Norbert Ruff is considered the global inventor of the popular "Pit-Pat" system – a protected, table-based combination of billiards and mini-golf – which is still manufactured in Ravensburg today.

The undisputed flagship of their in-house ball production is the legendary Ravensburg-380 series. The number 38 historically refers to the series' original year (1938), while the last digit codes the bounce height in 10-centimeter increments. Another quality feature is the exclusive Lemkelack, which is available in both glossy and matte finishes. The matte version, in particular, has the unique characteristic of significantly reducing slipping on the courses when wet – an invaluable advantage that players worldwide appreciate on rainy tournament days.

The Starball DM 2022 Sarah Schumacher with the pictured "M&G" as a symbol for the German manufacturer M&G

5. SV Golf

Location: Olomouc (Czech Republic)
Sub-brands: SV-Series, Willert Balls, other special balls

SV Golf from the Czech Republic has been active for about 30 years and is one of the major European producers, but is less present on the German market than the domestic brands. The company is located in Olomouc and produces a wide range of standard balls as well as numerous special balls for international championships, often with reference to Czech top players.

Anyone looking for something unusual and wanting to expand their collection with an international component will find what they're looking for at SV Golf. Particularly well-known are the SV series and the Olomouc balls, which are released for local tournaments and club events.

Adventure Golf Ball from manufacturer SV with a small SV Golf logo at the very bottom

NIFO

Location: Lomma (Sweden)
Sub-brands: NIFO Ball Series

NIFO is a Swedish provider that has been active in mini-golf since 1986. The company's clear focus is not on mass production of balls, but on the development and construction of high-quality felt courses and the design of tournament clubs.

In the area of balls, there is the NIFO ball series, a small, very manageable standard assortment. The core of this offering are primarily the well-known NIFO 2 and NIFO 3 balls. These balls were specifically developed for the requirements of felt courses and are used by tournament players as standard material for this system, but also on other systems.

2F

Location: Lauben (Germany)
Sub-brands: 2F

2F is the smallest and youngest of the licensed manufacturers. The company from the Allgäu region produces significantly smaller quantities than the established brands, but has made a name for itself within the club scene as a specialist for selected models. If you already have the big brands covered and want to add something special to your collection, then it's worth taking a look at 2F balls.

Golf Wagner

Golf Wagner plays an absolutely unique role in the European mini-golf market. This family business, active for over 40 years, is now one of Europe's largest full-service providers for mini-golf equipment and professional course construction.

Wagner is the dominant supplier for course operators. The colorful, extremely robust balls of the well-known "Smilie" series (Smilie 1 to 8) are available at hundreds of public facilities. They cover various hardnesses and bounce characteristics, so even hobby players without their own ball case can find a coordinated system. For official play, Wagner offers traditional series like the Original Wagner balls or the Euro Golf series, which are known in the scene primarily for their reliable rolling behavior (tracking accuracy) and robust finishes.

A detailed article on the topic of tournament approval for mini-golf balls can be found here: Which mini-golf balls are approved for tournaments? The WMF license list explained

Cult Balls and Legendary Nicknames

One of the most charming phenomena in mini-golf: over the years, certain balls have achieved cult status and been given nicknames that leave outsiders baffled. If you ever sit in a club house, you'll hear sentences like "You'll play lane 3 much better with the Lumumba" or "Do you have a Catenaccio with you?"

Among the most famous cult nicknames among club players are:

• Herscheider
• Catenaccio
• Nuss (Nut)
• Lumumba
• Bimbo
• Toter Hund (Dead Dog)
• Turbo
• Tomate (Tomato)

These names have grown over decades, often at the club level, sometimes from anecdotes, sometimes because of visual similarities or special playing characteristics. Those who understand this language belong. Those who don't understand it should ask directly at the club. A Lumumba in the Kassel club doesn't necessarily mean the same as a Lumumba in Hamburg.

In addition, there's a world of its own for collector's balls: special editions for world and European championships, club anniversary balls, "Ball of Fame" editions for national champions, or balls dedicated to individual player legends. Some of these balls change hands on collector platforms for 50 to 200 Euros.

Many balls are unfortunately no longer available for regular sale. We want to change that and are therefore building a marketplace for used mini-golf balls. Take a look at our page "Used Mini-Golf Balls". There, we occasionally offer real second-hand rarities.

Professional players and teams benefit from having a wide selection of balls at tournaments.

How Do I Choose the Right Brand?

The honest answer: There is no "best" brand. Every experienced club player will confirm that the choice of brand depends on many factors:

• Course system: Concrete, miniature golf, felt golf, and adventure golf each place different demands on jump and roll characteristics.
• Course: The courses have different obstacles, where different ball characteristics are advantageous.
• Facility: Just because the obstacles on two facilities look the same, you might play the "bridge" differently in Hamburg than in Berlin.
• Home course: Experienced club members usually know the best balls for the "bridge" or the "loop" on your course. This is a clear training advantage.
• Weather: The behavior of the balls changes with different temperatures and weather conditions such as wetness or high humidity.
• Playing style: Do you play more controlled or with a lot of power? Do you prefer playing off the banks or rather direct lines? Do you play with spin or without?

Rule of thumb for beginners: Start with a small assortment from one or more brands and expand it step by step. Over time, you will notice that on some courses you always reach for Reisinger balls, on others for 3D or M&G. This learning process is part of the appeal of the sport.

In our filterable ball assortment, you will find balls from all major manufacturers, sorted by jump height, hardness, weight, and size. This way, you can specifically search for properties instead of clicking through an unstructured brand jumble.

Frequently asked questions: Miniature golf ball brands

Is there "the best" miniature golf ball brand?
No. Each of the seven licensed main brands has its strengths and specializations. Which brand is right for you depends on the course system, the weather, your playing style, and your home course. Ambitious players usually have balls from several brands in their bag.

Which brand is suitable for beginners?
For starters, a small set with balls from one or more manufacturer lines is recommended. A good starter set covers different jump heights and hardnesses. The Fun-Sports 5-piece set, for example, is perfectly suited for this and is also a very inexpensive choice for beginners.

Can I mix balls from different brands?
Certainly, and it's even normal. However, within a course, you must finish playing with the same ball you started with. You are only allowed to change balls from the next course onwards.

Where can I get rare balls like Top Secret or collector's balls?
Collector's balls and rare series are traded on specialized platforms such as eBay, collector sites, on Facebook, and through exchange groups in clubs. In regular retail, you will primarily find the current series of the seven main brands.

What distinguishes a Reisinger ball from an M&G ball?
Mainly the paintwork and the recipe. Reisinger is known for its characteristic Baumer paint. M&G offers not only the standards of each manufacturer (painted, raw, or rough-painted balls) but also matte-painted versions. Which ball suits you best depends entirely on where you play and can only be found out by trying them yourself.

Are all balls from these seven brands allowed in tournaments?
Yes, all mentioned manufacturers are WMF-licensed. This means their balls are generally approved for official tournaments. Details can be found in our article on WMF ball licensing.

Read more on One Putt Minigolf

• The most important miniature golf rules explained
• From hobby to club: How to become a miniature golf club player in Germany
• What does the red line mean in miniature golf?

This article was written by One Putt Minigolf.
- The miniature golf outfitter for professionals and beginners -