Best Golf Balls for Distance 2024: The most cost-effective way to add yards to your golf game
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Extra distance is always appreciated, so what are the best distance golf balls to help you outdrive your playing partners in 2024?
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Anytime any golfer is greeted with the prospect of gaining distance it’s often never overlooked, so what if you can achieve this by playing with a specific golf ball?
Depending on your ability you might be playing with one of the best premium golf balls or the best golf balls for beginners and high-handicappers. But, if you wish to add distance to your game it could pay to play with a purposely designed distance golf ball. Distance golf balls could be much more desirable following the golf ball rollback impacting golf ball production.
The best distance golf balls 2024 at a glance:
Best overall: TaylorMade Distance+ | View Offer
Best cost per yard: Pinnacle Rush | View Offer
Best feeling: Titleist Velocity | View Offer
Best ladies’: TaylorMade Kalea | View Offer
Apart from hitting the ball past all of your playing partners, another advantage of playing with distance golf balls is that they are often among the cheapest golf balls on the market. In turn, they make for excellent value golf balls.
The vast majority of manufacturers offer one or more distance golf balls to choose from. So whether you often reach for Callaway, TaylorMade, Titleist, or any other golf ball manufacturer, you can continue to play with any of those brands and substitute your usual ball for one of their distance models and reap the rewards of having less distance to the pin.
Best Distance Golf Balls 2024
One of the best value distance golf balls
TaylorMade are incredibly well known for manufacturing some of the best golf balls in the game, including the likes played by Rory McIlroy, Nelly Korda, and many more Tour stars, but not everyone needs to play those golf balls. Most amateur golfers will find success with TaylorMade's Distance+ golf balls.
Distance+ golf balls perform exceptionally well from tee to green making them brilliant value for money, considering they are primarily a distance golf ball.
As well as performing really well, the alignment aid on these golf balls is another massive selling point which makes them super easy to putt with and line up your shots on the tee. So, not only will you increase distance, but you can also find more fairways and hole more putts.
Read our full TaylorMade Distance+ golf balls review
Pros
- Enhanced alignment aid
- Extremely versatile golf ball to suit a wide range of golfers
- Soft distance golf ball
- Impressive short game performance
Cons
- Not available without the alignment aid
| Construction | 2-piece |
| Cover | Ionomer |
| Dimples | 342 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | Mid |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | Mid-High |
| Color options | White; Yellow |
- Plus alignment aid
- Soft REACT core
- Aerodynamic dimple pattern
Brilliant distance golf balls that offer incredible value
When being hit with a pitching wedge, the Rush produced strong spin numbers that challenged some three-piece and four-piece golf balls also being tested generating 7925 rpm. However, with a 7-iron the spin was low, at 4893 rpm, but this helps to deliver distance.
Off the tee, the Pinnacle Rush is highly competitive at ranging swing speeds – as exhibited in our golf ball test results. Whether you swing at 85mph, 115mph, or anywhere in between, you can guarantee the Pinnacle Rush will lower your spin.
If you enjoy playing with Pinnacle golf balls but you want something slightly higher-spinning then you should consider the Pinnacle Soft.
Read our full Pinnacle Rush golf balls review.
Pros
- Low-spinning off the tee and long
- Fantastic value for money
- Challenged three-piece and four-piece golf balls in our 2023 robot test
Cons
- Doesn’t feel as good as other options
| Construction | 2-piece |
| Cover | Ionomer |
| Dimples | 332 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | High |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | Low |
| Color options | White; Yellow |
- High-energy core
- Icosahedral dimple design
Outstanding feedback from a distance golf ball
Despite being a two-piece golf ball this is one of the softest distance golf balls that could easily be mistaken for a three-piece golf ball.
The Velocity is very long and will definitely give you some extra yards off the tee. Around the greens, you won't get crazy amounts of spin and control but there is enough to work with regardless of your ability.
Read our full Titleist Velocity golf balls review
Pros
- Serious distance off the tee
- Soft golf ball offering solid feedback from every club
- Consistent ball flight
Cons
- Low greenside spin is not massively desirable
| Construction | 2-piece |
| Cover | Ionomer |
| Compression | 84 |
| Dimples | 350 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | High |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | Low |
| Color options | White; Matte orange; Matte blue; Matte green |
- High speed LSX core
- Fast NAZ+ cover
- Octahedral dimple pattern
A female-specific distance golf ball
This is still a relatively soft-feeling golf ball which will please the majority of golfers. Being a distance golf ball for women the Kalea is a great way for women to add distance to their game without altering their equipment or playing with a harder men's golf ball.
Greenside, you won't be blown away by the performance of the Kalea but you won't be shoving them to the bottom of the bag.
You have a range of colors to choose from with the Kaleas, whether you want to play with white, matte peach, or matte purple golf balls is entirely your choice.
Read our full TaylorMade Kalea golf balls review
Pros
- Easy to launch and long distance
- Soft feeling for a distance golf ball
- Matte finish models are vibrant and clear
Cons
- Doesn't feel as premium as the Soft Response
| Construction | 2-piece |
| Cover | Soft ionomer |
| Dimples | 342 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | Mid-High |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | Mid |
| Color options | White; Matte peach; Matte purple |
- High-energy REACT core
- Low drag aerodynamics
A very easily compressible distance golf ball
The Warbird is one of the best distance golf balls for a wide range of golfers because the core is extremely easy to compress - despite being a high-compression golf ball (90).
Callaway's Warbird golf balls are very long and do exactly what they intend - gain distance. However, that isn't all they are capable of doing.
You won't get incredibly high spin and control when approaching the flag but you will get enough not to hinder your scoring and make you want to throw the rest in your practice bag.
Read our full Callaway Warbird golf balls review
Pros
- Impressive distance off the tee
- Workable around the greens
- Solid response from every club
Cons
- Firmer feel won't be every golfer's preference
| Construction | 2-piece |
| Cover | Ionomer |
| Dimples | 332 |
| Feel | Firm |
| Flight | High |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | Mid |
| Color options | White; Yellow |
- HEX aerodynamics
- Extra large high-energy core
Callaway's soft golf ball is great for increasing distance
In our 2023 robot test, the Callaway Supersoft was the lowest-spinning and longest golf ball when being hit by a driver swinging at 85mph. That low spin remained as the driver swing speed increased – it was the third-lowest spinning golf ball at 100mph and the lowest-spinning again at 115mph.
With a 7-iron in our golf ball robot test, the Supersoft was extremely competitive with regard to distance, partly because it was one of the lowest-spinning golf balls in this category, generating 4792 rpm. That’s a similar story with the pitching wedge too – producing 7129 rpm backspin.
Around the greens, the Supersoft feels amazing because it is well… super soft! While you get this pleasant feedback you can’t generate as much spin and control as the best high-spinning golf balls. However, if you’re looking for a value golf ball that will reduce spin the Callaway Supersoft is a brilliant option.
It’s worth noting that the Supersoft performed very similarly to the higher priced ERC Soft and – most surprisingly – the Chrome Soft too.
Read our full Callaway Supersoft golf balls review.
Pros
- Solid distance for golfers with slower swing speeds
- Incredibly soft feel
- Extremely popular because of their performance and price
Cons
- Not a suitable option for golfers with a driver swing speed north of 100mph
| Construction | 2-piece |
| Cover | Hybrid |
| Dimples | 332 |
| Feel | Super soft |
| Flight | High |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | Mid-low |
| Color options | White; Yellow; Green; Red; Orange; Pink |
| Alternative models | Supersoft Limited Editions |
- Hyperelastic softfast core
- Hybrid cover
- Hex aerodynamics
Seriously long golf balls perfect for golfers wanting distance above all else
Not many club golfers will need to play with a long drive golf ball, but not many golfers need a lot of things in their bags. Playing with these balls is incredibly fun and makes driving very enjoyable. Designed with the input of World Long Drive contestants and in conjunction with the World Long Drive Association don't be surprised if you start being the longest off the tee in your four-ball when you start gaming these.
Pros
- Really good distance thanks to drag reduction technology
- Very stable and high ball flight
- Solid feel and response
Cons
- Lacks greenside spin and control
| Construction | 2-piece |
| Cover | Surlyn |
| Compression | 75 |
| Dimples | 330 |
| Feel | Firm |
| Flight | High |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | Low |
| Color options | White |
- Seamless cover technology
- Extreme gradational core
Best Distance Golf Balls: Buying Guide
How to find out what the best distance golf balls are for your game
Gone are the days of distance golf balls being the rocks in the bottom of your bag you only reach for when you’ve already put two in the pond. Distance golf balls are now a really good option for a wide range of golfers to play with consistently. The hardest task is picking the correct ball that’ll help your game. That’s why I’m here to assist you in the buying process and ensure you find the best distance golf ball to gain you some extra yards and lower your scores.
Feel
If you’re looking for an extremely soft feeling golf ball, you might not find that with distance golf balls but you can find soft feeling golf balls. Some distance golf balls continue to incorporate that firmer feeling associated with them. Although, the majority of manufacturers have worked on ensuring their distance golf balls have that soft feel the vast majority of golfers have come to love.
Ability
The bulk of distance golf balls are tailored more to beginners and high-handicappers because of the way in which they are constructed. Being two-piece and not having a urethane cover, most low-handicap golfers won’t be reaching for them. It’s also unlikely you’ll find Rory McIlroy or Rose Zhang switching out their balls for a distance golf ball. That being said, for the right golfer these balls are brilliant and they will help you add some yards (or meters) to your game.
Budget
Distance golf balls are fantastic for those of you who like to budget how much you spend on golf balls. This category of golf balls tends to feature some of the cheapest golf balls you can buy. While you might not get the same greenside performance as more premium golf balls you won’t sacrifice any performance off the tee.
What is the weakest part of your game?
It’s very important to consider which element of your game is hindering your scores the most. Purely because if you manage to get the ball off the tee fine but struggle around the greens, a distance golf ball might not be the answer for you. However, if you’re finding yourself in a different Zip Code (Postcode) to your playing partners off the tee then what harm have you got trying to gain some length by switching golf balls?
Best Distance Golf Balls: FAQs
What are distance golf balls?
Distance golf balls are specifically designed to travel farther by reducing side spin. They have a large core that allows a high amount of energy transfer so that all of the energy from your swing travels into the ball enabling it to fly farther than non-distance golf balls.
How do I choose the best golf ball for my swing speed?
There are certain golf balls that suit different swing speeds. Depending on how quick or slow you swing you’ll be able to find specific golf balls that will work best for you. Distance golf balls tend to have high compression ratings which would suggest you need a quicker swing speed. However, because the cores are relatively easy to compress you can get away with playing distance golf balls with a slower swing speed.
How do you increase your distance in golf?
There are multiple ways in which you can increase distance but none are as easy or cheap as switching your golf ball for a distance golf ball. You can look at more expensive methods such as speed training or purchasing new golf clubs. However, nothing is as simple as switching golf balls.
How we test the best distance golf balls
So we can provide you with as much detailed information as possible to help you make sounder buying decisions we thoroughly test every golf ball – as we do with all pieces of golf equipment. This process includes testing them on and off the course, and we have recently completed our second golf ball robot test including 28 different models.
When testing golf balls we’re always looking at spin, control, durability, performance, sound, and with the best distance golf balls, distance of course. We make sure to test and review as many golf balls as possible, so on the odd occasion that the brand doesn’t send us their products we source them ourselves in order to provide as much advice as we can to help you choose the best options for your game. Find out more about how we test golf equipment here.
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About the author
James Hogg – Golf Equipment Writer
James Hogg is a golf equipment writer for todays-golfer.com.
He has a degree in English Language from Newcastle University and an MA in Journalism from Kingston University.
James previously worked for American Golf alongside his studies as part of the sales and fitting team. Having worked in golf retail for seven years he has all the skills and knowledge necessary to review and recommend the perfect equipment for golfers of all abilities and has a strong knowledge of putters, golf balls, and golf apparel, including trousers.
Despite nobody else in James’ family playing golf he took a keen interest as a teenager which saw him become a junior member at Saltburn Golf Club, North Yorkshire. Since returning to Teesside in 2022 James has joined his home course, Cleveland Golf Club. His handicap index is 4.7 thanks to consistent distance off the tee.
Away from golf, James enjoys a multitude of sports, specifically watching Formula 1, American Football and Horse Racing. He’s also a proud supporter of Middlesbrough FC, likes cooking and reading travel literature.
James uses a Callaway Mavrik SZ Driver, Callaway Mavrik SZ 3-Wood, TaylorMade Stealth UDI (3-iron), Ping i210 Irons (4-PW), Cobra King Snakebite Wedge (50º), Mizuno S23 Wedges (56°, 60°), TaylorMade Spider X Putter and a TaylorMade Tour Response Stripe golf ball.
You can contact James via email for loads more golf equipment insight.
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Best golf balls for distance
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Best golf balls for distance
