Best Golf Balls 2024: Elevate your game and play better golf
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Improve your scores and enjoyment by playing with the right golf ball for your game.
Jump to:
- Best premium golf balls
- Best golf balls for mid-handicappers
- Best value golf balls
- Best golf balls for Beginners and high-handicappers
- Best distance golf balls
- Buying guide
- FAQs
Choosing the best golf ball for your game can be a bit of a minefield – we even undertook a mammoth golf ball robot test to help. The golf ball market becomes increasingly inundated every single season with every brand offering a ball for every level of golfer.
Whether you are in the market for the best premium golf ball or the best distance golf balls, you’ll find something to work for your game. We’ve spent hours in our net, on the range and on the course testing everything from the best golf balls for beginners and high handicappers to the best cheap golf balls.
Making the decision even tougher is the ever-increasing range of alignment options, colour options, and ball designs. Although, if you want just a plain golf ball the choice is as difficult and the list as extensive. This is why it’s important to understand if you are wanting more speed, more distance, more spin, more feel (all of the above please) from your golf ball.
The best golf balls 2024: a stellar option from each category
Best overall golf balls: Titleist Pro V1 | Buy Now
Best golf balls for accuracy: Wilson Triad | Buy Now
Best value golf balls for stopping power: PXG Xtreme | Buy Now
Best golf balls under £25: Srixon AD333 | Buy Now
Having the best golf balls for your game is priceless because it will inevitably improve your performance on the course and in turn your scores. We understand not everyone will need or want the golf balls played by Tour players, but you will undoubtedly play better golf if you decide to play with one of the best premium golf balls. If your motive not to play with premium golf balls is budget-related, that’s completely understandable, but there are some incredible value golf balls on the market to consider.
It could be worthwhile stocking up on golf balls before the golf ball rollback starts to impact the performance of golf balls for us amateur golfers. News of the rollback being approved certainly makes the best golf balls for mid-handicap golfers more appealing.
To help you choose which ball is best for your game we have categorised the best golf balls into different groups. This way you can really consider the best options for you to help shoot lower scores and lower your handicap. One category of golf balls we haven’t included is the best ladies’ golf balls and that’s because the majority of women playing the game will either be playing with a non-female specific golf ball or should consider swapping one for one of the best golf balls listed below.
Best Golf Balls 2024
Best premium golf balls
Most popular golf balls on Tour
Best overall golf balls
The Pro V1 is extremely long off the tee and performs incredibly well approaching greens and in the short game. This ball is Titleists' softer premium golf ball compared to the Pro V1x which is slightly firmer. Pro V1s are much loved by many of the world's greatest golfers for their overall high-quality performance and feel, which warrants a premium price. To some, this is understandable because they are arguably the best golf balls.
For those golfers who require a golf ball that flies lower and spins less, the Titleist AVX is definitely worth trying as an alternative to the No.1 ball in golf.
Read our full Titleist Pro V1 golf balls review.
Pros
- Tighter dispersion than the previous model
- Brilliant distance
- Exceptional spin on approach shots
- Fantastic feel off the club face
- Played by a host of the world's best golfers
Cons
- Urethane cover marks quite easily considering the price
| Construction | 3-piece |
| Cover | Cast urethane elastomer |
| Dimples | 388 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | Mid |
| Long game spin | Very low |
| Short game spin | High |
| Colour options | White; Yellow |
- High gradient core design
- Speed amplifying high-flex casing layer
- Cast thermoset urethane cover
- Spherically tiled tetrahedral dimple design
TaylorMade's most popular golf ball on Tour
One of the key attributes of the TP5x is its ability to deliver impressive distance off the tee with low spin, while still providing high levels of spin and control for precision shots around the green. This versatility makes them a favourite choice among both professional Tour players, including Rory McIlroy and Charley Hull, as well as amateur golfers looking to elevate their game.
Read our full TaylorMade TP5x golf balls review.
Pros
- Firm feel is extremely responsive
- Delivers an amazing high ball flight
- The cover is more durable than the previous model
Cons
- Won't work as well as the TP5 for golfers who don't have super quick swing speeds
| Construction | 5-piece |
| Cover | Soft-tough cast urethane |
| Dimples | 322 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | High |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | High |
| Colour options | White; Yellow |
- New speed wrapped core
- Progressive 5-layer construction
- Seamless Tour flight dimple pattern
Callaway's rebranded Tour-level golf balls for elite golfers
Best-represented Callaway golf balls on Tour
The Chrome Tour X has been introduced as a replacement for the Chrome Soft X. The Chrome Tour X is the firmest premium golf ball in Callaway's range, it travels far off the tee and it has all the stopping powers you'd expect from a premium golf ball manufactured by Callaway.
Read our full Callaway Chrome Tour X golf balls review.
Pros
- Produces brilliant ball speeds and distance
- Extremely high spin and control when approaching the greens
- Played by some of the best players in the world across numerous Tours
Cons
- The price has shot up which might be off-putting for some golfers
| Construction | 4-piece |
| Cover | Tour urethane |
| Dimples | 332 |
| Feel | Medium-firm |
| Flight | High |
| Long game spin | Mid |
| Short game spin | High |
| Colour options | White; Yellow |
| Alternative models | Chrome Tour X Triple Track; 360° Triple Track; TruTrack |
- Exceptionally Fast Ball Speeds
- Maximum Workability Through The Bag
- Optimized Greenside Spin and Control
- More Consistent Performance
Srixon's super long three-piece premium golf ball
Best tee-to-green premium golf balls
Rrp: $49.99
Rrp: $49.99
Being purpose-built for Brooks Koepka, this ball obviously suits golfers with quicker swing speeds. However, that's not to say it doesn't work for golfers with slower swing speeds. The Z-Star Diamond was the best premium golf ball in our robot test from tee to green - producing good distance without compromising spin and control.
Read our full Srixon Z-Star Diamond golf balls review.
Pros
- Amazing distance off the tee
- Fantastic spin and control with irons
- High greenside spin
Cons
- Could be too high-spinning off the tee for some golfers
| Construction | 3-piece |
| Cover | Urethane |
| Dimples | 338 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | Mid-High |
| Long game spin | Mid |
| Short game spin | High |
| Colour options | White |
- Speed dimple pattern
- Thin premium cover
- Spin skin+ coating
- Fastlayer DG core
A firm-feeling premium golf ball
Best firm-feeling premium golf balls
The new Wilson Staff Model X is closest to the previous Staff Model because it adopts that firmer feel. A firm-feeling golf ball might not please everyone, but I love the solid response - especially off the putter face. The four-piece Staff Model X performs very similarly to the Titleist Pro V1x, so if you're a fan of that ball this one might work just as well... if not better!
This year I've carded a 77 with a Titleist Pro V1x and a 75 (which should have been a 72 if not for three stupid three putts) with the Wilson Staff Model X.
Read our full Wilson Staff Model X golf balls review.
Pros
- Extremely responsive thanks to the firm-feeling
- Long off the tee
- Amazing short-game spin and control
Cons
- Not all golfers want firm golf balls
| Construction | 4-piece |
| Cover | Urethane |
| Dimples | 362 |
| Feel | Firm |
| Flight | High |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | High |
| Colour options | White; Yellow |
- V-Cor advanced performance
- Firm compression core with velocity-boosting additive
- 3SIX2 seamless urethane cover
Best golf balls for mid-handicappers
A golf ball aimed at club golfers with a premium feel and performance
Best golf balls not played on Tour
The Tour Response is a three-piece golf ball that sports a urethane cover - much like most of the best premium golf balls. However, this golf ball is just a fraction of the price of those Tour-standard golf balls. Off the tee, the Tour Response is extremely long for a range of swing speeds, and it has strong stopping powers from a range of yardages when attacking the pin.
The Tour Response Stripe is my model of choice because it helps with alignment on the green and the tee box. Also, it's clear to see in the air and on the fairway (and rough).
Read our full TaylorMade Tour Response golf balls review.
Pros
- Amazing visual and alignment aid (Stripe golf balls)
- Incredibly soft feel
- Impressive spin and control around the greens
- Great feedback from every club in the bag
- Outstanding distance despite lower compression
Cons
- Potentially not ideal for players with quicker swing speeds who generate spin easily
| Construction | 3-piece |
| Cover | Softer tour cast urethane |
| Dimples | 322 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | High |
| Long game spin | Low-mid |
| Short game spin | High |
| Colour options | White; Yellow |
| Alternative models | Tour Response Stripe |
- New tour flight dimple pattern
- 100% urethane cover
- Speedmantle with high-flex material
An outstanding golf ball that is internet on helping golfers break 80
Best golf balls for accuracy
Rrp: $39.99
Rrp: $39.99
The Triad is available in either the standard painted finish or in an uncommon unpainted (raw) finish, Wilson says paint can affect the aerodynamics of the golf ball, not something we can notice - we'll let you be the judge.
Read our full Wilson Triad golf balls review.
Pros
- True roll helps to hole more putts
- Good dispersion off the tee
- High spin and control on approach shots
- Consistent ball flight
Cons
- Not the softest feeling golf ball which won't suit every golfer
| Construction | 3-piece |
| Cover | Urethane |
| Dimples | 348 |
| Feel | Mid |
| Flight | Mid |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | High |
| Colour options | White; Yellow |
| Alternative models | Triad R |
- Triad balanced construction
- T3 technology
- High MOI design
- Ultra-thin urethane cover
Callaway's golf balls that rival the brand's premium offerings
Best distance mid-handicap golf balls
Rrp: $39.99
Rrp: $39.99
At 100mph driver swing speed the ERC Soft produced the longest distance in our robot test, and it was prominent at 85mph and 115mph driver speeds. As well as being long off the tee, it was long with a 7-iron (which did come at a loss of spin) and with a wedge. The spin remained high with a pitching wedge. When I've played with this golf ball I've found it to be long and very receptive around the greens.
Read our full Callaway ERC Soft golf balls review.
Pros
- Impressive distance off the tee
- Very good greenside spin and control
- Incredibly soft golf balls
- Excellent visual and alignment aid
Cons
- No option for balls without visual and alignment aids
| Construction | 3-piece |
| Cover | Hybrid |
| Dimples | 332 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | High |
| Long game spin | Low-mid |
| Short game spin | High |
| Colour options | White; Yellow |
| Alternative models | ERC Soft 360° Fade |
- New GRIP urethane coating
- New HyperElastic SoftFast core
- Hybrid cover
- High speed mantle
- Triple Track dagger technology
A top-performing golf ball for golfers who don't swing like Tour pros
Best golf balls for mid-handicappers who don't have seriously quick swing speeds
The only area the Q-Star Tour underperformed in our robot test was with a pitching wedge, but it performed similarly to golf balls of a similar standard. From tee to green it is very consistent, delivering a ball flight you can trust and being slightly more durable than other balls, it makes the Q-Star Tour even better value than it already is.
Read our full Srixon Q-Star Tour golf balls review.
Pros
- Impressive short-game spin
- Good distance and feel from every club in the bag
- Wind doesn't massively hamper distance
- High durability
Cons
- Wedge spin was slightly low on our golf ball robot test
| Construction | 3-piece |
| Cover | Urethane |
| Dimples | 338 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | Mid-high |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | High |
| Colour options | White; Yellow |
| Alternative models | Q-Star Tour Divide |
- Fastlayer core
- Spinskin with SeRM
- Speed dimple pattern
Best value golf balls
PXG Xtreme
A brilliant value golf ball with outstanding greenside and short-game spin
While this ball produces high spin numbers from irons and wedges, the opposite can be said for the woods - delivering low spin to help the ball carry farther off the tee. PXG have added a very helpful alignment aid to this ball which assists in lining up putts and rolling them in. The Xtreme golf ball is incredible value for money and well worth trying if you haven't already.
Read our full PXG Xtreme golf balls review.
Pros
- Impressive greenside and short-game spin
- Good value for money
- Durable urethane cover
Cons
- Only available in white
| Construction | 3-piece |
| Cover | Urethane |
| Dimples | 338 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | Mid-high |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | High |
| Colour options | White |
- High C.O.R. polybutadiene core created for high-speed performance
- Firm ionomer mantle layer engineered to increase speed and distance off the tee
- Soft urethane bright white outer cover
- 338 dimple pattern engineered to deliver aerodynamic characteristics
Bridgestone's most played golf ball in professional golf
Best value premium golf balls for distance
Rrp: $49.99
Rrp: $49.99
Based on our findings in the golf ball robot test, it's hardly surprising that this is Bridgetone's most well-represented golf ball on Tour, played by Tiger Woods, Jason Day, and Matt Kuchar. The Tour B X impressed us with its accuracy and bearing in mind it's designed for golfers with driver swing speeds north of 105mph if you haven't got the quickest swing speed you're better off looking at the Tour B RX or Tour B RXS.
Read our full Bridgestone Tour B X golf balls review.
Pros
- Good distance for golfers with quicker swing speeds
- Optimal spin rates off the tee and around the green
- Highly responsive feedback from all club faces
Cons
- Performance drops for golfers with slower swing speeds
| Construction | 3-piece |
| Cover | Urethane |
| Dimples | 338 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | Lowest |
| Long game spin | Lower |
| Short game spin | High |
| Colour options | White; Yellow |
- REACTIV iQ urethane cover
- Gradational compression core
- Dual dimple technology
- Seamless cover technology
Vice Pro
Direct To Consumer (DTC) golf balls offer outstanding value
Most affordable premium golf balls
The Pro is a three-piece golf ball that delivers impressive distance off the tee and just as impressive short-game spin and control. The Pro works for golfers with varying swing speeds and it produces quality performance to rival the best premium golf balls. Starting from just £29.99 a dozen they really are worth considering.
Pros
- Good long-game distance
- Impressive short-game spin and control
- Fantastic value when you buy multiple boxes
Cons
- Not the most durable golf balls
| Construction | 3-piece |
| Cover | Urethane |
| Dimples | 318 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | Mid |
| Long game spin | Mid |
| Short game spin | High |
| Colour options | White; Red; Lime; Ice blue |
| Alternative models | Vice Pro Shade; Drip |
- Extremely soft cast urethane cover with S2TG technology
- Keep in line putt-line
- Energy speed core
Best golf balls for beginners and high-handicappers
Srixon AD333
A very popular golf ball which can be attributed to price and performance
Best golf balls under £25
In our 2023 robot test, the AD333 was very impressive, and the results highlighted why this is such a good option for beginners and high-handicappers. The AD333 produced very similar numbers to those achieved by three-piece golf balls. The main reason the AD333 remains at such an affordable price is because it sports an ionomer cover which is slightly clicky compared to a urethane cover.
Read our full Srixon AD333 golf balls review.
Pros
- Kept up with three-piece golf balls in our 2023 robot test
- Long distance off the tee
- Durable golf ball
Cons
- Doesn't make the most appealing sound off the clubface
| Construction | 2-piece |
| Cover | Ionomer |
| Dimples | 338 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | Mid-high |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | Mid-high |
| Colour options | White; Yellow |
- Fatslayer core
- Spin skin with SeRM
- Speed dimple pattern
Vibrant, long, fast, and soft
Best colourful golf balls for beginners and high handicappers
I actually prefer the Ink model to the standard model because of the vibrancy. I must admit, when I first saw images of these golf balls I was slightly pessimistic and I didn't see how the wild splashes of color would assist anyone on the course - I'm happy to say I was wrong. The splashes of ink make it very easy to see the ball on the ground and in the air - much easier than other colorful golf balls.
I wasn't only impressed with the design pattern! The SpeedSoft golf balls travel very well off the tee keeping up with some of the best premium golf balls myself and my playing partners tend to play with. Speaking to a 24-handicapper at my home golf course, he had nothing but praise for these golf balls and he also preferred the Ink models.
Sadly, it isn't all positive, compared to the premium golf balls I usually game, the SpeedSoft golf balls do generate less spin when attacking pins, but you can quickly adapt to this and make them work for you - I just don't have that ability.
Here's everything you need to know about the Speedsoft and Speedsoft Ink golf balls.
Pros
- Very easy to see on the ground and in the air
- Impressive distance off the tee
- Soft-feeling which will please the vast majority of golfers
Cons
- Short-game spin and control is lacking compared to more premium models
| Construction | 2-piece |
| Cover | Ionomer |
| Dimples | 322 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | Mid |
| Long game spin | Mid-high |
| Short game spin | Low |
| Colour options | Blue; Green; Red; Pink |
| Alternative models | SpeedSoft |
- New PWRCORE technology
- Soft Sub 50 Compression
- 322 Extended Flight Dimple Pattern
An incredibly soft-feeling golf ball that offers impressive distance
Best golf balls for golfers with slower swing speeds
Rrp: $24.99
Rrp: $24.99
The Supersoft has had an engine upgrade seeing the core work more efficiently than ever; resulting in an amazing ball from tee to green. Off the tee this ball produces competitive distance - for those with the optimum swing speed - but it is around the green where this ball really comes into its own.
The Supersoft performs well in the short game because of its soft feel and high level of control. If you often play with a colored golf ball you are spoiled for choice with the Supersoft range coming in a variety of colours in a matte finish.
Read our full Callaway Supersoft golf balls review.
Pros
- Incredibly soft golf ball that offers great feel
- Long and straight off the tee for slower swing speeds
- Low compression allows golfers with slower swing speeds to get the ball in the air easier
Cons
- Definitely not suitable for golfers with quick swing speeds
| Construction | 2-piece |
| Cover | Hybrid |
| Dimples | 332 |
| Feel | Super soft |
| Flight | High |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | High |
| Colour options | White; Yellow; Green; Red; Orange; Pink |
| Alternative models | Supersoft Lucky; Splatter 360; Suits; Winter |
- Hyperelastic softfast core
- Hybrid cover
- Hex aerodynamics
The golf ball Wilson labels as the "world's softest golf ball"
Best low-compression golf balls
Rrp: $19.97
Rrp: $19.97
The Duo Soft was the most accurate two-piece golf ball in our robot test. Accuracy is a common theme of Wilson golf balls with their Triad being the most accurate three-piece golf ball and their Staff Model being the most accurate 4-piece golf ball. Greenside spin and control is fairly high with the Duo Soft, although if you are seeking increased short-game performance you will want to play with Triad, Staff Model, or Staff Model X.
Read our full Wilson Duo Soft golf balls review.
Pros
- Incredibly soft feel
- Good distance off the tee
- Impressive spin rates
Cons
- Really soft feel which may not suit everyone
| Construction | 2-piece |
| Cover | Ionomer |
| DImples | 302 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | High |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | Mid |
| Colour options | White; Yellow; Green; Orange; Red |
- Velocity boosting core
- Low compression core
Best distance golf balls
Titleist's distance golf ball delivers on its primary function
Best feeling distance golf balls
Coming in at a very reasonable price the Velocity golf balls are a brilliant option for any golfer with a quick swing speed looking to gain distance. Being a two-piece golf ball they are definitely aimed more towards high handicap golfers but that is not to say better players cannot play with these balls providing they have a quick swing speed and solely want to gain distance.
Read our full Titleist Velocity golf balls review.
Pros
- Massive distance off the tee
- Soft feel gives good feedback from every club
- Consistent ball flight
Cons
- Low greenside spin is not massively desirable
| Construction | 2-piece |
| Cover | Ionomer |
| Dimples | 350 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | High |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | Low |
| Colour options | White; Orange; Green |
- High speed LSX core
- Fast NAZ+ cover
- Octahedral dimple pattern
A soft distance golf ball that helps you line up your putts with an enhanced alignment aid
Best distance golf ball on the greens
For many golfers putting is difficult because of how hard it is to read greens and then line your putt up to what you've just read. With the TaylorMade Distance+, there's an enhanced alignment aid to help with lining your putts up - hopefully leading to more being holed. The enhanced alignment aid on the Distance+ is very effective, not only at helping you line up your putts but also ensuring you are square at address.
As impressive as this ball is on the green, this is not the limit of its abilities. When approaching the green most golfers will want some stopping power, which this delivers with mid-high short-game spin. From the tee, the Distance+ is long (being a distance ball) and flies well too, with a more penetrating ball flight than other balls in this category.
Read our full TaylorMade Distance+ golf balls review.
Pros
- Enhanced alignment aid
- Soft distance golf ball
- Impressive spin and control in the short game
- Suitable for a wide range of golfers
Cons
- Bold alignment aid may be off-putting for some golfers
| Construction | 2-piece |
| Cover | Ionomer |
| Dimples | 342 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | Mid |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | Mid-high |
| Colour options | White; Yellow |
- Plus alignment aid
- Soft REACT core
- Aerodynamic dimple pattern
Amazing golf ball for beginners which doesn't break the bank
Best distance golf ball for new golfers
Rrp: $24.70
Rrp: $24.70
Srixon are very well known in golf for manufacturing excellent golf balls for a range of golfers and their Distance balls are certainly one of the best available to beginners and high-handicap golfers. Obviously, these golf balls won't suit every new starter, so if you still want to play with Srixon golf balls that behave better on the greens try the AD333.
Read our full Srixon Distance golf balls review and see our Srixon Distance v Titleist Pro V1 comparison test.
Pros
- Good distance off the tee
- Surprisingly soft feel for a distance golf ball
- Decent control and spin around the greens
- Brilliant value for money
Cons
- Doesn't perform the same for slower swing speeds
| Construction | 2-piece |
| Cover | Ionomer |
| Dimples | 324 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | High |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game Spin | Mid |
| Colour options | White |
- Fastlayer core
- Speed dimple pattern
- Durable ionomer cover
Great golf balls for beginners especially with 15 in a box
However, distance isn't all the Pinnacle Rush has to offer. The findings from our 2023 robot test did reveal that this is a fantastic golf ball for distance, challenging three-piece and four-piece golf balls in this category. Also, the Rush emerged as the cheapest golf ball per yard of all 28 golf balls tested.
It was spin from a 7-iron and pitching wedge that really impressed us with this golf ball. The Rush, being a distance golf ball that is ridiculously inexpensive, wouldn't have surprised us if it finished bottom of the pile for spin when approaching greens. That just isn't the case, the Pinnacle Rush was the highest-spinning two-piece golf ball with a wedge and with an iron, it was competing with some of the best three-piece golf balls.
All very impressive for distance golf balls that cost just £1.40 per ball.
Read our full Pinnacle Rush golf balls review.
Pros
- Delivers decent spin rates - much better than expected
- Brilliant performer for varying swing speeds
- Very reasonably priced
Cons
- Feel isn't the best
| Construction | 2-piece |
| Cover | Ionomer |
| Dimples | 332 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | High |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | High |
| Colour options | White; Yellow |
- High-energy core
- Icosahedral dimple design
Best Golf Balls: Buying Guide
Choosing the best golf ball for your game is critical to help you play better golf and shoot lower scores. If you are playing with a golf ball that isn’t compatible with your game you may struggle to play to your full potential. Therefore, it’s important to take into consideration as many of the following key features as possible when selecting which ball you will game for the season.
Budget
With golf balls, there are models ranging in price depending on the construction and technology. Before the introduction of direct-to-consumer (DTC) golf balls, for most golfers, their budget was dictated by their golfing ability. This is no longer the case, with the ability to purchase premium golf balls at a much more affordable price.
You can spend as little as £10 on a dozen golf balls or up to seven times that amount depending on what you need/want to gain from your golf ball. Budget is still somewhat dictated by your golfing ability but not as much as it previously had been.
Ability
Despite there being a wide range of golf balls that aren’t classified as premium golf balls, there aren’t many golfers who wouldn’t benefit from playing with one of those golf balls. The best premium golf balls are packed with the brand’s most innovative technology to help the user get from tee to green in as few shots as possible.
Some golfers are more than happy playing with one of the best cheap golf balls or one of the best distance golf balls because of the minimal impact they have on your finances, which is completely acceptable. Golf can be an expensive sport and finding ways to save money is very important. However, I would say that being frugal when it comes to golf balls isn’t as necessary as it is with other equipment in your bag.
Performance
Golf balls are designed to perform in a particular manner depending on their composition, technology, material, etc. The difficulty is figuring out what performance you need from a golf ball to help you play better golf. With such an extensive amount of golf balls on the market what actually differentiates them and makes one option right for you and another wrong for you?
It can be hard to know exactly what golf balls are right, but with a little time and effort, you can find the perfect ball or a couple of brilliant options very easily. Most manufacturers claim their golf balls deliver low driver spin and long distance, while with a wedge in hand, you’ll achieve amazing spin and control. However, not every golf ball is designed to do this. It’s only by trying different golf balls that you’ll be able to discover which models perform best for you and help you shoot lower scores.
The best premium golf balls and best golf balls for mid-handicappers will deliver optimal spin and distance at the top end and bottom end of your golf bag. Whereas the best distance golf balls or best cheap golf balls might travel far off the tee, but it’s more likely that this will compromise short-game performance.
Feel
Feel is for many golfers a non-negotiable. The majority of golfers enjoy playing with a soft-feeling golf ball. Most golf balls on the market are soft, it’s very rare to come across a rock that you have been accustomed to playing with in years gone by. Even a firm-feeling golf ball like the Wilson Staff Model X is soft compared to those hard golf balls that used to exist.
Even the best distance golf balls are designed to be soft at impact because the brands understand this is what most golfers want. To play with a good-feeling golf ball you don’t need to spend an obscene amount of money, but feel isn’t everything. You might enjoy the feeling of a golf ball, but if it doesn’t send the ball home in fewer shots then it’s not the ball for you.
Spin
Some golf balls generate spin more easily than others and this is dependent on their composition. Golf balls sporting more layers will naturally behave better on the greens because spin comes from the layers reacting with one another. However, that doesn’t make premium golf balls built of four or five layers spin ridiculously off the tee because the technology is massively refined so the spin is optimal off the tee and when attacking pins.
Cheaper golf balls tend to be made up of two layers and this is why they tend to be lower spinning in the short game but remain competitive with distance off the tee. Another factor that influences spin, is cover material, many of the best cheap golf balls, best distance golf balls, and best golf balls for beginners and high-handicappers feature a Surlyn or ionomer cover which creates less friction with the clubface than a urethane cover which can be found on the best premium golf balls and best golf balls for mid-handicappers.
A common misconception in golf is that golfers view spin as a negative if it creeps up. However, in most instances, spin is your friend. Therefore, choosing a golf ball that spins higher than another is often the best practice because this will help to control the ball better around the course, both off the tee and hitting into greens.
Distance
My opinion is that distance is the least important factor to consider when choosing a golf ball because there are copious means of gaining distance. When choosing the best golf ball for you, you should start around the greens and work your way back to the tee box. The best way of doing this is with a launch monitor to see your numbers, but if you don’t have access to one you can do it with your eye very easily.
If you start by chipping and playing full wedge shots into a green you’ll want to whittle your options down to the ones producing the best spin. Then when you move back to hitting the balls with a 7-iron you want to keep an eye on spin, but also start to factor in carry distance.
By time you’re standing on the tee box you should have narrowed down your options to just a handful of models. At this point is when you factor in distance most but it still shouldn’t. bethe case that you disregard everything else you’ve seen and choose the ball that travels farthest off the tee.
If you test golf balls in this way, it would be very surprising if one of the best premium golf balls didn’t come out on top. Or if you’re not testing premium golf balls, the one with the most technology and sporting a urethane cover. No matter what golf balls you’re testing, there’s always going to be some that work and some that don’t, and that’s why it’s important to test the options based on your game.
Alignment
There are many golf balls that are now being produced with enhanced alignment aids printed on the golf balls. There are many brands offering golf balls with alignment aids varying in size and style. I would personally recommend giving one a go just to discover if it benefits your game, what is the harm in trying?
Colour
Many golfers resort to the traditional white golf ball, but it is often the case now that manufacturers offer their golf balls in at least one or more colours so you can pick the ball which you can see best. Colourful golf balls make for some of the best winter golf balls because of their enhanced visibility. I know of some golfers who view coloured golf balls as being inferior to white golf balls (nonsense) even when they are the exact same golf ball. No one likes losing a golf ball so pick the colour you can see best and start saving your scores and money.
Best Golf Balls: FAQs
What is the best golf ball?
There isn’t a straight answer to this question. Depending on who you ask, you’re bound to receive a different answer. If you were to ask 100 golfers you could easily be met with 100 unique answers. However, based on the fact that the Titleist Pro V1 is the No.1 ball in golf, it’s highly likely that most golfers would consider this golf ball as the best golf ball, and it’s hard to disagree with.
While it has been awarded the title of being the No.1 ball in golf, that doesn’t mean it is for everyone. Personally, I don’t get on well with the Titleist Pro V1, I get on better with the Pro V1x. Therefore, if I went with the overall best golf ball and decided to play with Pro V1 it would hinder my game – the same might happen for you.
Finding the best golf ball is completely personal, but the best way of finding out which golf ball you need is by attending a golf ball fitting.
What golf ball does Tiger Woods use?
Tiger Woods is known for playing with Bridgestone Tour B X golf balls. Tiger helped with the production of the Bridgestone Tour B XS golf balls (there’s even a special edition Tour B XS which has ‘Tiger’ stamped on the ball), but Tiger has switched to another of the best Bridgestone golf balls because it’s slightly firmer and has helped improve his game.
What is the difference between a premium golf ball and a budget golf ball?
The major difference between a premium golf ball and a budget golf ball is the construction, cover, and technology. Premium golf balls tend to be of minimum three-piece construction, cast urethane cover, and be packed with technology, whereas a budget golf ball is often of two-piece construction, ionomer cover, and have minimal technology. Budget golf balls are ideal for high handicappers and beginners but not for better players who will benefit more from a premium golf ball simply because they will have the ability to unleash the potential of the ball.
What golf ball does Rory McIlroy use?
Being a TaylorMade staff player, Rory McIlroy elects to play with one of the best TaylorMade golf balls. The golf ball of choice for Rory is the TaylorMade TP5x which is TaylorMade’s golf ball intended for golfers with the quickest swing speeds.
How we test the best golf balls
Every golf ball we either receive from the brands or have to purchase ourselves is put through its paces in order for us to discover just how well (or poorly) it performs. Our quest to deliver as much information about every ball as we can has led us to conduct our second golf balls robot test, following the success of our first in 2019.
When testing golf balls we’re looking at feel, performance, durability, sound, distance, and spin – along with anything specific to individual balls. Ensuring every piece of equipment is tested thoroughly is vital, and so we test golf balls over a period of time both on and off the course. For more information about how we test golf equipment click here.
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About the author
James Hogg – Golf Equipment Writer
James has a degree in English Language from Newcastle University and an MA in Journalism from Kingston University.
He spent seven years working for American Golf as part of the sales and fitting team alongside his studies and is a specialist in putters, golf balls, and apparel.
James took up golf as a teenager and, thanks largely to his length and consistency off the tee, he plays off a handicap of 4.7 at Cleveland Golf Club.
You can contact James via email for loads more golf equipment insight.
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Best Golf Balls
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Bridgestone Tour B X golf balls.
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Callaway Supersoft are among the most popular balls in the world.
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Pinnacle Rush golf balls.
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PXG Xtreme Golf Balls.
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Srixon AD333 are among the best golf balls for amateurs.
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Srixon Q-Star Tour golf balls.
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Srixon Z-Star Diamond golf balls.
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TaylorMade Tour Response Golf Balls
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Titleist Pro V1 golf balls.
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Wilson Duo Soft is one of the best ladies' golf balls
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Wilson Staff Triad golf balls.
