What golf balls are players using at the 2023 Ryder Cup?
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Today’s Golfer reviews the golf balls gracing the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club at the 44th Ryder Cup in Rome.
The 2023 Ryder Cup will showcase a selection of the very best golf balls on the market across the three days of action between 30 September and 2 October.
When 24 of the World’s best players congregate for the greatest competition in golf, it presents a unique opportunity for fans to see the most popular equipment on Tour. Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean the best low-spin drivers will work for you, but nonetheless shouldn’t stop you from getting inspired by the best brands on the planet, and considering which model is right for your game.
For those driven by data and forever searching for the optimal ball to complement their game, you’re in luck! Today’s Golfer, in collaboration with Ping and Loughborough University, has conducted one of the most comprehensive reviews of golf ball performance to date to help you make the most informed buying choices.
Here are the results – and you might be surprised!
The golf balls played by Team Europe and Team USA at the 2023 Ryder Cup (* denotes Major winners).
| Team Europe (Capt: Luke Donald) | Team USA (Capt: Zach Johnson) | |
| Callaway Chrome Soft X | Jon Rahm*, Nicolai Hojgaard | Xander Schauffele, Sam Burns |
| TaylorMade TP5x | Rory McIlroy*, Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre | Rickie Fowler, Colin Morikawa* |
| Srixon Z-Star Diamond | Sepp Straka | Brooks Koepka* |
| Srixon Z-Star XV | Shane Lowry* | |
| Titleist Pro V1x | Matt Fitzpatrick*, Tyrrell Hatton, Ludvig Aberg | Jordan Spieth*, Wyndham Clark*, Patrick Cantlay, Justin Thomas* |
| Titleist Pro V1 | Viktor Hovland, Justin Rose* | Scottie Scheffler*, Max Homa, Brian Harman* |
Also, if you love the Ryder Cup as much as we do, why not take a look through our page dedicated to some of the best Ryder Cup merchandise that will elevate your bag and serve as the perfect keepsake?
Now, let’s take a look at the balls in all their glory…
Europe: Jon Rahm, Nicolai Hojgaard / USA: <meta charset="utf-8">Xander Schauffele, Sam Burns
Best premium ball to aid alignment and visibility
The Chrome Soft X is designed to offer distance off the tee by reducing spin while delivering impressive spin and control around the greens - being the highest-spinning model out of the Chrome Soft range. Having a compression rating of 100 the Chrome Soft X (and Chrome Soft X LS) are targeted toward tour players and better players. However, if you have a slower swing speed the Chrome Soft may be the best option in this range for you.
Making the Chrome Soft X golf balls an option for more golfers is the addition of alignment aids and visibility assistance. My personal favorite is the 360° Triple Track which makes putting much more straightforward.
If you prefer a slightly softer ball with lower compression (slightly cheaper too) then take a look at the Callaway ERC Soft golf balls.
Read our full Callaway Chrome Soft X golf balls review.
Pros
- Good distance off the tee and in the long game
- Incredible spin and feel
- Outstanding feedback from the club face
- Range of alignment aids and visibility assistance
Cons
- Soft feel won't be to everyone's liking
| Construction | Four-piece |
| Cover | Urethane |
| Dimples | 332 |
| Compression | 100 |
| Feel | Medium |
| Flight | High |
| Colors | White; Yellow |
| Alternative Models | 360º Triple Track; Triple Track; Tru Track; Truvis |
- Precision technology
- Construction optimization
- Hyper elastic softfast core
- New tour aero
Europe: Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Robert MacIntyre / USA: Rickie Fowler, Colin Morikawa
As a challenger to the best golf ball in professional golf, TaylorMade enhanced the technology within their TP5x to make them even more competitive at a more reasonable price. For those looking for assistance with alignment and an easier ball to see there is the Pix option with the TP5 and TP5x which not only adds vibrancy to the golf balls but also clearpath alignment to help roll in the putts.
Read our full TaylorMade TP5x golf balls review.
Pros
- More penetrating flight than the previous model
- Long distance for quicker swing speeds
- Exceptional spin and control around the greens
- Premium feel off every club
Cons
- Urethane cover not the most durable
| Construction | Five-piece |
| Cover | Cast urethane |
| Dimples | 322 |
| Compression | 97 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | High |
| Colors | White; Yellow |
| Alternative models | TP5x Pix |
- New seamless tour flight dimple pattern
- Speed-layer system
- High-flex material
Europe: Sepp Straka / USA: <meta charset="utf-8">Brooks Koepka
Best premium balls for durability
Arguably the biggest star playing a Srixon golf ball is 2023 PGA champion Brooks Koepka, who plays the Z-Star Diamond which is another outstanding premium Srixon golf ball. The Z-Star XV golf balls are capable of competing with any of the best tour standard golf balls. If you struggle to see your golf balls or line up your putts you can purchase the Divide which is half yellow, half white - only available in the Z-Star.
Read our full Srixon Z-Star Diamond golf balls review.
Pros
- Overall very durable golf ball
- Good distance off the tee and in the long game
- Impressive short-game spin and control
- Very soft feel and nice feedback
Cons
- Soft feel is not everyone's favorite
| Construction | Three-piece |
| Cover | Urethane |
| Dimples | 338 |
| Compression | 102 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | Mid-high |
| Colors | White |
- Speed dimple pattern
- Thin premium cover
- Spin skin+ coating
- Fastlayer DG core
Europe: Shane Lowry
Best premium golf balls for durability
Arguably the biggest stars playing a Srixon Z-Star XV golf ball are 2019 Open Champion Shane Lowry and 2021 Masters winner Hideki Matsuyama. The Z-Star XV ball is capable of competing with any of the best tour standard golf balls. If you struggle to see your golf balls or line up your putts you can purchase the Divide which is half yellow, half white - only available in the Z-Star.
Read our full Srixon Z-Star XV golf balls review.
Pros
- Overall very durable golf ball
- Good distance off the tee and in the long game
- Impressive short-game spin and control
- Very soft feel and nice feedback
Cons
- Soft feel is not everyone's favorite
| Construction | 3-piece |
| Cover | Urethane |
| Compression | 102 |
| Dimples | 338 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | Mid-high |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | High |
| Color options | White; Yellow |
- Speed dimple pattern
- Thin premium cover
- Spin skin+ coating
- Fastlayer DG core
Europe: Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton, Ludvig Aberg / USA: <meta charset="utf-8">Jordan Spieth, Wyndham Clark, Patrick Cantlay, Justin Thomas
Best tour standard premium ball
The urethane cover on the Pro V1x is created by mixing two components, with the liquid urethane cast into Titleist-manufactured cavities to form the appropriate dimple pattern into the cover. Titleist says the precise timing and temperature are integral to the consistency of golf’s No.1 ball.
The 348-dimple design was a huge change in the 2021 ball and, unsurprisingly, that remains on the new model to optimize aerodynamics. The casing works with the new core to reduce excess long-game spin while combining with the cover to create greenside spin.
Read our full Titleist Pro V1x golf balls review.
Pros
- Consistently long
- Exceptional spin rates on approach shots
- High flight and soft landing
- Tighter dispersion than the 2021 model
- Played by a host of the world's best players
Cons
- More than £4 per golf ball is a lot for most amateurs
- Urethane cover marks quite easily
| Construction | 3-piece |
| Cover | Cast urethane elastomer |
| Compression | 87-90 |
| Dimples | 388 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | Mid |
| Long game spin | Low |
| Short game spin | High |
| Color options | White, Yellow |
- High gradient core design
- Speed amplifying high-flex casing layer
- Cast thermoset urethane cover
- Spherically tiled tetrahedral dimple design
Europe: Viktor Hovland, Justin Rose / USA: <meta charset="utf-8">Scottie Scheffler, Max Homa, Brian Harman
Best tour standard premium 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 lower compression golf ball that flies lower and spins less in the long game, the 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 for quicker swing speeds
- 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
| Construction | 3-piece |
| Cover | Cast urethane elastomer |
| Compression | 87-90 |
| Dimples | 388 |
| Feel | Soft |
| Flight | Mid |
| Long game spin | Very low |
| Short game spin | High |
| Color options | White; Yellow |
- High gradient core design
- Speed amplifying high-flex casing layer
- Cast thermoset urethane cover
- Spherically tiled tetrahedral dimple design
READ NEXT:
– Best premium golf balls 2023
– Do players get paid for playing in the Ryder Cup
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About the author
Ross Tugwood
Golf Equipment Writer
Ross Tugwood is a golf equipment writer for todays-golfer.com, specializing in data, analytics, science, and innovation. He’s also an expert in golf apparel and has a keen interest in sustainability.
Ross is passionate about optimizing sports performance and has a decade of experience working with professional athletes and coaches for British Athletics, the UK Sports Institute, and Team GB.
He has post-graduate degrees in Performance Analysis and Sports Journalism, enabling him to critically analyze and review the latest golf equipment and technology to help you make better-informed buying decisions.
Ross lives in Snowdonia National Park with his wife and 40 kg Bernese Mountain dog! He is a member of Porthmadog Golf Club with a handicap index of 13.8.
Away from golf, Ross enjoys hiking, trail running, and supporting the mighty Bristol Bears.
Ross uses a Cobra King SZ Speedzone driver, Titleist TSi2 3-Wood, TaylorMade Sim2 Rescue, Callaway Apex Pro irons (4-PW), Cleveland 588 RTX wedges (52°, 58°), TaylorMade Spider Ex putter, and a TaylorMade Tour Response golf ball.
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What golf balls are being used at the 2023 Ryder Cup?
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Ryder Cup Golf Balls
