best golf balls
With the arrival of the new season, major brands have been rolling out updated versions of their flagship golf balls, alongside a slew of innovative newcomers and next-gen models. But before diving into the cream of the crop, it’s important to understand what features to look for. In the premium segment, the goal is to achieve synergy among the multiple layers of the ball to produce desired flight characteristics for the long game, such as reduced spin and increased speed, while still maintaining a soft feel and precision control in the short game.
Meanwhile, for golfers with moderate swing speeds, manufacturers offer half-price golf balls designed with lower compression to meet their needs. So, which golf balls stand out as the best? After thorough testing of the market’s leading contenders, here are our top selections.
You need to consider several factors when selecting a golf ball.
Firstly, it is the cost. While not as expensive as golf drivers, golf balls are a recurring expense. Prices can range from a few dollars to a hundred per dozen. So, it is important to find a ball that not only performs well but also aligns with your budget.
Your skill level is another aspect to consider. There are different types of golf balls designed for players of different levels, from beginners to pros. Opting for a ball used by top professionals may not suit your game and could be counterproductive. So, it is wise to test a ball to make sure that it matches your playing style before buying.
Your swing speed and the ball’s compression rate are also important. A lower compression ball will likely suit you better if you have an average or below-average swing speed. Conversely, if your swing speeds are over 100 mph, a higher compression ball is suitable.
Feel and performance are critical too. After narrowing down your options, choose a ball that makes you feel good and performs well during your game. The right ball should boost your confidence and feel comfortable upon impact.
Lastly, consider the color of the ball. Gone are the days when white was the only option. Now, balls come in various colors like pink, red, yellow, and green. Colored balls can be easier to spot, so experiment with different hues to find your preference. Ultimately, the choice comes down to personal taste.
Titleist Pro V1 2023 Golf Ball
Since its debut in 2000, this golf equipment franchise has become one of the most successful in history, consistently being the preferred choice on professional tours. Now, 24 years and two updates later, Titleist’s engineering team has delivered on their promise of longer distances, reduced spin in the long game, and more consistent flight paths.
The latest model introduces a significant technological advancement with its high-gradient core, which is firmer on the outside and progressively softer towards the center. This design enhances ball speed and reduces the spin of the tee. Additionally, refinements in the manufacturing process have improved the ball’s consistency in speed and spin.
The new Pro V1 offers a high, strong trajectory with excellent stopping power. It also showed remarkable consistency off the tee, with minimal variation in spin. This ball is especially beneficial for players looking to reduce excessive spin and lower their ball flight.
In the short game, the Pro V1 switches gears, offering ample spin control for pitches and chips within 50 yards, instilling confidence with its soft feel and precision around the greens.
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Srixon Z-Star Golf Ball 2023
Srixon has a diverse range of golf balls, with the Z-Star as their top-tier model. In terms of design and technology, the Z-Star retains its high-performance urethane cover but now features a new Spin Skin+ coating. This innovation allows for greater interaction with the grooves of irons and wedges. The ball also sports a 338 dimple pattern and a core constructed from an updated FastLayer DG material, which is softer at the center and progressively hardens towards the outer layer of this three-piece ball.
When it comes to long-game performance, the Z-Star, with its 92 compression rating, is notably softer than its siblings, the Z-Star XV and Diamond, resulting in slightly reduced spin rates. This characteristic makes it particularly suitable for players with higher swing speeds. Additionally, its dimple pattern and firm core composition offer commendable performance in windy conditions.
In the short game, the Z-Star excels in control, thanks to the Spin Skin+ coating’s effectiveness on chips and pitches. The only minor critique is the cover’s durability, which doesn’t seem to match that of other models in the market.
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Callaway Chrome Tour Golf Ball
Callaway stands as a titan in the golf industry, and their latest Chrome Tour range represents their most luxurious golf ball up to now. Callaway advertises this as the ultimate Tour-level ball, designed for skilled players seeking unparalleled distance and feels. Additionally, the Chrome Tour features a unique dimple pattern that combines hexagonal and spherical dimples, enhancing its aerodynamic qualities.
When it comes to performance off the tee, this innovative dimple design ensures exceptional stability and performance in windy conditions. While it may launch slightly slower, its soft feel and muted sound will attract a broad spectrum of players. The ball produces relatively low spin, but its consistency and reliability were particularly impressive.
In the short game, the Chrome Tour brings one of the softest feels available, which may suit players looking to dial back their spin. If you are seeking for better control and high spin rates, the Chrome Tour also emerges as a top contender.
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Bridgestone 2022 Tour B RXS Golf Ball
Bridgestone has become a household name in golf, notably with Tiger Woods selecting their golf balls for play. Among their extensive lineup, the Tour B RX and Tour B RXS stand out as the premier choices for players with driver swing speeds under 105 mph.
The Tour B RXS is packed with cutting-edge technology, notably the new Reactiv iQ cover. This innovative cover is designed to increase the time the ball spends in contact with the clubface, enhancing spin without sacrificing durability.
In long-game performance, the B RXS competes head-to-head with other top-tier golf balls in distance, both off the tee and in full approach shots. It tends to launch higher and achieve greater peak heights. However, its standout feature is the exceptional stability in windy conditions – a hallmark of Bridgestone golf balls.
Around the greens, the B RXS offers a remarkable soft and compressive feeling. The spin control is outstanding, providing confidence and versatility for a range of short game shots, from pitches and chips to challenging bunker escapes.
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Taylormade 2024 TP5 Golf Ball
The TP5, TaylorMade’s flagship premium and tour-level golf ball, was introduced in early 2024 with enhancements in spin control and soft feel. This model continues to be available in the Pix version and is a common sight across professional golf tours.
For the latest iteration, TaylorMade has innovated the core’s composition with a lower-density acoustic material to deliver a softer sound and feel compared to its predecessors. This advancement represents a shift in golf ball design, separating feel from speed through material innovation.
In terms of performance off the tee, the TP5 boasts exceptional greenside spin and a notably soft feel across all clubs. Although it is slightly slower than the TP5x variant, it compensates with a reliable and robust flight path. This golf ball’s high spin rate is also a boon for players seeking a bit more loft in their shots.
When it comes to the short game, the TP5 allows for remarkable control and spin, enabling the ball to grip the green with impressive efficiency. This level of performance around the greens underscores the TP5’s standout qualities, making it a top choice for discerning golfers.
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Mizuno RB Tour X 2022 Golf Ball
Mizuno, while famous for crafting some of the finest golf irons in the industry, also excels in the golf ball market. Their RB Tour X’s design includes an ultra-soft urethane cover, a three-piece construction, and an innovative dimple pattern. This design significantly improves the ball’s durability, bringing a higher launch off the tee and a more controlled trajectory with wedges.
In terms of long-game performance, the new RB Tour X notably enhances the distance off the tee, thanks to its higher launch. Its flight is exceptionally robust, providing ample spin that translates into both distance and stopping power. The improvements in durability are also evident, with the ball’s cover withstanding various shots and lie without damage.
For the short game, the RB Tour X shines with pitch shots from 50 yards, offering significantly increased spin for exceptional control around the greens. This golf ball masterfully balances low spin off the tee with increased spin for short game shots, demonstrating its versatility and high performance.
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Taylormade Tour Response Stripe 2022 Golf Ball
TaylorMade consistently innovates its golf balls, and its introduction of the Tour Response Stripe offers a fresh take, unlike any others in the market. While the Pix version of the TP5 is favored by tour professionals, the Tour Response Stripe is a budget-friendly alternative without compromising on quality.
The distinctive Stripe feature sets this ball apart with a unique visual aid and incorporates significant technological advancements. The Tour Response boasts a urethane cover, similar to other high-end models, and a three-piece construction that includes a new SpeedMantle encircling the low-compression core. These features significantly enhance the ball’s performance.
In terms of the long game, the Tour Response immediately impressed players with its increased distance. This improvement wasn’t limited to tee shots; iron shots also benefit from a noticeable boost in ball speed and distance.
When it comes to the short game, the Tour Response’s firmer feel stands out, especially noticeable with the putter. This firmer sensation may appeal to many players, offering a perfect balance of responsiveness. Its performance on chips and pitches was remarkably consistent, rounding out its comprehensive appeal.
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Titleist 2024 Tour Soft Golf Ball
The Titleist golf ball lineup offers a variety of models, among which the Tour Soft stands out for those seeking a soft feel and solid performance at a more accessible price point. While the Pro V1 and Pro V1x are the flagship models of the range, the Tour Soft emerges as an excellent value proposition, offering similar benefits for a fraction of the cost.
In terms of design and technology, the Tour Soft boasts premium packaging and features a newly formulated, thinner cover alongside a larger core. Its aesthetic appeal is enhanced by a pearly white Fusablend cover that adds a distinctive shimmer, making the ball visually striking.
During long-game testing, the Tour Soft distinguished itself from other soft-feel balls by maintaining the speed of the driver impressively. However, its higher spin rates make it easier to launch, which might not suit players who already generate a lot of spin.
For the short game, the Tour Soft demonstrated effective spin control, with wedges and pitch shots generating a satisfactory spin. Additionally, its durability contributed to consistent spin performance throughout testing, underscoring its reliability and quality in various play conditions.
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Wilson Triad Golf Ball
Wilson is famous for producing high-quality budget golf gear, and their Triad golf ball continues this tradition of exceptional value. Marketed as a versatile option for competitive golfers aiming to break 80, Wilson claims this ball offers high speed and low spin off the driver and long irons, alongside a stable flight for enhanced accuracy.
The Triad’s standout feature is its ultra-thin urethane cover, complemented by a uniform density across its three layers, bringing a smoother roll on the greens. Additionally, its high MOI design redistributes weight from the core to the outer layers, increasing ball speed and reducing the spin of the driver.
In our testing, the Triad exhibited a bit more spin off the tee, leading to a lower trajectory. However, it did not compromise on distance, delivering consistent and lengthy flights. This consistency extended to iron play, where it maintained a solid and reliable flight path.
With its short-game capabilities, the spin control on chips was not as tight, but pitch shots from 50 yards still offer decent control. Notably, the ball’s soft feel when putting stood out, providing excellent control on the greens.
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Callaway ERC Soft Golf Ball
The ERC Soft is celebrated as the brand’s softest yet longest golf ball, incorporating cutting-edge technology to achieve an optimal balance between tee-off performance and finesse around the greens. Additionally, the ball features a high-energy core and a High-Speed mantle, both aimed at maximizing distance across all clubs.
Our evaluation revealed that the ERC Soft indeed offers increased distance and carry, with a high launch angle facilitated by reduced spin, a common trait among the models reviewed. The integration of new technologies has evidently played a pivotal role in achieving efficient ball strikes.
Where the ERC Soft truly shines is in the short game, delivering a remarkably soft feel and substantial greenside spin on precise short-game shots. While it may not offer as much stopping power as the Chrome Soft, the difference is slight. Furthermore, the Triple Track alignment aids significantly in aiming the ball toward the hole, contributing to overall performance on the greens.
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OnCore 2022 Elixr Golf Ball
OnCore Golf may not be a household name for everyone, but its rapidly expanding fan base can largely be attributed to the high quality of its golf ball lineup. The Elixir, OnCore’s flagship tour ball, is particularly noteworthy, retailing at an accessible $30 per doze.
The Elixir is a three-piece ball featuring a urethane cover engineered for tour-level performance from tee to green. Compared to its predecessor, this model boasts a firmer cover and a new core to increase the ball speed. Additionally, an updated dimple pattern is employed to achieve a higher trajectory.
The Elixir’s long-game capabilities truly shone, delivering impressive distances both off the tee and with mid to long irons. This enhanced flight contributed to effective stopping power and distance control, with the ball also performing admirably in windy conditions.
In the short game, the Elixir offers reliable spin control. While there may be other balls in this segment that offer quicker stopping, the Elixir distinguishes itself with a pleasing feel upon impact, avoiding the overly soft sensation found in some competitors, and instead providing satisfying feedback that many golfers appreciate.
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Titleist Velocity 2022 Golf Ball
The updated Titleist Velocity maintains its reputation as the longest ball in Titleist’s lineup, thanks to its two-piece construction that offers varying degrees of forgiveness. In this iteration, Titleist has adjusted the firmness to be slightly higher, aiming to retain more energy upon impact for increased speed on full shots. Noteworthy enhancements include the NaZ+ ionomer cover, featuring a novel octahedral dimple pattern across 350 dimples, designed to achieve higher and more consistent flight trajectories.
The Velocity’s standout feature is its low spin, which positions it as the longest ball in the Titleist range when paired with enhanced ball speed and its high-flying nature. However, this low spin can impact the ball’s ability to hold greens on approach shots, though its high trajectory does offer some compensatory stopping power.
In the short game, the reduced spin may challenge control compared to premium balls, but the Velocity’s firmer feel provides satisfying acoustic feedback on chips and putts. This makes it an excellent choice for golfers who prioritize feedback over spin for their short game.
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Taylormade Distance+ Golf Ball
The Distance+ is engineered for those seeking additional yardage, particularly benefiting golfers with lower swing speeds by making it easier to launch the ball. Moreover, its affordability makes it an attractive option for value-conscious players.
TaylorMade advertises the Distance+ as a high-velocity ball designed to maximize distance across all shots, thanks to its React Speed Core and aerodynamics optimized for low drag and high speed.
In the long game, Distance+ delivers on its promise, offering competitive distance alongside more expensive balls. It features a mid-launch trajectory that hits a sweet spot in terms of height, particularly noticeable with low irons where it significantly enhances height and distance, ideal for attacking the greens.
However, in the short game, like many distance-focused balls, it falls short for players who rely on loft for their chip shots. It’s better suited for those who prefer a bump-and-run approach. When putting, the Distance+ provides clearer feedback from the club face, making it easier to judge putts.
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Srixon Distance Ball
The Srixon Distance ball is designed for golfers looking to extend their carry distance. It stands out as one of the most affordable options in the market without compromising on performance, offering durability and value for money.
It incorporates a fast layer core and a robust ionomer cover to enhance both distance and feel. Additionally, its 324-speed dimple pattern packs a significant amount of technology into a budget-friendly package.
In terms of long-game performance, the ball impressively added 15 yards off the tee for our tester and maintained a strong trajectory even in windy conditions, demonstrating its effectiveness on both drives and approach shots. However, its performance in the short game does not match up to more specialized models, particularly for shots requiring finesse around the greens. While it offers a solid feel, golfers who rely on the loft for their short game might find better-suited options elsewhere.
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Bridgestone E9 Long Drive Golf Ball
The E9 Long Drive Ball is equipped with an injection-molded seamless Surlyn cover and Bridgestone’s tried-and-true 330 dimple pattern, a combination engineered to enhance flight and carry distance while maintaining consistency. Its gradational core, firmer on the outside and softer towards the center, is designed to increase ball speed.
In terms of long-game performance, while the E9 delivers notable distance off the tee, it stands out for its ability to combine this distance with remarkable spin control on mid and short-iron shots.
For the short game, the E9 maintains its spin control and impresses with its soft feel, making it an excellent choice for players who face fast, firm courses and seek a ball that offers both a gentle touch and substantial distance off the tee.
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As with all golf equipment, golf balls are getting better every year. A common challenge for many golfers is selecting the most appropriate ball for their style of play. Using a ball that doesn’t suit your game can be more detrimental than many realize. However, by paying attention to the factors mentioned earlier and dedicating some time to testing various golf balls, we believe you’ll discover a ball that not only appeals to you but also delivers reliable performance on the course.
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View Comments
Unbelievable that you gave no consideration to Snell or Vice golf balls. Dean Snell is one of the designers of the Pro V1 and he also was at Taylor Made for 17 years before starting his own company. Vice, a German company, makes a great line of balls. At 82, I'm interested in distance primarily. I have tried most of the balls you mentioned that stress distance and the Vice Drive is the best and at a very affordable price.
Thank you so much for your sharing!