Buying guide for best golf balls
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Golf is hard. Even the best golfers in the world can have a day where they can't hit the ball well. With that said, it's vital to control the few things that you're able to. You're able to choose what clubs you use and what balls you use, the only two items that actually affect your score.
Finding the right golf ball can be difficult, though. There are thousands of options, all claiming to give you more distance or spin, so knowing how to decipher which is best for you can be daunting. Whether you're like me and hack it up every now and again, or you're a scratch golfer looking to get a few extra yards on your shots, there's a ball that best suits your game.
We took a lot of the guesswork out of the equation for you, and really loved the Titleist Pro V1x Golf Balls. It's the sister ball to the most played golf ball on the PGA Tour, and for good reason. It's incredibly well made, reliable and allows golfers to control their ball flight and spin rate more accurately.
Editors' picks
Titleist Pro V1x Golf Balls
Editors' Favorite
Material: Polyurethane | Color: White
The Titleist Pro V1x Golf Balls are pricey, but they’re excellent for experienced golfers who want a high, consistent flight and more spin.
Players with a low-spin profile can get more distance on their shots with these balls, thanks to their spherically tiled 348-tetrahedral dimple design and high-gradient dual core.
Also, the soft cast urethane cover works with the high-flex casing layer to generate more stopping power.
Callaway Supersoft Golf Balls
Great Value
Material: Rubber | Color: White
Callaway is a top golf brand, but you can snag the Callaway Golf Supersoft Golf Balls at a relatively low price, and golfers love them for their consistency.
They’re a terrific bargain pick, and the super-soft feel makes them suitable for any player looking to increase distance and produce straighter shots with more spin.
The hyperelastic core helps players execute shots with greater speed, especially off the driver, and when using irons, the soft feel gives players more control and precision.
Callaway Golf Chrome Tour Golf Balls
Best for Pros
Material: Polyethylene | Color: 9 Color Options
The Callaway Golf Chrome Tour Golf Balls are built for players who want tour-style performance rather than a basic distance ball. The new Hyper Fast Soft Core is designed to give you very fast ball speeds while still keeping the softer feel many better players want on full swings and touch shots.
Paired with the Seamless Tour Aero package, you can expect a more stable, predictable flight that helps you keep the ball on line in a variety of conditions, including wind.
Overall, the Chrome Tour is a solid choice if you want a ball that performs well off the tee and on scoring shots.
Bridgestone e6 Golf Balls
Simple Yet Solid
Material: Plastic | Color: White
Although Bridgestone isn’t as recognizable as Titleist or Callaway, many top pro golfers, including iconic players Tiger Woods and Bryson DeChambeau, endorse it.
Any player looking to get more distance behind their shots, whether off the tee or on the fairway, will love the soft feel of the Bridgestone e6 Golf Balls, as they give players an improved feel for greater precision and control.
They have a large core for faster compression and a soft cover for increased spin.
Titleist Pro V1 Golf Balls
Trusted Brand
Material: Polyurethane | Color: Yellow
The Titleist Pro V1 Golf Balls are among the most expensive, but they deliver elite performance and are a favorite among veteran golfers.
They have a high-gradient core and a high-flex casing layer for lowering long-game spin, which helps generate greater distance on any shot.
The soft cast cover delivers superior greenside spin, and the spherically tiled 388-tetrahedral dimple design allows golfers to get a more consistent flight on their shots off the tee. Additionally, you’ll experience a soft touch for increased precision on your chips and putting.
What to know before buying golf balls
Golf ball specifications
A golf ball must conform to specifications established by the sport’s two prominent governing organizations: the United States Golf Association and a group of companies known as the R&A. These rules have existed for decades, and every reputable golf ball manufacturer follows them precisely.
Occasionally, you may find a trick or novelty golf ball smaller than the allowed size. We recommend against using them regularly, as your golf game will not improve from using equipment that doesn’t conform to the regulations.
- Size: A golf ball must have a diameter of at least 1.68 inches.
- Weight: A golf ball must weigh 1.62 ounces or less.
- Shape: A golf ball must have a spherical shape.
- Dimples: A golf ball’s dimples must be symmetrically arranged.
- Color: There are no regulations about the color of a golf ball. Although most are white, some are yellow, green, orange and other colors.
Golf ball types
Nearly every golf ball looks the same on the outside, but significant differences may exist on the inside. The design of and materials in a ball’s interior play a considerable role in determining the flight characteristics.
Golf balls manufactured today consist of one to five layers of material.
One layer: This is a simple, cheap golf ball with a solid material mass. You’ll often see this type on a putt-putt course. They might also show up at a driving range. A one-layer golf ball doesn’t offer the distance or control of a multi-layer ball.
Two layers: A two-layer golf ball has a cover with a solid core of material inside. These balls can go reasonably far, but players may have more difficulty controlling the flight path.
Three layers: This type of golf ball consists of a rubber core, a thin layer of soft or liquid rubber, and a cover made of a soft, plastic-like material. Players can control the ball flight better with this type, but it doesn’t tend to travel quite as far as a two-layer ball.
Four layers: This golf ball has a rubber core, two soft middle layers, and a thinner outer layer than a three-layer ball. The two middle layers contribute to the ball’s effective spin. Advanced players like the mix of distance and control they get with a four-layer ball.
Five layers: This type of golf ball is the newest on the market and is optimized for distance and spin. However, some golfers do not feel there is much difference between these and their four-layer counterparts.
Golf ball cost
Plan to pay $1 to $5 per ball. You can actually buy used golf balls, and you can also buy X-Out golf balls that are flawed in some way and therefore sold at a lower price. The most expensive balls are four- and five-layer options.
New balls are often sold by the dozen. You may be able to buy a sleeve of three if you want to try a particular brand or model without buying too many. You’ll pay more per ball when buying a sleeve than if you were to purchase a dozen.
X-out golf balls
These are balls that a manufacturer has chosen not to sell under its brand name, literally printing an X across the brand name on the ball. X-out balls have an imperfection resulting from the manufacturing process. It could be as simple as a misprint of the brand name or a malformed dimple.
New X-out balls are cheap, usually about 40 cents to $1 per ball. They sometimes come in a large bag and are suitable for beginners and casual play.
Value-level golf balls
Occasional and beginning players will be fine with value-level balls. These don’t give you much feel when making shots, but most beginners don’t have that type of skill, anyway. These golf balls cost between $10 and $25 per dozen.
Premium-level golf balls
Players who are just beginning to learn how to spin the ball and are seeking more shot
control will want to try premium golf balls. Some of these balls have specific strengths, like tour-level balls. Others are good all-around golf balls. You’ll spend $20 to $40 per dozen for premium-level balls.
Tour-level golf balls
Tour-level balls are designed for advanced players and provide the highest level of spin and shot control. Some are designed specifically for distance. Others are designed for feel. Inexperienced players don’t have the skills to take advantage of tour-level balls. Expect to pay $35 to $60 per dozen for these.
FAQ
Q. What do golfers mean when they refer to the “feel” of a golf ball?
A. Advanced golfers prefer to feel like they can control the ball flight off the clubface and tend to look for golf balls with that quality. It usually involves being able to spin the ball for approach shots properly.
Q. What does compression mean?
A. It refers to the amount of compression the ball has when hit off the clubface. A ball that compresses more easily offers a better feel than a stiff ball that doesn’t feel like it compresses. Most advanced golfers feel they have better control over the flight of a ball if it compresses more. Manufacturers give golf balls a compression rating from less than 65 to over 100.
Q. Why do golf balls have dimples?
A. The small indentations, or dimples, on the surface of the golf ball play a significant role in its performance. The dimples cause turbulence in the air around the ball, creating lift and reducing drag. Thus, a dimpled golf ball travels farther and straighter than a golf ball with a smooth surface would. The dimples give the golfer more control over the flight of the ball. Dimples first appeared on golf balls in the early 1900s.
Q. Should I be concerned about playing with a nicked or scuffed golf ball?
A. A nicked ball won’t fly as far, and a nick could cause the golf ball to veer offline during a putt on the green. With a scuffed ball, a more skilled golfer may notice a decreased ability to control it precisely, but it probably wouldn’t affect a recreational golfer’s game much. However, rather than discarding nicked or scuffed balls, consider using them on holes with water hazards.
Our expertise
Kevin Luna has a love for all things tech, sports, fitness and gadgets. As a longtime writer for BestReviews, he enjoys writing engaging, high-quality guides to help shoppers make smart buying decisions.
Jordan Hutchinson has been at BestReviews since 2021, and he now manages people and products for the testing lab. While he specializes in testing, he has extensive knowledge of sports equipment and knows his way around a golf course.
