12 Best Golf Balls of 2023 – Reviews & Buying Guide
The Best golf balls are essential to your performance as a golfer since it is the sole piece of equipment you utilize on every single shot. It’s crucial to choose a good ball that complements your swing and playing style.
There are balls available that can fulfill your demands, regardless of whether you’re a high handicapper with a sluggish swing speed, a mid handicapper with a moderate swing speed, a senior, a novice, or an experienced player with a quick swing speed.
A softball with little compression, a hard ball with strong compression, or a ball in the middle will ultimately be your choice. But no matter whatever ball you choose, it should play admirably from the tee to the green.
Choosing the finest golf ball may be challenging and intimidating due to the vast array of variations available. Thankfully, you’ve located the appropriate location.
In this post, we’ll examine and contrast our top recommendations for golf balls from a variety of brands and price points.
Our Top Golf Ball Picks
Based on our own testing, research, and experience, here are our top selections:
- Callaway Chrome Soft Golf Ball
- Titleist Pro V1 Golf Ball
- Callaway Supersoft Golf Ball
- TaylorMade Distance+ Golf Ball
- Srixon Z-STAR 8 Golf Ball
- Vice Pro Plus Golf Ball
- Bridgestone TOUR B RX Golf Ball
- Titleist Velocity Golf Ball
- TaylorMade TP5 Golf Ball
- Wilson Zip Golf Ball
- Srixon Soft Feel Golf Ball
- Volvik New VIVID Golf Ball
1. Callaway Chrome Soft Golf Ball
The Chrome Soft by Callaway earns the #1 spot on our list for several reasons:
- It has great all-around performance.
- It has a lot of fans and excellent ratings.
- It is appropriate for all levels of golfers.
For many years, the Chrome Soft in particular has been a very well-liked golf ball and has an outstanding average rating on the Callaway shop.
The Chrome Soft has a mild compression rating of roughly 70 and a gentle feel. It is built to play at its best from tee to green, which entails long drives off the tee, high iron launches, and plenty of spin control on the greens. The ball is designed for narrow dispersions and is forgiving as well.
The latest iteration of the Chrome Soft has a three-piece construction consisting of a mantle layer and:
- a new hyper-elastic SoftFast Core for the bag’s best possible compression and performance
- excellent feel and control, a soft urethane coating
Callaway’s Precision Technology is the new Chrome Soft’s most notable technological advancement. This enables 1/1000-inch ultra-precise design production, which improves performance overall by enabling quicker ball speed and narrower dispersion.
The HEX Tour Aero dimple pattern used by the Chrome soft is intended to increase carry while reducing drag.
With even better greenside control, better feel, and greater distance than prior generations, golfers perceive the most recent Chrome Soft to be a significant improvement.
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2. Titleist Pro V1 Golf Ball
For many years, the Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x have been considered as “the #1 ball in golf.” Several of the top athletes in the world, including Scottie Scheffler, Max Homa, Jessica Korda, Louis Oosthuizen, and Tony Finau, have utilized it.
The ratings for this premium ball are outstanding. Driver swing speeds of 90 mph and higher can use it because of its rather high compression rating of about 90.
With its extended distance, low long-game spin, penetrating trajectory, and unsurpassed greenside spin control, the Pro V1 offers performance that has been proven. It is made of three separate pieces that are as follows:
- a high-gradient core that is meant to provide even lower long-game spin for greater distance. It is soft in the middle and hard on the outside.
- a flexible, strong casing layer that minimizes long-game spin and raises ball speeds
- Optimal short-game control and spin around the greens are made possible by a cast thermoset urethane cover.
The Pro V1’s most recent iteration features a 388 tetrahedral dimple pattern that is spherically tiled. The goal of this dimple pattern is to encourage more distance and a reliable, penetrating ball flight.
There are white, yellow, and personalized versions of this ball available.
With shorter irons, the Pro V1 offers a lovely soft feel and outstanding durability. It enables golfers to use their mid- and short-irons more effectively by lowering overly high ball flights off the tee and reducing spin.
We don’t advise it if you’re a novice or a player with a high handicap since you probably won’t be able to utilize it to its best potential unless you’re an accomplished golfer.
3. Callaway Supersoft Golf Ball
Due to its low compression rating of 38, the Callaway Supersoft ball is an excellent choice for golfers who have slower swing speeds since it enables them to compress the ball easily and produce a lot of distance.
Contrary to its name, the Supersoft is not only soft; it is also quick, and strong, produces high launch and low long-game spin, and exhibits superb spin control around the greens.
Because the Supersoft has comparatively little spin, it will aid golfers who frequently struggle with slices and hooks.
The Supersoft is made of two pieces that include:
- Using a HyperElastic SoftFast Core, ball speeds may be increased without a harder feel.
- a sophisticated hybrid cover that increases contact with the club head for better wedge control.
Moreover, HEX Aerodynamics increases lift while decreasing drag for greater carry into greens as well as greater distance and stopping power.
In the Callaway shop, the Supersoft golf ball has received nothing but praise from customers and has long been a top seller. Golfers adore it for its distance off the tee, putting abilities, and affordability in comparison to other balls.
The Supersoft MAX golf ball, which is also offered and has a little bigger diameter, is designed to be a bit easier to hit. For other people, this could be an even better choice.
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4. TaylorMade Distance+ Golf Ball
The TaylorMade Distance+ is probably one of the most well-liked and successful distance balls on the market if you’re seeking one.
The key to this game is speed. While having a modest compression rating of 77, its soft REACT Speed Core is designed for easy compression by golfers with slower swing rates, making it suited for a wide spectrum of players.
The REACT core and a soft ionomer cover make up the two-piece structure. With greater durability and resistance to scuffing and shearing, this cover reduces spin to a minimum.
The Distance+ has additional features like:
- a 342-dimple design that is aerodynamically efficient
- an integrated alignment assist that directs your putts and provides roll feedback
This ball offers excellent distance on every stroke while also offering decent spin and control around the greens. We adore how it offers a performance level comparable to expensive balls at a much-reduced price.
5. Srixon Z-STAR 8 Golf Ball
Srixon has a long history of producing high-quality golf balls. Its Z-STAR model earned the 2021 Golf Digest Hot List and is extremely well-liked and rated by players.
The Z-STAR is built with penetrating flight and mid-launch for maximum distance off the tee, a gradually softer feel as you travel to the short irons, and a tonne of spin, control, and accuracy around the greens.
This ball’s compression rating is 90, which is on the high side, and it is advised to utilize it with a swing speed of at least 90 mph.
The 2023 Z-STAR 8 ball is made of three pieces, which are as follows:
- New FastLayer DG Core that maximizes performance for each club by being hard at the edges and soft in the center.
- a thin layer of thermoplastic urethane for the greens’ perimeter to provide stopping power
- a brand-new Spin Skin+ covering that penetrates grooves to raise friction and boost spin with wedges
A 338 Speed Dimple design also encourages a penetrating launch and provides a lift for the greatest possible carry distance.
The Z-STAR is a high-end golf ball that shares many similarities with the well-known Titleist Pro V1. The durability is excellent, and the short-game accuracy and distance are also top-notch.
6. Vice Pro Plus Golf Ball
Vice Golf is a relatively new firm on the market. It was established in Germany in 2012 as a producer of premium golf balls, and it made its debut on the US market in 2015.
Their most popular golf ball is the Pro Plus. The ball was recommended on golf.com’s performance golf ball list and received a gold medal on Golf Digest’s Hot List.
The Pro Plus features a lower launch with lower spin for the longest, most penetrating ball flight in the market. It is designed for players with the fastest swing speeds in the game (110+ mph, 95 compressions). Moreover, it offers a high amount of short-game spin and a premium, soft feel around the greens.
The Pro Plus is made of four separate pieces, including:
- a new, more substantial High Energy Speed Core (HESC), which rewards fast swing speeds with long range
- an inner Surlyn mantle that is thin and flexible and decreases long-game spin
- a broader, more adaptable HPF outer mantle for better mid-iron control and improved carry
- constructed with a thin cast urethane cover for an improved feel and short-game spin.
Additional Pro Soft features include:
- robust 336-dimple pattern
- wedges with stick-to-the-green (S2TG) technology have a sticky, controlling feel.
- an assist for KIL alignment to improve putting performance
The Vice Pro Plus outperforms the more costly Titleist Pro V1x (a rival) in terms of ball speed, carry, and overall distance, plus it generates less driver spin, according to swing robot studies at an independent laboratory.
In general, we feel the Vice Pro Plus to be quite tough and that it will provide you amazing distance and Tour-level spin around the greens as long as you have a quick swing speed.
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7. Bridgestone TOUR B RX Golf Ball
A list of the finest golf balls would be incomplete without include Bridgestone, a well-known supplier of golf balls. They are represented by some of the top golfers in the world, including Matt Kuchar, Fred Couples, Bryson DeChambeau, and Tiger Woods.
For golfers who don’t have the quickest swing speeds but still desire Tour-level performance and lots of stopping force into greens, the TOUR B RX, which has received high praise from critics, is the perfect club.
The most recent version of this ball has a medium compression rating of about 75, which is fairly low for a Tour ball but adds distance for slower swing rates. Also, it is made to have a soft feel, outstanding iron accuracy, and a lot of greenside spin.
A unique REACTIV iQ SMART cover is what makes the TOUR B RX stand out from the crowd. Its technology responds to the power of contact to deliver ideal through-the-bag performance, which entails rapid rebound off tee shots and remaining on the face longer for approach shots.
The three-piece TOUR B RX also has a gradational compression core, which contributes to increased initial ball speed and less side spin for increased forgiveness. Maximum dimple coverage is made possible by our seamless cover technology, and a dual dimple pattern is designed to reduce drag and enhance ball flight.
Lexi Thompson, an LPGA pro, competes in the TOUR B RX. The majority of golfers are amazed by how far and straight it flies as well as the amount of touch and control it provides around the greens.
8. Titleist Velocity Golf Ball
The Titleist Velocity is all about speed, as its name suggests. It’s a very well-liked distance ball that was designed for maximum ball speed, high launch, and little spin, which results in enormous overall distance.
The mid-range compression rating of the Velocity ball is 65. Its two-piece design is made up of:
- Using the longer clubs, a new high-speed LSX core generates quicker speed.
- a unique NaX+ cover that lowers spin while allowing playability on the greenside
The 350 octahedral dimples of The Velocity are tiled spherically. Its layout supports a strong and steady trajectory.
The colors white, matte blue, green, and orange are all available for the Velocity ball.
Golfers can attest to the Velocity’s enormous distance, and they also laud the ball’s strong feel and control. Yet, it also suffers a little around the greens because of the distance, low spin, and hardness.
9. TaylorMade TP5 Golf Ball
Besides the TP5x, TaylorMade also produces the TP5, which is a popular Tour ball utilized by players like Matthew Wolff and Collin Morikawa.
The TP5 is perfect for swing speeds between medium and high since its compression rating, which is about 85, is on the high side. The TP5 line’s softest ball, emphasizes feel, control, and greenside spin.
Furthermore, the TP5 offers great tee-to-green performance, with quick ball speeds off the driver, a mid-to-high launch, medium iron spin, and high wedge spin. It is made of five separate pieces, which are as follows:
- The Speed-Layer System is a larger and more responsive Tri-Fast Core made up of four layers that get stiffer as they get bigger, enhancing carry while decreasing drag and increasing greenside spin.
- a cast urethane cover with a dual-spin, ultra-soft construction that improves longevity and provides the best feel across the whole bag.
The TP5 is a complex ball that is packed with performance technologies. Other features include:
- High-Flex Material (HFM): This performs the function of a tightly coiled spring, resulting in a stronger rebound effect and longer distance.
- the new Tour Flight 322 Dimple Pattern, which has a shallow overall dimple and reduces drag during climb while maintaining lift during descent.
This ball comes in white, yellow, and with pix graphics that improve alignment and visibility. Also, it may be customized with text, numbers, and logos.
The TP5 will provide you fantastic Tour-level performance if you have the necessary swing speed, albeit it will significantly lessen your speed and distance off the tee than the TP5x.
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10. Wilson Zip Golf Ball
Outstanding value can be found in the Wilson Zip ball. It plays well around the greens, has a soft feel with little compression, is relatively inexpensive, and has a tonne of social evidence to support it. It is also quick and low-spinning off the tee.
This ball is constructed of two pieces and has a compression rating of 50.
A comparatively soft Surlyn (ionomer) cover that enhances feel and boosts spin with irons and wedges, along with a unique Zero Compression Core that is rubber-blended for a soft feel
The Zip ball features a distinctive dimple design known as 302 Ph.D. aerodynamics. This design has shallow, pan-head dimples with flat bottoms that lessen drag and produce a strong, steady flight.
The Zip is only offered in white, but it offers a lot of features for the money. We adore it not just for its reliable performance from tee to green but also because it keeps its silky feel even in cooler climates.
11. Srixon Soft Feel Golf Ball
The Srixon Soft Feel, a highly praised and popular ball, offers exceptional softness, great distance off the tee, and reliable spin control around the greens. It is best for swing speeds between low and moderate thanks to its acceptable 60 compression rating.
The FastLayer Core, which is the same core used in Srixon’s premium balls, is introduced in the 13th edition of the Soft Feel. Its technology gives a wonderfully soft feel from the tee to the green while also reducing long-game sidespin.
This ball is made of two pieces, which are as follows:
- a new FastLayer Core that switches from a softer inside to a harder outside. Faster than before, its core returns to form after impact, increasing ball speed.
- a thin ionomer coating that softens the feel of short game strokes while increasing spin with wedges.
The Srixon 338 Speed Dimple design is present in the Soft Feel. This pattern helps the ball travel further, straighter, and with a more penetrating flight by decreasing drag and increasing launch.
The ball is also offered in Tour Yellow and Pink and the Soft Feel Ladies version.
The Soft Feel golf ball, Srixon’s least-cost option, is one of the most well-liked among players on a tight budget. Although spin around the greens isn’t as good as a Tour ball, most players of the Soft Feel wouldn’t require it nevertheless. Overall performance is fantastic.
12. Volvik New VIVID Golf Ball
Unquestionably, one of Volvik’s top golf ball products is the New VIVID. It distinguishes itself from other balls on the market by being offered in a wide range of colorful colors (apart from white) with a patented matte surface.
But, this ball’s design goes beyond simple visibility. The performance from the tee to the green is similarly strong, with a mid-high launch, a low driver spin, and a high wedge spin.
On the Volvik website, this ball has received good overall reviews and is a best-seller.
Swing rates between 70 and 100 mph are adequate for the New VIVID’s compression rating of 75. The two-piece structure is made up of:
- a tough, powerful Nano Bi Core that increases distance off the tee
- an ionomer matte cover with 322 dimples for more reliable, steady flying
The New VIVID ball comes in white, red, orange, blue, green, pink, yellow, and purple as standard colors. They frequently enjoy particular popularity among older people and others who have eyesight issues.
Another alternative is to get a personalized New VIVID golf ball, which comes in over 30 color variations, and two finishes and allows you to add your own text or logo. For those who want to show off their personalities on the course, this is a terrific chance.
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Buying Guide
Golf balls come in a wide variety, so selecting one might be challenging, especially if you don’t know what to look for. You will receive the education you require in that regard from this handbook.
A good golf ball should have good feel, be controlled and able to spin around the greens, and assist distance off the tee.
The following are the most crucial elements to think about while choosing a golf ball:
1. Compression
A golf ball’s capacity for compression is crucial. The compression rating, which typically varies from 30 to 120, is used to quantify this.
Less club head speed is needed to adequately compress the ball to provide a “rebound” effect that results in the ideal distance the lower the compression rating. On the other hand, a high compression rating necessitates a faster club head speed to compress the ball sufficiently.
A golfer should aim for a swing speed that is as near to X mph as feasible to strike a ball with an X compression rating.
Nevertheless, this is frequently inaccurate; for instance, a ball may have a compression rating of 60 yet still be good for swing speeds of up to 100 mph.
The compressibility of a ball can also be impacted by variables like temperature. A ball will typically be more compressible when it is warm, but a ball will be less compressible when it is cold.
Generally speaking, having a higher swing speed than a compression rating requires is preferable to having a lower swing speed. The ball may really fly erratically and lose distance if the compression is too low for your swing speed.
Low-compression golf balls will perform better for seniors, players with high handicaps, and women since they tend to have slower swing speeds. Conversely, better golfers have faster swing rates and perform better with high-compression balls.
2. Cover
A golf ball’s performance may be significantly impacted by the material used for its cover. Ionomer and urethane are the two primary materials used in coverings. Surlyn, an ionomer material created by the chemical corporation DuPont, is frequently used in golf ball coverings.
Ionomer-covered golf balls often last longer, spin less and go a bit farther. They frequently cost less as well.
Urethane-covered golf balls often spin more, feel softer and more luxurious, and give better control and spin with shorter irons.
Although this is a generality, recent technological developments have allowed urethane coverings to almost completely mimic the advantages of ionomer covers. The biggest disadvantage of urethane nowadays is its increased cost and potential reduction in distance off the tee for slower swingers.
Ionomer balls are typically used by golfers with slower swing speeds and/or less expertise. On the other hand, competent golfers who have the faster swing speeds required to reach their full potential typically play with urethane balls.
3. Colours
The color (and finish) of the golf ball is something that many people might not take into consideration. Many golfers will instinctively aim for the white ball, but it turns out that’s not always the best choice.
High-visibility golf balls are identical to regular white balls in composition but are available in a range of colors, including green, yellow, red, and orange. To lessen glare from sunlight, they could also have a matte finish rather than a glossy one.
The major benefit of colored golf balls is to make it simpler to notice the ball wherever it lands and to keep track of it while it’s in the air, in addition to adding a visual flair that may fit your personality.
It is also worthwhile to see if the golf ball type you are considering is also offered in high-visibility colors.
While playing with a white ball is perfectly OK, if you have visual issues or a tendency to strike the ball erratically, colored balls may be more convenient for you. Colored balls can also help you swing at the ball with greater confidence and focus at address, which may result in hitting the ball farther.
4. Dimples
Although we don’t suggest picking a golf ball only based on its dimples, it is important to understand what they are for.
Today’s golf balls typically feature between 300 and 400 dimples. Although different golf ball manufacturers have their unique methods for doping their balls, the end aim is always the same: to enhance distance by lowering drag and raising the lift.
In contrast to smooth balls, dimples are necessary to achieve the aerodynamic performance required from golf balls today.
In addition to the quantity, dimples can also differ in form (such as spherical or hexagonal) and pattern. Bridgestone is one of the companies that frequently use aggressive “dimple-in-dimple” designs. It is based on actual science.
The best course of action is to read what the manufacturer says about the dimples of a particular golf ball and make sure that they don’t conflict with the requirements and objectives of your game since it’s difficult, if not impossible, for the average golfer to predict the ultimate effect of a specific dimple configuration.
5. Price
Pricing is, of course, a major consideration when purchasing a golf ball.
Many people find it objectionable to pay $50 or more for a dozen balls, which is very natural. Thankfully, there are many balls available that are reasonably priced and perform quite similarly to the best, like the Titleist Pro V1.
Having said that, cheaper golf balls could be made more simply, have less feel, transmit energy inefficiently, or perform worse overall, although this is not always the case. In this buying guide, we’ve made an effort to include high-quality golf balls for a variety of golfers’ budgets.
Don’t forget that buying recycled balls on websites like eBay might help you save even more money compared to buying new ones. We recommend only looking at balls with condition ratings of AAA or above.
Conclusion
A high-quality golf ball that fits your game is a big asset, whether you’re seeking for longer distance, strong all-around performance, accuracy, workability, greenside spin, or soft feel. There are several excellent possibilities for you to think about, regardless of your level of golfing ability.
Look for softer, low-compression balls like the Callaway Supersoft, Srixon Soft Feel, or even the TaylorMade Distance+, which is engineered to create the most distance off the tee, if your swing speed is less than 90 mph.
Look at medium or high compression balls as the Srixon Z-STAR, Callaway Chrome Soft, Titleist Pro V1, or Bridgestone TOUR B RX if your swing speed is 90 mph or more.
In any event, with a little research and trial, choosing a golf ball that you like is actually quite simple. The balls listed on this page should all be tried out to see which one works the best for you.
Each of the golf ball models mentioned above offers excellent value for the price. You now have to take the necessary steps after we have provided you with the necessary information.
