Best Golf Balls for Spin 2024: The simplest way to increase or reduce revs

Rather than changing your clubs to help add or take away spin, why not swap for a higher or lower-spinning golf ball?

Allow me to talk you through the best golf balls for spin that you can play with this season. Perhaps a common misconception in golf is that spin is a hindrance, this couldn’t be farther from the truth – spin is your friend. Therefore, you want to find the best golf ball that generates optimum spin and maintains competitive distance.

Certain golfers will need more spin than others and vice versa. Bearing that in mind, we will split the best golf balls for spin into two sub-categories – the best high-spin golf balls and the best low-spin golf balls.

If you aren’t quite sure whether you’d benefit from more or less spin hopefully I can assist you with the following information and any questions you have can be answered in the detailed buying guide and FAQs section.

Best Golf Balls for Spin 2024: Some models to consider

Best overall high-spin golf balls: PXG Xtreme | View Offer

Best represented high-spin golf balls on Tour: Titleist Pro V1x | View Offer

Best overall low-spin: Titleist AVX | View Offer

Best value low-spin: Pinnacle Rush | View Offer

Let’s start on the tee box; if you hit the ball stupidly high and right chances are you’re using a ball that spins too much off the tee for your needs and switching to a low-spinning golf ball could minimize that shot. The flip side is if you struggle to generate height and if your ball vias off to the left, this could mean you need a higher-spinning golf ball in play.

When firing at the pin almost every golfer wants a ball that stops on command but we don’t all have the ability to do so. Nevertheless, by switching to a higher-spinning golf ball you might create more stopping power without needing to change anything else. Alternatively, if you think that spin is harming you when attacking the flag you could swap to a lower-spinning golf ball.

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 for us to discover just how well (or poorly) it performs. Our quest to deliver as much information about every ball as we can led us to conduct our second golf balls robot test in 2023, 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, so we test golf balls over some time both on and off the course. For more information about how we test golf equipment click here.

The best way to discover whether you would benefit from a high-spinning or low-spinning golf ball is by hitting shots on one of the best launch monitors and seeing how your spin stacks up compared to the optimum number specified for your swing speed. I know not everyone has easy access to a launch monitor, but if you can jump on one then it’s well worth it.

As I’ve already mentioned, spin is your friend, so if you feel as though you’re struggling to generate spin then you definitely should switch to a high-spinning golf ball because it will improve your game and scoring. Even if you have no issues in creating spin it’s much better continuing to game a high-spinning golf ball than switching to a low-spinning golf ball and losing that control.

Ultimately, most golf balls are designed to produce low spin from long range and higher spin from shorter range but some are better than others. I’m going to provide you with the six best high-spinning golf balls and the six best low-spinning golf balls for you to consider, so let’s see which golf balls make the cut…

Best high-spin golf balls

Fantastic value for a golf ball that has no issue in generating spin

If you want to play with a golf ball that definitely doesn't struggle to produce spin then the best option is the PXG Xtreme. These golf balls are one of the best value golf balls on the market and they challenge the best premium golf balls based on performance.

With spin being much more of a help than a hindrance on the golf course there are tonnes of golfers that would benefit from gaming the PXG Xtreme golf balls.

The findings from our robot test clearly highlight just how effective this golf ball is at generating spin while maintaining distance. With a 7-iron and pitching wedge, the PXG Xtreme was the highest-spinning golf ball in our test, up against 27 other golf balls. The average backspin (after 12 shots with each club on the robot) produced by the PXG Xtreme with a 7-iron was 6245 rpm and 8183 rpm with a pitching wedge.

Compared to the test average, the PXG Xtreme generated just over 800 rpm more with a 7-iron and slightly higher than 600 rpm with a pitching wedge.

Read our full PXG Xtreme golf balls review.

Pros

  • Amazing for hitting and holding greens
  • Brilliant value
  • Good option off the tee for golfers who struggle to keep the ball in the air

Cons

  • Not the longest golf ball but it makes up for that with the high level of spin
<span style "color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: &quot;Helvetica Neue&quot;, Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: collapse;">Construction</span>
Cover Urethane
Dimples 338
Feel Soft
Flight Mid-high
Long game spin Low
Short game spin High
Color 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

A very workable golf ball that easily produces spin

Best workable high-spin golf balls
Alternative Retailers
American Golf
£47.99
Callaway have absolutely smashed it out the park this year with their Chrome range of golf balls, which includes the Chrome Tour X, Chrome Tour and Chrome Soft. I could bombard you with why I love the Chrome Tour but this isn’t about me, it’s about providing you with the best high-spinning golf balls and one of those is the Chrome Tour X.

I play links golf and I even took the Callaway Chrome Tour for a spin around the Old Course at St Andrews where I had zero issues in stopping the ball on the green – I can only imagine how much more grab I would’ve had if I was playing with a Chrome Tour X.

Off the tee the Chrome Tour X spins more than the Chrome Tour which won’t be to everyone’s liking but for those who struggle to generate height and potentially lose the ball left then the Chrome Tour X is well worth considering.

Read our full Callaway Chrome Tour X golf balls review.

Pros

  • Extremely high spin and control when approaching the greens
  • Produces brilliant ball speeds and distance
  • 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 Soft
Flight High
Long game spin Mid
Short game spin High
Color 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

The most-played high-spin golf ball on the professional circuit

Best represented high-spin golf balls on Tour

Rrp: £50.00

Price: £47.95
Alternative Retailers
Scottsdale Golf
£47.99
American Golf
£47.99
Titleist are responsible for the No.1 ball in golf – the Pro V1 but it’s their Pro V1x that makes its way onto the shortlist of the best high-spin golf balls. Both the Pro V1 and Pro V1x – alongside the Pro V1x Left Dash – generate ample spin in order for you to hit and hold greens with an iron and control the ball around the green.

However, when we tested the Pro V1 and Pro V1x in our 2023 robot test the Pro V1x produced more spin than the Pro V1 with a pitching wedge, 7-iron, and driver at 85mph and 100mph swing speeds. The Pro V1 delivered less spin with a driver at 115mph.

Overall the Pro V1x is the highest-spinning golf ball in Titleist’s line-up, if you think you might benefit from playing with this golf ball over the incredibly popular Pro V1 then it could be time to make the switch.

Compared to the Pro V1 – the No.1 ball in golf – the Pro V1x generated nearly 300 rpm more backspin with a pitching wedge (7912 rpm vs. 7625 rpm), and with a 7-iron the gap was just over 200 rpm with a 7-iron (5948 rpm vs. 5731 rpm).

Read our full Titleist Pro V1x golf balls review.

Pros

  • Fantastic short game spin and control
  • Very responsive firm-feeling
  • One of the most popular golf balls on Tour

Cons

  • Price per ball north of $4 – but many would argue it’s warranted
Construction 4-piece
Cover Cast urethane elastomer
Compression 97-100
Dimples 348
Feel Firm
Flight High
Long game spin Low
Short game spin High
Color options White; Yellow
Alternative models Pro V1x Left Dash
  • High gradient core design
  • Speed amplifying high-flex casing layer
  • Cast thermoset urethane cover
  • Spherically tiled tetrahedral dimple design
  • New dual-core dimension

A high-spin golf ball fit for a five-time Major champion

Best high-spin golf balls for golfers with quick swing speeds
Alternative Retailers
Scottsdale Golf
£39.99
The Srixon Z-Star Diamond is the brand’s golf ball that was built with the input of five-time Major Champion Brooks Koepka. Given the technology and performance incorporated into the Z-Star Diamond they’ve become incredibly popular among amateur golfers and other Tour stars – including Hannah Green and Keegan Bradley.

The most noticeable trait of the Z-Star Diamond is how high-spinning this ball is compared to the other golf balls within the Z-Star range. The Z-Star is definitely best-suited to golfers with quicker swing speeds because we found in our 2023 robot test that despite delivering considerable spin off the driver face, with a swing speed of 115mph the Z-Star Diamond traveled extremely far.

Most golfers wanting more spin are probably chasing spin to help improve spin and control when hitting into greens. With a pitching wedge and 7-iron the Z-Star Diamond was the second-highest and third-highest spinning golf ball respectively.

Only three balls recorded an average of more than 6000 rpm with a 7-iron, the Z-Star Diamond in third produced 6059 rpm, the Kirkland Signature 3-Piece was second with a test average of 6176 rpm, and the highest-spinning PXG Xtreme generated 6245 rpm.

With a pitching wedge, the Z-Star Diamond was once again one of only three balls to produce backspin above a certain number, this time 8000 rpm. In second place for spin with a pitching wedge, the Z-Star Diamond produced 8077 rpm, third place went to the TaylorMade TP5 which recorded 8050 rpm, and first place once again belonged to the PXG Xtreme which delivered a test average of 8183 rpm.

Read our full Srixon Z-Star Diamond golf balls review.

Pros

  • Fantastic at generating spin when firing at pins
  • Extremely long off the tee
  • Ball of choice for a five-time Major Champion

Cons

  • Not the ideal option for golfers with swing speeds south of 100mph
Construction 3-piece
Cover Urethane
Dimples 338
Feel Soft
Flight Mid-High
Long game spin Mid
Short game spin High
Color options White
  • Speed dimple pattern
  • Thin premium cover
  • Spin skin+ coating
  • Fastlayer DG core

Wilson's premium firm-feeling golf ball delivers outstanding spin

Best firm-feeling high-spin golf balls 
I’m a massive fan of Wilson golf balls and the Wilson Staff Model X thoroughly deserves its place among the best premium golf balls. Both premium Wilson golf balls – the Staff Model and Staff Model X are high-spinning when playing around the greens, but as you move away from the green the Staff Model X’s superiority with spin becomes much more noticeable.

Attacking pins from the fairway (or rough) is easier with the Staff Model X because it’s slightly higher-spinning than the Staff Model. Off the tee both models are low-spinning but the Staff Model is marginally lower-spinning which means the Staff Model X is slightly easier to control if your bad shot is low and left.

Read our full Wilson Staff Model X golf balls review.

Pros

  • Very high-spinning golf ball when playing into greens
  • Competitive distance off the tee despite producing high spin rates
  • Incredibly responsive off every club face

Cons

  • A firm-feeling golf ball isn’t to everyone’s liking
Construction 4-piece
Cover Urethane
Dimples 362
Feel Firm
Flight High
Long game spin Low
Short game spin High
Color options White; Yellow
  • V-Cor advanced performance
  • Firm compression core with velocity-boosting additive
  • 3SIX2 seamless urethane cover

A brilliant soft-feeling premium TaylorMade golf ball that spins on command

Best soft-feeling high-spin golf balls
TaylorMade launched their TP5 franchise of golf balls back in 2017 and they’ve been one of the most popular golf balls on Tour and in the amateur game. As one of the games highest-spinning golf balls, the TaylorMade TP5 is a great option for all golfers wanting more spin and control around the greens.

Both the TaylorMade TP5 and TP5x golf balls are fantastic golf balls, but if you would prefer slightly more distance at the cost of spin then you might want to consider the TP5x over the TP5.
The previous model of the TP5 was put through its paces in our 2023 robot test and our findings support the claims that this ball is high-spinning throughout the bag. At the bottom of the bag – where spin is more important – the TP5 was the third-highest spinning golf ball with a pitching wedge and fifth-highest with a 7-iron.

Compared to the longer TP5x, the higher-spinning TP5 produced more backspin than the TP5x with every shot hit in our robot test.

Read our full TaylorMade TP5 golf balls review.

Pros

  • High-spinning golf ball from tee to green that’s easy to control
  • Impressive distance in the long game
  • The soft feel will appeal to most golfers

Cons

  • The TP5x is a much more popular golf ball on Tour
Construction Five-piece
Cover Cast-urethane
Compression 87
Dimples 322
Feel Softer
Ball speed Faster
Iron distance Longer
Wedge spin Higher
Launch High
Colour options White; Yellow
  • New seamless tour flight dimple pattern
  • Speed-layer system
  • High-flex material

Best low-spin golf balls

Titleist's low-flying golf ball travels forever off the tee

Best overall low-spin golf balls
Alternative Retailers
American Golf
£39.99
Titleist market their AVX golf balls as being their low-flying, low-spinning golf balls and they definitely are. The AVX feels soft and you can generate some action when playing around the greens, but because of the dimple pattern and construction, these balls certainly deserve to feature among the best low-spin golf balls available.

I’ve played with AVX myself and I am a fan, they just don’t work well for me, but I have been able to see the difference between the AVX and Pro V1x (one of the best high-spin golf balls) and the results are insane.

The AVX is great not only if you want to lower spin but also if you want to lower your trajectory too. It’s often not considered alongside the Pro V1 and Pro V1x but if you need something to help lower your spin and ball flight, the AVX could be the missing piece of the jigsaw!

Read our full Titleist AVX golf balls review.

Pros

  • Low spin materializes into impressive distance in all conditions
  • Incredibly soft feeling

Cons

  • Not every golfer will benefit from the low ball flight
Construction 3-piece
Cover Urethane
Compression 77
Dimples 348
Feel Very soft
Flight Low
Log game spin Low
Short game spin High
Color options White; Yellow
Alternative models AVX Enhanced Alignment
  • High speed core formulation
  • High flex casing layer
  • Softer cast urethane elastomer cover system
  • Spherically-tiled 348 catenary dimple design

A brilliant value premium option for golfers want to lower ball flight and spin

The Maxfli Tour range of golf balls is capable of challenging all of the best premium golf balls. The Tour family provides golfers with brilliant value for money, and the Tour S model gives golfers who generate too much spin an option to reduce it without missing out on the performance that premium golf balls have to offer.

The Maxfli Tour S was the only premium Maxfli golf ball we didn't include in our 2023 robot test. We tested both the Maxfli Tour and Maxfli Tour X. The Tour X is their highest-spinning golf ball. However, I will say here that the Maxfli Tour X is really low-spinning for golfers with quicker swing speeds – as highlighted by the results of our 2023 robot test.

Maxfli’s Tour S golf ball has been designed to travel lower and deliver less spin than either of the other two Maxfli Tour models. Being a premium golf ball the Tour S generates respectable spin with an iron and you can easily control the ball around the greens. However, if you would like a higher-spinning Maxfli golf ball than the Tour S then you’re best considering the Tour or Tour X.

Read our full Maxfli Tour S golf balls review.

Pros

  • Good distance in the long game
  • Nice soft feel off every club in the bag
  • Brilliant option for golfers struggling with too much spin at a very fair price

Cons

  • Low ball flight won’t suit every golfer
Construction 3-piece
Cover Urethane
Dimples 318
Feel Soft
Flight Low
Long game spin Low
Short game spin Mid-high
Color options White; Yellow
  • Center of Gravity Balanced
  • Soft Cast Urethane
  • Tetrahedron Dimple Pattern
  • Fast Core
  • High-Speed Mantle

Callaway's soft golf ball is great for players wanting to reduce spin

Best low-spin golf balls for golfers with slower swing speeds
Alternative Retailers
Decathlon
£23.99
American Golf
£26.99
The Callaway Supersoft is one of the most popular golf balls on the planet, and it’s clear to see why. This golf ball is soft, reasonably priced, and it can deliver good distance. The Supersoft is able to produce competitive distance for golfers with slower swing speeds because of its low-spinning properties.

In our 2023 robot test, the Callaway Supersoft was the lowest-spinning and longest golf ball when being hit by a driver swinging at 85mph. That low spin remained as the driver swing speed increased – it was the third-lowest spinning golf ball at 100mph and the lowest-spinning again at 115mph.

With a 7-iron in our golf ball robot test, the Supersoft was extremely competitive with regard to distance, partly because it was one of the lowest-spinning golf balls in this category, generating 4792 rpm. That’s a similar story with the pitching wedge too – producing 7129 rpm backspin.

Around the greens the Supersoft feels amazing because it is well… super soft! While you get this pleasant feedback you can’t generate as much spin and control as the best high-spin golf balls. However, if you’re looking for a value golf ball that will reduce spin the Callaway Supersoft is a brilliant option.

It’s worth noting that the Supersoft performed very similarly to the higher priced ERC Soft and – most surprisingly – the Chrome Soft too.

Read our full Callaway Supersoft golf balls review.

Pros

  • Solid distance for golfers with slower swing speeds
  • Incredibly soft feel
  • Extremely popular because of their performance and price

Cons

  • Not a suitable option for golfers with a driver swing speed north of 100mph
Construction 2-piece
Cover Hybrid
Dimples 332
Feel Super soft
Flight High
Long game spin Low
Short game spin High
Color options White; Yellow; Green; Red; Orange; Pink
Alternative models Supersoft Limited Edition
  • Hyperelastic softfast core
  • Hybrid cover
  • Hex aerodynamics

A fantastic option for golfers wanting a soft golf ball that minimizes spin

Best soft-feeling low-spin golf balls
Alternative Retailers
American Golf
£22.99
The Duo Soft is regarded by Wilson as the world’s softest golf ball. They are extremely soft and low-spinning too. Wilson manufactures outstanding golf balls for a wide range of golfers and, with their Duo Soft being one of the cheapest golf balls on the market, it's a brilliant value option for beginners and high-handicap golfers wanting a ball that flies far and feels soft.

The performance of the Duo Soft in our 2023 robot test highlighted just how low-spinning this golf ball is compared to other models. While you still may be able to hit and hold greens with a Duo Soft, there are options out there that will do it better.

Many people hearing soft might presume that means it will spin a crazy amount but that isn’t always the case. The Duo Soft was among the lowest-spinning golf balls in every category in our extensive golf ball robot test.

The highest-spinning Wilson golf ball is the Staff Model X, closely followed by the Staff Model. If you want a ball that won’t spin as much as those two but will spin more than the Duo Soft then you should consider the Triad.

Read our full Wilson Duo Soft golf balls review.

Pros

  • Impressive distance thanks to low spin off the tee
  • Very soft and easy to compress
  • Amazing value for money

Cons

  • Performance does drop if you swing a driver quicker than 100mph
Construction 2-piece
Cover Ionomer
Dimples 302
Feel Soft
Flight High
Long game spin Low
Short game spin Mid
Color options White; Yellow; Green; Orange; Red
  • Velocity boosting core
  • Low compression core

Pinnacle's distance option is great at reducing spin off the tee

Being a distance golf ball it’s probably not surprising to see this model featuring among the best low-spin golf balls. There could have been a whole load of distance golf balls added to this shortlist, but I chose the Pinnacle Rush because they are cheap, present amazing value, and blew us away in the 2023 robot test.

When being hit with a pitching wedge, the Rush produced strong spin numbers that challenged some three-piece and four-piece golf balls, generating 7925 rpm. However, with a 7-iron the spin was low, at 4893 rpm, but this helps to deliver distance.

Off the tee the Pinnacle Rush is highly competitive at ranging swing speeds – as exhibited in our golf ball test results. Whether you swing at 85mph, 115mph, or anywhere in between, you can guarantee the Pinnacle Rush will lower your spin.

If you enjoy playing with Pinnacle golf balls but you want something slightly higher-spinning then you should consider the Pinnacle Soft.

Read our full Pinnacle Rush golf balls review.

Pros

  • Low-spinning off the tee and long
  • Fantastic value for money
  • Challenged three-piece and four-piece golf balls in our 2023 robot test

Cons

  • Doesn’t feel as good as other options
Construction 2-piece
Cover Ionomer
Dimples 332
Feel Soft
Flight High
Long game spin Low
Short game spin Low
Color options White; Yellow
  • High-energy core
  • Icosahedral dimple design

A suitable low-spin golf ball for a wide range of golfers

Best low-spin golf balls for varying swing speeds

Rrp: £22.95

Price: £21.96
Here we have one of the best cheap golf balls on the market that’s great for beginners and high-handicappers looking to reduce spin. The Bridgestone e6 is a fantastic golf ball if you tend to hit the ball high or off to the right. However, those of you who seriously struggle to find the fairway should consider the Bridgestone e12 Contact.

Our results from the 2023 robot test found that the Bridgestone e6 is the lowest-spinning golf ball with a 7-iron by over 200 rpms. With a pitching wedge it wasn’t quite as low-spinning but it was a similar story – being the fifth-lowest spinning out of the 27 models tested with 7059 rpm, nearly 500 rpm lower than the test average.

Once again the e6 was the lowest-spinning golf ball, this time with a driver swinging at 100mph average backspin generated was 2257 rpm. With a driver swinging at 85mph and 115mph it was the third-lowest spinning golf ball in our test. No matter how fast or slow you swing your clubs, you can rely on the Bridgestone e6 to deliver low spin.

At three different driver swing speeds, the lowest spin recorded with the e6 was 1943 rpm at 115mph swing speed and the highest spin generated was 2325 rpm at 85 mph. Even though we tested three swing speeds at 15mph increments, the e6 increased by less than 400 rpm as the swing speed increased.

Read our full Bridgestone e6 golf balls review.

Pros

  • Impressive distance and performance from tee to green
  • Responsive feedback from every club in the bag
  • Good value golf ball

Cons

  • Dispersion can increase for golfers with quicker swing speeds but still low-spinning
Construction 2-piece
Cover Surlyn
Dimples 326
Feel Soft
Flight High
Long game spin Low
Short game spin Low-mid
Colors White; Yellow
  • Seamless cover technology
  • Gradational compression core

Best Golf Balls for Spin: 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.

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 one of the best high-spin golf balls could have a better impact on your game if your spin is naturally low. However, if you struggle to tame the golf ball then opting for one of the best low-spin golf balls could prove beneficial.

Budget

After researching which golf balls are the best high-spin golf balls and which are the best low-spin golf balls I’ve found that the best low-spin golf balls tend to be more budget-friendly than the best high-spin golf balls.

If you’re looking to spend no more than $25 on a box of golf balls then you’re more likely to struggle finding a golf ball that’ll drive spin up than if you’re looking for a ball to reduce spin. Budget can be important, but if you’re wanting a particular golf ball to increase your spin then it might have to go out of the window here and be introduced elsewhere when purchasing golf equipment.

Ability

Ability won’t come into play as much as it does if you’re solely looking for a golf ball to either increase or reduce spin. What I mean by this is, you could be playing off 24 or 2.4 and if you can’t generate enough spin to hit and hold a green then you’ll need to consider one of the best high-spin golf balls.

It’s more likely that there’ll be a larger amount of golfers needing to add spin as opposed to taking it away. Therefore, I stand by my point that the majority of golfers would benefit from playing with one of the best premium 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.

Performance

Determining whether you need a golf ball that spins more or less can easily be figured out by watching your shots. By seeing how much your golf ball runs out compared to others and based on the conditions should help you conclude whether you need more spin or less.

Obviously, if you aren’t striking the ball well it will be difficult to draw concrete conclusions, but on a day where you’re nailing it just see how your ball flies, from there if you think it’s applying the brakes too quickly then experiment with a lower-spinning golf ball, or if you think it should be biting sooner then try a higher-spinning golf ball. Hopefully, one of those I’ve recommended will be suitable.

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.

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 be the 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?

Color

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 colors so you can pick the ball which you can see best. Colorful golf balls make for some of the best winter golf balls because of their enhanced visibility. I know of some golfers who view colored 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. You’re bound to receive a different answer depending on who you ask. 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. 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.

The TP5x is lower spinning than the TP5 and it’s a more popular option among Tour players who don’t struggle generating spin – including Nelly Korda and Collin Morikawa.

About the author

James Hogg is a Golf Equipment Writer for Today's Golfer, with expert knowledge in putters, golf balls, and apparel.

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.

- Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us.