How do I find the best golf ball for my game?

Whether you’re new to the game or trying to improve your control around the greens, the golf ball matters. And I’m going to help you find the best golf balls for you.

I never put much attention on my golf ball when I was younger. But as I got older, I realized that my choice of golf ball was causing me unnecessary pain.

It wasn’t until I played a Pro V1 for the first time that I realized that the golf balls actually matter. Around the greens, my game improved dramatically. All by just the choice of golf ball.

I did nothing different. I just used a soft golf ball. I didn’t take any lessons. I didn’t buy a new club. It was the golf ball.

I dropped 5 strokes the very next round.

It made absolutely no sense.

I had heard my Dad saying things like “this is a soft golf ball. This one will improve your ball flight. This is a firmer ball.”

The whole time I didn’t really get it. What do you mean this is a “soft” golf ball? How can golf balls be soft?

Little did I know.

To save you a lot of heartache and broken clubs, I’ve created a list of what I feel to be the best golf balls based on your skill level. Whether you have a slow swing speed or a fast swing speed. Whether you’re a high handicap or a low handicap.

My goal is to find you the right golf ball.

But without making it overly complicated. I don’t want you worried about ball speed, club head speed or anything complicated.

I’ll make sure you won’t be chasing it off the back of the green or coming up short. You’ll be finding the greens more often by the end of this article.

One more thing, this is not a scientific article. I’m a player, not a statistician. I don’t know whether each ball is a two piece or a three piece. I’m looking at performance.

All of these are quality golf balls. But each performs a little differently.

And I’m not going to recommend a ball to you that I haven’t had personal experience with. From one golfer to another, I hope that matters to you.

So, if that doesn’t bother you, then let’s get to it.

Best Golf Balls: Quick Overview

Here’s your TLDR. The Titleist Pro V1 is still the best golf ball on the market. But even then it’s still not that simple. Which is why I wrote the rest of this article. The question remains…

Where do you even start when choosing a golf ball?

The answer depends on where you are in your game. Are you a beginner? If you are, we will need to focus on different golf balls than someone who’s been playing for a few decades.

I’ve been playing for 30 years. My choice of golf ball will be based on how much short game spin or distance off the tee I want. And that depends on what course I’m playing and the conditions.

I’m accounting for a few different variables.

You may need something completely different. You may not want to spend that much time thinking about the golf ball. Which I totally get.

As a rule of thumb, I always suggest to a beginner that they focus on distance off the tee.

If you’re just starting out, your swing speed will likely be slow. Beginners are focused on just making contact with the ball which is why they have slower swing speeds.

A slower swing speed needs a ball that’s going to fly. A distance golf ball in simpler terms.

That type of ball will tend to be harder. Harder balls are less costly to make, so they tend to be cheaper. But not always (see the Titleist Velocity).

Keeping the cost low as a new player is beneficial too because you’ll likely lose quite a few the first couple rounds.

If you’ve been playing for quite some time, I tend to recommend a golf ball that’s a little softer. This will give you more control around the greens.

This is after you’ve mastered hitting the ball consistently. Once you’ve reached that point, then you need to focus on where it’s going. But that’s for another article.

For now let’s discuss the specific golf balls so you can find the best one for your game.

Best Golf Balls for Most People: Vice Pro Plus

This is my current ball. I’ve been playing Vice golf balls for a couple seasons now.

They’re one of the newer golf ball manufacturers.

They have the best deal on the market. You can get 5 dozen golf balls for the price of 3. It’s incredible. Sometimes they even throw in a 6th box.

They ship fast too.

In terms of performance, I’ve seen some great ball flight. I’m not seeing as much control around the greens as I’d like, but it’s manageable. I’ve played Pro V1s and these are not the same.

It’s not a tour level ball. But it definitely feels like a premium golf ball.

I would recommend these just based on the deal alone. They have 5 different models and a quiz to help you determine the best golf ball for you based on your answers.

They ask about your score and distance off the tee. They ask what type of ball you usually play as well.

After a few questions, they give you a recommendation. That was how I started with them.

Personally, I would recommend the Vice Pro Plus. It’s the best of both worlds. You get distance and a little bit of spin. Perfect golf ball for a new player or a mid level handicap.

It is the more expensive of their selection, but you’re getting top tier performance for basically half the cost.

Best Golf Balls for Beginners: Taylormade Noodle Golf Balls

Let me start by saying that the Noodles are really solid golf balls. They’re nothing special. But they’re not awful either.

They’re a great option for the average golfer.

Noodles will help you maximize distance without sacrificing too much in terms of control.

If you’re in the market for golf balls and need something that’s not going to break the bank, this is a great choice.

Noodles made their name under the Maxfli brand, but are now owned by Taylormade. Depending on the website you look at, they have a 4.9/5 rating. That’s astounding for a two piece golf ball that costs $24 for 2 dozen. (I know the photo has 15 in a box, but online they sell the 24 pack).

That being said, I haven’t played these in a while.

But if you’re just starting out and aren’t looking to break the bank, the Noodle is a great starting point.

I would almost say that every beginner should start with a pack of these balls. You can get these at nearly any sporting goods store or golf store.

And you get 24 instead of 12. That’s incredible.

There’s no better deal that you can walk in and buy. (Notice the difference. Vice still has the best deal period.)

Best Golf Balls for High Handicappers: Callaway Supersoft

Callaway Supersoft golf balls are the exact opposite of the Noodle.

They’re significantly softer which means you’re sacrificing a little bit of distance off the tee, but you’re gaining more control with your short game shots.

What I like about these is that they perform closer to premium golf balls, but their cost is closer to a budget golf ball.

They’re right around the same price as the Noodle at $21, but you don’t get 2 dozen.

What you do get though is increased touch. As the name states “supersoft” means you get a soft feel.

And that soft feel translates into the ball sticking on the green.

I’ve played these in a number of rounds. There was a time when I didn’t want to spend the money to get Pro V’s but still wanted the control. These were my go-to.

I remember after I switched to them my average drivers dipped about 8 yards.

So, don’t buy these if you’re looking for more distance. If you do you’ll be disappointed.

Soft golf balls aren’t designed to roll out on fairways or fly farther. They’re designed to land and spin.

That’s why I mentioned in the very beginning of this article that the best golf ball depends a lot on what you need it to do.

Now why would I recommend these for high handicappers?

Beginners and High Handicappers are different. Beginners likely won’t have a fast swing speed. High handicappers might. Their problem comes down to getting control of the ball.

A softer ball won’t fly as far, which is good if you tend to hit it towards trouble.

Higher handicappers also don’t put a lot of spin on the ball, so a soft golf ball is more likely to stay on the green.

Best Golf Balls for Average Golfers: Callaway Chrome Soft

The Callaway Chrome Soft was my Dad’s choice of ball for a long time.

He’s since switched to Vice, but that’s purely due to the deal they offer. And when we can’t get the Vice 5 pack, the Chrome Soft is his go-to.

The Chrome Soft is ideal (in my opinion) for players with faster swing speeds. Just because you can see a dip in yardage. But anyone can benefit from playing this ball.

The Chrome Soft is one of Callaway’s premium golf balls. It’s a soft ball that will lose you a few yards, but will make up for it in terms of control.

For the average golfers that want to play premium golf balls, this is a great choice. It’s not quite top of the line, but it’s high quality for sure. We’ll get to the top of the line ball a little later, but this is a great choice.

As for cost, a 12 pack hovers between $45-$50. That’s in line with a higher end model.

Personally, I can’t say that this would be the ball I would choose when spending that kind of money. But I’m picky.

The Callaway Chrome Soft is a good ball.

But If I’m paying that kind of money, I’m buying one of the balls further down in this list.

Best Golf Balls for Distance: Titleist Velocity

Oh I have fond memories of the Titleist Velocity. I played these for years too.

When people hear Titleist, they tend to think “tour ball”.

The Velocity is not a tour ball.

In my experience, this is the step down from the Pro V1 level of golf ball.

The exterior is harder. Which translates into more distance. They tend to have low spin, so you need to keep that in mind.

I’m sure they market “penetrating ball flight”. And to a degree, that’s true.

But if you’re looking for a lot of short game control around the green, you’ll have to do it with your equipment and touch.

The Velocity, in my opinion, is great for slower swing speeds.

It pops off the face and will roll quite a bit. Especially on a sunny day. It’s marketed as a low spin golf ball.

Here’s what I don’t like…

The price point is $47. If you’re going to pay nearly $50 for a box of 12 balls, there are better options.

Unless you have a special allegiance to Titleist, I’d stay away from this ball. Personally.

But to each their own. For some people, the brand is just as important as what the ball does. If that’s you, by all means, invest in the Velocity.

If you’re not concerned about brand, look at one of the earlier options.

Best Golf Balls for Amateurs: Bridgestone Tour B RXS

Bridgestone is an interesting brand for me.

I always think of them as tires, not golf balls.

But they’ve made quite a name for themselves in the golf ball market. One of their latest entries being the Tour B RXS.

This ball is designed for higher a driver swing speed because it is on the softer side. As I hinted at earlier, the faster the swing speed, the softer ball you can play.

I enjoyed this ball.

It gives you plenty of control around the green, but you have to be able to drive the ball to get the most out of it.

I’m not built to get the most out of this ball. And I don’t think most weekend golfers will be either.

I know Fred Couples has played this ball in competition. And Bridgestone is sure to make sure you know that. But like the Velocity, I don’t see a ton of value in this golf ball.

Maybe that’s just me. I tend to think about golf balls in $20 increments. If I’m going to spend $40+, I might as well spend $50 to get top tier performance.

But maybe this is the right ball for you.

For amateurs that are playing in tournaments frequently, this may be a good choice. But I would recommend a different ball.

Best Tour Level Ball: Taylormade TP5

Taylormade’s TP5 golf ball is their version of the Pro V1.

This is a solid ball. It hovers right around $50 for a box of 12.

I’d say that’s a fair price based on the performance you get from it.

In my experience, I was able to play the way that I like to play. I like to go right at the pin. You can’t do that with a harder ball. It keeps rolling.

This is a softer ball that gives you a lot of control. But just like the softer golf balls on this list, you will lose a couple yards in distance.

I played these for a number of rounds and I was very happy with their performance.

What I don’t see is how they truly differentiate themselves from a Pro V1. I don’t see where they’re able to show their value in a way that would make you pick the TP5 over the Pro V1.

The Pro V1 and Pro V1x can give you even more control and they’re only a few dollars more.

Which leads me to the conclusion.

Best Golf Balls On the Market: Titleist Pro V1

This is the THE golf ball. Even now. If you couldn’t tell, it’s also the only package that is inside a sealed plastic casing to prevent theft.

All these years later and it’s hard to top the Pro V1. I’m including the Pro V1x in this section as well. I know one has higher spin rates, but they’re not as different as Titleist tends to market.

If you’re a single digit handicap, this is the golf ball you should be playing.

I know I sound like a fan boy. And it’s ironic because I don’t play these at the moment.

But if you’re looking for pure, trustworthy performance, there’s no better golf ball. Around the greens, they’re money.

The Pro V1 gives you great control. You do lose a few yards but having the ball stick on the green makes up for it.

Depending on the type of player you are, this ball could be the difference between winning and losing. If you play aggressive, this ball will aid you in hunting down the flag.

You can attack without worrying that the ball will stay on the green.

It’s hard to say that about many other balls on this list.

Even an average golfer would be happy to receive these as a gift. The brand has staying power. Everyone recognizes it.

When I talk about spending money on a golf ball, this is often what I compare everything to.

In terms of cost, The Pro V1’s are around $50-$55. Depending on where you shop. The Pro V1x’s are near $60.

This is a premium ball. And it comes with the price tag. But if money isn’t an issue and you want to play the best golf ball available, this is the choice.

In Conclusion

The golf ball you choose will depend a lot on what you want it to do.

For those golfers looking for more distance, you’ll be better served by a harder golf ball.

For those that want more control, a soft ball will be the better choice.

Though I feel the Vice Pro Plus to be the best deal for the most people, you may try them and not like them.

You may think that I’m way off base deeming the Pro V1 as the best ball.

That’s ok.

You’ll probably need to try a few different options before you find the one you like.

Then it just comes down to keeping it in bounds.

As you can see, golf balls can get expensive. You don’t want to lose them on every hole.

Between a round at your local course, cart, balls and food, you may be looking at $200 in a day.

If you’re able to do that, more power to you.

I’m not looking to drop that much in one day. And I don’t think you are either.

Overall, I hope I gave you enough options to find a ball for either yourself or someone you love.