10 Best Golf Balls 2024: How to Choose the Best Golf Ball for Your Game
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Alex Wolff
- Updated March 03, 2024
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It can be a pain to try to find the best golf balls for your game. There are a lot of different golf ball reviews out there, and let’s face it, most players can’t tell the difference between a ProV1 and a Top Flite.
Ok, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but it’s true that most people don’t really know how to choose a golf ball.
The goal of this post is to help you find the best golf ball for your skill level, swing style, and price.
Our Top Picks For Golf Balls 2024
Table of Contents
WHAT TO LOOK FOR?
First of all, there is no such thing as the “best golf ball.” Because each person will have different wants and needs.
The best golf ball for a 70-year-old won’t be the same as the best golf ball for a scratch player or a beginner.
And do you really need to pay $50 or more for a box of golf balls?
Most likely not.
When looking for the best golf ball, we suggest you consider two things:
Skill Level/Swing Speed Budget
Why do these things matter?
Because if you don’t take those into account when picking the best golf ball for your game, you could be leaving a lot on the table.
Golf is hard enough on its own; your golf ball shouldn’t make it harder.
#1) How to Choose the Right Golf Ball for Your Swing Speed and Skill Level
Most players with a high handicap or who are just starting out will need a two-piece ball. This will have a bigger core, which will give you more space and less spin.
Reducing spin is important because, if you’re like most high handicappers, you tend to slice or hook the ball a lot. The more spin the ball has, the more movement it will have from side to side, making it more likely to go out of bounds.
Better players will want a ball with more than one layer. This will give you a better feel, and the thinner exterior will give you more spin, but it will also make the ball last less.
For players with slower swing speeds, low compression balls will give them more distance, while high compression balls will help better golfers feel and control the ball.
#2: How Much Money Do You Have?
Let’s face it: golf is an expensive sport, and losing two bags of balls every time you play can make it even more so. We’re not all rich, so it’s just as important to find a ball that fits your pocket as it is to find one that fits your game.
And if you can play golf perfectly but are broke, Just go to the out-of-bounds at your neighborhood country club and buy up all the ProV1s that got lost in the woods.
So, now that we’ve talked about all of that, what are the best golf balls on the market in 2023?
We’ve put them into different groups to help you decide once and for all which is the best golf ball for you.
THE VERY BEST GOLF BALL ON THE MARKET: TITLEIST PRO V1
The ProV1 and ProV1x are the most well-known golf balls for a reason: they’re that amazing. There isn’t much else to say here. If they’re within your price range? Buy em.
The Titleist ProV1 is the most popular golf ball in the world for a reason: it’s really, really good. It’s been improved over the years, and by a long shot, more tour pros play ProV1s than any other ball.
But at a selling price of more than $60 a dozen? They don’t cost much.
So, if money isn’t an issue and you want the ball that 95% of golfers agree is the best, what should you do? Then buy a Titleist ProV1 or ProV1x and never look back. If it’s good enough for the pros, it’s good enough for you.
I have a disability of 10, and this is what I use. They really do feel the best, but the vice I talked about below, which costs 30% less, comes pretty close.
- Where Can You Buy: Buy Titlelist ProV1. Buy Titleslist ProV1x.
- Solid Alternative: Taylormade TP5. In our TP5 review we liked them as much as the Titlelist, and they’re less money. But you lack the cache of the more well-known ball.
BEST GOLF BALL FOR MOST PEOPLE: VICE PRO PLUS
I’m frequently asked what golf balls I use. The majority of the time? I enjoy playing Vice Pro Plus. I prefer ProV1s, but for a fraction of the cost? These, in my opinion, are just as good.
The Vice Pro Plus is the best combination of speed and price on the market right now, according to our tests. They only sell their balls online and don’t spend a lot of money on marketing, so their prices are lower than all of their big competitors.
In our study, we found that the ball played almost as well as the ProV1 but cost up to 50% less.
The Vice Golf Ball is great for low-handicap golfers on a budget or for mid-handicap golfers who want to move up to a Tour Level ball without paying Tour Level Prices.
- Our Rating: 9.6 (Our Highest Ball Rating Ever)
- Where Can You Buy: Buy Vice Golf Balls on Amazon Here
- Solid Alternative: OnCore Elixr – Similar brand strategy as the Vice, going direct to consumer.
BEST GOLF BALLS FOR BEGINNERS: NOODLE GOLF BALLS
The quality of these balls astounded me. They’re not tour-level players, so everything is relative. However, at this price, these will suffice for the average golfer who does not have a single-digit handicap.
A lot of my golfing friends have made fun of me for playing with a Noodle golf ball when I used to have a handicap of one.
But you have to do what you have to do sometimes.
Like when you go to TPC Sawgrass and can’t afford the ridiculous prices they charge for golf balls, so you buy a box of Noodles instead.
And then, to your surprise, you find that you like them!
After playing a few games, I’m sure that the Noodle is the best cheap golf ball for people who are just starting out. You won’t find a better golf ball for beginners at a better price.
- Our Rating: 8.4
- Where Can You Buy: You can buy Noodle Golf Balls on Amazon Here.
- Solid Alternative: Wilson Smart Core Golf Ball
BEST CHEAP GOLF BALLS: NOODLE GOLF BALLS
Yes, we think the Noodle is the best golf ball for newbies and the best cheap ball we’ve tried. As I said above, the Wilson Smart Core is also a good option for those on a budget, but we’ve found that the Noodle is the best choice.
BEST GOLF BALLS FOR BEGINNERS: NOODLE GOLF BALLS
A mid-range ball with a decent reputation and a good price-to-performance ratio Excellent for players with a medium to high handicap.
For years, the Bridgestone e6 has been one of my favorite balls. It is not overly expensive, suitable for use by better golfers, and not in the same category as the Noodle mentioned above as “cheap golf balls.”
It costs about $25 for a dozen, so it’s a great choice if you want to stock up on good balls without going broke.
Like many mid-range balls, it helps you hit the ball far and has a soft feel. In reality, it’s not quite as soft as its advertising might make you think, but it’s still very good, and I’ve found that it helps me control how much I slice.
- Our Rating: 8.8
- Where Can You Buy: You can buy the Bridgestone e6 on Amazon here.
- Solid Alternative: Srixon Q-Star
BEST SOFT GOLF BALL FOR HIGH HANDICAPPERS: CALLAWAY SUPERSOFT
Looking for a fantastic soft ball that is extremely forgiving? Take a look at the Callaway Supersoft. It’s one of the most popular golf balls for a reason.
We’re not sure if there’s a golf ball that says more about itself. We’re serious. We tested the Callaway Supersoft and found that it was just that: soft.
You could say “Supersoft.”
If you have a higher score and want help on the greens, The Callaway Supersoft is the only one you need to look at. We were very happy with how well this ball worked.
- Our Rating: 8.3
- Where can you buy: You can buy on Amazon here.
- Solid alternative: Bridgestone e6. We used to have Titleist Tour Softs here, but haven’t been as impressed with these during our more recent tests.
BEST TOUR BALL FOR AMATEURS: CALLAWAY CHROME SOFT
This ball can be used for many different things. This is one of the best all-around golf balls on the market. It works well for golfers with a medium-to-low score.
I was pretty sad when Taylormade stopped making their Project-A balls, which I thought were one of the most adaptable golf balls on the market.
No matter how good or bad the player was, it worked.
Luckily, Callaway’s Chrome Soft line of balls has picked up the slack.
The Chrome Soft is a great ball if you want a great all-around ball that is good enough for better players without losing performance for those who need a little more forgiveness.
It costs a little more than some other types on the market, but it’s worth the extra money.
- Where you can buy: Buy Chrome Soft on Amazon Here
- Solid Alternative: Titleist AVX. A great all-around ball as well, but at a price approaching that of the Pro V1? They’re not cheap.
BEST GOLF BALLS FOR DISTANCE: TITLEIST VELOCITY
Are you a single-digit golfer looking to drop bombs? The Titleist Velocity is one of the most effective distance balls we’ve tested.
If you have a handicap of more than 10, and you’re trying to hit the ball as far as possible, and you want a ball to help you do that,
Check out the Titleist Velocity. This seems to be the choice of most older golfers I’ve played with. It has very low spin, a high ball speed, and a long distance, which makes it great for older golfers who may have lost some distance over the years.
- Where can you buy? You can buy the Titlelist Velocity on Amazon.
- Solid Alternative: Callaway Superhot.
BEST TOUR BALL FOR DISTANCE: TAYLORMADE TP5
The 2021 Taylormade TP5 or TP5x is a fantastic golf ball, and a worthy competitor to other tour balls like the ProV1. It doesn’t hurt it’s a few bucks cheaper, as well.
When we compared the Taylormade TP5 and the Titleist ProV1, shots with the Taylormade TP5 were always 4 to 5 yards longer. It’s not as well-known as the Titleist ball, but there’s a reason why better players I know have been talking about the TP5 this year.
It works.
In fact, it’s probably the best ball TaylorMade has ever made, so you should check it out and see how it compares to the ProV1 and Vice Pro Plus.
- Our Rating: 8.6
- Where can you buy? You can buy the Taylormade TP5 on Amazon.
- Solid Alternative: Vice Pro Plus.
BEST GOLF BALLS FOR SPIN: WILSON STAFF MODEL R
Because the Wilson Model R (raw) is unpainted, it can become scuffed. But what if you’re looking for spin? This ball has enough of it.
As I’ve seen on other golf blogs, I could add another two dozen golf balls to this review. Most of the time, though, they’re just trying to get partner sales.
I’m sure that the above golf balls will work for the vast majority of players. No matter what you want, one of the following will be a good choice:
BEST GOLF BALLS 2024: A RECAP
As I’ve seen on other golf blogs, I could add another two dozen golf balls to this review. Most of the time, though, they’re just trying to get partner sales.
I’m sure that the above golf balls will work for the vast majority of players. No matter what you want, one of the following will be a good choice:
- Best Overall : Titlelist ProV1
- Best Golf Ball for Most People: Vice Pro Plus
- Best Tour Ball for Distance: Taylormade TP5
- Best Tour Tech for Amateurs: Callaway Chrome Soft
- Best Ball for Average Golfer: Bridgestone e6
- Best Soft Golf Ball for High Handicappers: Callaway Supersoft
- Best Golf Ball for Distance: Titleist Velocity
- Best Golf Ball for Beginners: Taylormade Noodle
- Best Cheap Golf Ball: Taylormade Noodle
- Best Golf Ball for Spin: Wilson STAFF Model R
Hey there, my name is Alex, and I run the Spy Golfers. I’m a family man from Arizona who spends his “me-time” on the golf course. You could say I’ve been a golfer my entire life, and here’s why you can believe my golf advice and gear recommendations:
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