For the amateur, the Pro V1 supplies an excellent golf ball option for creating more spin and better control around the greens. The Pro V1 is a gorgeous golf ball that offers tremendous performance.
Reviewed Products
- Our Pick, Exceptional Spin Rate & Perfect If You Struggle Near The Tee Box: Callaway Chrome Soft
- Our Upgrade Pick & The Most Popular Golf Ball Used On The PGA Tour: Titleist Pro V1
- Our Budget Pick, 3-Piece Golf Ball For Low Drag & Optimal Lift: Callaway SuperHot
- Extreme Low Budget Pick: Srixon Soft Feel
Too Long, Didn't Read: Our Review For People In A Hurry
The Titleist Pro V1 is the best golf ball for the amateur looking to drop their score.
Off the tee, the beginner will immediately notice an improvement in the distance of their drives.
From the fairway, the Pro V1 is superb with extra feel and control as the shot heads into the green.
The golfer can be confident that the ball flight with the Titleist will be stable through weather elements such as wind for enhanced shot shaping.
Another highlight of the Pro V1 is the improved spin on pitch and chip shots due to the redesigned urethane elastomer cover that utilizes 352 dimples.
The Srixon Soft Feel has been radically redesigned to create a terrific golf ball that delivers reliable performance from anywhere on the course.
The first thing Srixon has done is give the Soft Feel a lower compression core.
The improved core offers golfers the ability to hit shots with a smoother feel without sacrificing an inch of distance off the tee box.
Another feature that Srixon has added to the Soft Feel that you don’t usually see in a two-piece ball is a durable yet thinner cover that helps mainly around the greens.
The cover provides enhanced spin and additional control for the beginner.
Callaway’s Chrome Soft is another dependable addition to the two-piece golf ball market.
Touting faster speeds and a stable ball flight on drives, the Chrome Soft benefits from the newly designed Graphene-infused Dual Soft Fast Core.
The patented Core maximizes compression of the golf ball for maximum distance while reducing side spin for straighter drives.
A thin yet durable Tour Urethane Cover provides tremendous feel around the greens.
Golfers will notice the Chrome Soft delivers exceptional spin rates for enhanced shot-stopping ability.
The Chrome Soft’s design also is very forgiving when contact with the club face does not find the sweet spot.
Callaway’s SuperHot golf ball has been designed to be a monster off the tee box.
Maximized for distance, the SuperHot has been created to withstand the elements with low drag and optimum lift to keep the ball in the air as long as possible with a strong flight.
The SuperHot works hard from the fairway with the increased distance allowing for shorter second shots.
Table Of Contents
- 1 Reviewed Products
- 2 Too Long, Didn't Read: Our Review For People In A Hurry
- 3 Golf Balls: Individual Product Reviews
- 4 Q&A
- 4.1 What are golf balls’ dimples and why are they important?
- 4.2 How do I properly pick my golf ball?
- 4.3 What golf ball color is the easiest to see?
- 4.4 Which brand of golf ball goes the farthest?
- 4.5 What is the most expensive golf balls?
- 4.6 Should I use new or used golf balls?
- 4.7 Do I need specific balls for the driving range?
- 4.8 What golf ball should I use for my swing speed?
Golf Balls: Individual Product Reviews
Most Popular Golf Ball on PGA Tour:
Titleist Pro V1
When a beginning golfer starts his journey toward playing better golf, they will have a long road to fully understanding the game.
This learning curve can be shortened through such means as lessons, a devoted time each day to practice and purchasing top of the line equipment.
Most golfers would start their equipment search with golf clubs, but many overlook the role of how vital the golf ball plays in their final score after each round.
For the beginning golfer, the Titleist Pro V1 is the best golf ball they can purchase to improve their game instantly.
Let’s start with what the Titleist Pro V1 does off the tee box. For golfer’s with high-velocity swings, the Pro V1 is tailor-made to getting most distance from your ball strikes.
Titleist’s patented and newly redesigned Next Generation 2.0 ZG Process Core lowers spin on ball strikes with the driver for maximum ball flight. The Process Core also helps reduce side spin on the golf ball when using the driver off the tee box.
Side spin is a killer for beginning golfers because shots with an increase in lateral spin will result in ugly slices and hooks. These are the wayward shots that a beginning golfer wants to avoid as they can kill the momentum of a solid afternoon at the course.
The interior of the Pro V1 also works wonders from the fairway. Coupled with a soft cover made from a thin layer of urethane elastomer, the overall design of the Pro V1 helps deliver amazing greenside control.
From the fairway, the shot-stopping ability of the Pro V1 around the greens is another reason all beginners should take note of this top-shelf golf ball.
Another feature of the Pro V1 that aids with the flight of the golf ball is the 352-dimple design of the cover. Titleist has specially engineered the Pro V1 with 352 dimples to give the golf ball stability when launching off the tee or sending it into the green.
When on the green, the Pro V1 rolls true with the soft urethane cover providing excellent feel against the putter face.
Titleist Pro V1 stands apart from the competition due to the high quality of its construction. Hundreds of professionals golfers use the Pro V1 in their tournaments because of the feedback they receive when they strike the golf ball.
Another reason pros love the Pro V1 is because the ball is remarkably durable despite the soft cover. The response pro golfers get with each strike of the Pro V1 is consistent and stable.
Another excellent feature for the beginning golfer is that by playing with Pro V1’s from the start of their golf journey, they will learn more about the improvement their game needs due to the consistency of the Titleist golf ball.
Here’s why that’s important for a beginning golfer. By using the same ball throughout the learning process, the golfer can see what is working with their swing and what needs correction.
The results of the shots will stay true because you are using the same golf ball for each strike. To use the best golf ball on the market, the Pro V1, from practice to playing round, the golfer will have a greater sense of the areas they need to direct their development.
Pros of the Titleist Pro V1
- Longer distance for the golfer regardless of swing speed which is a primary feature of the multi-layered golf ball
- Lower long game spin for reduced side spin on drives and iron play resulting in straighter drives
- Dimple design produces more consistent flight for exceptional distance and boosts confidence when shaping shots
- Drop-and-Stop greenside control promotes exceptional feel on pitch and chip shots
- Long lasting durability for consistent performance regardless of how many rounds the ball is played
Cons of the Titleist Pro V1
- Ranks among the most expensive golf balls on the market despite the high performance
- Potentially too much golf ball for the beginner who needs to focus on building one aspect of their game such as solid contact
Exceptional Feel, Monster Distance:
Srixon Soft Feel
Two-piece golf balls are designed with the beginner’s wallet and ego in mind.
Manufactured with a solid core that is wrapped in a durable surlyn cover, two-piece golf balls are typically marketed as an inexpensive way to increase your distance off the tee box without breaking the bank.
With today’s technological advancements in golf, the characterization of the two-piece ball as solely a sledgehammer for boosting distance is coming to an end.
Manufacturers are finding exciting and new ways to tailor two-piece golf balls for the golfer’s looking for added feel and spin.
Srixon has moved their two-piece line forward with their latest version of the Soft Feel golf ball. Affordable as well as durable, Srixon has emphasized building the best low compression golf ball for the beginning golfer looking to work some magic around the greens.
And the Soft Feel’s success is all due to the components and the construction of the golf ball.
First, Srixon has redesigned the core of the Soft Feel. They have lowered the compression of the center placing importance on feel.
Even though this may affect golfers with high swing speeds, a typical beginning golfer will find that the Soft Feel golf ball strikes the right cord with the balance between compression and generating spin.
Even though the Soft Feel is a lower compression ball that can admittedly lower distance with golfers who swing harder than most, Srixon has combated this issue by introducing an advanced core construction that promotes a simple transfer of energy into the golf ball to enhance distance and increase ball performance on each shot.
The Soft Feel’s cover is made from an Ionomer known as surlyn. Some experts would warn that surlyn covers that are engineered to be softer won’t last as long as other two-piece golf balls.
We know, however, that two-piece golf balls have a shelf life of five to seven years, so even a slight reduction in that number makes the Soft Feel a tremendous value that will maintain its durability over the long haul.
Even though the Soft Feel ball has been created for additional spin around the greens, the two-piece construction gives the ball a firmer feel when it is hit with the driver. The Ionomer cover helps with the dreaded side spin that plagues most amateurs.
The Soft Feel from Srixon is ultimately a golf ball that will help golfers who suffer from round-killing hooks and slices off the tee box.
On the green, the Srixon Soft Feel is enhanced not only by the soft cover but also by the alignment system printed on the side of the golf ball. Srixon has added a long natural target alignment, so the golfer does not have to spend time before a round decorating their golf ball in black magic marker.
This system allows the golfer to see the putting line as well as making sure they know where the center of the ball is to align the putter face.
The Srixon Soft Feel is the rare two-piece ball that aids in saving strokes around the green. With an emphasis on spin, the softer cover gives the golfer the confidence to aim for the flag when hitting the ball from inside 50 yards to the flag.
Pros of the Srixon Soft Feel
- A softer, lower compression core improves feel around the greens without sacrificing the distance off the tee typically associated with two-piece golf balls
- The thinner cover provides spin on entry shots and with pitch and chip shots around the green
- Energetic gradient growth core is an advanced technology that promotes distance and optimizes performance with every drive and iron shot
- The 324 dimples along the Ionomer cover assists with stability with ball flight
Cons of the Srixon Soft Feel
- Not as sophisticated as a multi-layered golf ball from other manufacturers
- Low compression inhibits the distance off the tee of golfer’s with elite swing speeds
Terrific off the Tee Box, Soft around the Greens: Callaway’s Chrome Soft
Multi-piece golf balls that are labeled as the top of the line offer many bells and whistles that less expensive and simpler models cannot replicate.
The reason you see professionals play exclusively with the multi-piece golf balls is that they can shape and conform the golf ball based upon their elite skill level.
For the beginning golfer who does not have the skill set that a PGA Tour pro carries to the course, they may ask themselves if a multi-piece ball can do anything to help their game.
The answer is an emphatic YES as these golf balls can help develop their game immensely.
The Callaway’s Chrome Soft is the company’s answer to Titleist’s Pro V1. With a redesigned core and cover, the Chrome Soft compliments any amateur’s game by providing reliability and strength from anywhere on the course.
It all begins with the Chrome Soft’s redesigned outer core. Infused with graphene, which is a semi-metal with carbon elements, the larger outer core of the Chrome Soft maximizes compression. Graphene is over 200 times stronger than steel creating a surface behind the cover that is durable and won’t break down over time.
The advanced graphene outer core still maintains a high level of maximizing distance regardless of compression rating. Also, the outer core further helps prevent the side spin that most beginners impart on the golf ball for truer and straighter drives off the tee.
For entry shots into the green, the Chrome Soft’s core boosts backspin for shot-stopping control. With the strength of the graphene-infused core, Callaway boosted the weight of the patented interior Dual Fast core of the Chrome Soft .
The inside core is softer than previous versions of the Chrome Soft which enables feel for touch around the greens and with regard to entry shots when attempting to hit a green in regulation.
With this in mind, understand that the Chrome Soft does lean a bit on the low side of the compression rating scale. For the hard swinger out there, the Chrome Soft’s low compression interior may be deal-killer, but it would be a mistake to dismiss this golf ball.
The golfer would be missing out on the additional elements that make this golf ball one of the best for any skill level on the market today.
Next, let’s talk about the Chrome Soft’s urethane cover. Callaway has added a thin yet durable cover to the Chrome Soft for additional feel on pitch shots from around the greens.
The multi-layer ball will stop on a dime, and the golfer will love when they pull off these shots due to the Chrome Soft’s exceptional feel when coming into contact with the wedge face.
Just underneath the urethane cover of the Chrome Soft is a sub-mantle cover. This cover separation improves spin when using irons and wedges as well as inhibits side spin when using the driver.
Another cool feature of the Chrome Soft is that the cover has been molded using a seamless material transfer that helps with the aerodynamics of the golf ball. A reduction in drag on the Chrome Soft aids an increase in distance. The seamless cover also helps with developing a sense of feel around the greens for the amateur.
The Chrome Soft is a terrific option for the beginning golfer who maintains a moderate swing speed. The lower compression will also augment the golfer’s short game by aiding in confidence when striking the golf ball.
Pros of the Callaway’s Chrome Soft
- New larger core infused with graphene maximizes compression while preventing side spin and promotes higher ball flight for longer distance
- Premium dual-core construction helps longer clubs in your bag with boosted distance and enhanced control for irons and wedges
- Thin and soft, the tour urethane cover provides incredible control around the greens
- Soft cover coupled with lower compression makes the Chrome Soft more forgiving on off-center strikes
Cons of the Callaway’s Chrome Soft
- One of the more expensive golf balls on the market but price is in line with other elite multi-layered golf balls
- Some players with high-velocity swings may frown at the low compression design
Three-Piece Ball at Half the Price:
Callaway SuperHot
Three-piece golf balls are commonly associated with higher prices due to the manufacturing costs of design and construction.
They are usually created with improved materials in comparison to a two-piece golf ball. Covers on three-piece balls typically are made not from surlyn but a softer urethane material to improve spin.
Callaway has tested the preconceived notions of what a three-piece ball can be with the SuperHot.
The SuperHot is a three-piece golf ball that retails for around the price point of lesser quality two-piece balls.
Remarkably Callaway has constructed the SuperHot without sacrificing quality or performance.
Starting with a large high energy core, the SuperHot is a dynamo off the tee box. Golfers love hitting the SuperHot with the driver due to the compression level and its impact on distance.
The SuperHot’s core when coupled with the dimpled hexagonal cover produce bombs off the tee.
The core is a welcome feature to the mid-compression golf ball seeking amateur with swing speeds that typically clock in at around 80 mph. The SuperHot will help maintain distance for that group of beginners because of the response of the core when hit with a driver.
The aforementioned crown jewel of the SuperHot is the hexagonal dimple system overlaid on the soft cover. The hex design reduces drag on longer shots and promotes backspin for optimum height during ball flight.
The SuperHot’s cover is soft enough to encourage shot shaping although not as well as higher end golf balls. But even with this slight limitation on the when hitting the ball with irons, the golfer will find that entry shots into the green land with a gentle touch.
The three-piece construction does help around the green. The SuperHot is competent when aiming for the cup on medium pitch shots from inside 30 yards. The ball stops promptly during short shots, but the amateur doesn’t need to believe that the SuperHot will somehow mimic the feel of a Chrome Soft for half the price. They’ll be sadly disappointed.
The SuperHot does have an alignment design on the side of the ball to help line up those lengthy putts on the green. Callaway has made a golf ball in the Chrome Soft that has a decent response off the putter face and an acceptable feel when putting from a variety of distances.
For the beginner who loves to play with golf balls in colors other than white, the SuperHot has a version named Bold that comes in slick matte yellow, red and bright orange.
Experts are divided on whether colored golf balls help with improving identifying the location of the ball after it has been hit, but regardless these SuperHot balls look terrific.
The matte finish of the Bold complements the durable cover of the SuperHot. Long after you have played multiple rounds with the golf ball, the SuperHot looks like it just came fresh from the sleeve. A quick swipe with a wet towel cleans the matte cover nicely and restores its original look.
Another bonus for those in the market for the SuperHot is that Callaway sells the golf ball in boxes of 15 rather than the traditional 12 balls per box. This added value makes the SuperHot one of the best bargains on the market today.
Pros of the Callaway SuperHot
- Three-piece construction and high performance at a very affordable price point
- Soft cover delivers exceptional spin, added control around the greens and boosts the quality of pitch and chip shots
- Hexagonal dimple design on the SuperHot’s cover is built for low drag and optimal lift for longer ball flight
- When using driver, the SuperHot has been engineered to add tremendous distance for shorter entry shots into greens
Cons of the Callaway SuperHot
- Despite being a three-piece golf ball, doesn’t stop on the greens as well as other golf balls around this price point
- Does not offer the ability to smoothly shape shots like most multi-layered golf balls
Q&A
What are golf balls’ dimples and why are they important?
A dimple is a small indention on the surface of the golf ball. Most golf balls typically have 300 to 500 dimples.
Dimples on the golf ball are essential because of their effect on flight. When a golfer strikes a golf ball, the time the ball stays on the clubface lasts for just 1/2000 of a second.
In that instant, the ball’s speed, launch angle and spin rate are all determined. Gravity and aerodynamics take over after the ball leaves the impact zone.
In this brief span of time, the golf ball’s dimples take over and control the flight. Usually hexagonal, these dimples significantly affect the lift and drag on the golf ball.
A dimple’s purpose is to minimize the effect that air exerts on the surface of the ball. By creating a thin boundary layer, dimples reduce the drag during the ball flight for maximum distance and enhanced spin.
How do I properly pick my golf ball?
Properly picking a golf ball essentially comes down to the problem areas that you are looking to improve in your own game.
Perhaps you believe that you are short off the tee, golf manufacturers have created golf balls to enhance the distance of your drives. If you are looking for added feel, then some balls provide softer covers for higher spin and supplemental control around the greens.
When shopping for the best golf ball for your game, factors to consider are price and performance. The most expensive golf balls on the market will be multi-piece balls that deliver excellent feel and strong distance to an amateur’s game.
More affordable balls usually have fewer bells and whistles but are solid performers with an emphasis on improving your distance with the driver.
Choosing the right golf ball is all about features and what instills the most comfort and confidence in your game.
Ball Construction
For the amateur, the golf balls found on the shelf at the local sporting goods store usually come in either two or multi-piece versions. The difference between the two different models typically lies in the materials used to construct the golf ball.
Two-piece balls have surlyn covers built for durability and maximum distance. Multi-piece commonly are outfitted with urethane covers that are thinner and improve spin for golfers who love to shape their shots.
Inside the two-piece ball, you’ll find a solid core made from a rubber compound. With the multiple-piece ball, you’ll see layers of materials woven around an enhanced core. The two-piece golf ball’s primary feature is to display raw strength whereas the multi-piece ball is intended to show a softness from tee-to-green.
Dimples
A dimple is a small indention on the surface of the golf ball. Most golf balls have between 300 to 500 dimples. They are there to help stabilize flight by reducing the drag that surrounding air may have on the golf ball.
Compression
Compression in a golf ball is a result of the club face coming into contact with the ball. The golf ball compresses and then springs forward due to the energy transfer brought on by the club face. Compression is measured with a rating. This number indicates the level of compression on the golf ball.
Low
The rating of low compression golf balls extends from 70 to 80. Primarily tailored for the beginner, low compression balls aren’t designed for touch around the greens although recent technology has helped in that regard. Instead, low compression golf balls are tailored for maximum distance. Golf balls intended for women typically have a low compression rating.
Mid
Mid-compression golf balls rate between 80 and 90. For golfers with moderate swing speed, mid-compression balls can aid their overall game by providing an adequate distance increase and improved feel around the greens. These golf balls don’t sell out for distance like with low compression models so the mid-handicapper can utilize these balls to help shape their shots.
High
For the professional and low handicapper with triple-digit swing speeds, the high compression ball serves all of their needs. With a compression rating above 90, the high compression ball goes all-in creating the best all-around experience for golfers that need power as well as finesse in shaping iron play and stopping entry shots into the green.
Spin
Balls that feature softer urethane covers are more adept in generating tremendous backspin for the golfer. These balls feature multi-piece construction with a large interior core made from high-quality compounds manufacturers use to create their elite golf ball lines. Two-piece balls created to increase distance are made to lower sidespin that causes slices and hooks. The side effect is that the two-piece construction can also inhibit backspin as well.
What golf ball color is the easiest to see?
White is commonly known as the easiest color of a golf ball to see due to its contrast against the green grass.
Other colors to consider are bright yellow, which also contrasts well with green vegetation. Manufacturers have also introduced popular golf balls colored in neon green, red and bright orange.
They contrast better with vegetation that is more yellow or brown due to heat and stress from the weather.
Although the colored golf balls are popular, they can be hard to track in the air. White golf balls are easier to track against the background of blue skies, but that backdrop can work against colored golf balls.
Every golfer’s depth perception and sharpness of vision is different and can add complication to tracking multi-colored golf balls as they fly through the air.
Which brand of golf ball goes the farthest?
The distance a golf ball travels is immediately influenced by the swing speed of the golfer, the quality of their equipment and the elements of weather imposed upon the flight of the ball.
That said, brands of golf balls that are known to travel well for golfers seeking added distance include Titleist, Callaway, Bridgestone, and Srixon.
What is the most expensive golf balls?
The most expensive golf balls available to consumers typically run around $40-50 per dozen. There are only a few golf balls that meet that price point.
They include popular models such as the Titleist’s Pro V1 series, Callaway’s Chrome Soft line, Bridgestone’s Tour series, Srixon’s Z-Star and TaylorMade’s TP5 series.
Should I use new or used golf balls?
For the best performance, you should always use new golf balls fresh from the sleeve. Understanding that breaking out a fresh box of golf balls may not be feasible for every trip to the course, here’s some information to help assure that you are giving yourself the best chance to post your lowest score.
Two-piece golf balls will last a very long time. With the rubber core and a soft cover, the two-piece ball should have a shelf life of five to seven years according to most golf ball manufacturers.
These balls are primarily for higher handicap players who don’t play many rounds a year that need immediate results from their golf ball. Two-piece balls focus on giving the beginner the most distance with each shot and don’t primarily worry about finesse.
Multi-layered balls, including those commonly referred to as three-piece, have a shorter shelf life due to their construction.
That does not mean the advanced golfer is wasting their money. The reason the ball has a shorter life is due to how tightly wound the core of the golf ball is to provide maximum distance and optimum feel. As time passes, the wound components loosen robbing the ball of spring off the club face.
Used golf balls are problematic from the start due to the golfer’s lack of knowledge on where they came from initially. Golf balls that have been previously used will be inconsistent in performance from hole to hole, especially if you are a high handicapper who loses a few balls per round.
The best chance a golfer has to post their best round is with a new golf ball.
Do I need specific balls for the driving range?
Range balls are typically provided by the golf club or facility you are using for your practice session.
Naturally, if you can find a club or facility that uses newer golf balls for their range, then you should structure many, if not all, of your practice sessions around visiting that specific establishment.
Practicing with golf balls that mimic the ones you will use on the course will give you the proper feedback on adjustments you need to make to your swing.
When practicing putting or short distance pitch shots, feel free to use your golf balls to replicate the experience you’ll find during a round.
What golf ball should I use for my swing speed?
A great way to determine your swing speed is to find a local golf shop that has a TrackMan machine. This system will provide a cluster of data on your golf swing, most notably your swing speed.
The speed of your swing is crucial in determining what type of shaft you need to be using on your clubs as well as the kind of golf ball that best serves you.
Most professionals at these golfing superstores can fit you for a golf ball, but they will also provide the best options related to your swing speed. Many amateurs fall into the trap in believing that there is a golf ball that matches their swing speed precisely.
But a golfer will have varying swing speeds all over the course. They may swing their driver around 100mph but only swing their 7-iron at 85mph.
Rather than a one-size fits all needs from your golf ball, the amateur requires the golf ball to be long and straight off the tee and soft with a high spin on the green.
Titleist has created a terrific article to debunk some of these misconceptions and how it relates to our choice of the best golf ball for beginners, the Pro V1.