Updated May 8, 2025. This article was thoroughly audited by multiple golf experts and coaches for its accuracy. You can read more about our rigorous testing protocol here.
The best golf balls are essential for any golfer looking to optimize their game.
These balls, typically designed with a thin yet durable urethane cover, are all about finding that ideal balance of value, distance, spin, durability, and feel.
Ultimately, the right ball can really make a difference on the course, potentially helping you shave strokes and add yards off the tee.
So, it pays to understand the subtle differences between golf balls and how each can complement your individual swing and playing style.
Below is our carefully selected list of the best golf balls currently available.
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Last updated on 2025-07-01. The links are affiliate links. Product images are served from Amazon Product Advertising API.
Table of Contents
Best Golf Balls 2025
Titleist Pro V1 Golf Balls
Best Golf Ball Overall
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SPECIFICATIONS
- Type: 3-piece
- Cover: Soft Cast Urethane
- Dimple Pattern: Circular
PROS
- It provides less spin off the tee for a piercing distance that transforms
- Excellent greenside spin for ultimate control from bunker or rough
- For golfers with moderate to high swing speeds for better ball flight
CONS
- One of the most expensive but premium options in the golf ball market, not suited for beginners
The Titleist Pro V1 has long worn the crown as the top ball for both professionals and amateurs.
Not only does it deliver exceptionally great distance off the tee, but around the greens, there is no other ball that can match its control.
The Titleist Pro V1 is our choice as the best ball for mid handicappers (it’s also the best golf ball for average golfers) simply because of how easily it allows the double-digit handicap golfer to make the jump to the next level.
Check our full Titleist Pro V1 Golf Balls Review
Callaway Chrome Soft Golf Balls
Best Golf Ball to Increase Short Game Spin
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SPECIFICATIONS
- Type: 3-piece
- Cover: Ultra Soft Urethane
- Dimple Pattern: Hex Tour Aerodynamics
PROS
- Increased swing speeds off the tee and from the fairway
- Softer feel for better short gameplay
- Outstanding forgiveness with improved dimple pattern to reduce side spin
CONS
- Doesn’t quite reach the heights of the Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x
The Callaway Chrome Soft is crafted as one of the best tour golf ball available.
It doesn’t reach the heights of the Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x, but it delivers features that all golfers need, including improved greenside spin and increased ball speed off the tee.
The Chrome Soft’s spin rate is outstanding, making it well deserving as one of the best balls today. Even from sand or high rough, we were very impressed with the wedge spin generated by the Chrome Soft.
This is an excellent tour ball that might not match the balls by other companies, but it’s slightly more affordable and well worth the look if you want better control around the greens.
Bridgestone Tour B XS Golf Balls
Best Distance Golf Balls for Mid Handicappers
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SPECIFICATIONS
- Type: 3-piece
- Cover: Polyurethane
- Dimple Pattern: Dual Dimple
PROS
- Redesigned compression soft core provides solid greenside spin
- Unique urethane cover with advanced dimple pattern increases distance
- Consistent flight from tee to green with improved control and feel
CONS
- Best served for mid handicappers and less for beginners and single-digit handicappers
The preferred ball of Tiger Woods, the Bridgestone Tour B XS is an affordable tour model that keeps your distance long and the feel of your shots high from anywhere on the course.
Powered by a dual dimple pattern system, the Tour B XS provides the golfer with additional distance, spin, and feel.
The seamless urethane cover on the Bridgestone Tour B XS is another proprietary innovation that allows for a more aerodynamic flow around the ball.
Its urethane cover is one of the primary reasons its shots are consistent and reliable.
Srixon Soft Feel Golf Balls
Best Ball for Soft Feel and Greater Spin on the Green
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SPECIFICATIONS
- Type: 2-piece
- Cover: Surlyn
- Dimple Pattern: Symmetrical Circular
PROS
- Two-piece design is crafted to improve spin from the fairway and on the green
- Soft core helps with increasing spin on wedge shots from sand and rough
- Plays well with slower swingers who need their distance with a level of sophistication
CONS
- Soft cover and core depress distance but offer the inexperienced golfer more control and spin
The Srixon Soft Feel registers higher spin rates and longer yardage than most in this class of ball. We found during our testing that it was more precise when it came time to launch shots at the pin.
Near the green, most two-piece balls figuratively fall apart with low spin, but that’s not the case with the Srixon Soft Feel.
An excellent ball from tee to green, this is a dazzling option for the mid and high handicappers who need an affordable ball that doesn’t lose its edge.
Titleist AVX Golf Balls
Best Multi-Piece Golf Ball for Mid and Low Handicappers
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SPECIFICATIONS
- Type: 3-piece
- Cover: Urethane Elastomer
- Dimple Pattern: 348 Catenary
PROS
- Built for distance and feel with an emphasis on improving ball speed off the face
- Newly designed core gives the golfer more distance without sacrificing the feel
- Unique dimple design is aerodynamic for a more launch angle and shot height
CONS
- Meant to be a step below the Pro V1 tier, better for mid handicappers and not scratch golfers
The Titleist AVX aren’t much cheaper than the Pro V1 series, so it is reasonable for any golfer to expect performance that rivals the best balls money can buy.
While there are subtle differences between the two models, the AVX does well at keeping its reputation as one of the best balls that may sacrifice a few features but provides the golfer with outstanding distance and ball flight.
While the Titleist AVX might not get the attention of its Pro V1 counterpart, this is a fabulous option that is more affordable but delivers outstanding performance for the advanced golfer.
Read our full Titleist AVX Golf Ball Review
How We Tested the Golf Balls
To really nail down the best golf balls, my team and I went way beyond a simple driving range session. We put these balls through a full-on evaluation.
We started with a launch monitor, meticulously recording ball speed, spin rates, and how far each ball carried with different clubs, from the driver down to the wedges. This gave us hard data on distance and spin.
But that’s only half the story.
We also took them out for rounds on the course, paying close attention to how they felt coming off the clubface, how they performed around the greens, and how well they held up over time.
To get a range of opinions, we even had golfers with different handicaps test them. We wanted to make sure our recommendations are solid for any golfer out there.
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Golf Ball
Spin
The spin of a ball is vital to its control.
Whether the ball is on the fairway, in the rough, or around the green, the golf balls have a soft cover that enables maximum spin as the grooves grab and create friction to spin the ball.
Durability
The durability of a ball contributes to how long a golfer can play the ball and experience the soft feel from the fairway and high spin without a loss in quality.
Even though most players are focused primarily on feel, spin, and distance, the cover of the golf ball is one of the areas that signals the overall health of the ball.
Levels of Golf Balls
There are two types of golf balls; two-piece and multi-piece or multi-layer.
Two-piece golf balls have an outer layer that wraps around a one-material core. They usually offer one advantage: softness and spin or more distance from the tee box.
Multi-piece golf balls offer sophistication to the low handicapper. They have high-quality covers that reduce drag on the ball for more distance.
They also carry a core made of multiple layers to create greater spin for shot-stopping power and added distance.
Compression
The ball’s compression rating corresponds with a golfer’s swing speed. The slower the swing, the lower the compression rating should be on the ball they play.
Most compression ratings are tied to the speed of a golfer when using the driver. Senior and women golfers routinely play with golf balls with a 60 to 70 compression rating.
Most mid-handicappers play with balls with an 80 to 90 compression rating. Professional golfers use golf balls that reach a 110 rating.
Low compression golf balls help slower swingers get the ball down the fairway by offering more spring at impact when compared to high compression golf balls.
With a higher swing speed, a golfer needs less spring to reach maximum distance with a higher compression ball.
Layers
A ball can have anywhere from two to five or more layers. Each layer performs a specific function that helps the golfer.
The first layer is the cover. This holds the dimple design that affects the flight of the ball.
Internal layers add anything from additional distance to increased spin. For golfers who like a soft golf ball, additional layers can create the high spin, soft landing short game that most advanced players crave.
Recommended: How to Buy Golf Balls (Buying Guide)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is actually the best golf ball?
The best golf ball is a personal choice, hinging on a golfer’s game. A ball like the Titleist Pro V1x offers great distance and control for skilled players with faster swings.
Ultimately, the right ball complements a player’s unique style and helps them perform their best.
What is the best ball for an average golfer?
For most golfers, a ball that maximizes distance and offers a softer feel is ideal, such as the Callaway Supersoft.
These can really help with distance off the tee and still provide a nice feel around the greens, which supports the golfer’s overall game.
What is the #1 ball in golf?
The #1 ball in golf often refers to the most popular ball on the pro tours. Historically, that’s been Titleist Pro V1 or Pro V1x.
These balls are consistently a top pick among pros because of their all-around performance and the control they offer.
What golf balls do most pros use?
Professional golfers typically play premium, multi-layer balls built for high swing speeds and maximum control.
Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x are very common on tour, as they give pros the spin, feel, and distance control they need for precision.