Best golf balls to improve your game for all styles and swings

When I first started out as an amateur golfer, I’ll admit, I didn’t think the type of ball mattered much. It was more about the woods, irons, wedges and putters in your bag, weather conditions and honing your stance and skill on the green and, yeah, drinking in the clubhouse. While all of that definitely does matter, the right ball is a factor that’s too often overlooked. If you’re looking to elevate your game, I’ve found the best golf balls for every category and club.

Our top picks for the best golf balls

What to consider when choosing the best golf balls

When you find the perfect golf ball, you’ll know it. The ball is super satisfying to hit and when you’ve got a feel for its weight and density, it can tighten your game, boost your confidence and shave strokes off your score. I asked Dan Huddleston, scratch golfer and professional golf instructor at TeachMe, to weigh in with his top picks and give some insider advice.

Swing speed

High swing speeds can compress a firmer ball more effectively, giving it more distance and control on its flight. Beginners who haven’t yet perfected their swing probably don’t need to worry about that, though, since slower swings struggle to compress a firm ball. A softer ball can compress more easily with less impactful speeds, maximizing distance potential and offering a more forgiving feel on those mishits.

Skill level

Just like with swing speeds, beginning golfers or those with higher handicaps typically benefit from softer golf balls. They’re designed to provide more distance straight off the tee and a softer feel on approach to shots and putts. They’re also a great confidence builder for newbies on the course. If you’re just starting out, wait a while to graduate to a firmer ball that offers more control and spin for precision shotmaking.

Desired ball flight

This is all about the trajectory of the ball after impact. Where do you want it to go, and how fast? Some golfers may want a high launch angle, better for long distances and for stopping quickly on the green. Others prefer a penetrating trajectory, which helps slice through the wind and to roll the ball further on approach shots. This is another area where the construction of the ball matters too, specifically the core and cover materials. Lower-compression cores and softer covers are typically better for higher launch angles, while high-compression cores and firmer covers work better for a penetrating trajectory.

Spin rates

Spin is the rotation of the ball around its axis. It’s not always a good thing! More spin can be beneficial for control around the green, since it allows the ball to grip the turf and check up quickly after landing. But excess spin is what you want to avoid, especially off the driver, where it can often lead to a loss of distance and a ballooning ball flight. That’s where the dimple pattern and cover material of the ball can be a big factor.

A ball with a deeper and more aggressive dimple pattern will typically generate more spin than a ball with a shallower dimple pattern, while a softer cover will also tend to grab the clubface for more spin, and a firmer cover for less. “Perhaps most importantly,” Huddleston says, “is the material used for the outer cover of the ball. Premium balls, like the Titleist ProV1, use a high-cost urethane cover. Premium balls grab onto the club face better than midrange or budget options, producing high spin rates on shorter shots. This gives players increased control of the ball around the greens.”

Price

You’re going to find a wide range in prices for golf balls on Amazon and in the pro shops, from a few dollars per dozen to well over $50. The best way to narrow it down is to know where you stand on skill level. Premium golf balls, usually the priciest, are typically preferred by lower-handicap golfers and designed for max performance, often featuring the latest technologies, build and materials. More affordable golf balls bring a good balance for midhandicap golfers and, I’ll say it, those who lose a lot of balls. It doesn’t always mean skimping on quality either, as there are plenty of well-built, low-priced golf balls available that are perfect for beginners.

Durability

Need a ball that can withstand the punishment of repeated impacts? Golfers who frequently lose balls may want to consider a more durable choice, even if it sacrifices some performance. But if you rarely lose them, prioritize performance over durability. The cover material of the golf ball is the primary factor that’s going to affect how much abuse it can take. A Surlyn cover is the most common type found on golf balls, while urethane covers are typically found on more premium options and offer the best feel and spin, but less durability.

How we chose the best golf balls

I looked at a wide range of factors to find the best options for golfers of all skill levels and playing styles. Here’s a breakdown:

Reviews

I took into account what people on the street had to say — or rather, people on the green. Reviews from golfers of all handicaps helped, particularly in feedback on five key areas: distance, control, spin, feel and durability.

Performance

I did a deep dive into the technical specs and performance characteristics of each ball. Distance, obviously, but I looked far beyond just yardage gains to see how the balls perform for golfers with different swing speeds and skill levels. Control goes hand-in-hand with distance, which is why trajectory matters too, especially for mid- to long-iron shots.

Spin, too, is a double-edged sword: Too much can lead to ballooning shots, while not enough can make it hard to stop the ball on the green. I looked for balls with optimal spin characteristics for different types of shots and factored in the feel of each ball, too.

Value

Golf is an expensive game to play, especially as you upgrade your gear. That’s why I prioritized value, not just affordability. I prioritized balls that offered noteworthy performance at a price point that fit the budget of golfers at every skill level. This meant looking beyond the top-recommended options and weighing the benefits of the ball for the price.

For beginners and high-handicap golfers, a good value ball might be affordable and forgiving, but not necessarily provide tour-level performance. For our midhandicappers, I suggested a ball that balances performance with a budget-friendly price. For low-handicap golfers and pros, the best value might be in a premium ball that delivers the absolute best performance, even if it comes at a higher cost.

Durability

It’s gotta be built to last — for a few rounds, anyhow. For some golfers, a lost ball is an occasional nuisance. For others, it’s a frequent part of a day on the course. That’s why I factored in durability and looked for balls that could withstand the punishment of repeated hits, with scuff-resistant covers and durable cores. While no ball is indestructible, some are certainly more resilient than others. Just ask any golfer taking their frustrations out on one.

Brand reputation

The reputation of a golf ball brand matters. I considered the history of innovation for each brand, looking at their commitment to research and development and their track record of producing high-quality golf balls. Trusted brands tend to have a consistent level of quality and performance, and they’re constantly pushing the boundaries of golf ball technology.

Types of golf balls

Familiarizing yourself with the different types of golf balls is a good way to start finding what’s going to work best for you. There are many different varieties, but the main types you’ll find are built for distance, tour performance, two-piece, soft feel and high spin. Golf balls may look similar, but that’s exactly where one of the big differentiators lies — the cover materials. All balls aren’t created equal, so finding the right one will all depend on what you’re shooting for. The same goes for dimple design. When chosen wisely, these two together can be a secret weapon for your swing.

Materials

Surlyn: If distance is your game, Surlyn is for you. This cover material is a durable ionomer resin prized for its cut resistance and longer lifespan, generally found on two-piece balls and distance-focused multipiece models. The downside of the distance here though is that Surlyn’s firmer feel translates to less spin on the green, making it less desirable for delicate chip shots.

Urethane: Surlyn brings the distance, but urethane is the champion of control and feel. Urethane covers are softer and create a higher friction rate with the clubface. That’s what gives balls made with this material significant spin, allowing golfers to achieve pinpoint accuracy on approach shots and hold the green on long irons. Urethane is less durable than Surlyn however, and will probably scuff more easily, too.

Balata: This material was once the gold standard for tour players, and balls covered with Balata are still known for their feel, spin and control around the green. They’re also usually expensive, and their extreme sensitivity to weather is another reason they lost popularity.

Ionomer blends: Modern tech has developed ionomer blends that attempt to bridge the gap between Surlyn and urethane. For the most part, they do a good job, delivering a balance of durability, spin and affordability.

Dimples

Traditional round dimples: The go-to favorite we all picture when imagining a golf ball, this classic design has been around for decades and is popular for good reason. Round dimples promote a stable flight path and good lift, optimizing distance and control.

Shallow round dimples: These are similar to traditional round dimples, but they are slightly shallower to reduce drag and potentially increase distance as well.

Square or pear-shaped dimples: Less common and more innovative than round dimples, these aim to create a tighter seam between the dimple and the cover, reducing drag and gaining additional distance. However, compared to round dimples, they may mess with the ball’s flight stability.

Hexagonal dimples: Truthfully, this one’s a pretty unconventional design, but it’s gaining ground among golfers since it promises a more uniform airflow around the ball. When that happens, you’ll get a more penetrating ball flight and potentially more distance, especially in windy conditions.

How to choose the right golf ball

Consider factors that are unique to you, your skill level, strengths and limitations, swing speed and what you generally prioritize. It’s a crucial part of your game, but thankfully, unlike golf clubs or golf bags, balls aren’t a massive financial investment that you’ll have for years, so if a certain brand or type just isn’t working for you, move on to another.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs):

Why is choosing the right golf ball important?

“Choosing the right golf ball is as important as choosing the right club for an approach shot,” says Huddleston. “Ball manufacturers invest millions in R&D to dial in precise launch characteristics for golfers of all swing speeds. These different design features include multipiece constructions, dimple patterns and outer cover materials. The major brands experiment with dimple patterns to achieve greater distances without changing ball speed. An object that flies through the air encounters wind resistance, which creates drag. Dimples turbulate the air around the golf ball and reduce drag, which makes the ball go further.”

How do you choose the right golf ball based on your needs, equipment and playing style?

Huddleston advises that players who are interested in optimizing their game should get fitted for a ball by a golf professional. “Ball fittings allow players to test all kinds of balls. A good golf ball fitter will look to optimize both distance and control by fitting a player into a ball that produces the right spin rate and ball speed for their individual swing,” he says.

Outside of ball fittings, players should follow these general rules:

1. Find a ball that feels good to you. Feel is subjective, and you want to find a ball that gives you the right feel and feedback off the club face. A satisfying feel produces confidence.
2. Find a ball that spins the right amount for you. High spin rates produce shorter ball flights, and low spin rates produce longer ball flights. The faster you swing the club, the more spin you can produce. Good golf drivers help, too.

Why does the construction of a golf ball matter? What do certain features help with?

“Some balls have two-piece constructions, meaning a smaller core wrapped with an outer layer,” Huddleston says. “More premium golf balls have three-piece constructions and others, like the TaylorMade TP5 and TP5x, are a five-piece construction. On a basic level, these layers influence ball compression, which is a factor in achieving higher or lower ball speeds.”

How often should you replace your golf balls?

“Premium balls rarely make it through a full 18 holes without scuffing,” Huddleston says. “This is because of their delicate urethane covers. Once a ball is scuffed, the ball can spin in unpredictable ways, leading to unpredictable ball flights. For this reason, I replace a ball as soon as it is scuffed. I use scuffed balls for short game practice.”

What should I look for and avoid when buying golf balls?

“Generally speaking,” Huddleston says, “players with high swing speeds should look for a lower spinning ball, and players with low swing speeds should look for a higher spinning ball. There are important exceptions, however. The player’s swing mechanics, the club head and especially the shaft all impart spin. This is just a general rule.”