Trying to find the best golf balls for your game can be a nightmare. There are hundreds of golf ball reviews out there that all say different things, and let’s face it, for most golfers you can barely tell the difference between a ProV1 and a Top Flite.
Ok, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but it’s true that choosing a golf ball can be a bit of a shot in the dark for most people.
The goal of this post is to help take some of the mystery out of finding the right golf ball, and to help you find the best ball for your skill level, swing style, and budget.
Keep in mind prices can change frequently on balls, so once you find one you like, look at sites like Amazon, Golf Galaxy, your local pro shops etc. to make sure you’re getting the best deal.
Need a little more direction on finding the right ball for your needs? Make sure to read to the end of the post.
Table of Contents
The Very Best Golf Ball on the Market: Titleist Pro V1
Let’s face it, the Titleist Pro V1 is the world’s most well-known golf ball for a reason: it’s really, really good. It’s been perfected over years, and there are more tour pros playing ProV1s than any other ball – by a long shot.
But at nearly $60 a dozen retail? They aren’t cheap.
So if budget isn’t an issue, and you want the ball that 95% of the golfing public truly recognizes as the best? Then buy your Titleist ProV1 or ProV1x and never look back – if it’s good enough for the pros, it’s good enough for you.
I’m an 11 handicap, and this is what I personally use. They really do feel the best, although at 30% cheaper, the Vice I mention below get awfully close.
- Price: $58/dozen
- Our Rating: 9.5
- Review: Titleist Pro V1 Review: Still the Best Premium Golf Ball?
- Solid Alternative: Callaway Chrome Tour – Another golf ball you see a lot of the very best players in the world gaming.
There's a reason the ProV1 and ProV1x are the most well-known balls in golf, they're just that good. Not much more you need to say here. If they're in your budget? Buy em.
Best Tour Ball Value: MaxFli Tour
I’ll be honest with you, as an 11 handicap, I don’t really notice much of a difference between the Pro V1 listed above and the MaxFli Tour balls.
Maybe slight, but is it worth a nearly-$20 premium for a dozen balls? For some, sure.
But for most people? No way.
MaxFli isn’t necessarily the “cool” ball on the market, but its performance is undeniable, and if you don’t care about that Titleist logo? Save yourself some money and give these a shot. I think you’ll be glad you did.
- Price: $40/dozen or $120 for 4/dozen
- Our Rating: 9.3
- Review: MaxFli Tour and Tour X are the Best Golf Balls You’ve Never Heard Of
- Solid Alternative: Vice Pro Plus – Another fantastic tour ball that you can pick up for around the same price as these.
These balls absolutely hit the sweet spot when it comes to the price-performance ratio. As long as your ego doesn't require you to play a ProV1, your wallet and your scorecard will thank you.
Best Golf Ball Runner-Up: Callaway Chrome Tour
For years, the Chrome Soft has arguably been Callaway’s best golf ball.
It’s fantastic, but many would argue that it’s indeed a little too soft to be a true competitor to the ProV1 as a premier tour ball.
A couple of years ago, Callaway created an answer for that: the Chrome Tour.
Their newest 2026 edition delivers low driver spin, but high spin around the greens to achieve superior performance and workability for the better golfer.
And sure enough, you’re seeing a lot of top-level players choosing this ball as an alternative to the mighty Pro V1.
- Price: $58/dozen
- Our Rating: 9
- Review: Are the Callaway Chrome Tour Balls as Good as Pro V1s?
- Solid Alternative: Titleist Pro V1 – There’s a reason these have been the standard-bearer in the premium ball space for years.
When you watch the guys on TV, if they're not playing a Pro V1, a lot of them are playing this ball. And for good reason. This is an absolute premium-performing golf ball.
Best Golf Ball for Most People: Vice Pro Plus
In our reviews, we’ve found the Vice Pro Plus to be the best combination of performance and price on the market today. They mostly sell their balls online and don’t spend a ton of money on marketing, so they’re able to keep the price of their balls lower than all of their major competitors.
In our review, we found the ball to perform almost as well as the ProV1, but doing so at a considerable discount.
The Vice Golf Ball is perfect for low handicappers on a budget, or for mid handicappers that are looking to move up to a tour-level ball, without the tour-level prices.
- Price: $38/dozen (but cheaper if you buy in bulk).
- Our Rating: 9.6 (Our Highest Ball Rating Ever)
- Review: Is the Vice Pro Plus Better than ProV1?
- Solid Alternative: Volvik Condor – Don’t sleep on this golf ball just because the brand may be less familiar.
I get asked a lot about what golf balls I play. Most of the time? I play Vice Pro Plus. I certainly like ProV1s, but at a fraction of the price? I think these are just as good.
Best Golf Balls for Beginners: Noodle Golf Balls
I’ve gotten a lot of flak from golfing friends for ever playing a Noodle golf ball as a (formerly) single-digit handicap.
But sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
Like when you head down to TPC Sawgrass, and you’re too cheap to pay the ridiculous prices on golf balls they charge – so you buy a box of Noodles.
And then surprisingly, you actually enjoy them!
After multiple rounds, I’m convinced that the Noodle is the best cheap golf ball for beginners. You won’t find a better beginner’s golf ball for a better value.
- Price: $19 for 15 balls
- Our Rating: 8.4
- Our Review: Noodle Golf Ball Review: The Best Cheap Golf Ball
- Solid Alternative: Wilson Smart Core Golf Ball
I was surprised by how good these balls were. Now, it's all relative, they're no Tour-level ball. But at this price, for the average golfer who isn't a single-digit handicap, these will serve you just fine.
Best Cheap Golf Balls: Noodle Golf Balls
Yep not only do we think the Noodle is the best for beginners, but it’s also the best cheap golf ball we’ve tested. As I mentioned above, the Wilson Smart Core also does a decent job for those on a budget, but we’ve found the Noodle to be the way to go.
Best Premium Ball You Haven’t Heard Of: Volvik Condor
Here’s another option if you want to play a premium, tour-level ball but just can’t stomach the price of something like the Titleist Pro V1 or Callaway Chrome Tour.
At almost a buck a ball cheaper than those bigger-named options, you can find a lot of value if you’re willing to take a chance on a less-familiar name.
These golf balls, the Condor or Condor X options, absolutely deliver. Our testing revealed performance that was nearly (though maybe not quite up to) the standard set by Titleist and Callaway.
And honestly, unless you’re playing this game for a living, I think you’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference.
- Price: $48/dozen.
- Our Rating: 8.6
- Review: Can Volvik’s Condor Ball Really Match the Pro V1?
- Solid Alternative: Maxfli Tour – I’m telling you, this is a damn good golf ball.
Neutral flight off the tee, a mid window with irons, and true urethane hop-and-stop around the greens. If you want tour-style performance without Pro V1 money, start with the Volvik Condor. Use code BREAKINGEIGHTY to buy 3 dozen, get 1 free!
Urethane control with a firmer feel than the Condor. Suits 100+ mph swings and confident ball-strikers. If you want extra yards without giving up greenside bite, this is the ball. Use code BREAKINGEIGHTY to buy 3 dozen, get 1 free!
Best Soft Golf Ball for High Handicappers: Callaway Supersoft
We’re not sure there’s a more accurately descriptive golf ball on the market. We mean it. In our testing, the Callaway Supersoft was exactly that: soft.
You might even say Supersoft.
If you’re a higher handicapper looking for some help around the greens? Look no further than the Callaway Supersoft. This ball performs, and we were very pleased with it.
- Price: $27/dozen
- Our Rating: 8.3
- Review: Callaway Supersoft Review: Great for Mid to High Handicaps
- Solid alternative: Callaway Chrome Soft – The next selection on our list is likely a better soft choice for a better player.
Looking for an incredible soft ball that's super forgiving? Look no further than the Callaway Supersoft. It's one of the best-selling balls in golf for a reason.
Best Tour Ball for Amateurs: Callaway Chrome Soft
I was pretty bummed when TaylorMade stopped making their Project{A} balls, which I found to be one of the most versatile golf balls on the market.
From mid-handicappers to better players, it just worked.
Fortunately, Callaway has picked up the torch with their Chrome Soft line of balls.
If you’re looking for a fantastic all-around ball that is good enough for better players, without sacrificing performance for those who need a little extra forgiveness, then the Chrome Soft is an excellent ball.
It’s a little more expensive than some other models out there but is worth a slightly premium price.
- Price: $58/dozen
- 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.
This is one of the most versatile balls on the market. Great for mid to low handicappers alike, this is one of the best all-around golf balls on the market.
Best Golf Ball for Distance: Titleist Velocity
If you’re a double-digit handicap and you’re trying to get as much distance as possible, and you want a ball to help you do it?
Then check out the Titleist Velocity. In playing with numerous older golfers, this seems to be the consensus favorite. Its hallmarks are very low spin, high ball flight, and huge distance – which makes it great for the older golfer who might have lost some of their distance over the years.
- Price: $30/dozen
- Solid Alternative: TaylorMade TP5: If you’ve got a higher swing speed or are a better player and are chasing distance, check out the next item on our list.
Not a single-digit golfer, and looking to hit bombs? The Titleist Velocity is one of the best distance balls we've reviewed.
Best Tour Ball for Distance: TaylorMade TP5
In our comparison, the TaylorMade TP5 consistently added 4-5 yards on drives versus the Titleist ProV1. It doesn’t have quite the same cache as the Titleist ball, but there’s a reason that the TP5 has been popular among the better golfers I know.
It’s good.
In fact, it’s probably the best ball TaylorMade has ever made, so it’s definitely worth checking out and making comparisons of your own versus the ProV1 and Vice Pro Plus.
- Price: $58/dozen
- Our Rating: 9
- Our Review: TaylorMade TP5 Review: Is the TP5 a ProV1 Killer?
- Solid Alternative: Vice Pro Plus
At $58 the TP5 is the same price as the Pro V1, but in our tests we got 4-5 yards more distance than the Titleist as well. Fantastic golf ball.
Best Golf Ball for Night or Twilight Golf: Volvik Twilight
I’ll admit it. When these arrived, I figured they were a gimmick. Glow-in-the-dark golf balls?
Then I actually played them, and they won me over.
The Vivid Twilight is a real three-piece ball with a soft feel, low spin off the tee, and more greenside bite than I expected. Charge them under the included UV flashlight and they glow for about 15 minutes, which is plenty to keep a round alive after the sun’s gone down.
- Price: $63
- Our Rating: 8.8
- Review: Volvik Twilight are the Glow in the Dark Golf Balls You’ll Actually Want
- Solid Alternative: Volvik Vivid Soft – They aren’t glow-in-the-dark, but I found this golf ball to be the easiest to spot in the rough of all the non-glow-in-the-dark balls I’ve tested.
Matte-finish, three-piece ionomer built for visibility and easy speed. Flies straight and plenty long. The bright green is the easiest ball to track I've played this year. Use code BREAKINGEIGHTY to buy 3 dozen, get 1 free!
What to Look for When Choosing a Golf Ball?
While it’s easy to say the ProV1 is the “best golf ball,” the reality is even a ball as highly regarded as that, won’t be right for everyone.
The best ball for a 70-year-old senior is obviously going to be different than the best golf ball for a scratch golfer, or a beginner.
And do you really need to spend $50 or more on a box of golf balls??
Probably not.
When choosing the best golf ball, we recommend you look at two different things:
- Skill Level/Swing Speed
- Budget
Why are these important?
Because if you don’t take those into consideration when choosing the best golf ball for your game, you could be leaving a lot on the table.
Golf is hard enough; your golf ball shouldn’t make it more difficult for you.
#1) How to Choose a Golf Ball for Your Swing Speed and Skill Level
Generally, higher-handicap and beginning golfers are going to want a two-piece golf ball. This is going to have a larger core which will help maximize distance and reduce spin.
Reducing spin is key, because let’s say you’re like most high handicappers and tend to have a big slice or hook – well the more spin the ball has, the more movement it’s going to have laterally, making it more likely to send the ball out of bounds.
Better golfers are going to want a multi-layer ball that will help give you better feel, and the thinner exterior will help give you more spin – but also reduce durability in the process.
Low compression balls will add distance for slower swing speeds, while high compression balls will enhance feel and control for better golfers.
#2) What’s Your Budget?
Let’s face it, golf is an expensive sport – and it can be even more expensive if you’re losing two sleeves of balls every time you play. And it’s not like we’re all rolling in money – so finding a ball that fits your wallet, is just as important as finding one that fits your game.
And if you’re a scratch golfer, but also broke? Just head down to the OB at your local country club and stock up on all those ProV1s lost in the woods 🙂
Recapping the List of Our Favorite Golf Balls
I could go on and add another two dozen golf balls to this review, as I’ve seen other golf blogs do. But generally, when that happens, they’re just trying to get affiliate sales 🙂
I honestly believe that the balls mentioned above will cover the vast majority of golfers. Regardless of what you’re looking for one of the following will be a great fit:
- Best Overall: Titleist Pro V1
- Best Tour Ball Value: MaxFli Tour
- Best Golf Ball Runner-Up: Callaway Chrome Tour
- Best Golf Ball for Most People: Vice Pro Plus
- Best Golf Ball for Beginners: TaylorMade Noodle
- Best Cheap Golf Ball: TaylorMade Noodle
- Best Premium Golf Ball You Haven’t Heard Of: Volvik Condor
- Best Soft Golf Ball for High Handicappers: Callaway Supersoft
- Best Tour Ball for Amateurs: Callaway Chrome Soft
- Best Golf Ball for Distance: Titleist Velocity
- Best Tour Ball for Distance: TaylorMade TP5
- Best Golf Ball for Night or Twilight Golf: Volvik Twilight
Recent Updates:
August 24th, 2026: Updated all images, names, and links for any remaining products to reflect updated models. Added Volvik Condor as “Best Premium Ball You Haven’t Heard Of.” Added Volvik Twilight as “Best Golf Ball for Night or Twilight Golf.” Removed the Bridgestone e6. Retired the standalone “Most Visible Category. Renamed the Callaway Chrome Tour from “Best New Ball” to “Best Golf Ball Runner-Up.” Refreshed pricing across the list.
September 23rd, 2025: Removed Wilson Staff R. Added Volvik Vivid Soft as “Most Visible Golf Ball.” Added review and updated some links to MaxFli Tour.
February 15, 2025: Added MaxFli Tour as a “Best Value Tour Ball”. Updated list to 11 products. Added video for “My 5 Most Underrated Golf Products”.
December 18th, 2024: Updated pricing and dates for accuracy. Added a table of contents. Moved intro content to the conclusion.
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