I’ll be honest with you: I went into testing the MaxFli Tour and Tour X golf balls with a hefty dose of skepticism.
It wasn’t until just before getting these balls to review that I realized MaxFli is the in-house brand for Golf Galaxy and Dick’s Sporting Goods. And look, those are household names, but when you think about in-house brands for big box stores, your mind doesn’t exactly jump to “best of the best” in terms of quality.
Unless, of course, we’re talking about Kirkland Signature here.
But here’s the thing: this ball genuinely surprised me. The overall promise is simple: tour-level performance for a fraction of the price. A dozen Pro V1s will set you back $55, and the MaxFli Tour retails at $39.99. But here’s where it gets interesting – most of the time, you can find 48 of them on sale for $120. That’s $30 a dozen.
And after playing these balls throughout the entire summer, I can confidently say they earned their spot in my bag.
MaxFli Tour and Tour X: First Round Impressions
The MaxFli Tour became my go-to ball for most of this summer, and from the very first round, I was genuinely surprised.
Off the tee, the ball felt exceptional. It was easy to compress, and you get that unmistakable “tour ball” feeling you experience with a Pro V1 or Chrome Tour – something I don’t always get with other balls marketed as “Tour” level balls.
Around the greens, both the standard Tour and X models performed exceedingly well. Spin was easy to come by on both, with the X obviously being the spinner of the two.
These balls absolutely hit the sweet spot when it comes to the price-performance ratio. As long as your ego doesn't require to play a ProV1, your wallet, and your scorecard will thank you.
The Ball Flight Difference: Tour vs Tour X
More than any other balls I’ve tested back to back, I very much noticed the difference in ball flight between the Tour and Tour X models.
A bit of backstory: hitting the ball high has never been my problem. Historically, I hit the ball very high, with lots of spin, especially on drives. For years, it’s been disheartening to hit what felt like a good drive, only to see it land in the fairway at just 220 yards, with a big divot about 2 feet in front of the ball.
It takes talent to get a negative roll on a drive.
Fortunately, this year I significantly strengthened my grip, which has reduced my slice some, but more importantly, added 30 yards to my driver on average.
Here’s the video about that experience:
The Callaway Elyte driver has also helped, as has switching from a 10.5 loft to a 9 loft.
All that to say, after these changes, I really did notice the differences in ball flight between the Tour and X balls.
The Tour X launched noticeably higher, and when I did hit it well and ramp up my swing speed, the performance was great. It also felt a bit more responsive around the greens.
But typically, after half a dozen rounds with each – the Tour, Tour X, and Tour S – the standard Tour has been the sweet spot for me. A little more forgiving than the X, a bit more distance and control than the S, while still being relatively forgiving for a tour-level ball.
If you really struggle with a slice, the S is the one of the three I’d take a look at, but if that’s the case, you might consider a different style of ball altogether.
The “MaxFli Guy” at Ballyneal
One funny thing about playing a MaxFli is that most other people aren’t.
On my Ballyneal trip this Sunmer, I quickly became known as “the MaxFli guy,” and it made finding my ball very easy. No one else on the course was playing them, which honestly was kind of great.
Worth noting: I broke 80 on that trip for the first time in 2 years with the MaxFli Tour. A few weeks later, I did it again at Wildwood in Portland, with – you guessed it – the same ball.
Coincidence? Well, probably. But safe to say the performance is there.
MaxFli Tour vs Vice Pro Plus: A Fair Comparison
I think this ball performs very similarly to the Vice Pro Plus, and they both represent a similar value proposition, as you can often find bulk deals on both.
I do weirdly like the Vice Pro Plus Drip models that look like they’ve been spray painted, and at retail the price comes in at the same as the MaxFli.
For me as a 10 handicap, I’d say that I notice a very slight difference between either of these and a ProV1. The Pro V1 is still the gold standard, and I always feel a little extra confident when using one.
That said, do I buy Pro V1s personally?
Nope.
Now I buy either Vice or the MaxFli balls when I need to stock up. The performance is very close to as good, and depending on how much you buy, you can pick them up for close to half the price.
Should You Buy the MaxFli Tour or Tour X?
If you’re playing with Pro V1s, TP5s, or other premium tour balls and you’re a mid-to-high handicap golfer, you might be wasting your money.
The MaxFli Tour delivers performance that’s shockingly close to the category leaders at a fraction of the price. The cast urethane cover provides excellent feel and greenside spin, the 318 dimple pattern creates a penetrating ball flight, and the overall construction feels legitimate – not like some knockoff trying to mimic the real thing.
For better players who want maximum spin and a higher ball flight, the Tour X is worth considering. But for most golfers in the 8-15 handicap range like myself, the standard Tour offers the best balance of distance, control, and forgiveness.
Here’s my recommendation:
- Tour X: If you’re a single-digit handicap with high swing speed who wants maximum spin and control around the greens
- Tour: If you’re a 8-15 handicap looking for tour-level performance with a bit more forgiveness
- Tour S: If you struggle with a slice and need a ball that will help reduce spin
Final Thoughts on the MaxFli Tour Golf Balls
As long as you don’t care about the name on the ball, MaxFli absolutely surprised me this year and gets my pick for the best value tour ball out there.
Yes, there’s a certain prestige to pulling out a Pro V1. You feel like a better player when you’re gaming one (even if it was that one you found in the woods off the 12th tee).
But let’s be real: most of us aren’t good enough golfers for the name on the ball to actually matter. What matters is how it performs and how much money stays in your wallet.
The MaxFli Tour delivers on both fronts.
At $30 a dozen when you buy in bulk, these balls represent an incredible value for anyone who wants tour-level performance without the premium price tag. And unlike some budget balls that make big promises but fall short on the course, the MaxFli Tour actually backs up the hype.
So if you’re tired of spending $50+ on a dozen balls that you’re going to lose anyway, give the MaxFli Tour a shot. They’ve earned a permanent spot in my bag, and I think they’ll earn one in yours too.
These balls absolutely hit the sweet spot when it comes to the price-performance ratio. As long as your ego doesn't require to play a ProV1, your wallet, and your scorecard will thank you.
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The most surprised by a golf ball I've been all year.
The MaxFli Tour, Tour X, and Tour S represents one of the very best values in golf. All of these perform as advertised and do it for significantly less than other Tour balls from Titleist, Callaway, and TaylorMade. As long as your ego doesn't care about the logo on the ball, you'll be happy with these.
The Good
- Great price for a ball this high quality
- Tour, Tour X, and Tour S all differentiate well and appeal to different golfers
- Great distance and spin regardless of which model you choose
The Bad
- Some people won't even consider these all because of the name
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Presentation
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Performance
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Price
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Personal Affinity
