Best Golf Balls 2023: Buyer's guide and things you need to know

In the market to play one of the best golf balls that will suit your game most? Well, you have arrived at the right place.

With so many brands releasing a broad range of different golf ball models, choosing the right set of dimples to sync up with your game can be a confusing task.

But that's where we come in.

The GolfMagic editorial team has sought out the best golf balls from all of the biggest brands this season and put them to the test. 

From Titleist's iconic Pro V1 to PXG's brand-new addition to the market in the Xtreme, we have tested over 40 golf balls to find out which ones perform best in a series of different categories. 

Put through their paces both on the course at Mannings Heath Golf and Wine Estate and in the studio with TrackMan and GC Quad at Gray's Golf, we've tested each golf ball in a broad variety of conditions to ensure our process is fair and without bias. 

Find out more about how we test equipment here

BEST GOLF BALLS 2023

Whether you want to use the same ball as Scottie Scheffler or Nelly Korda, we've tested them all to give you all the info you need to make your next purchase.

From Tour level performance to the best balls for beginners, there is something for everyone on our list.

We have divided all of the balls we tested into six different categories: 

• Best golf balls
• Best golf balls for beginners
• Best value golf balls
• Best golf balls for distance
• Best golf balls for soft feel
• Best golf balls for alignment

Okay without further ado let's get stuck into our test, starting with what we consider to be the best overall golf ball on the market.

Let's get into it.

BEST GOLF BALLS

Titleist Pro V1 

• Construction: 3-piece
• Colours: White, Yellow
• Price: £47.99
• Pros: Unbeatable all-round performance, nice soft feel, fantastic green-side spin
• Cons: Low-spin players would be better suited to the Pro V1x
• Best Suited For: Players looking for outstanding tee-to-green performance

One of the undisputed heavy hitters in the golf ball market, The Titleist Pro V1 delivers best-in-class performance in all areas. The Pro V1 and Pro V1x are still the most-played balls on Tour, and for good reason. 

A new high-gradient core is designed to promote higher ball speeds and lower spin on long irons, while the soft cast urethane cover delivers fantastic stopping ability on approaches and greenside shots. All in all, the Pro V1 is an ideal choice for golfers looking for elite-level distance, spin and workability with a lovely soft feel. 

The ball of choice for Scottie Scheffler and Max Homa, the Pro V1 is amongst the most expensive balls on offer, but you undoubtedly get your money's worth.

Callaway Chrome Soft X

• Construction: 4-piece
• Colours: White & Yellow
• Price: £47.99
• Pros: Excellent spin levels on shorter shots, explosive ball speed off the tee, easily workable with irons
• Cons: Not as soft feeling as direct competitors
• Best Suited For: Faster swinging players who also desire tour-level greenside control

Used by the likes of Jon Rahm and Sam Burns, the Chrome Soft X is Callaway's most-used ball on Tour thanks to its explosive ball speeds and excellent short-game spin rates. 

The Chrome Soft X is designed to be Callaway's fastest ball off the driver face, with high launch and low spin. On short shots around the green, the ball is engineered to produce incredibly high spin rates for complete short-game control.

While not the softest ball, the Chrome Soft X is incredibly workable, allowing for excellent shot-shaping, especially with long to mid irons. 

Certainly a ball for better players thanks to its performance characteristics and price point, the Chrome Soft X is a first-class choice that should be top of the list for any players with a fast swing speed.

TaylorMade TP5

• Construction: 5-piece
• Colours: White & Yellow
• Price: £41.99
• Pros: One of the best feeling balls we tested, really impressive ball speed with driver, easy to manipulate ball flight
• Cons: TP5 X is a better choice for players needing a higher launch
• Best Suited For: Players looking for extreme workability without sacrificing distance or feel

The only 5-piece ball on the market, the TP5 from TaylorMade is the brand's premium offering. Providing complete performance that stands up to the very best, the TP5 is trusted by Collin Morikawa thanks to its impressive distance off the tee and excellent workability.

TaylorMade's unique 5-piece construction delivers excellent ball speeds without sacrificing spin or feel. The Tri-Fast core is designed to achieve maximum carry and reduced drag, paired with a Dual-Spin cover that produces an excellent soft feel, while still retaining durability.

During testing, we couldn't fault the TP5, with the ball proving to be an outstanding choice for any golfer looking for best-in-class performance from tee to green. Coming in slightly cheaper than its direct competitors, the TP5 ticked every box on the GolfMagic test spec.

Srixon Z-Star Diamond

• Construction: 3-piece
• Colours: White
• Price: £39.99
• Pros: Spin Skin+ coating produces excellent spin on long and mid irons, soft feel on short chips and putts
• Cons: Not an ideal ball for slow swing speed players
• Best Suited For: Players with swing speeds over 90mph

The third member of Srixon's Z-Star family, the Diamond is designed to offer the compression levels of the Z-Star XV with the spin and feel of the Z-Star. The brand was so successful in blending the two that current US PGA Champion Brooks Koepka placed his faith in the ball upon his singing with the brand in 2021.

Best suited to players with a moderate to high swing speed, the Z-Star Diamond produced particularly impressive spin rates and stopping power with mid to long irons. Srixon's Spin Skin+ coating increases the friction between the ball and clubface, which allowed us to get the ball to stand to attention on greens, even with the longer irons in our bag. 

An admirable performer across the board, the Z-Star Diamond is a well-crafted marriage of distance and spin that slots in nicely to Srixon's already abundant selection of high-quality golf balls.

PXG Xtreme 

• Construction: 3-piece
• Colours: White
• Price: £39.99
• Pros: Exceptional grip and rip on approach shots, very handy alignment aid, solid performer across the board
• Cons: Durability could certainly be improved
• Best Suited For: Players of all abilities looking for an alternative choice in the premium ball category

WATCH OUR PXG XTREME GOLF BALL REVIEW HERE:

PXG XTREME GOLF BALL REVIEW

When PXG commits to an idea, it goes all in. The Xtreme golf ball is no different. Taking on the premium ball category is no mean feat, with the likes of Callaway and Titleist having dominated the space for so long, but PXG has succeeded in producing a ball that can sit at the big boy's table without looking out of place.

 During testing, we were immediately struck by how well the ball performed off the tee. Hot off the face with bags of distance, both carry, and total distance were right up there with the best premium balls on the market. Spin rates and launch were also both sitting around the optimum numbers we would expect with both 7-iron and driver.

A nice prominent thick black alignment aid made makes lining up putts an absolute breeze, and the bright white finish looks particularly nice sitting in front of the club. Our one word of warning would be regarding durability. We noticed quite a bit more wear and tear on the ball than we would like, which is frustrating considering the price you are paying. 

BEST GOLF BALLS FOR BEGINNERS

Callaway Supersoft

• Construction: 2-piece
• Colours: White, Yellow, Red, Orange, Green & Pink
• Price: £26.99
• Pros: Excellent value for money, an ideal ball for beginners, soft feel around the greens
• Cons: Slightly off-putting dimple pattern
• Best Suited For: New golfers who want excellent performance at an affordable price point

One of the most popular balls in golf, the Callaway Supersoft is an excellent value option that delivers a long straight ball flight with super soft feel.

The ball's 2-piece construction features a HyperElastic SoftFast Core, designed to optimise ball speeds while also maintaining a soft feel off the club face. The hybrid cover and hex aerodynamic dimple pattern provide excellent feedback on wedge shots as well as a lovely feel and sound with the putter. 

While the shallow dimple pattern wasn't to our taste, the black-backed Supersoft logo makes for an excellent alignment aid on the greens.

All in all, the Supersoft is a fantastic beginner's ball that provides plenty of performance features designed to make the game easier, with a price point that will make handing over your credit card a little less painless too. 

Srixon Distance

• Construction: 2-piece
• Colours: White
• Price: £14.99
• Pros: Increased distance is very noticeable, Very affordable, highly durable cover
• Cons: Lacks the feel and workability of a premium ball
• Best Suited For: Players wanting additional distance

What you see is what you get from the Srixon Distance. The ball promises distance, and that's exactly what it gives you.

The simple 2-piece construction features a FastLayer core with a soft centre that gradually gets firmer towards the edges to promote increased ball speeds and additional distance. The outer layer is a hard-wearing ionomer cover that we found to be incredibly durable even after a thin or two (or three or four). 

If you struggle to get the distance you desire, then this could certainly be the ball for you. We noticed an immediate improvement in carry distance with the driver that could really benefit a lot of players. As is expected, there is a trade-off for increased distance, and that's feel. Although not as rock-hard as some distance-focused balls on the market, Srixon's offering is on the hard side and will offer a lot less green side control than a more premium ball.

Srixon AD333

• Construction: 2-piece
• Colours: White & Yellow
• Price: £22.99
• Pros: One of the best balls for under £30, Fantastic distance with the driver and long irons, SpinSkin provides excellent stopping power on greens
• Cons: Definitely better-sounding balls on the market
• Best Suited For: Weekend golfers who want a ball that provides a beautifully balanced performance

Almost every beginner golfer will have hit a Srixon AD333 at some point in their career. With nine previous generations, the AD333 is a stalwart of the game, and its longevity is a testament to its performance. 

Featuring tech that is utilised in Srixon's premium ball offerings, the AD333 is the complete package that can provide value and performance to a wide range of golfers. The reformulated FastLayer Core provides excellent forgiveness, and one of our favourite features, the SpinSkin+, produces a lovely feel around the greens as well as formidable stopping power on approaches.

At only £22.99 the AD333 is without a doubt one of the best-value golf balls on the market, and speaking from experience, it's a trusty companion for beginner golfers looking to get started in the game.

TaylorMade Distance +

• Construction: 2-piece
• Colours: White & Yellow
• Price: £16.99
• Pros: Incredibly durable, excellent value for money, great distance for slow swing speeds
• Cons: Doesn't offer as much spin on chips as we would like
• Best Suited For: Slow swing speed players in search of distance at a low price

Offering the same distance as a premium ball at a third of the price, the Distance + from TaylorMade is an ideal ball for beginners. Designed to also be incredibly easy to get airborne, the Distance + offers a lot of features that are ideally suited to someone getting started in the game. 

While this ball excels in distance, the sacrifice is made around the greens. When we were chipping, we noticed that the spin generated on short shots is less than we would ideally like, with the ball struggling to grip the surface on chips when we would ideally like the ball to spin and stop.

At only £16.99, these balls offer an affordable option that is also one of the most durable balls we've ever tested, so as long as you don't lose them in the woods, you won't have to restock very often at all.

Titleist TruFeel

• Construction: 2-piece
• Colours: White, Yellow, Red
• Price: £23
• Pros: Excellent distance for slow swing speed players, great value for money, 
• Cons: May produce too much spin with long clubs for high swing speed players
• Best Suited For: Players who prioritise a soft-feeling golf ball

Titleist like to cover all of the bases with their range of balls, and the TruFeel slots in nicely at the more affordable end of the spectrum.

Despite its lower price point, though, the ball is an excellent all-round performer, especially for players with slow swing speeds. Optimised for players who swing the club below 90mph, the ball provides excellent distance performance and spin rates, but these results will drop off for higher swing speed players. 

A new surlyn ionomer cover provides a soft feel at impact, with a good amount of spin control on offer around the greens and with shorter approaches. In terms of sound off the face, the TruFeel produces a nice muted sound at impact that we particularly enjoyed with the putter. 

For those starting out in golf, the TruFeel is an excellent option that provides a more balanced performance than a pure distance ball.

BEST VALUE GOLF BALLS

Srixon Distance

• Construction: 2-piece
• Colours: White
• Price: £14.99
• Pros: Increased distance is very noticeable, Very affordable, highly durable cover
• Cons: Lacks the feel and workability of a premium ball
• Best Suited For: Players wanting additional distance

What you see is what you get from the Srixon Distance. The ball promises distance, and that's exactly what it gives you.

The simple 2-piece construction features a FastLayer core with a soft centre that gradually gets firmer towards the edges to promote increased ball speeds and additional distance. The outer layer is a hard-wearing ionomer cover that we found incredibly durable even after a thin or two (or three or four). 

If you struggle to get the distance you desire, this could be the ball for you. We noticed an immediate improvement in carry distance with the driver that could benefit a lot of players.

As is expected, there is a trade-off for increased distance, and that's feel. Although not as rock-hard as some distance-focused balls on the market, Srixon's offering is on the hard side and will offer a lot less green side control than a more premium ball.

At £14.99, the Distance is by far one of the most affordable golf balls on the market, and with the added distance it offers, it's an ideal choice for golfers hunting for a bargain.

Wilson Duo Soft

• Construction: 2-piece
• Colours: White, Yellow, Red, Orange, Green, Raw Finish
• Price: £22.99
• Pros: Trampoline-like feel off the club face, a wide range of colours to choose from, high launching
• Cons: reduced spin on short approach shots 
• Best Suited For: Players who enjoy a super soft feeling golf ball

With regards to feel, there is perhaps no softer ball on the market than the Wilson Duo Soft. The core of the Duo Soft has been designed to offer maximum energy return at impact, and you certainly notice ui off the face. Giving almost a trampoline-like feel off the club face, the ball launches high for a towering ball flight while maintaining distance. 

While the high launch could be challenging to control for high swing speed players, it's very beneficial for beginner golfers looking to get the ball airborne easily. 

Around the greens, the ball maintains its springy feel, with a nice pop felt off both putter and wedges. With low pitch shots, the Duo Soft doesn't generate quite the stopping power of a premium ball, but it's certainly receptive enough to feel like you are in control of the ball's rollout. 

At only £22.99, the Duo Soft is an excellent beginner's ball that would be a perfect fit for players looking to get the ball airborne with ease without the sacrifice of distance or feel.

TaylorMade Soft Response

• Construction: 3-piece
• Colours: White & Yellow
• Price: £22.99
• Pros: Outstanding short-game performance, fantastic feel off the putter face, good value
• Cons: Won't be a good fit for players with fast swings
• Best Suited For: Moderate swing speed players 

TaylorMade's softest ball ever, the Soft Response, is an ideal choice for moderate swing speed players who prioritise feel for their short game.

The low compression ball offered plenty of spin around the greens and performed particularly well on approach shots from 50-100 yards, where we noticed excellent responsiveness from the ball. With shorter chips, the ball produced ample spin allowing for excellent control on the more delicate shots.

With the putter, the Soft Response also performed well with a lovely feel off the face, up there with what we have come to expect from the most premium balls on the market. While we produced good distance numbers during testing, we noticed a drop-off in performance for swings over 105mph, so potentially one to avoid for the faster swinging players.

Titleist TruFeel

• Construction: 2-piece
• Colours: White, Yellow, Red
• Price: £22.99
• Pros: Excellent distance for slow swing speed players, great value for money, 
• Cons: May produce too much spin with long clubs for high swing speed players
• Best Suited For: Players who prioritise a soft-feeling golf ball

Titleist like to cover all of the bases with their range of balls, and the TruFeel slots in nicely at the more affordable end of the spectrum.

Despite its lower price point, the ball is an excellent all-round performer, especially for players with slow swing speeds. Optimised for players who swing the club below 90mph, the ball provides excellent distance performance and spin rates, but these results will drop off for higher swing speed players. 

A new surlyn ionomer cover provides a soft feel at impact, with a good amount of spin control on offer around the greens and with shorter approaches. In terms of sound off the face, the TruFeel produces a nice muted sound at impact that we particularly enjoyed with the putter. 

For those starting out in golf, the TruFeel is an excellent option that provides a more balanced performance than a pure distance ball.

Callaway Supersoft

• Construction: 2-piece
• Colours: White, Yellow, Red, Orange, Green & Pink
• Price: £26.99
• Pros: Excellent value for money, an ideal ball for beginners, soft feel around the greens
• Cons: Slightly off-putting dimple pattern
• Best Suited For: New golfers who want excellent performance at an affordable price point

One of the most popular balls in golf, the Callaway Supersoft is an excellent value option that delivers a long straight ball flight with super soft feel.

The ball's 2-piece construction features a HyperElastic SoftFast Core, designed to optimise ball speeds while maintaining a soft feel off the club face. The hybrid cover and hex aerodynamic dimple pattern provide excellent feedback on wedge shots as well as a lovely feel and sound with the putter. 

While the shallow dimple pattern wasn't to our taste, the black-backed Supersoft logo makes for an excellent alignment aid on the greens.

All in all, the Supersoft is a fantastic beginner's ball that provides plenty of performance features designed to make the game easier, with a price point that will make handing over your credit card a little less painless too. 

BEST GOLF BALLS FOR DISTANCE

LA Golf ball

• Construction: 4-piece
• Colours: White
• Price: $69.99
• Pros: Produced excellent distance with longer clubs, Consistent spin around the greens, Produces a penetrating ball flight
• Cons: The most expensive ball on the list
• Best Suited For: Golfers hoping to eke out as much distance as possible with their longer clubs without sacrificing on feel around the greens

Looking to take on established brands in the premium ball market like Titleist and Callaway, Beverly Hills-based brand LA Golf is marketing its new golf ball as the longest on the market, with claims that it's got greater carry distance than the Titleist Pro V1x.

The ball features a 4-piece construction for optimised spin and combines well with the moulded urethane cover to provide excellent feel and durability.

Putting the ball through its paces, we definitely noticed really solid numbers in the distance department, especially with the longer clubs in our bag.

Testing out the ball on a GC Quad, we were able to carry our 7-iron consistently between 185-190 yards, which was a big improvement on distances we were used to getting. 

Taking the ball out on the course, we were pleased with how it reacted on and around the greens, with ample spin generated on pitch shots and more delicate chips.

Not yet available in the UK, these balls will set you back just under $70, which, for a first introduction to the market, does seem quite steep, but the performance is certainly there to back up the hefty price tag.

Bridgestone E9

• Construction: 2-piece
• Colours: White
• Price: £26.99
• Pros: Delivers big in the distance department, remarkably good feel and workability for a distance ball
• Cons: While certainly long, not quite as long as we were expecting
• Best Suited For: High swing speed players looking to max out their distance

Co-developed with the World Long Drive Association, the Bridgestone E9 is purpose-built for one thing, distance. However, we discovered during our testing that there is more to this ball than pure yardage.

The E9 is long, and if you are looking for increased distance, it's certainly a good place to start. Similar in performance to the Titleist Velocity, both balls were right at the top end for ball speed and carry distance. 

The benefits of the E9 don't stop there, though. We were pleasantly surprised by the ball's all-around performance, with good spin numbers recorded on approach shots and a remarkably soft feel for a distance ball on the greens. 

At £26.99, it's one of the more expensive pure distance balls, but for the broad range of performance benefits you receive, it will be money well spent.

Srixon Distance

• Construction: 2-piece
• Colours: White
• Price: £14.99
• Pros: Increased distance is very noticeable, Very affordable, highly durable cover
• Cons: Lacks the feel and workability of a premium ball
• Best Suited For: Players wanting additional distance

What you see is what you get from the Srixon Distance. The ball promises distance, and that's precisely what it gives you.

The simple 2-piece construction features a FastLayer core with a soft centre that gradually gets firmer towards the edges to promote increased ball speeds and extra distance. The outer layer is a hard-wearing ionomer cover that we found incredibly durable even after a thin or two (or three or four). 

If you struggle to get the distance you desire, this could be the ball for you. We noticed an immediate improvement in carry distance with the driver that could benefit a lot of players.

As is expected, there is a trade-off for increased distance, and that's feel. Although not as rock-hard as some distance-focused balls on the market, Srixon's offering is on the hard side and will offer much less green side control than a more premium ball.

At £14.99, the Distance is by far one of the most affordable golf balls on the market, and with the added distance it offers, it's an ideal choice for golfers hunting for a bargain.

Titleist AVX

• Construction: 3-piece
• Colours: White, Yellow
• Price: £47.99
• Pros: Premium feel, low long game spin, excellent distance
• Cons: More greenside control to be had with the Pro V1
• Best Suited For: Accomplished players who generate plenty of speed from their long game

Without a doubt, one of our favourite balls during testing, the Titleist AVX offers everything you could want from a premium golf ball.

One for the more accomplished player, the AVX is low spinning in the long game but still produces high spin and a soft feel for the shorter shots, thanks to its 3-piece construction and urethane cover. 

The reformulated core and high flex casing layer combine to produce high ball speed and low long-game spin, making it a distance machine in the hands of a high swing speed player. 

Premium performance comes with a premium price tag, but from what we've experienced in testing, it won't be a purchase you'll regret.

Titleist Pro V1

• Construction: 3-piece
• Colours: White, Yellow
• Price: £47.99
• Pros: Unbeatable all-round performance, nice soft feel, fantastic green-side spin.
• Cons: Low-spin players would be better suited to the Pro V1x
• Best Suited For: Players looking for outstanding tee-to-green performance

One of the undisputed heavy hitters in the golf ball market, The Titleist Pro V1 delivers best-in-class performance in all areas. The Pro V1 and Pro V1x are still the most-played balls on Tour and for good reason. 

A new high-gradient core promotes higher ball speeds and lower spin on long irons. At the same time, the soft cast urethane cover delivers fantastic stopping ability on approaches and greenside shots. The Pro V1 is an ideal choice for golfers looking for elite-level distance, spin and workability with a lovely soft feel. 

The ball of choice for Scottie Scheffler and Max Homa, the Pro V1 is amongst the most expensive balls on offer, but you undoubtedly get your money's worth.

Callaway Chrome Soft X LS

• Construction: 4-piece
• Colours: White & Yellow
• Price: £47.99
• Pros: Launches high and long, highly responsive on approach shots
• Cons: Quite a firm feel for a premium ball
• Best Suited For: Players looking for added distance and a towering ball flight

The fastest and lowest spinning member of the Chrome Soft family, the X LS produces a high, piercing ball flight that's a sight to behold. 

The X LS feels incredibly fast off the face, matching the sound and flight produced, especially with the driver. We experienced similar flight and spin characteristics with our long irons, and despite the ball's low-spinning nature, we got a great deal of control and grip on shorter approach shots and chips. 

The X LS feels slightly firmer than the Chrome Soft and the Chrome Soft X, which was most noticeable with the putter. This was fine for us, but for those golfers who prefer a softer feel, the other members of the Chrome Soft family might be worth considering. 

BEST GOLF BALLS FOR SOFT FEEL

Callaway Supersoft

• Construction: 2-piece
• Colours: White, Yellow, Red, Orange, Green & Pink
• Price: £26.99
• Pros: Excellent value for money, an ideal ball for beginners, soft feel around the greens
• Cons: Slightly off-putting dimple pattern
• Best Suited For: New golfers who want excellent performance at an affordable price point

One of the most popular balls in golf, the Callaway Supersoft is an excellent value option that delivers a long straight ball flight with super soft feel.

The ball's 2-piece construction features a HyperElastic SoftFast Core, designed to optimise ball speeds while maintaining a soft feel off the club face. The hybrid cover and hex aerodynamic dimple pattern provide excellent feedback on wedge shots as well as a lovely feel and sound with the putter. 

While the shallow dimple pattern wasn't to our taste, the black-backed Supersoft logo makes for an excellent alignment aid on the greens.

Overall, the Supersoft is a fantastic beginner's ball that provides plenty of performance features designed to make the game easier, with a price point that will make handing over your credit card a little less painless too. 

Callaway ERC Soft

• Construction: 3-piece
• Colours: White, Yellow, Fade, Triple Track
• Price: £39.99
• Pros: Triple Track & Fade alignment are great for lining up putts, high launching, added distance off the tee
• Cons: With only a slight price increase, you might as well upgrade to a Chrome Soft
• Best Suited For: Moderate swing speed players who desire a high launch and added distance

Falling in just behind the Chrome Soft family in terms of performance and price, the E.R.C Soft is best suited to players with moderate swing speeds, who prefer to launch the ball high for additional distance. 

Coming in near the top end of the price spectrum the E.R.C Soft delivers fantastic distance and high spin, with a lovely soft feel for more delicate shots around the green.

Its 3-piece construction makes the ball easy to manipulate in the air, which will appeal to more skilful players, while the availability of Triple Track and Fade alignment options will benefit players who need assistance lining up their putts.

Overall the E.R.C is a very solid performer and a worthwhile consideration for players who appreciate a soft-feeling ball. For only a few pounds more though, you could upgrade to the Chrome Soft, which in our eyes, could be a decision worth making.

TaylorMade Soft Response

• Construction: 3-piece
• Colours: White & Yellow
• Price: £22.99
• Pros: Outstanding short-game performance, fantastic feel off the putter face, good value
• Cons: Won't be a good fit for players with fast swings
• Best Suited For: Moderate swing speed players 

TaylorMade's softest ball ever, the Soft Response, is an ideal choice for moderate swing speed players who prioritise feel for their short game.

The low compression ball offered plenty of spin around the greens and performed exceptionally well on approach shots from 50-100 yards, where we noticed excellent responsiveness from the ball. With shorter chips, the ball produced ample spin allowing for excellent control on more delicate shots.

With the putter, the Soft Response also performed well with a lovely feel off the face, up there with what we have come to expect from the most premium balls on the market. While we produced good distance numbers during testing, we noticed a drop-off in performance for swings over 105mph, so potentially one to avoid for the faster swinging players.

Srixon AD333

• Construction: 2-piece
• Colours: White & Yellow
• Price: £22.99
• Pros: One of the best balls for under £30, Fantastic distance with the driver and long irons, SpinSkin provides excellent stopping power on greens
• Cons: Better-sounding balls on the market
• Best Suited For: Weekend golfers who want a ball that provides a beautifully balanced performance

Almost every beginner golfer will have hit a Srixon AD333 at some point in their career. With nine previous generations, the AD333 is a stalwart of the game, and its longevity is a testament to its performance. 

Featuring tech utilised in Srixon's premium ball offerings, the AD333 is the complete package that can provide value and performance to a wide range of golfers. The reformulated FastLayer Core provides excellent forgiveness, and one of our favourite features, the SpinSkin+, produces a lovely feel around the greens and formidable stopping power on approaches.

At only £22.99, the AD333 is undoubtedly one of the best-value golf balls on the market, and speaking from experience, it's a trusty companion for beginner golfers looking to get started in the game.

Wilson Duo Soft

• Construction: 2-piece
• Colours: White, Yellow, Red, Orange, Green, Raw Finish
• Price: £22.99
• Pros: Trampoline-like feel off the club face, a wide range of colours to choose from, high launching
• Cons: reduced spin on short approach shots 
• Best Suited For: Players who enjoy a super soft feeling golf ball

With regards to feel, there is perhaps no softer ball on the market than the Duo Soft. The core of the Duo Soft has been designed to offer maximum energy return at impact, and you certainly notice that at impact. Giving almost a trampoline-like feel off the club face, the ball launches high for a towering ball flight while maintaining distance. 

While the high launch could be challenging to control for high swing speed players, it's very beneficial for beginner golfers looking to get the ball airborne easily. 

Around the greens, the ball maintains its springy feel, with a nice pop felt off both putter and wedges. With low pitch shots, the Duo Soft doesn't generate quite the stopping power of a premium ball, but it's undoubtedly receptive enough to feel like you are in control of the ball's rollout. 

At only £22.99, the Duo Soft is an excellent beginner's ball that's easy to get airborne without sacrificing distance or feel.

BEST GOLF BALLS FOR ALIGNMENT

TaylorMade Tour Response Stripe

• Construction: 3-piece
• Colours: Red, Orange, Blue, Yellow
• Price: £39.99
• Pros: 360 ClearPath Alignment gives instant putt feedback, piercing ball flight, ample greenside spin 
• Cons: Some golfers may prefer a more subtle alignment aid
• Best Suited For: Players who desire a soft receptive ball with additional alignment assistance

One of the best mid-priced balls on the market, the Tour Response Stripe contains much of the tech we've seen in the TP5 at a slightly reduced price point. With a relatively low 70-compression core combined with a urethane cover, the Tour Response provides a lovely soft feel off the putter face and excellent spin rates for short approaches and chips.

Off the tee, the ball provided plenty of distance from a moderate swing speed and even when tested with a fast swing speed, we didn't notice a drastic drop in performance, which was good to see. 

The unique grey and neon green stripe that runs down the middle of the ball may not be to everyone's taste but it's an excellent alignment aid both off the tee and on the green.

TaylorMade TP5 PIX

• Construction: 5-piece
• Colours: White & Yellow
• Price: £41.99
• Pros: One of the best feeling balls we tested, really impressive ball speed with driver, Pix graphics provide excellent alignment and roll feedback
• Cons: TP5 X is a better choice for players needing a higher launch
• Best Suited For: Players who want help with alignment and instant roll feedback from putts

The ball of choice for Rickie Fowler, the TaylorMade TP5 Pix has all of the outstanding performance benefits of the TP5 with added ClearPath Alignment. 

Available in a wide range of different graphic options, we tested the original Pix with black and orange triangles. We found that the pattern helped with alignment and provided instant feedback, allowing you to better understand your strike pattern with the putter.

As soon as you hit a putt, you can instantly see if you've hit it on your desired line, with the graphics tumbling smoothly end-over-end to clearly indicate whether you may have pushed or pulled your putt.  

A fantastic tool on the course, the Pix graphics are also an excellent training aid which we have utilised regularly on the practice green. 

The TP5 is already a great ball, add in Clear Path Alignment, and the Pix is the ideal ball for players who need help lining up their putts. 

Srixon Q Star Tour Divide

• Construction: 3-piece
• Colours: Yellow/Blue, Yellow/Orange, Yellow/Red
• Price: £34.99
• Pros: Offers fantastic visual feedback on putts and chips, divided colour acts as a useful alignment aid, easy to spot on the fairway
• Cons: Some golfers may find the bright colour pattern off-putting at address
• Best Suited For: Players who want a ball with solid performance and great visual feedback on and around the greens

As far removed from the traditional white ball as we've seen, the Srixon Q Star Tour Divide is designed to be the ultimate ball for short-game feedback and alignment. 

Sat in front of the putter, the alignment benefits are clear to see. The 360-colour divide makes lining up your putts incredibly easy. Where the fun really begins though is once the putt is struck.

A clean centre strike will see the colours stay divided for the duration of the ball's roll, however, any mishit will provide you with instant feedback as the colour begins to scramble left or right. We found this very useful during testing as it gives you instant feedback that can help you address any strike issues mid-round. 

Srixon also claims that the colour divide can give feedback on chips, which is a handy tool on the practice ground, but sadly comes unstuck on the course as you can't line the ball up.

Overall, we enjoyed using the Q Star Tour Divide and the alignment benefits it offers are clear to see. While perhaps not our favourite in terms of aesthetics, if you don't mind a brightly coloured ball, it could be the one for you.

Callaway Chrome Soft 360 Triple Track

• Construction: 3-piece
• Colours: White & Yellow
• Price: £47.99
• Pros: Intuitive alignment aid, elite level all-round performance, low spinning off the tee
• Cons: The Chrome Soft X provides more short game control
• Best Suited For: Players who generate a lot of spin in all areas of the game

The lowest spinning member of the Chrome Soft family, the Chrome Soft 360 Triple Track is best suited to players who generate a lot of speed at impact.

With excellent ball speeds and a high launch compared to other low-spinning alternatives on the market, the Chrome soft provides devastating distance off the tee. These characteristics continue lower down the bag with long irons producing a strong high ball flight with excellent stopping power.

As we moved down to the wedges, the soft feel of the ball really became apparent, and we had no problem at all getting the ball to stand to attention on the green from anywhere within 100 yards. 

On the putting surface, the Chrome soft felt nice and soft off the putter face and the triple track alignment aid made lining up putts incredibly easy. The Triple Track alignment becomes even more effective when paired with one of Callaway's Triple Track putters, giving you a continuous line from putter to ball for even more precise alignment.

The Callaway Chrome Soft is one of the best balls on the market, providing performance benefits in every aspect of the game. 

Callaway Chrome Soft Truvis

• Construction: 3-piece
• Colours: Odyssey Swirl, Donut, Pink, Yellow & Black
• Price: £47.99
• Pros: Intuitive alignment aid, elite level all-round performance, low spinning off the tee
• Cons: The Chrome Soft X provides more short game control
• Best Suited For: Players who generate a lot of spin in all areas of the game

Offering identical performance to the Chrome Soft Triple Track, the only point of difference for the Chrome Soft Truvis is the alignment aid.

Available in a variety of different designs, the Truvis alignment gives you instant roll feedback on putts, with the graphics rolling end-over-end to highlight any variations in contact or swing path. 

While perhaps not for golfers who like a clean uninterrupted aesthetic, we enjoyed the unique patterns on offer and the element of fun they introduce to the design.

Things you need to consider when buying new golf balls

Price

Price is vital to consider when purchasing any piece of golf equipment, and golf balls are no different. With a dozen balls ranging from £12 to £50, it's difficult to know how much to spend to suit your needs. 

As a rule of thumb, the greater the cost the greater performance, but that's not to say those beginner golfers should immediately go out and buy a dozen Titleist Pro V1s to help them before their first round of golf.

For golfers who tend to lose a few balls per round, buying the most expensive model on the market can leave you with a rather large bill at the end of the season. With a wide selection of mid-priced balls that produce excellent performance, we recommend looking at something similar to the Srixon AD333, which will leave a slightly smaller hole in your pocket when you come to pay.

Alternatively, low-handicap players lucky enough to consistently keep the same ball for a whole round would be well advised to choose a premium price ball that will offer all of the performance benefits you would desire from an elite-level model. The TaylorMade TP5 or Titleist ProV1 are both excellent choices trusted by the best golfers in the world. 

Construction

Golf balls come in a variety of different constructions ranging from the standard 2-piece made up of a core and a cover, to a more intricate 5-piece construction that features a series of different layers. Each different type of construction has its own unique set of characteristics, which will be vital to consider when deciding which ball is best for your game. 

2-piece

Primarily designed for beginner golfers, 2-piece golf balls are designed for distance and durability. Typically firm and hard-wearing, they lack the control and feel of a multi-layer construction but tend to come in at a much more affordable price point. 

Pros

• Distance: A large firm core is designed to optimise energy transfer for maximum carry distance, while typically firm, 2-piece balls will also achieve excellent roll-out on fairways.
• Durability: A thicker outer cover is hard-wearing against mis-hits and rough terrain.
• Affordability: Less expensive to manufacture than a multi-layer ball, 2-piece balls are cheaper to purchase, making them ideal for beginners.

Cons

• Less Spin: With fewer layers to interact with one another 2-piece balls generate less spin than multi-layer balls making them less workable and at times harder to control through the air and on the green.
• Less Feel: Due to their firm nature, 2-piece balls tend to lack the soft feel and responsiveness on short chips and putts.

Multi-Layer

Multi-layer balls offer a broader range of characteristics thanks to a series of layers that interact with each other to create spin, feel and distance. The preferred choice for professionals and more experienced golfers, a multi-layer ball offers more control and workability, at a higher price.

Pros

• Workability: The combination of different layers enables better players to execute various shots more effectively, multiple layers are designed to optimise different aspects of ball flight and spin rates.
• Feel: A softer core contributes to a more responsive feel upon impact, providing beneficial feedback for touch and control around the greens.
• Precision: Multi-layer balls provide better control and feel compared to two-piece balls. The layers in the ball work together to create spin and trajectory control, with various layers working together 

Cons

• Price: As a result of a more complex manufacturing process with more expensive materials, multi-layer constructions are more expensive than 2-piece balls, with some retailing at close to £50.
• Durability: Due to the increased number of layers, the outer coating of a multi-layer ball tends to be slightly thinner than a 2-piece construction. This thinner outer layer is also usually made from urethane which is a softer, more responsive material. As a result, multi-layer constructions tend to be less durable and more prone to scuffing or scratches.

Spin 

Perhaps the most important factor to consider when purchasing golf balls is their spin characteristics. Different swing speeds will generate different levels of spin, so finding a ball to match your speed will produce optimal performance, while the wrong ball could drastically affect both accuracy and distance. 

High spinning balls 

A high-spinning golf ball is characterised by a soft cover, multi-layer construction, and a dimple pattern that promotes enhanced aerodynamics.

The soft cover material allows the clubface grooves to grip the ball, creating more friction and spin upon impact. The multi-layer design, typically consisting of a soft core and intermediate layer, enhances the ball's ability to compress and generate spin, particularly on iron and wedge shots.

The dimple pattern improves the ball's lift and stability, maintaining spin during flight. High-spinning golf balls offer better greenside control and stopping power, thanks to their ability to generate significant backspin. They also provide a softer feel and increased shot feedback upon impact.

Often best suited to players with low to moderate swing speeds, a higher-spinning ball's performance may begin to drop off for players who generate a lot of speed at impact.

Low spinning balls

Low-spinning golf balls are designed to minimise spin for maximum distance and a flatter trajectory. While they may sacrifice some greenside control and stopping power, they excel in providing long carries and roll-outs off the tee. Golfers with faster swing speeds or those looking to optimise distance are often better suited to a lower-spinning ball.

Like most golf equipment, there are no definitive rules as to which ball is best suited for your game. While low and high-spinning balls offer their own specific set of characteristics, we would always advise testing a variety of different options to see which one fits you best.

Compression

Compression refers to the degree of hardness or softness of a ball's core. Each ball is given a rating that indicates how much the ball compresses at impact, with balls ranging from a compression score of 40 to upwards of 100. A golf ball with a higher compression rating is considered to be harder, while a ball with a lower compression rating is softer.

Compression affects the transfer of energy from the clubhead to the ball during the swing. A higher compression ball like the Callaway Chrome Soft X LS requires more force to compress, resulting in less deformation and a greater transfer of energy. This typically leads to a higher ball speed and potentially longer distance, making high-compression balls suitable for players with faster swing speeds.

On the other hand, lower compression balls like the Callaway Super Soft are easier to compress, especially for players with slower swing speeds. They tend to provide a softer feel and more control, as they deform more upon impact, allowing for better greenside spin and accuracy. These balls are better suited for beginners, seniors, or those with lower swing speeds.

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