Want to know which golf balls are going to provide the biggest bang for your buck in 2024?
This year has been a biggie, with many of the big brands releasing updates of their bestselling golf balls along with some intriguing new models.
Distance, flight, feel, spin, control and compression are the attributes golfers look for in their balls and we reveal what every ball offers in 2024 — from the top of the market to the bottom.
Don’t know which ball will suit your game? Read our Golf Ball FAQ to find out which ball will fit your game best.
TOUR BALLS
TITLEIST PRO V1
Specs: three piece, cast urethane cover
Colours: white, yellow
What’s new: new core and casing layer reduces spin and improves distance on full shots while a new dimple pattern produces a more penetrating ball flight. Revised cover is softer and produces more spin around the green.
Who should play it: players with high swing speeds who want a slightly softer feel in a tour level ball.
Summary: Updating the most popular ball in the game is fraught with danger but Titleist have improved performance with their current Pro V1. We’re not talking radical changes — which is understandable when the Pro V1 is the No.1 ball on tour — but distance and spin have been upgraded within the Pro V1’s performance window. The Pro V1 flies lower and spins less for the long game compared to the Pro V1x and has a softer feel.
TITLEIST PRO V1x
Specs: four piece, cast urethane cover
Colours: white, yellow
What’s new: new core and casing layer reduces spin and improves distance on full shots while a new dimple pattern produces a more penetrating ball flight. Revised cover is softer and produces more spin around the green. Larger inner core lowers long game spin without affecting short game spin.
Who should play it: players who want a higher trajectory, more spin on the greens and a firmer feel in a tour ball.
Summary: Like with the ProV1, Titleist have fiddled around the edges to improve the performance of the current Pro V1x. It spins more, flies higher and has a firmer feel than the Pro V1 and again will prove to be one of the most popular balls in the game in 2024.
TAYLORMADE TP5
Specs: five piece, cast urethane cover
Colours: white, yellow, Pix
What’s new: a new Speed Wrapped Core is central to the 2024 TP5’s performance. It promotes a decoupling of speed and feel, which has enabled TaylorMade to inject a softer feel and quieter impact sound into the TP5 without diminishing any of the existing low driver/long iron spin and exceptional short game spin rates.
The gap between the TP5 and TP5x has closed but they still offer individualised performance.
Who should play it: players who want to maximise distance in a tour level ball but prefer a softer feel off the face.
Summary: TaylorMade’s premium ball has proven popular, blending low spin distance off the tee with high spin around the green. The latest TP5 is faster and longer than the previous model, although not quite as long as the TP5x, but it’s softer (compression 53) and will launch slightly higher.
TAYLORMADE TP5x
Specs: five piece, cast urethane cover
Colours: white, yellow, Pix
What’s new: the new Speed Wrapped Core serves a different purpose in the TP5x than it does in the TP5. Its speed and feel “decoupling” properties allowed TaylorMade to introduce progressive stiffness through the TP5x’s mantle layers, making it the fastest five-later ball in history.
Who should play it: players with high swing speeds who require a flatter trajectory with the driver, without affecting spin around the greens.
Summary: TaylorMade’s premium ball has proven popular, blending low spin distance off the tee with high spin around the green. The firmer TP5x (compression 71) provides tour-level performance that complements higher swing speeds, boosting distance off the tee and with the long irons. But it still offers plenty of spin around the greens (just not quite as much as the TP5).
CALLAWAY CHROME SOFT
Specs: three piece, cast urethane cover
Colours: white, yellow, Truvis, Triple Track
What’s new: a ‘Hyper Fast Soft Core’ is the secret sauce, which provides more speed and distance throughout the bag, while a new urethane cover provides a soft feel and more consistent spin.
Who should play it: golfers who prioritise soft feel in a tour-level ball and have a mid-range swing speed. The 2024 Chrome Soft has a lower compression than the new Chrome Tour and Chrome Tour X and players with faster swing speeds will over-compress the new softer core, losing distance in the process. Sits in the shadow of the Chrome Tour and Chrome Tour X, given most tour players will opt to play those balls, but is arguably more of an ‘all-rounder’, suited to a wider variety of skill levels.
Summary: Callaway’s Chrome Soft has been enduringly popular across the entire handicap spectrum. However, the 2024 Chrome Soft isn’t the ball it used to be; the Chrome Tour has taken its place in the line-up. It is the softest of the three Chrome models and impressive spin and control around the greens, but won’t be as long off the tee as the other Chrome balls.
CALLAWAY CHROME TOUR
Specs: four piece, cast urethane cover
Colours: white, yellow, Truvis, Triple Track
What’s new: it’s a core-to-cover reboot of the ball previously known as the Chrome Soft X LS. A ‘Hyper Fast Soft Core’ is the secret sauce, with a reformulation of the core material producing spin and distance that in many ways mirrors a Pro V1. A new HEX dimple pattern modify the trajectory of the ball to meet specific requirements.
Who should play it: the Chrome Tour is built for high swing speeds and offers a significantly slightly firmer feel than the Chrome Soft.
Summary: Think of the Chrome Tour as Callaway’s answer to the Pro V1. Where the previous Chrome Soft range (X and LS variants included) skirted around the edges of Titleist’s premium ball, the Chrome Tour is now a like-for-like competitor. As the lowest spinning in the Chrome Line-up, the Tour will get a lot of play out on, well, tour. The ball offers a softer feel than the Chrome Tour X but it doesn’t spin quite as much.
CALLAWAY CHROME TOUR X
Specs: four piece, cast urethane cover
Colours: white, yellow, Truvis, Triple Track
What’s new: the Chome Tour X takes over from the Chrome Soft X but it’s a complete redesign. A ‘Hyper Fast Soft Core’ is the secret sauce, with a reformulation of the core material producing spin, distance and feel that equates to a Pro V1x. Callaway’s new HEX dimple pattern has been modified specifically to create the Chrome Tour X’s trajectory window.
Who should play it: the Chrome Tour X is targeted at high swing speed players and offers a firmer feel than the Chrome Tour.
Summary: The Chrome Soft X was Callaway’s best-selling ball and Callaway have been keen to keep the ride going with the new Chrome Tour X. The ball can be considered Callaway’s direct competitor to the Pro V1x. It offers a firmer feel and extra spin than the Chrome Tour, with both long irons and short irons generating more spin and launching higher.
BRIDGESTONE TOUR B X
Specs: three piece, cast urethane cover
Colours: white, yellow, MindSet
What’s new: The REACTIV X systems sees two of Bridgestone’s key technologies intersect: polymer impact modifiers in the urethane cover and a new middle layer called XCLRNT. It provides a dynamic response at impact, reacting to the amount of force applied to the ball. It delivers more speed and distance off the tee, with the energy transfer more efficient, and extra spin and control on approach shots. Bridgestone tweak the REACTIV X system to suit different swing speeds and spin requirements in all four of their Tour B balls.
Who should play it: lower handicappers and high swing speed players (over 105mph) who hit the ball too high with too much spin will have the most to gain playing the Tour B X.
Summary: It’s up there as one of the longest balls available and is the lowest launching and lowest spinning ball in Bridgestone’s Tour B line. The 2024 Tour B X is being played by Tiger Woods and Jason Day and is one of the firmest tour balls on the market, with a compression of 94. Its flatter trajectory is complemented by greater greenside spin.
BRIDGESTONE TOUR B XS
Specs: three piece, cast urethane cover
Colours: white, yellow, MindSet
What’s new: The REACTIV X systems sees two of Bridgestone’s key technologies intersect: polymer impact modifiers in the urethane cover and a new middle layer called XCLRNT. It provides a dynamic response at impact, reacting to the amount of force applied to the ball. It delivers more speed and distance off the tee, with the energy transfer more efficient, and extra spin and control on approach shots. Bridgestone tweak the REACTIV X system to suit different swing speeds and spin requirements in all four of their Tour B balls.
Who should play it: lower handicappers and high swing speed players (over 105mph) who want a softer feeling tour ball.
Summary: the Tour B XS has been popular — it’s the ball Tiger Woods played before he switched to the firmer Tour B X) — even though it will probably spin too much for many golfers in the higher speed category. But the extra spin, a product of the softer feel (compression 84), means the Tour B XS can help players who require extra spin on their approach shots and around the greens. However, if you tend to slice the ball the lower-spinning Bridgestone Tour B X will be a better option.
MIZUNO RB TOUR
Specs: four piece, cast urethane cover
Colours: white
What’s new: cone-shaped dimples improve performance by reducing aerodynamic drag. Urethane cover provides grip around the greens.
Who should play it: Mizuno’stour ball will benefit players with tend to produce too much spin with their driver or launch it too high. Also good for golfers who regularly face windy conditions.
Summary: the RB Tour’s new dimple pattern produces an impressively low spin rate and gives it a significant edge in windy conditions. It’s one of the lowest-spinning/lowest launching tour balls on the market and will suit players with a downward attack with their driver.
MIZUNO RB TOUR X
Specs: four piece, cast urethane cover
Colours: white
What’s new: cone-shaped dimples improve performance by reducing aerodynamic drag. Urethane cover provides grip around the greens.
Who should play it: theX is Mizuno’sfirmertour ball and is tuned for high swing speeds. It will benefit players who have too much driver spin, tend to launch the ball too high and play in frequently play in windy conditions.
Summary: the RB Tour’s new dimple pattern makes it an impressive low-spin ball and gives it a significant edge in windy conditions. The RB Tour X is firmer than the standard RB Tour and spins slightly more than the RB Tour. But it offers a flatter trajectory off the tee to aid players with an upward angle of attack with the driver.
SRIXON Z-STAR
Specs: three piece, cast urethane cover
Colours: white, yellow, Divide
What’s new: a Spin Skin+ coating increases friction for extra spin and control. A new FastLayer core is soft at the centre and gets progressively firmer on the outside.
Who should play it: better players with fast swing speeds who want a softer tour-grade ball.
Summary: The Z-Star offers the most greenside spin, launches lower and is the softest of the three Srixon Z-star models (compression 92), which all are tuned for higher swing speeds.
SRIXON Z-STAR XV
Specs: three piece, cast urethane cover
Colours: white, yellow
What’s new: a Spin Skin+ coating increases friction for extra spin and control. A new FastLayer core is soft at the centre and gets progressively firmer on the outside.
Who should play it: better players with fast swing speeds who want a higher-launching tour ball.
Summary: The Z-Star XV launches higher than the Z-Star and is the longest of the Z-Star trio. It has an extremely firm feel (compression 102) but slightly less greenside spin than its stablemates.
SRIXON Z-STAR DIAMOND
Specs: three piece, cast urethane cover
Colours: white, yellow
What’s new: a Spin Skin+ coating increases friction for extra spin and control. A new FastLayer core is soft at the centre and gets progressively firmer on the outside.
Who should play it: better players with fast swing speeds who want more mid-iron and driver spin in a tour ball.
Summary: Srixon created the Z-Star Diamond for Brooks Koepka and it sits between the Z-Star and Z-Star XV. It features the same firm feel as the Z-Star XV (compression 102) but offers more mid-iron and driver spin for players with faster swing speeds.
WILSON STAFF
Specs: four piece, cast urethane cover
Colours: white, yellow
What’s new: the Staff’s V-COR core is designed to maximise velocity off the face for effortless distance. A new dimple arrangement boosts aerodynamic efficiency and delivers a lower trajectory.
Who should play it: it might be Wilson’s tour ball but the Staff’s four-layer construction is designed to suit a broad segment of players. Higher swing speeds will probably benefit the most off the tee but the tacky cover will be appreciated by anyone.
Summary: offers equivalent performance of any tour ball on the market. Ball speed is excellent and its soft feel will be appreciated around the greens. Spin seems above average, however, the ball launches lower.
WILSON STAFF MODEL X
Specs: four piece, cast urethane cover
Colours: white, yellow
What’s new: like the regular Wilson Staff ball, the Model X version features a V-COR core that maximises speed, while the new dimple pattern boosts aerodynamic efficiency and delivers a lower trajectory. The ball’s higher compression provides a firmer feel.
Who should play it: the Model X is a firmer version of Wilson’s Staff tour ball but also spins more with the driver and irons and launches higher. Faster swing speeds might prefer the regular Staff’s lower spin rates but the Model X should find a niche among elite players who happily take more spin and control, with a firm feel.
Summary: high compression tour balls are a growing category and Wilson have dipped their toes in the water with the Staff Model X. Feedback from their tour players suggested they wanted a ball with a firmer feel and more spin than the Wilson Stafff, which is exactly what the Model X serves up. Up against the ubiquitous Pro V1x, new Chrome Tour X and TP5x.
TOUR VALUE BALLS
BRIDGESTONE TOUR B RX
Specs: three piece, cast urethane cover
Colours: white, yellow, Mindset
What’s new: The REACTIV X systems sees two of Bridgestone’s key technologies intersect: polymer impact modifiers in the urethane cover and a new middle layer called XCLRNT. It provides a dynamic response at impact, reacting to the amount of force applied to the ball. It delivers more speed and distance off the tee, with the energy transfer more efficient, and extra spin and control on approach shots. Bridgestone tweak the REACTIV X system to suit different swing speeds and spin requirements in all four of their Tour B balls.
Who should play it: players with an average swing speed (under 105mph) and want to play a ball that offers extra spin around the green.
Summary: The Tour B RX is a made for average swing speeds. It offers excellent distance off the tee and spins around the green. A cheaper option if considering the Titleist Pro V1 or Callaway Chrome Tour — the B RX offers comparable performance but more spin around the greens.
BRIDGESTONE TOUR B RXS
Specs: three piece, cast urethane cover
Colours: white, yellow, Mindset
What’s new: The REACTIV X systems sees two of Bridgestone’s key technologies intersect: polymer impact modifiers in the urethane cover and a new middle layer called XCLRNT. It provides a dynamic response at impact, reacting to the amount of force applied to the ball. It delivers more speed and distance off the tee, with the energy transfer more efficient, and extra spin and control on approach shots. Bridgestone tweak the REACTIV X system to suit different swing speeds and spin requirements in all four of their Tour B balls.
Who should play it: players with an average swing speed (under 105mph) and want to play a tour ball with extra spin around the green and a softer feel than the Tour B RX.
Summary: The Tour B RXS has a lower compression than the Tour B RX but offers similar distance and spin levels. The RXS should appeal to players with middle-of-the-road swing speeds who want a soft feel (it is the softest of the four Tour B balls).
CALLAWAY ERC SOFT
Specs: two piece, ionomer cover with a urethane coating
Colours: Triple Track white, Triple Track yellow, 360 Fade
What’s new: HyperElastic Softfast core produces more speed at the same softish compression. Sticky GRIP urethane coating extends the time the ball is in contact with the face of the club for more spin around the green.
Who should play it: playerswho like a soft feel, a lower launch and more spin.
Summary: one of the longest ‘soft’ feel balls that sit a rung below the tour ball action. Won’t bite as much as Callaway’s new Chrome Soft on the greens and it’s not as soft as the Callaway Supersoft range. But it’s cheaper than a tour ball and feel is prioritised, which is impressive for a two-piece ball.
TITLEIST TOUR SOFT
Specs: two-piece, ionomer cover
Colours: white, yellow, green
What’s new: largest core of any Titleist ball, creating more speed on full shots. New ultra-thin cover and updated dimple pattern provides a lower and more penetrating ball flight.
Who should play it: players who prefer to play a distance ball that offers more spin around the green.
Summary: The 2024 Tour Soft is Titleist’s ‘nearly, but not quite a tour ball’ ball. Whether you’d be better off playing a Pro V1 or Pro V1x is probably the biggest query surrounding the Tour Soft. It won’t spin nearly as much but it’s cheaper, and therefore better, for the budget conscious golfer.
TITLEIST AVX
Specs: three piece, cast urethane
Colours: white, yellow
What’s new: slightly larger core cuts long game spin without affecting the softness of the ball. Thinner cover increases flexibility to lower trajectory and increase spin around the greens.
Who should play it: geared towards the distance conscious golfer who wants to play a soft Titleist ball — it cast urethane cover is unique in the Titleist range for what is targeted as a distance ball.
Summary: the 2024 AVX is Titleist’s lowest spinning and lowest launching ball in their line-up. However, it won’t help high-spin players maximise distance by cutting spin because of its soft compression. And it may launch irons too low and without enough spin. But if you’re simply after a high performance golf ball that offers a much softer feel than the Pro V1, the AVX might be a good option.
TAYLORMADE TOUR RESPONSE
Specs: three piece, cast urethane cover
Colours: white, yellow, Stripe
What’s new: new firmer mantle layer creates more iron distance while TaylorMade’s Tour Flight dimple pattern (used in the 2022 TP5 and TP5x) promotes more distance and superior flight.
Who should play it: players with slow-to-moderate swing speeds who prefer a soft-ish distance ball but seek more spin on the greens.
Summary: the Tour Response is one of the lowest spinning balls to be equipped with a cast urethane cover. It’s an option for players seeking to switch from a Surlyn cover ionomer ball into something with significantly more stopping power and feel around the greens. Cheaper than premium Tour balls and offers impressive performance.
SRIXON Q-STAR TOUR
Specs: three piece, cast urethane
Colours: white, Divide
What’s new: softer mid layer produces additional feel and increases spin. FastLayer core graduates from firm in the centre to soft on the outside for improved performance through the bag.
Who should play it: value-conscious players who want a ball that is just below a premium tour ball — it offers a tour soft feel and a urethane cover.
Summary: the Q-Star Tour is both fast and spinny. Not quite up to the Z-Star level but it’s in the just-below-a-tour-ball category that is incredibly popular among golfers. Srixon has the thinnest urethane covers of any ball manufacturer and that’s why the Q-Star Tour can out-spin similar balls.
WILSON TRIAD
Specs: three piece, urethane cover
Colours: white
What’s new: lighter, less dense core and heavier and denser mantle layers lowers driver and long iron spin while a thinner cover dials up short iron and wedge spin.
Who should play it: sits just under the Wilson Staff and its firm compression will appeal to low-to-mid handicap golfers with above-average swing speeds.
Summary: a relative newcomer, the Triad muscles in on the same territory held by Titleist’s AVX, Bridgestone’s RX and RXS and Callaway’s Chrome Soft. Well priced and offers a firmer feel than its closest competitors.
MIZUNO RB MAX DISTANCE
Specs: three piece, ionomer cover
Colours: white, yellow
What’s new: Dual core construction is geared for high speed, with a soft inner and firmer outer capable of generating impressive ball speed and a feel that is on the softer side. Features the same dimple design as Mizuno’s tour balls, for a piercing ball flight.
Who should play it: players with a mid-to-high swing speed on a budget.
Summary: won’t be as fast as a tour ball but the RB Max is unique in the distance ball category with its dual rubber core and three-piece construction. It provides nuanced performance compared to two-piece distance balls. The dimple pattern is designed for plenty of hang time and the low drag aero is perfect for higher swing speeds. If you want a ball that is cheaper than the premium tour balls but still offers reasonable performance, the Mizuno RB Max Distance is an extremely viable option.
SOFT FEEL BALLS
WILSON DUO SOFT
Specs: two piece, Surlyn cover
Colours: white, green, yellow
What’s new: extremely low compression gives it the softest feel of any ball on the market. A Surlyn cover produces a high launch.
Who should play it: players with slower swing speeds (under 90mph driver swing) who want distance and an extremely soft sound and feel.
Summary: Two piece distance balls have never felt this soft (compression 35), which is a major appeal of the DUO Soft golf ball. It launches high to maximise distance but the trade-off is it doesn’t offer a responsive feel around the greens like a tour/tour value ball. It’s cheap and, as the softest ball in the distance category, is unique in the game. Just don’t expect too much.
CALLAWAY SUPERSOFT
Specs: two piece, ionomer cover
Colours: white, yellow, green, orange, pink, red, Splatter
What’s new: HyperElastic Softfast core produces more speed while retaining the same soft compression. Sticky GRIP urethane coating extends the time the ball is in contact with the face of the club for more spin around the green.
Who should play it: golfers with slow swing speeds who want marshmallow-like feel around the greens.
Summary: With a compression hovering around 40, the Supersoft is Callaway’s softest golf ball and is among the softest balls in the game. It’s an extremely popular ball but players with moderate-to-high swing speeds can compress the core too much and suffer distance loss. It’s really only suited to slower swing speeds, however, spin around the green is very good for a two-piece ball.
CALLAWAY SUPERSOFT MAX
Specs: two piece, ionomer cover
Colours: white
What’s new: much the same as the Supersoft but has a slightly larger diameter.
Who should play it: golfers with slow swing speeds who struggle to get the ball into the air.
Summary: features an identical compression to the Supersoft so offers a very soft feel around the greens. The slightly larger diameter, which isn’t really detectable to the eye, alters the centre of gravity to help get the ball in the air.
TITLEIST TRUFEEL
Specs: two piece, ionomer cover
Colours: white, yellow, red
What’s new: slightly larger core increases speed and distance while a thinner cover adds a hair more greenside spin.
Who should play it: golfers with slower swing speeds who want to play a soft Titleist ball.
Summary: the 2024 Trufeel is the softest ball in Titleist’s range and it’s very soft. Where’s it fit in the range? It’s not as fast as the Velocity and is much softer than the Tour Soft. Offers the most feel of Titleist’s distance balls.
TAYLORMADE SPEEDSOFT
Specs: three piece, ionomer cover
Colours: white, yellow, Ink
What’s new: new PWRCORE increases ball speed and a new dimple pattern helps the ball stay in the air for longer.
Who should play it: distance-conscious golfers who want an incredibly soft feel and aren’t too concerned about spin around the greens.
Summary: unlike the Tour Response’s urethane cover, the SpeedSoft features an ionomer cover. It won’t generate as much spin around the green but the low compression (50) produces the softest feel of any TaylorMade ball.
SRIXON SOFT FEEL
Specs: two piece, ionomer cover
Colours: white, yellow, Brite (matte green, matte orange, matte red)
What’s new: FastLayer core is Srixon’s softest to date, graduating from firm in the centre to soft on the outside.
Who should play it: players who want a very soft golf ball and low driver spin but don’t want to shell out for a superior tour ball.
Summary: the Soft Feel is soft but with a compression of 60 it isn’t anywhere near as soft as Wilson’s DUO Soft. Spin isn’t in the same postcode as Srixon’s Z-Star or Q-Star range but it hasn’t exactly been forgotten about — it’s mid-spin and high launch all the way for the Soft Feel.
SRIXON ULTISOFT
Specs: two piece, ionomer cover
Colours: white
What’s new: FastLayer core is Srixon’s softest to date, graduating from firm in the centre to soft on the outside.
Who should play it: one of the softest balls on the market, the Ultisoft offers extremely low compression for players who want a buttery soft feel at impact.
Summary: the Ultisoft is built for slow-to-mid swing speed golfers who almost don’t even want to feel the ball contact the face. It launches higher than Srixon’s Soft Feel and out-softs it by a significant margin.
BRIDGESTONE E6
Specs: two piece, Surlyn cover
Colours: white, yellow
What’s new: larger and softer core makes it easier to compress and generate distance.
Who should play it: higher handicappers with moderate swing speeds and those who want to maximise ball speed and hit straighter shots — with a soft feel on the greens.
Summary: Bridgestone’s top selling soft-distance ball is easy to like. It’s not as soft as the Wilson DUO Soft but it complements its low-spinning distance by offering livelier feel around the greens. The E6 offers great value and is one of the best soft distance balls in the game.
MIZUNO RB 566
Specs: two piece, ionomer cover
Colours: white, yellow, orange
What’s new: a larger, high energy core plenty of speed for a very soft compression. The cover features 566 dimples that are designed to create hang time for more distance.
Who should play it: golfers with slower swing speeds have the most to gain.
Summary: The RB 566 is Mizuno’s super soft golf ball (compression 60) but it seems to hold up well in the distance department too. The dimple design is most effective for slower swing speeds, extending flight time by slowing the rate of descent. The two-piece ball’s ionomer cover is extremely durable but the dimple design and cover may take some getting used to (it looks like there are tiny holes pricked into the surface).
DISTANCE BALLS
BRIDGESTONE E12 CONTACT
Specs: three piece, ionomer cover
Colours: white, yellow, red, green
What’s new: Contact Force dimple pattern increases the area of the ball in contact with the face by 38 per cent. It results in a more efficient transfer of energy, increasing speed and producing a straighter flight, and creates extra spin around the green.
Who should play it: its low compression puts it on the softer side of the ledger. Players wanting a soft feel and high launch/low spin flight in their long game.
Summary: the e12 Contact is suitable for slow-to-mid swing speed golfers. Since it prioritises feel the ball won’t necessarily be a good choice for players wanting to maximise distance, although it offers a decent level of spin around the green in its category.
TITLEIST VELOCITY
Specs: two piece, Surlyn cover
Colours: white, blue, green, orange
What’s new: high compression LSX core increases speed while NaZ+ cover is softer.
Who should play it: golfers with slow-to-mid swing speeds who prioritise pure speed and are happy to play a ball with a firm feel.
Summary: where the Titleist Trufeel was skewed towards feel, the Velocity shifts the performance window towards speed. As you’d expect it’s a fairly firm ball, but the Velocity’s Surlyn cover and rearranged dimple pattern actually makes it spin more than the Titleist AVX.
OPTIMA TS3
Specs: three piece, ionomer cover
Colours: white
What’s new: larger core with a compression of 75 and a soft ionomer cover. New dimple pattern.
Who should play it: it’s one of the cheapest three-layer ball on the market. One for the budget conscious golfer.
Summary: There’s no doubt the Optima TS3 is a distance ball but it’s not a bad all-rounder for the price. An ionomer cover is never going to spin like urethane but, hey, it’s cheap.
VOLVIK VIMAT
Specs: two piece, ionomer cover
Colours: white, green, orange, pink, red, yellow, Vivid (divide)
What’s new: matte finish reduces glare and a huge variety of colours should create interest.
Who should play it: golfers with lower swing speeds or those who struggle to see white balls in the air.
Summary: Apart from offering the largest variety of colours, the Volvik Vimat’s matte finish is the most eye-catching ball in golf. It does make the dimples quite hard to see, giving the impression you are hitting a rubber bouncy ball. Is that a good thing? Maybe, but the jury’s out on that. The feel is quite firm and greenside spin isn’t impressive. But the Vimat is all about distance and Volvik are among the best in the business in that regard.
TAYLORMADE DISTANCE+
Specs: two piece, ionomer cover
Colours: white
What’s new: compression is firm but probably on the softer side compared to distance balls made by other brands.
Who should play it: players who are prone to losing balls and want a cheap ball that tops out distance.
Summary: no-fuss two-piece ball that is focused on extracting distance. If greenside spin is what you need, the TaylorMade Distance+ isn’t where you’ll find it.
SRIXON DISTANCE
Specs: two piece, ionomer cover
Colours: white
What’s new: FastLayer core that is soft at the centre and becomes progressively firmer towards the outside.
Who should play it: players who like a firm ball will appreciate the high compression of the Srixon Distance ball.
Summary: a cheap, no-nonsense ball aimed at beginners and high handicappers who might lose a few balls per round. It’s no oasis of spin but the Srixon Distance succeeds by maximising distance on every shot.
WOMEN’S
CALLAWAY ERC SOFT REVA
Specs: two piece, ionomer cover
Colours: white, pink
What’s new: basically the ERC Soft REVA is the SuperSoft MAX, just with different packaging and colour options to appeal to women golfers.
Who should play it: marketed at women golfers but will suit anyone with slow swing speeds.
Summary: like the Supersoft MAX, the REVA features a larger diameter that helps get the ball into the air off the club face. But is this really the ball women golfers want to play?
TAYLORMADE KALEA
Specs: two piece, ionomer cover
Colours: white, peach, purple
What’s new: REACT core provides maximum distance off the tee for slow to medium swing speeds.
Who should play it: designed with women golfers in mind but the Kalea should be on the radar of any player who requires more distance at a cheap price point.
Summary: Like Callaway’s REVA ball, the Kalea is targeted at women golfers. It offers a selection of colours and packaging designed to appeal to women but at its heart it’s just a two-piece distance ball that’ll suit slow swing speeds.
SRIXON SOFT FEEL LADY
Specs: two piece, ionomer cover
Colours: white, pink
What’s new: FastLayer core is Srixon’s softest to date, graduating from firm in the centre to soft on the outside.
Who should play it: women who want a very soft golf ball and an increased launch angle to help get the ball up in the air.
Summary: with a compression of 58, the Soft Feel Lady is soft but its mid-spin and high launch characteristics should help many women golfers extract performance out of their long game.
BRIDGESTONE LADY PRECEPT
Specs: two piece, ionomer cover
Colours: white, pink
What’s new: A softer core and unique dimple pattern that promotes aerodynamic lift.
Who should play it: women or seniors with slow swing speeds who prefer a soft feel and need help getting the ball in the air.
Summary: You can’t help appreciate the Bridgestone Lady Precept’s longevity. It feels like it’s been around for eons and its graduated compression is marshmallow soft on the outside. It’s a ball that’s nowhere near tour level but that’s what exactly why the Lady Precept has been around for so long — golfers can’t seem to give them up.
BALLS BY CATEGORY
TOUR
- Titleist Pro V1
- Titleist Pro V1x
- TaylorMade TP5
- TaylorMade TP5x
- Callaway Chrome Soft
- Callaway Chrome Tour
- Callaway Chrome Tour X
- Bridgestone Tour B X
- Bridgestone Tour B XS
- Mizuno RB Tour
- Mizuno RB Tour X
- Srixon Z-Star
- Srixon Z-Star XV
- Srixon Z-Star Diamond
- Wilson Staff Model X
TOUR VALUE
- Bridgestone Tour B RX
- Bridgestone Tour B RXS
- Callaway ERC Soft
- Titleist Tour Soft
- Titleist AVX
- TaylorMade Tour Response
- Srixon Q-Star Tour
- Wilson Triad
SOFT FEEL
- Wilson DUO Soft
- Callaway Supersoft
- Callaway Supersoft MAX
- Titleist Trufeel
- TaylorMade Speedsoft
- Srixon Soft Feel
- Srixon Ultisoft
- Bridgestone e6
- Mizuno RB566
DISTANCE
- Bridgestone e12 Contact
- Titleist Velocity
- Optima TS3
- Volvik Vita
- TaylorMade Distance+
- Srixon Distance
- Mizuno RB Max Distance
WOMEN’S
- Callaway ERC Soft REVA
- TaylorMade Kalea
- Srixon Soft Feel Lady
- Bridgestone Lady Precept