Wondering which golf balls are going to provide the biggest and best bang for your buck in 2025?

With several updates of the game's best selling golf balls and some intriguing new models, it's a good year to get the ball rolling — the way you've always wanted to.

Distance, flight, feel, spin, control, compression; we've got tips on the performance profile of every golf ball in 2025 — from the top of the market tour balls to the budget conscious distance balls.

Don’t know which ball will suit your game? Read our Golf Ball FAQ to find out which ball will fit your game best.

TITLEIST PRO V1

Specs: three piece, cast urethane cover

Colours: white, yellow

What’s new: a new high gradient core creates more spin-tuned performance in the 2025 Pro V1. The ball offers a little more iron and wedge spin compared to the 2023 Pro V1 but uses the same cover. The new core builds on previous designs and also offers speed gains for some players.

Who should play it: players with high swing speeds who want a slightly softer feel in a tour level ball.

Summary: Revising the most popular ball in golf is fraught with danger but Titleist have essentially been able to improve performance without really changing things. Incremental improvements have optimised spin for full iron shots and wedges but those small things add up. The Pro V1 is the No.1 ball on tour and the ball’s performance profile remains unchanged: it’ll fly lower and spins less for the long game compared to the Pro V1x and has a softer feel.

TITLEIST 2025 PRO V1

TITLEIST PRO V1x

Specs: four piece, cast urethane cover

Colours: white, yellow

What’s new: new graduated core refines spin separation between the ball’s layers to improve spin on full irons and wedge shots, without impacting the spin and distance with the driver. The Pro V1x’s dimple pattern has been tweaked to produce a more penetrating ball flight.

Who should play it: players who want a higher trajectory, more spin on the greens and a firmer feel in a tour ball.

Summary: As seen in the new Pro V1, Titleist have fiddled around the edges to improve the performance of the current Pro V1x. It spins more but flies a little lower than the previous 2023 Pro V1x. It offers a firmer feel than the Pro V1 and will again be one of the most popular balls in 2025.

TITLEIST 2025 PRO V1x

TITLEIST PRO V1x LEFT DASH

Specs: four piece, urethane cover

Colours: white

What’s new: like the Pro V1x, a dual core and mantle layer offer separation in spin rates for ultra low-spinning drives and high spin around the greens. There was no Left Dash model in Titleist’s 2025 update of the Pro V1x but the ball’s niche performance profile remains unchanged.

Who should play it: players with high swing speeds will benefit from the lower-spinning Left Dash Pro V1x. It will spin less than the regular Pro V1x but more than the Titleist AVX, while launch will be a little lower than the regular Pro V1x.

Summary: the Left Dash variant of the Pro V1x is a niche offering from Titleist. It’s essentially a lower spinning Pro V1x but launches higher than the AVX. It’s one of the longest urethane balls on the market and its firm feel also separates it from the low-spin/low-launch AVX.

TITLEIST PRO V1X LEFT DASH

TAYLORMADE TP5

Specs: five piece, cast urethane cover

Colours: white, yellow, Pix

What’s new: a new Speed Wrapped Core is central to the 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 TP5

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-layer 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).

TAYLORMADE TP5x

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 modifies 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

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.

CALLAWAY CHROME TOUR X

CALLAWAY CHROME TOUR TRIPLE DIAMOND

Specs: four piece, cast urethane cover

Colours: white

What’s new: the Triple Diamond is the low-spin/high-launch ball in the Chrome Tour range. It’s equipped with a ‘Hyper Fast Soft Core’ but features a higher compression for a much firmer feel. The Triple Diamond’s urethane cover is the same as the other models but features a revised dimple pattern that generates a more penetrating flight through the wind, but it will launch higher and spin less on full shots compared to the Chrome Tour X.

Who should play it: high-spin players who don’t like the softer feel of the low spinning regular Chrome Tour, or players who generate too much spin with the Chrome Tour X.

Summary: the Chrome Tour Triple Diamond is another option for players to discover their ideal launch/spin profile in the Chrome Tour range. The ball is Callaway’s response to the Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash, offering low spin and high launch. The Triple Diamond offers the firmest feel but won’t spin as much as its Chrome Tour counterparts.

CALLAWAY CHROME TOUR TRIPLE DIAMOND

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 Chrome Soft has a lower compression than the Chrome Tour and Chrome Tour X and players with faster swing speeds can over-compress the softer core, losing distance in the process. Sits in the shadow of the Chrome Tour, Chrome Tour X and Chrome Tour Triple Diamond, given most tour players will opt to play those balls. But it is arguably more of an ‘all-rounder’ ball, suited to a broader range 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 four Chrome models and offers impressive spin and control around the greens, but won’t be as long off the tee.

CALLAWAY CHROME SOFT

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 Bridgestone Tour B X is 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 X

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.

BRIDGESTONE TOUR B XS

MIZUNO PRO S

Specs: four piece, cast urethane cover

Colours: white

What’s new: replaces the Mizuno RB Tour. Features a thinner and more durable cover, a thicker mantle layer and a softer core. A new 332 dimple pattern on the cover improves flight by reducing aerodynamic drag.

Who should play it: Mizuno’stour ball will benefit players who produce too much spin with their driver or launch it too high. Is an excellent performer in windy conditions.

Summary: offers a lower compression and softer feel than the Mizuno Pro X. The new dimple pattern on the Pro S offers lower drag and a lower peak trajectory with the driver; it launches low but stays in the air longer. Is one of the lowest-spinning/lowest-launching tour balls on the market. Will suit players with a downward angle of attack and a good performer in windy conditions.

MIZUNO PRO S

MIZUNO PRO X

Specs: four piece, cast urethane cover

Colours: white

What’s new: replaces the Mizuno RB Tour X. Features a thinner and more durable cover, a thicker mantle layer and a softer core. A new 332 dimple pattern on the cover improves flight by reducing aerodynamic drag.

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 or want to flight their driver down.  

Summary: an impressive low-spin ball that performs well in windy conditions. The Mizuno Pro X is firmer than the Pro S, spins slightly more but offers a flatter trajectory off the tee.

MIZUNO PRO X

SRIXON Z-STAR

Specs: three piece, cast urethane cover

Colours: white, yellow, Divide

What’s new: biomass urethane in the cover makes the new Z-Star balls all a little greener. Spin Skin+ coating, which increases friction for extra spin and control, stays the same but the composition of the FastLayer core, which is soft at the centre and gets progressively firmer on the outside, has been tweaked. It’s now softer in the centre compared to the previous Z-Star, which should make it spin less with the driver and offer a softer feel.

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 lowest and is the softest of the three Srixon Z-star models (compression 88), which all are tuned for higher swing speeds.

SRIXON Z-STAR

SRIXON Z-STAR XV

Specs: three piece, cast urethane cover

Colours: white, yellow

What’s new: biomass urethane in the cover makes the new Z-Star balls all a little greener. Spin Skin+ coating, which increases friction for extra spin and control, stays the same but the FastLayer core is still soft at the centre but is firmer in the outer reaches. It should result in more driver speed and better iron spin.

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 XV

SRIXON Z-STAR DIAMOND

Specs: three piece, cast urethane cover

Colours: white, yellow

What’s new: biomass urethane in the cover makes the new Z-Star balls all a little greener. Spin Skin+ coating, which increases friction for extra spin and control, returns but the Z-Star Diamond’s FastLayer core has been softened ever so slightly to reduce driver spin and and offer a slightly softer feel than the XV.

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 a slightly softer feel compared to the Z-Star XV (compression 100) but offers more mid-iron and driver spin for players with faster swing speeds.

SRIXON Z-STAR DIAMOND

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 range 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

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. Should be in the conversation with the Pro V1x, Chrome Tour X and TP5x.

WILSON STAFF MODEL X

VOLVIK CONDOR

Specs: three piece, urethane cover

Colours: white

What’s new: Volvik’s tour ball is designed to minimise long game spin and maximise short game spin. A Hyper W-Carbonic Power Core and Elastin Mantle provide the spin separation to boost distance off the tee and enhance spin around the green.

Who should play it: as a three-layer tour ball, the Condor is in direct competition with the Pro V1. If you already play the Pro V1, the Volik Condor should provide a similar performance profile.

Summary: offering a lower compression of 85, the softer Volvik Condor differentiates itself from the firmer and longer Condor X. Represents a cheaper alternative in the tour ball space and worth a spin.

VOLVIK CONDOR

VOLVIK CONDOR X

Specs: four piece, urethane cover

Colours: white

What’s new: a Hyper W-Carbonic Power Core and dual Elastin Mantle enhance spin separation to boost distance off the tee and elevate short iron and greenside spin.

Who should play it: the four-layer tour-grade Condor X is Volvik’s answer to the Pro V1x. Offers a firmer feel, more spin and a higher launch trajectory.

Summary: featuring a compression of 95, the Condor X offers a firmer feel. It is designed for maximum distance and offers a high-launching trajectory and excellent short game spin. If you already play an ‘X’ tour ball model, the Volvik Condor X is well worth considering.

VOLVIK CONDOR X

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) who 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 impressively 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 RX

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) who 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).

BRIDGESTONE TOUR B RXS

CALLAWAY ERC SOFT

Specs: three piece, ionomer cover with a urethane coating

Colours: Triple Track white, Triple Track yellow, Truvis white, Truvis yellow

What’s new: The mantle layer in the 2025 ERC Soft is three times stiffer than the previous model. It creates a spring-like effect that produces faster ball speeds and extra distance with the driver and irons, plus more spin with the wedges around the greens. HyperElastic Soft Fast core also features a slightly lower compression to enhance greenside feel. Ionomer cover is 16 per cent softer while the sticky GRIP urethane coating applied to it is more durable.

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 category. Won’t spin as much as Callaway’s Chrome Tour balls on the greens and it’s not as soft as the Callaway Supersoft. But it’s cheaper than a tour ball and its soft feel will be appreciated.

CALLAWAY ERC SOFT

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 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 TOUR SOFT

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 is your only option.

TITLEIST AVX

TAYLORMADE TOUR RESPONSE

Specs: three piece, cast urethane cover

Colours: white, yellow, Stripe

What’s new: a lot of trickle-down tech from the TP5 makes its way into the new 2025 Tour Response. The ball features a Speed Wrapped Core, TaylorMade’s TP5 Tour Flight dimple pattern and SpeedMantle. The new core makes for a softer feel than the compression (70) suggests while the dimple pattern and mantle layer promote distance. But it’s worth noting the Tour Response is never going to offer the spin rates seen in the TaylorMade TP5 or TP5x. Five new Stripe colours are also brighter and more durable.

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 or ionomer cover ball into something with significantly more stopping power and feel around the greens. Cheaper than premium Tour balls but nowhere near the spin.

TAYLORMADE TOUR RESPONSE

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 which 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.

SRIXON Q-STAR TOUR

WILSON TRIAD

Specs: three piece, urethane cover

Colours: white, yellow

What’s new: Wilson’s Triad features a core, mantle and cover with the same density, giving the ball a higher MOI for less spin off the tee. The new 2025 Triad features a lower compression which brings the spin rate down and differentiates it from Wilson’s Staff models. To offset speed loss from a softer core, Wilson added a plasticiser to the synthetic rubber core which makes the Triad feel softer than its compression (86) might suggest.

Who should play it: sits just under the Wilson Staff and its slightly softer compression will appeal to low-to-mid handicap golfers with above-average swing speeds.

Summary: the Triad covers similar territory to Titleist’s AVX, Bridgestone’s RX and RXS. Competitively priced, the Wilson Triad still offers a firmer feel than its closest competitors despite the softer core.

WILSON TRIAD

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 a dimple design that produces a piercing ball flight.

Who should play it: players with a mid-to-high swing speed who are budget conscious.

Summary: won’t be as fast as a tour ball but the RB Max is unique with its dual rubber core and three-piece construction. It provides nuanced performance compared to two-piece distance balls and the dimple pattern is designed for plenty of hang time and low aerodynamic drag, making it a good match for higher swing speeds. If you want a ball that is cheaper than premium tour balls but still offers performance, the Mizuno RB Max Distance is an extremely viable option.

MIZUNO RB MAX DISTANCE

XXIO REBOUND DRIVE II

Specs: three piece, ionomer cover

Colours: white

What’s new: Rebound Frame technology is what you normally see in XXIO/Cleveland/Srixon club heads, but the same theory holds true in XXIO’s Rebound Drive golf ball. Different layers of the ball flex at different rates: the core and cover are soft while the mantle layer is much firmer to generate high ball speeds throughout the bag and a soft impact feel.  

Who should play it: XXIO golf clubs are niche, premium sticks and the XXIO Rebound Drive II golf ball doesn’t really veer from that lane. While the ball is aimed at slower swing speeds, it’s quite a versatile performer and its soft feel will be popular with every handicap range.

Summary: who knew XXIO made golf balls? If you already play XXIO clubs, you’re probably the target audience for this premium three piece ionomer ball. It’s quite soft and the white finish has more of a pearl lustre about it, making it stand out amongst all those boring regular white balls.

XXIO REBOUND DRIVE II

WILSON DUO SOFT

Specs: two piece, Surlyn cover

Colours: white, green, yellow, red, orange, pink

What’s new: Not much has changed in 2025. Extremely low compression gives it the softest feel of any ball on the market. A Surlyn cover produces a high launch but little spin, although it does feature a new dimple pattern that promotes a relatively shallow descent angle for extra roll.  

Who should play it: players with slower swing speeds (under 90mph driver swing) who want to maximise roll distance and want 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 soft feel-distance category, it has a legion of admirers.

WILSON DUO SOFT

CALLAWAY SUPERSOFT

Specs: two piece, ionomer cover

Colours: white, yellow, green, orange, pink, red, Splatter

What’s new: advancements to the cover and core offers a softer and faster SuperSoft in 2025. Like the Callaway ERC Soft, a new HyperElastic Softfast core formulation produces more speed while retaining the same soft compression. The 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 and Callaway have been loathe to mess with it too much, choosing to tinker around the edges to make it a little faster and softer. Players with moderate-to-high swing speeds can compress the core too much and suffer distance loss. It’s better suited to slower swing speeds, however, spin around the green is very good for a two-piece ball.

CALLAWAY SUPERSOFT

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 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.

TITLEIST TRUFEEL

TAYLORMADE SPEEDSOFT

Specs: three piece, ionomer cover

Colours: white, yellow, pink, 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.

TAYLORMADE SPEEDSOFT

SRIXON SOFT FEEL

Specs: two piece, ionomer cover

Colours: white, yellow, pink (Soft Feel Lady)

What’s new: a new version of Srixon’s FastLayer core, which graduates from firm in the centre to soft on the outside, snaps back into shape quicker post impact. It makes the 2025 Soft Feel faster than the previous model without altering its soft feel.

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 new Soft Feel is a little softer, but with a compression of 58 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 neglected. But its mid-spin, high-launch profile makes the Soft Feel a very popular ball.

SRIXON SOFT FEEL

SRIXON ULTISOFT

Specs: two piece, ionomer cover

Colours: white

What’s new: new FastLayer core, which graduates from firm in the centre to soft on the outside, makes the 2025 Ultisoft Srixon’s softest ball yet.

Who should play it: one of the softest balls on the market, the Ultisoft features an 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’ll launch higher than Srixon’s Soft Feel and featuring a compression of 42, it out-softs it significantly.

SRIXON ULTISOFT

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.

BRIDGESTONE E6

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).

MIZUNO RB 566

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.

BRIDGESTONE E12 CONTACT

BRIDGESTONE e9 LONG DRIVE

Specs: two piece, Surlyn cover

Colours: white, pink, yellow, orange

What’s new: Bridgestone developed the e9 Long Drive in conjunction with the World Long Drive Association. It’s an old school distance ball with an incredibly firm feel. The core features an extreme soft-to-hard progression that limits spin to prevent ballooning mishits.

Who should play it: if you watch any World Long Drive events, the competitors will be using a Bridgestone e9 Long Drive. To make the ball go high and far, you’ll need an extreme swing speed. However, the e9 does make sense for the average punter. The soft centre alleviates driver spin while the firmer outer is a ball speed generator.

Summary: the Bridgestone e9 Long Drive is designed for one thing: distance. For those golfers who just want to hit it a mile, the Bridgestone e9 Long Drive is the logical answer.

BRIDGESTONE E9 LONG DRIVE

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.

TITLEIST VELOCITY

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 makes it one of the most eye-catching balls 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. 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.

VOLVIK VIMAT

TAYLORMADE DISTANCE+

Specs: two piece, ionomer cover

Colours: white, green, yellow, pink, orange

What’s new: TaylorMade's + alignment aid is installed on the new 2025 Distance+. The ball's compression (77) 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.

TAYLORMADE DISTANCE+

TAYLORMADE ROCKETBALLZ SPEED

Specs: two piece, ionomer cover

Colours: white

What’s new: The long and soft recipe sees the new 2025 Rocketballz Speed introduce a new React core and a softer ionomer cover.

Who should play it: players on a budget who are seeking decent distance and a soft feel.

Summary: featuring a compression of 60, the 2025 TaylorMade RocketBallz Speed offers a feel towards the softer extreme of the distance ball category. Designed for long distance off the tee, greenside spin is sacrificed to a degree but the durable cover and soft core makes the RocketBallz Speed a decent option in the distance category.

TAYLORMADE ROCKETBALLZ SPEED

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.

SRIXON DISTANCE

CALLAWAY REVA

Specs: two piece, ionomer cover

Colours: white, pink

What’s new: basically the Reva is the old SuperSoft MAX, just packaged differently to appeal to women golfers.

Who should play it: marketed at women golfers but will suit anyone with slow swing speeds.

Summary: what do women want? Callaway seem to think it's a Reva golf ball. Like the former Callaway Supersoft MAX, the Reva features a larger diameter that helps get the ball into the air off the club face.

CALLAWAY REVA

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.

TAYLORMADE KALEA

SRIXON SOFT FEEL LADY

Specs: two piece, ionomer cover

Colours: white, pink

What’s new: a new version of Srixon’s FastLayer core, which graduates from firm in the centre to soft on the outside, snaps back into shape quicker post impact. It makes the 2025 Soft Feel Lady faster than the previous model without impacting the soft feel.

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: Srixon designed the Soft Feel Lady specifically for women’s swing dynamics. Has a slightly lower compression (56) compared to the regular Soft Feel and a shallower dimple pattern, which helps the ball stay in the air a little longer.

SRIXON SOFT FEEL LADY

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.

BRIDGESTONE LADY PRECEPT

TOUR BALLS

• Titleist Pro V1
• Titleist Pro V1x
• Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash
• TaylorMade TP5
• TaylorMade TP5x
• Callaway Chrome Tour
• Callaway Chrome Tour X
• Callaway Chrome Tour Triple Diamond
• Callaway Chrome Soft
• Bridgestone Tour B X
• Bridgestone Tour B XS
• Mizuno Pro S
• Mizuno Pro X
• Srixon Z-Star
• Srixon Z-Star XV
• Srixon Z-Star Diamond
• Wilson Staff
• Wilson Staff Model X
• Volvik Condor S
• Volvik Condor X

TOUR VALUE BALLS

• 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
• Mizuno RB Max Distance
• XXIO Rebound Drive II

SOFT FEEL BALLS

• Wilson DUO Soft
• Callaway Supersoft
• Titleist Trufeel
• TaylorMade Speedsoft
• Srixon Soft Feel
• Srixon Ultisoft
• Bridgestone e6
• Mizuno RB 566

DISTANCE BALLS

• Bridgestone e12 Contact
• Bridgestone e9 Long Drive
• Titleist Velocity
• Volvik Vimat
• TaylorMade Distance+
• TaylorMade RocketBallz Speed
• Srixon Distance

WOMEN’S

• Callaway Reva
• TaylorMade Kalea
• Srixon Soft Feel Lady
• Bridgestone Lady Precept