Golf Ball Selection Guide: Comparing Choices from the Major Manufacturers

The golf ball market is a huge business.

In fact, the global golf ball market was valued at a staggering $1046.2 million in 2022.

Going into a golf shop or online retailer you are presented with a vast array of golf balls that offer distance, spin control and durability.

We can choose the colour we want or golf balls that have various alignment aids and graphics on them.

If you feel particularly flamboyant, you can even customise your ball with your favourite number, your name (very Tiger-like!) or a lucky symbol.

Price can be a factor in your decision of which golf ball to go with.

Whilst the premium ranges are pushing closer to £50 ($64) for a dozen, there are cheaper but still high-quality alternatives available.

But when we strip it all back, how do we know which ball is right for our game and is there such a thing?

In this article, we will look at the ball options at either end of the price spectrum from the major players and break down the pros and cons of each offering.

Titleist

Where better to start than with the pioneer of the modern-day high-performance golf ball - the Titleist Pro V range?

The Pro V range still sets the benchmark against which other balls are measured.

The 2023 models of both the Pro V1 and Pro V1 X models carry on the performance characteristics that were set when the balls were originally launched.

The Pro V1 is the choice if you are looking at a softer-feeling ball that produces a more penetrating flight and performs well in windy conditions.

In contrast, the Pro V1 X has a harder feel and will help players who struggle to generate height in their shots and need more spin.

The one sticking point over the Pro V range is the price point.

A dozen balls of either model will cost nearly £50 ($64) which makes it painful on the wallet if you lose a few over the course of a round!

But Titleist has been wise enough to enhance the range below the flagship Pro V series to help a wide variety of golfers.

In total, there are 8 different models to choose from offering differing combinations of distance and feel for a wide variety of golfers.

For the price-conscious or beginner golfer, the TruFeel ball suits players with slower swing speeds and replicates the feel and control of a more premium ball.

You can pick up a dozen of these balls somewhere in the region of £25 ($32).

TaylorMade

Compared to Titleist, TaylorMade is still relatively new to the golf ball market but with its resource and R&D capabilities, they have created a range of balls that are seriously worth looking at.

The premium balls in the TaylorMade lineup are the TP5 and TP5 X.

The ‘5’ in both models signifies that each is made up of 5 layers.

The 5-layer system sees each layer working in unison to provide optimised performance from the driver down to chip shots.

The TP5 offers a higher spinning profile compared to the TP5 X.

Having feedback from players such as Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Rickie Fowler and Tommy Fleetwood will see the TP 5 range continue to be a strong challenger to Titleist.

At the other end of the spectrum, golfers can pick up a dozen Distance + golf balls for £20 ($25).

As the name suggests, the ball is unashamedly aimed at maximising distance which is something that higher-handicap golfers struggle with the most.

TaylorMade’s range also includes some striking visual designs such as the TP5/TP 5X Pix and Tour Response which offer alignment aids to help golfers aim correctly.

They also feature a ball specifically designed for female golfers in the Kalea model.

Callaway

Callaway’s route into the ball market is similar to that of TaylorMade in that their reputation was founded on their clubs before they introduced their range of golf balls.

Callaway exhibits a similar profile in their ball range to the other manufacturers here.

The premium ball offered is the three variations of the Chrome Soft line:

• Chrome Soft
• Chrome Soft X
• Chrome Soft X LS

A big differentiator for the Chrome range is the hexagonal pattern of the dimples compared to its competitors which it calls HEX Aerodynamics.

The Chrome Soft is a true all-rounder ball offering low spin off the driver with a soft feel off wedges and the putter.

The X and the X LS balls offer peak performance for players with higher swing speeds.

The X model produces high speeds off the driver whilst retaining good spin control for the wedges and short game and is the preferred choice of Jon Rahm.

The X LS model produces a higher launch but with the lowest spinning profile out of the three Chrome variants.

Although better suited to faster swing profiles, this ball could be a worthy consideration if you play on a lot of links-style courses where you really have to control your ball flight.

The Chrome range comes in at a similar price point to the Titleist and TaylorMade premium ranges with a price tag in the region of £47 ($60).

For golfers who are interested purely in distance and not wanting to spend a lot of money the Callaway Warbird is worthy of consideration.

Priced at £20 ($25) the Warbird not only offers distance, but it shares the same HEX Aerodynamics technology as the more premium Chrome Soft range.

Srixon

Srixon as a brand is constantly growing with its irons plus the new generation of woods earning loyal fans both in the professional and amateur game.

But they first came to prominence with their golf ball offering and today, they too, offer a range that will suit every type of player.

Srixon’s price point for its premium ball range is very appealing compared to the premium offerings from Titleist, Callaway and TaylorMade.

A dozen of the range-topping Z Star balls will cost around £37 ($45).

Three models are available in the Z Star lineup:

• Z Star
• Z Star Diamond
• Z Star XV

Clever core technology that is harder towards the outside of the mantle compared to the centre helps enhance the distance performance of the Diamond and Z Star XV models suiting faster swingers of the club.

The Z Star and Z Star XV models are 3-piece construction whilst the Z Star Diamond is a 4-piece ball.

In terms of feel, the Z Star has the softest cover with the Z Star XV sitting in the middle leaving the Z Star Diamond with the hardest feel.

One of Srixon’s longest-running models is the AD333.

Currently in its 9th generation, the popularity of this ball is the combination of performance and feel that comes in at a seriously competitive price point.

A dozen AD333 can be purchased for £22.99 ($30) which means that any level of golfer can have a ball that performs well with the driver but maintains good spin characteristics with the wedge game.

When considering what is the best ball for you also pay attention to how it performs on the greens.

Balls like the Pro V1 X and TP 5X will have more of a “click” sound to them off the putter face which some golfers don’t like.

The opposite can be said with the Callaway Chrome Soft which can have almost a muted noise and feel off the putter face.

Most golfers are becoming familiar with the concept of custom-fitting for golf clubs but the same can be done for your choice of golf ball.

The best players in the world realise the importance of being matched up to a golf ball that is best suited to every facet of their game.

The same can be said for amateurs regardless of their handicap.

When you book a custom fitting club session with us be sure to ask about which type of ball would be best suited to your game.