You can’t play the game without a ball, and while many golfers don’t think they are good enough to tell one ball from another, all of them perform slightly differently.
The golf balls used by stars such as Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm are multi-piece balls with urethane covers that reduce spin off the tee to maximize distance, but they spin like crazy for extra control on approach shots, chips and pitches.
However, with prices ranging from $45-$60 per dozen, tour-level performance doesn’t come cheap. Brands know those balls are out of reach for many players, so they offer alternatives at lower prices that cater to specific needs. Some are designed for pure distance, while others have soft feel or enhanced spin.
The best way to find your ideal ball is to think about what you need and how much you are willing to spend, then buy a few three-ball sleeves of a few brands and try them out. Play six holes of an 18-hole round with three different balls and think about how each performed off the tee, from the fairway and around the greens. Many shops also offer two-ball promotional packs of premium balls, which is a great way to see if a tour-level ball is right for you.
Below are many of the golf balls you can test now or that are coming soon in pro shops and golf specialty stores. This is a starting point in your journey to finding your perfect golf ball.
Bridgestone e6
Price: $24.99 per dozen
Specs: Two-piece construction with Surlyn cover. Available in white and yellow
Who They’re For: Slow-swinging golfers who want soft feel and more distance.
The Skinny: Updated for 2023, the e6 remains a two-piece ball with a large gradient core that is softer in the center and grows gradually firmer toward the outside. This helps create a more efficient energy transfer with long irons, hybrids and woods. Read full review.
Bridgestone e6 golf balls - $24.99Bridgestone e9 Long Drive
Price: $29.99 per dozen
Specs: Two-piece construction with Surlyn cover. Available in white only
Available: March
Who They’re For: Golfers who want more carry distance and more overall distance.
The Skinny: Designed in conjunction with World Long Drive (WLD), Bridgestone says this is the longest ball in the company’s portfolio. It has a softer core than you might expect and was designed to optimize carry distance. Read full review.
Bridgestone e12 Contact
Price: $34.99 per dozen
Specs: Two-piece ball with contact-modified Surlyn cover. Available in white, plus matte green, red and yellow.
Available: March
Who They’re For: Golfers who want more distance and a straighter ball flight
The Skinny: The e12 Contact has a unique cover material that Bridgestone calls Flexativ. Thanks to the addition of an impact modifier to the Surlyn, the cover spins less on hard-hit shots but amplifies spin on slower-swinging shots. Read full review.
Bridgestone Tour B X
Price: From $47.99 per dozen
Specs: Three-piece, urethane-covered golf balls
Who They’re For: Fast-swinging players who want to maximize carry distance
The Skinny: Updated for 2022, the Tour B Xis the firmest-feeling of Bridgestone’s four Tour B balls and was designed to create less spin and a lower flight for golfers with a driver swing speed over 105 mph. The urethane cover improves greenside spin. Read full review.
Tour B X golf balls - $47.99Bridgestone Tour B XS
Price: From $47.99 per dozen
Specs: Three-piece, urethane-covered golf balls
Who They’re For: Fast-swinging players who like to shape shots and demand feel around the greens
The Skinny: Unchanged since last season’s update, this is Tiger Woods’ golf ball. It delivers more spin off the tee than the Tour B, along with a higher flight, to allow heavy hitters a chance to work draws and fades off the tee. Read full review.
Tour B XS golf balls - $47.99Bridgestone Tour B RX
Price: From $47.99 per dozen
Specs: Three-piece, urethane-covered golf balls
Who They’re For: Moderate-swing players who like a higher trajectory off the tee
The Skinny: Bridgestone updated the Tour B RX in 2022 for golfers with a driver swing speed below 105 mph, and LPGA star Lexi Thompson immediately put it in play. This ball feels softer than the Tour B X and Tour B XS but still provides lots of greenside spin thanks to the urethane cover. Read full review.
Tour B RX golf balls - $47.99Bridgestone Tour B RXS
Price: From $47.99 per dozen
Specs: Three-piece, urethane-covered golf balls
Who They’re For: Moderate-swing players who like distance but really need extra spin on chips, pitches and short-game shots
The Skinny: This ball provides more spin off the tee for moderate swing-speed players who still want tour-level feel and control around the greens. Read full review.
Tour B RXS golf balls - $47.99Callaway Chrome Soft
Price: From $49.99 per dozen
Specs: Three-piece, urethane-covered golf balls
Who They’re For: Golfers who like a relatively soft premium ball that works through the wind effectively.
The Skinny: Updated in 2022, the Chrome Soft has a Hyper Elastic SoftFast core and Tour Aero cover pattern designed to reduce drag, so wind won’t push the ball offline as easily. The softest feel of the three Chrome Soft varieties. Read full review.
Chrome Soft golf balls - $47.99Callaway Chrome Soft X
Price: $49.99 per dozen
Specs: Four-piece, urethane-covered golf balls
Who They’re For: Heavy hitters looking for distance off the tee and elite levels of greenside spin.
The Skinny: Unchanged since its 2022 update, this tour-level ball has a firmer feel and produces more spin than the standard Chrome Soft, which increases carry distance. Golfers should see a touch more greenside spin with the X ball too. Read full review.
Chrome Soft X golf balls - $49.99Callaway Chrome Soft X LS
Price: $49.99 per dozen
Specs: Four-piece, urethane-covered golf balls
Who They’re For: Golfers who need a spin-killing ball off the tee, but a soft cover for greenside spin.
The Skinny: A carryover from 2022, this ball produces the lowest spin in the Chrome Soft family off the tee, but thanks to its urethane cover, it still produces tour-level greenside spin on chips, pitches and approach shots. Read full review.
Chrome Soft X LS golf balls - $49.99Callaway ERC Soft
Price: $39.99 per dozen
Specs: Three-piece ball with Surlyn cover and urethane coating. Available in white and yellow.
Who They’re For: Golfers who want a soft feel, length off the tee, a built-in alignment system and above-average greenside spin.
The Skinny: Applying a urethane coating over the Suryln cover helps give the ERC Soft ball more greenside spin while keeping the price of this three-piece ball below that of the tour-level Chrome Soft balls. Read full review.
ERC Soft golf balls - $39.99Callaway Supersoft
Price: $24.99 per dozen
Specs: Two-piece construction with Surlyn cover. Available in white, yellow, green, orange, red and pink for the Supersoft; white for Supersoft Max
Who They’re For: Golfers who want distance and a soft feel in a value-oriented ball.
The Skinny: The Supersoft is a two-piece ball with a large HyperElastic SoftFast Core to maximize ball speed off the tee. The core acts as the engine for the ball, but because it is so large and soft, it also gives the Supersoft a soft feel at impact on every shot, which many golfers prefer. Read full review.
Supersoft golf balls - $24.99Srixon Z-Star
Price: $47.95 per dozen, available Feb. 15
Specs: Three-piece construction with a large core, casing layer and urethane cover. Available in pure white or yellow
Who They’re For: Golfers who want tour-level spin and control around the greens with distance off the tee.
The Skinny: Updated for 2023, this is the softest-feeling ball in the Z-Star family. Srixon improved the SpinSkin coating that is applied over the urethane cover to increase friction on shortgame shots and boost greenside spin. Read full review.
Srixon Z-Star XV
Price: $47.95 per dozen, available April 15.
Specs: Three-piece construction with a large core, casing layer and urethane cover. Available in pure white or yellow
Who They’re For: Golfers who want a firm feel, speed with a higher flight off the tee and more spin around the greens.
The Skinny: Also updated for 2023, the three-piece Z-Star XV has a core that transitions from soft in the center to firm around its edge, which helps transfer more energy to shots for extra distance with long clubs. The urethane cover and improved SpinSkin cover boost shortgame control. Read full review.
Srixon Z-Star Diamond
Price: $47.95 per dozen, available April 15.
Specs: Three-piece construction with a large core, casing layer and urethane cover. Available in white only
Who They’re For: Golfers who want a mid-flight, mid-spin ball that delivers enhanced spin around the green and on approach shots.
The Skinny: The second generation of the Z-Star Diamond is designed to fit between the standard Z-Star and Z-Star XV. It flies lower than the XVV ball and feels softer too, but off the tee golfers should see it goes higher than the standard Z-Star and feels firmer. Read full review.
Srixon Q-Star Tour
Price: $34.99 per dozen
Specs: Three-piece, urethane-covered construction. Available in white and yellow.
Who They’re For: Anyone seeking premium shortgame spin for a less-than-premium price.
The Skinny: Unchanged for 2023, the Q-Star has a urethane cover with SpinSkin for added shortgame spin, while the FastLayer core is soft in the center and grows progressively firmer near the edges for more distance off the tee and with long irons. Read full review.
Q-Star Tour golf balls - $34.99Srixon Q-Star
Price: 27.99 per dozen
Specs: Two-piece, Surlyn-covered ball with spin-enhancing coating. Available in white and yellow.
Who They’re For: Golfers looking for more distance and durability.
The Skinny: The standard Q-Star was updated in 2022 and given a faster core for more distance. The two-piece ball has a sturdy Surlyn cover to enhance durability, while the SpinSkin coating boosts spin on chips, pitches and approach shots. Read full review.
Q-Star golf balls - $27.99Srixon Soft Feel
Gear: Srixon Soft Feel golf balls (2023)
Price: $22.99 per dozen
Specs: Two-piece golf ball with Surlyn cover
Available: February 16
Who They’re For: Golfers who don’t want to spend a lot of money on golf balls but want a soft feel and distance off the tee.
The Skinny: New for 2023, the 13th version of the Soft Feel has a low-compression Fast Layer core for more distance and a softer feel. The cover was designed with Srixon’s Speed Dimple pattern for more stability in flight and reduced drag. Read full review.
TaylorMade TP5
Price: $52.99 per dozen
Specs: Five-layer, urethane-covered balls. Available in white, yellow and Pix versions.
Who They’re For: Golfers who demand distance and stability with long clubs and maximum spin around the greens
The Skinny: Updated in 2022, this five-piece ball produces elite levels of shortgame spin and has a slightly lower flight off the tee than the TP5x. Its Tour Flight Dimples are designed to reduce drag and increase stability in the wind. Read full review.
TM TP5 golf balls - $52.99TaylorMade TP5x
Price: $52.99 per dozen
Specs: Five-layer, urethane-covered balls. Available in white, yellow and Pix versions.
Who They’re For: Players who want more height and carry off the tee, along with elite spin with wedges
The Skinny: Updated last season, the TP5x has a firmer feel than the standard TP5 and flies higher with woods and long irons for more carry distance while still maximizing spin around the green. Read full review.
TM TP5x golf balls - $52.99TaylorMade Tour Response
Price: $42.99 per dozen
Specs: Three-piece, 40-compression ball with cast urethane cover. Available in white, yellow and striped.
Who They’re For: Players who want soft feel and premium technologies at a less-than-premium price.
The Skinny: An ultra-soft feeling ball with a urethane cover for greenside spin, the Tour Response carries over from 2022. The Stripe version has a unique alignment system that helps players aim putts more effectively and reveals if your putting stroke is not ideal. Read full review.
TM Tour Response - $42.99Titleist Pro V1
Price: $54.99 per dozen
Specs: Three-piece construction with cast urethane cover. Available in white
Who They’re For: Golfers who want more distance off the tee and from the fairway with the maximum level of short-game spin.
The Skinny: Titleist gave the new Pro V1 a high-gradient core designed to be soft in the center and grow progressively firmer toward the perimeter for more long-iron distance. The ball produces less spin than the Pro V1x, flies lower and has a softer feel. Read full review.
Titleist Pro V1 golf balls- $54.99Titleist Pro V1x
Price: $54.99 per dozen
Specs: Four-piece construction with a cast urethane cover. Available in white
Who They’re For: Golfers who want a firmer feel and more height off the tee, along with tour-level spin around the greens.
The Skinny: The dual-core Pro V1x was updated for 2023 and given a high-gradient inner core for more long-game speed. Overall spin with woods and long irons is slightly lower in this version, resulting in tighter dispersion downrange. This ball flies higher than the standard Pro V1 and feels firmer. Read full review.
Titleist Pro V1x golf balls - $54.99Titleist AVX
Price: From $54.99 per dozen
Specs: Three-piece, urethane-covered golf balls in white and yellow
Who They’re For: Golfers looking for a lower trajectory, less spin and softer feel off the tee, while maintaining good greenside spin.
The Skinny: Updated in 2022, the AVX creates a lower flight and has a softer feel than the standard Pro V1, and it still produces significant shortgame spin thanks to its urethane cover. Read full review.
Titleist AVX golf balls - $54.99Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash
Price: From $54.99 per dozen
Specs: Four-piece, urethane-covered balls. Available in white
Who They’re For: Players who want a high-launch, low-spin condition off the tee, with a firm feel.
The Skinny: Not designed for everyone, the Left Dash was released in 2019 but remains available for golfers who want the firmest-feeling ball in Titleist’s lineup. It produces the height of the Pro V1x but with less spin off the tee. Read full review.
Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash golf balls - $54.99Titleist Tour Speed
Price: $39.99 per dozen
Specs: Three-piece construction with a large core, casing layer and a urethane cover.
Who They’re For: Golfers who want more distance off the tee and greenside spin.
The Skinny: Released last May, the reformulated core of the Tour Speed helps increase ball speed, while a thin, high-flexibility casing layer that covers the core reduces spin and helps produce a low launch and piercing flight with woods and long irons. Read full review.
Titleist Tour Speed golf balls - $39.99Titleist Tour Soft
Price: $36.99 per dozen
Specs: Two-piece construction with a large core and an Ionomer cover.
Who They’re For: Golfers who want more distance with a soft feel.
The Skinny: Also released in May of 2022, this ball has a lower compression and softer feel at impact than the Tour Speed. It produces a lower flight and less spin off the tee than the Tour Speed. Read full review.
Titleist Tour Soft golf balls - $36.99Titleist Velocity
Price: From $29.99 per dozen
Specs: Two-piece, Surlyn-covered ball
Who They’re For: Anyone who prioritizes distance and ball speed above everything else.
The Skinny: Updated for 2022, this two-piece ball has a massive core to help maximize speed while its improved dimple pattern reduces drag for better aerodynamics. Read full review.
Titleist Velocity golf balls - $29.99Wilson Triad
Price: $39.99 per dozen
Specs: Three-piece, urethane-covered golf ball
Who It’s For: Golfers who wants to hit more fairways and hold more greens.
The Skinny: The Triad was released last season. Wilson removed weight from the core and shifted it to the casing layer, effectively creating a perimeter-weighted ball that the company says spins less and produces a straighter flight. Read full review.
Wilson Triad golf balls - $39.99
