The Best Golf Balls of 2022 for Every Golfer

Simply asking “what is the best golf ball?” is like asking “what are the best shoes?” The answer is, it depends on who needs them. That’s why we created this list of the very best golf balls in every category. Whether you’re a scratch golfer, beginner, senior, woman, or average weekend warrior, there’s a great ball for you. If you want a distance ball, one that flies straight, need the best value, or prefer a soft feel, we’ve got you covered.

The needs of beginning golfers are much different than those of an experienced, low-handicap player. Most beginners need a ball that will launch easily, help them find fairways, go as far as possible, and do it all for the least amount of money. If these are your criteria, the Maxfli Straightfli checks all the boxes.

The Straightfli uses a unique dimple pattern that strategically combines large and small dimples to reduce sidespin and fly straighter (hence the name). Not only does the ball fly 20% straighter than the previous Maxfli SpeedFli ball, but it churns out top-end distance with a better-than-you-would-expect feel. All that for just $20 a dozen makes the Straightfli our no-brainer choice as the best golf ball for beginners. 

Pros:

• The straightest flying legal golf ball
• Great value at $20 per dozen
• Among the longest golf balls available

Cons:

• Lacks the ideal feel 

The Bridgestone e6 has been a massive success among Bridgestone golf balls since it debuted in 2005, mostly because it’s a high-quality golf ball that appeals to a huge golf audience, including high-handicappers, which most players are.

High-handicap players who want a predictable golf ball that delivers distance, accuracy, feel, and durability at an affordable price will love the Bridgestone e6. Its semi-low compression rating appeals to a pretty wide range of swing speeds. Barring the rare high-handicappers who swing driver close to 100 MPH, the e6 stands up to just about any high-handicapper's swing. The e6 combines a soft-feeling core with a durable, low-spin cover which work together to produce straight distance, something most high-handicappers salivate over. All of this comes with an appealing $25 per dozen price tag.

Pros:

• Premium qualities in a great value ball
• Excellent ball speed and distance for moderate swing speeds
• Soft feel

Cons:

• Some iron and wedge shots may balloon 

Once you improve into the mid-handicap range, you can really start to differentiate how different balls impact your game. That’s not to say the ball doesn’t impact your game earlier than that, it’s just harder to notice as a beginner or high-handicapper. As ball-striking improves noticeably, mid-handicap players need a ball that helps them shape shots, and one that can hold a green with a mid-iron. When they miss greens, they need a ball that will react in the short game the way they expect. 

If this sounds like you, try the Bridgestone Tour B RX. The Tour B RX is our top choice golf ball for mid-handicappers because of its 3-piece construction that boosts performance from tee to green, rather than simply giving you every yard of distance off the tee. Those inner layers are met with a urethane blend cover to optimize spin and give you better command of your short game. With a compression of 75, the Tour B RX is rated for players with driver swing speeds up to 105 MPH. 

These premium features from a premium brand come at a premium price. The Tour B RX checks in at $50 per dozen, which by and large is the top end of the golf ball pricing spectrum, but if you’ve improved into the mid-handicap range, that price tag is unlikely to either shock or deter you.

Pros:

• Premium build from cover to core
• Great distance
• Tee to green performance

Cons:

• Top end price

The Titleist Pro V1 is the gold standard golf ball. It’s among the most popular golf balls on professional tours and club championships alike. That’s because the iconic ball delivers on the most important needs of the best players.

The Pro V1 is a 3-piece, urethane-covered ball that’s firm enough to hold up to any swing speed, yet delivers satisfyingly soft short game feel and control. With the proper swing speeds, the Pro V1 produces as much ball speed as any ball in the premium market. The top-end distance blends with a desirable penetrating ball flight to appeal to the single-digit handicapper. 

From tee to green, the Pro V1 is designed to perform on every shot. Better players can shape the Pro V1 on command, and pull a wood or long iron on a second shot into a par-5 without worrying about stopping-power. Many low-handicappers like the Pro V1 for its standout feel in the short game, where command is paramount.

Pros:

• Excellent ball speed on full shots
• Workability
• Great short game feel, spin, and response

Cons:

• Naturally low-hitting players may need a ball that flies a little higher

Statistics show that as your age increases, your swing speed decreases. According to mytpi.com, 17-29-year-old golfers have the fastest swing speeds, and it starts to go downhill from there. Of course, golf is a lifetime sport, and some subtle equipment tweaks can help keep all the distance you need, even with a slower swing. 

The Srixon Soft Feel is our top choice golf ball for seniors because it offers the complete package to aging golfers who still want feel and performance from their golf ball. It launches high and produces great distance with moderate swing speeds. As the name suggests, it feels nice and soft off the club face to boot.

The ionomer cover helps reduce some sidespin and keep the Soft Feel flying straight, although the tradeoff is a little short game control. The Soft Feel does not quite perform the way a 3-piece urethane-covered ball – say a Pro V1 – does around the greens. With a compression rating of 60, the Soft Feel hits the sweet spot to fit a massive spectrum of players. Any player with a swing speed under 95 MPH who wants maximum distance, soft feel and a great value should consider the Srixon Soft Feel.

Pros:

• Excellent distance for moderate swing speeds
• Soft feel (hence the name)
• Easy to launch

Cons:

• Players transitioning from a premium ball may notice a dip in short-game performance

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. The Callaway Supersoft is a great golf ball for a massive percentage of recreational golfers. That’s why we recommend it for slicers, beginners, soft feel, value, and of course, made it our top recommendation for women. 

The Supersoft has a super low compression of 38, so it fits most golfers with swing speeds under 95 MPH. Those players will enjoy how the Supersoft performs on full-swing shots. It launches high with ease and fights sidespin for straighter shots, while maximizing distance from slower swing speeds and giving great feeling feedback. If you want some color in your game, the Supersoft is available in pink, green, red, orange, yellow, or the traditional white. What more could you ask for?

Pros:

• Exceptional distance from lower swing speeds
• Short game response
• Fits a wide spectrum of players

Cons:

• Golfers who already hit the ball high may lose distance

Pure distance balls are enticing, but typically come with tradeoffs. Sure, most golfers want every yard they can get, but those yards are in vain if they don’t actually help you shoot lower scores. The Titleist Velocity is our top choice among distance balls because it squeezes every yard from your swing but also provides ample short game control and wedge spin, so you can capitalize on those bombs with your scoring clubs.

The 2-piece 2022 Velocity features a unique NaZ+ cover that Titleist designed to marry ball speed with greenside feel. While the cover helps separate the Velocity from its competition in the short game, the core helps it win the distance battle. With a compression rating of 65, the Velocity fits most swing speeds and its high launch helps you carry it farther.

Pros:

• Fits most golfers up to mid-handicappers
• Better short game performance than most distance balls
• Premium quality

Cons:

• High end cost for a distance ball

You simply cannot argue with the value of the Kirkland Signature v2.0 golf balls. Just like a Titleist Pro V1, the Kirkland Signature ball is a 3-piece, urethane-covered, high-compression premium ball built for premium tee to green performance. The difference is it costs about one-third of its competitors. Even if the Kirkland Signature performs 90-95% as well as Pro V1, doing so at a 33% of the cost makes it the best value in golf.

The core of the Kirkland Signature is designed for maximum distance, while the mantle adds spin and control to irons and wedge shots. The urethane cover ensures you get all the greenside spin and feel you need. And at $35 for a double-dozen directly through Costco, or similar prices on the secondary markets, you absolutely cannot beat the value.

Pros:

• Dollar for dollar the best ball in golf
• Penetrating ball flight that many mid-handicap players and better desire
• Premium iron and wedge spin

Cons:

• Non-Costco members pay 5% surcharge

If you’re looking for a golf ball that flies long and straight, you may be overwhelmed by the number of products that promise that combination. The Maxfli backed up that promise by going all-in on accuracy with a sheer distance ball. The Maxfli Straightfli secured our top pick as the best golf ball for slicers (or any golfer who wants to hit the ball straighter) by creating the straightest-flying legal golf ball.

The secret ingredient is the Straightfli’s unique “Find the Fairway” dimple pattern that helps the ball fly 20% straighter than Maxfli’s pervious SpeedFli ball. The dimple pattern includes a strategic mix of large and small dimples to cut down on that pesky sidespin that amplifies slices and hooks. Gaming the Straightfli alone can’t cure your slice, but it can turn a 30-yard slice into the rough into a 22-yard push that still catches the edge of the fairway, and doing that several times throughout a round can lead to some noticeably lower scores. 

For all the fuss about accuracy, and rightfully so, the Straightfli really delivers on distance as well. You won’t sacrifice a yard by putting it in play, you’ll just be playing from more fairways. Finally, at $20 a dozen, the Straightfli is one of the best value golf balls in the game as well.

Pros:

• Straightest legal golf ball
• Exceptional distance
• One of the best value golf balls

Cons:

• Lacks preferred feel around the greens

The sweet feeling of impact on a perfectly struck shot keeps so many golfers hooked on the game, and that feeling comes around much more often with a soft golf ball that compresses easily. That’s part of the reason why soft feeling golf balls have become wildly popular within the last decade. They also generally fit a pretty large demographic of recreational golfers, and for players looking for a soft feeling golf ball that performs in all the key areas, no ball checks more boxes than the Wilson DUO Soft+.

The DUO Soft+ is a low-spinning as golf balls come, meaning it will fly longer and straighter on full swing shots. With a compression rating of 35, it easily delivers that desirable soft feel at impact. The DUO Soft+ also launches high and drops at a steep angle, which adds some of the stopping power lost due to the ball’s low-spin nature. At just $23 a dozen, the DUO Soft+ is a great value as well.

Pros:

• As low spinning as golf balls come
• Top tier soft feel
• Better stopping power than other low-spin balls

Cons:

• Too soft for swing speeds above 95 MPH