The Best Golf Balls of 2022 for Every Golfer

By
, GolfLink Editor
Updated January 4, 2023
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Best golf ball badges

Titleist, Dick's Sporting Goods/Golf Galaxy, Callaway Golf, TaylorMade Golf, Bridgestone Golf

  • DESCRIPTION
    Best golf balls Titelist Srixon Callaway Maxfli Wilson Bridgestone
  • SOURCE
    Titleist, Dick's Sporting Goods/Golf Galaxy, Callaway Golf, Wilson Sporting Goods, Bridgestone Golf
  • PERMISSION
    Permission given by Titleist, Dick's Sporting Goods/Golf Galaxy, Callaway Golf, Wilson Sporting Goods, Bridgestone Golf

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 Best Golf Balls for Every Golfer

Considering all the different golf balls available today, and all the different types of golfers out there, these are the best golf balls for every golfer. If our top recommendation for your profile doesn’t quite fit what you need, be sure to check out the complete list with more great options for every golfer.

Category (Click for Complete List)

Best Golf Ball

Cover

Construction

Compression

Beginners

Maxfli Straightfli

Ionomer

2-piece

Mid

High-Handicappers

Bridgestone e6

Surlyn

2-piece

50

Mid-Handicappers

Bridgestone Tour B RX

Urethane blend

3-piece

75

Low-Handicappers

Titleist Pro V1

Urethane

3-piece

90

Seniors & Slower Swing Speeds

Srixon Soft Feel

Ionomer

2-piece

60

Women

Callaway Supersoft

Hybrid Paraloid

2-piece

38

Distance

Titleist Velocity

Surlyn

2-piece

65

Value

Kirkland Signature v2.0

Urethane

3-piece

94

Straightest (for slices and hooks)

Maxfli Straightfli

Ionomer

2-piece

Mid

Soft Feel

Wilson DUO Soft+

Surlyn

2-piece

35

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What Makes Golf Balls Different?

So many golfers assume all golf balls are pretty much the same. If they happen to find one in the woods made by a brand they recognize, they’ll toss it in the bag and peg it up on the next tee without hesitation. 

The truth is every golf ball design is unique. A ball’s construction, compression, and cover are the main ingredients, and only by mixing and matching each to fit your priorities do you get the perfect ball for your game. 

Golf ball makers vary these ingredients from product to product to target each golf ball to a different type of golfer. Here’s an overview of how each of those factors impacts your golf ball’s performance.

Construction

Golf ball construction ranges from basic 2-piece balls to the more common 3- and 4-piece balls all the way up to the rare 5- and 6-piece balls. As you can see, there's a lot more going on inside a golf ball than meets the eye.

What do those extra layers do? Well, each additional layer is designed to activate for a different part of your game. A 2-piece ball with a simple core and cover design is great for distance, but doesn’t offer much performance with your short irons and in. However, a 3-piece golf ball has a middle layer that is activated with short irons and wedges to provide next-level performance with your scoring clubs.

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Compression

A golf ball’s compression is a rating of how much force is required to compress it at impact. A lower compression rating means less force is required to compress the ball. Therefore, low-compression balls are softer and beneficial to golfers with slower swing speeds, as they can actually achieve ideal compression and maximize distance. On the downside, it’s possible to over-compress a ball which causes a loss of distance. 

With that in mind, faster-swinging players can’t maximize their advantage of a high swing speed if they use a ball that’s too soft for their swing. Meanwhile, slower swinging players can’t achieve their maximum distance with a ball that’s too firm for them. That’s why finding a ball with the right compression is key.

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Cover

All golf ball covers are not created equal. The most common golf ball covers are urethane, ionomer and surlyn, and each cover produces different spin and launch characteristics.

Urethane covers naturally generate more spin, which is why premium golf balls have some form of a urethane cover. Players who play a urethane-covered ball use that spin to hold greens with any virtually any club in the bag, shape shots, and get the short-game performance they demand. 

Spin, however, isn’t great for all golfers. If you want to hit the ball straighter, for example, you actually need less spin, and likely won’t mind a little less stopping power on the greens. Ionomer and surlyn covers generate less spin and more distance, and are also generally found on lower-costing golf balls.

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Which Golf Balls Benefit Which Players?

Now that you know what goes into a golf ball, you can see how different combinations of features impact each ball’s performance, and can really work for or against your game. Let’s look at two examples of why balls with certain builds fit certain players.

A low-handicap player with a fast swing speed needs a multi-layered ball to get performance from tee to green, a urethane cover to get the spin needed to shape shots and deliver short-game precision, and a higher compression rating in order to maximize distance with their fast swing. That’s why the Titleist Pro V1 is our top recommendation for low-handicappers.

On the other end of the spectrum, beginners more than likely need a ball they can afford to lose, one that delivers maximum distance, reduces a slice or hook, and easily launches high. They probably don’t yet have a real fast swing speed, and benefit from a lower-compression ball. That’s why the $20/dozen, Straightfli from Maxfli is our top choice for beginners.

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Best Golf Ball for Beginners: Maxfli Straightfli

Maxfli Straightfli golf ball badges

Dick's Sporting Goods/Golf Galaxy

  • DESCRIPTION
    Maxfli Straightfli golf ball with badges
  • SOURCE
    Dick's Sporting Goods/Golf Galaxy
  • PERMISSION
    Permission given by Dick's Sporting Goods/Golf Galaxy

Price

$20/dozen [Buy at Golf Galaxy]

Cover

Ionomer

Construction

2-piece

Compression

Mid

Standout Feature

Unique dimple design makes it the straightest legal golf ball on the market, and great value

GolfLink “Best Golf Balls” Badges Earned

Beginners (Top Pick), Slicers (Top Pick), Distance, Value

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 
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Best Golf Ball for High-Handicappers: Bridgestone e6

Bridgestone e6 golf ball badges

Bridgestone Golf

  • DESCRIPTION
    Bridgestone e6 golf ball with badges
  • SOURCE
    Bridgestone Golf
  • PERMISSION
    Permission given by Bridgestone Golf

Price

$25/dozen [Buy at PGA Tour Superstore]

Cover

Surlyn

Construction

2-piece

Compression

50

Standout Feature

Highly durable cover

GolfLink “Best Golf Balls” Badges Earned

High Handicappers (Top Pick), Slicers

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 
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Best Golf Ball for Mid-Handicappers: Bridgestone Tour B RX

Bridgestone Tour B RX ball badge

Bridgestone Golf

  • DESCRIPTION
    Bridgestone Tour B RX ball badges
  • SOURCE
    Bridgestone Golf
  • PERMISSION
    Permission given by Bridgestone Golf

Price

$50 [Buy at PGA Tour Superstore]

Cover

Urethane

Construction

3-piece

Compression

75

Standout Feature

Big distance off the tee with great control

GolfLink “Best Golf Balls” Badges Earned

Mid-Handicappers (Top Pick), Soft Feel

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
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Best Golf Ball for Low-Handicappers: Titleist Pro V1

Titleist ProV1 golf ball badges

Titleist

  • DESCRIPTION
    Titleist ProV1 golf ball with badge
  • SOURCE
    Titleist
  • PERMISSION
    Permission given by Titleist

Price

$50/dozen [Buy at PGA Tour Superstore]

Cover

Urethane

Construction

3-piece

Compression

90

Standout Feature

Combination of penetrating ball flight and soft short game feel

GolfLink “Best Golf Balls” Badges Earned

Low-Handicappers (Top Pick), Mid-Handicappers 

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
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Best Golf Ball for Seniors & Slow Swings: Srixon Soft Feel

Srixon Soft Feel golf ball badges

Dick's Sporting Goods/Golf Galaxy

  • DESCRIPTION
    Srixon Soft Feel golf ball with badges
  • SOURCE
    Dick's Sporting Goods/Golf Galaxy
  • PERMISSION
    Permission given by Dick's Sporting Goods/Golf Galaxy

Price

$23/dozen [Buy at PGA Tour Superstore]

Cover

Ionomer

Construction

2-piece

Compression

60

Standout Feature

High launch with great feel

GolfLink “Best Golf Balls” Badges Earned

Seniors (Top Pick), Beginners, Value, Slicers, Soft Feel

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
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Best Golf Ball for Women: Callaway Supersoft

Callaway Supersoft golf ball badges

Callaway Golf

  • DESCRIPTION
    Callaway Supersoft golf ball with badges
  • SOURCE
    Callaway Golf
  • PERMISSION
    Permission given by Callaway Golf

Price

$25/dozen [Buy at PGA Tour Superstore]

Cover

Hybrid Paraloid

Construction

2-piece

Compression

38

Standout Feature

Combination of soft feel, easy launch and reduced side-spin 

GolfLink “Best Golf Balls” Badges Earned

Women (Top Pick), Slicers, Value, Soft Feel, Beginners

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
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Best Golf Ball for Distance: Titleist Velocity

Titleist Velocity golf ball badges

Titleist

  • DESCRIPTION
    Titleist Velocity golf ball with badges
  • SOURCE
    Titleist
  • PERMISSION
    Permission given by Titleist

Price

$30/dozen [Buy at PGA Tour Superstore]

Cover

NaZ+

Construction

2-piece

Compression

65

Standout Feature

High trajectory and low long-game spin

GolfLink “Best Golf Balls” Badges Earned

Distance (Top Pick), Women, Beginners, High-Handicappers

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
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Best Golf Ball for Value: Kirkland Signature v2.0

Kirkland Signature golf ball badges

Image courtesy of Costco Wholesale

  • DESCRIPTION
    Kirkland Signature golf ball with badges
  • SOURCE
    Costco Wholesale
  • PERMISSION
    Image courtesy of Costco Wholesale

Price

$18/dozen [Buy on Amazon]

Cover

Urethane

Construction

3-piece

Compression

94

Standout Feature

Sold as a double dozen, best value ball in golf.

GolfLink “Best Golf Balls” Badges Earned

Value (Top Pick), Mid-Handicappers, Low-Handicapper

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
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Straightest Golf Ball for Slicers: Maxfli Straightfli

Maxfli Straightfli golf ball with badges
  • DESCRIPTION
    Maxfli Straightfli golf ball with badges
  • SOURCE
    Dick's Sporting Goods/Golf Galaxy
  • PERMISSION
    Permission given by Dick's Sporting Goods/Golf Galaxy

Price

$20/dozen [Buy at Golf Galaxy]

Cover

Ionomer

Construction

2-piece

Compression

Mid

Standout Feature

Unique dimple design makes it the straightest legal golf ball on the market, and great value

GolfLink “Best Golf Balls” Badges Earned

Slicers (Top Pick), Beginners (Top Pick), Distance, Value

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
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Best Soft Feel Golf Ball: Wilson DUO Soft+

Wilson DUO Soft+ golf ball badges

Wilson Sporting Goods

  • DESCRIPTION
    Wilson DUO Soft + golf ball badges
  • SOURCE
    Wilson Sporting Goods
  • PERMISSION
    Permission given by Wilson Sporting Goods

Price

$23/dozen [Buy at PGA Tour Superstore]

Cover

Surlyn

Construction

2-piece

Compression

35

Standout Feature

Steep descent to boost stopping-power

GolfLink “Best Golf Balls” Badges Earned

Soft Feel (Top Pick), Seniors, Beginners

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
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Picking Your Golf Ball

As you can see, every golf ball is different. It’s important to know what you need from your ball, and what performance you’re willing to compromise to get it. Simply playing whatever ball you stumbled upon in the woods is not what we mean by “finding" the right ball. 

We believe each of the balls on this list are the best in their category, but we’ve built a comprehensive list of the best balls in each category because we understand that not every low-handicapper fits into a Pro V1, not every woman has a slower swing speed and not every soft-feel player wants a 35 compression ball.

Good luck finding the best golf ball for your game that will help you shoot lower scores.