We have not tested these products ourselves; this page summarises the makers' published specifications.
The golf ball is the only piece of equipment that you use in every shot. Most golf balls look pretty much identical. However, all golf balls are engineered and designed to perform differently. To compare how soft or firm each ball is, see our golf ball compression chart.
The construction of the ball affects the height and distance. The cover and number of dimples affects how the golf ball spins when it lands.
Playing a golf ball you find in the woods or while playing may seem like a great idea (and sometimes it is necessary). However, if you are not used to this ball, you may hurt your scores because it spins too much – or not enough!
It may not perform around the greens in the same manner as a ball you are used to.
Before you get out to the course this season, this guide summarises how each maker describes its golf balls.
Whether you are a beginner, an experienced player or a senior golfer, it helps to pick a ball that suits your swing.
Getting fit for a golf ball is one of the easiest ways to improve your game. A ball fitting can help match a ball to your swing.
Titleist Pro V1 Overview
The Titleist Pro V1 is a three piece golf ball. It is a lower compression golf ball that is designed for lower long iron spin and control around the greens. Through the years Titleist has adjusted the ball. The Pro V1 is aimed at golfers who hit the ball high and want to lower their spin off the driver.
Features
- Three piece construction
- Aimed at golfers with higher ball flights
- Designed for low spin off long irons and driver, with spin and control around the greens
- Priced at around $50 per box
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Golf Ball Comparison
Titleist ProV1
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The Titleist Pro V1 is a three piece golf ball. It is a lower compression golf ball that is designed for lower long iron spin and control around the greens. Through the years Titleist has adjusted the ball. The Pro V1 is aimed at golfers who hit the ball high and want to lower their spin off the driver.
Key Points
- Aimed at golfers with higher ball flights
- Designed for low spin off long irons and driver, with spin and control around the greens
- Priced at around $50 per box
Titleist ProV1x
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The Titleist Pro V1x is on the opposite end of the spectrum when compared to the Pro V1. The Pro V1x is a four piece ball that offers higher spin and launch than the Pro V1.
The ball is designed to spin more, and the added spin is intended to give some forgiveness to players when hitting longer irons and longer clubs. Golfers with higher swing speeds may find that added spin causes shots to balloon.
This golf ball is designed to be durable. At around $50 per box, it is one of the more expensive balls on this page.
Key Points
- Four piece construction
- Designed for higher spin and launch than the Pro V1
- Priced at around $50 per box
TaylorMade TP5
TaylorMade TP5 Golf Balls (One Dozen), White, Large
The TaylorMade TP5 golf ball is the softer version of the two TP5 golf balls. This ball is designed to have a slightly higher ball flight while offering spin and control around the green.
The 5 in TP5 is the number of layers that make up this ball. There are three layers on the core and two layers on the cover.
These added layers are designed to add spin and distance for each club. The TP5 is aimed at golfers who want spin and control around the green and understand how to control their shot shaping.
Key Points
- Five layers: three on the core and two on the cover
- Designed for a slightly higher ball flight and spin around the green
- Softer of the two TP5 balls
TaylorMade TP5x
TaylorMade TP5x Tour Balls (One Dozen), White
The TaylorMade TP5x is a 5 piece golf ball that is different from the TP5. The TP5x is designed to give more distance to golfers by spinning less off the driver and irons.
The TP5x is a firmer golf ball. It is engineered for mid to lower handicap golfers who want a premium golf ball with spin and control around the greens without sacrificing distance off the tee. Higher handicap golfers can also play this ball.
Key Points
- Five piece construction
- Designed for less spin than the TP5 off the driver and irons
- Aimed at mid to lower handicap golfers
Titleist AVX
Titleist AVX Golf Balls, Yellow (One Dozen)
The Titleist AVX is a premium golf ball that is designed to offer a soft feel and distance. The name AVX is an abbreviation of ‘Alternative to Pro V1 or Pro V1x’.
This ball is engineered to have a lower ball flight and spin less when compared to the Pro V1 and Pro V1x.
It is aimed at golfers with a high ball flight that is difficult to control because of spin. While this ball is designed to spin less overall, it is also designed to keep spin around the green with wedge shots.
It has a urethane cover designed to provide short game control that can be lost with some other lower spin golf balls.
Titleist positions it for golfers who want distance off each club while keeping spin and control around the greens.
Key Points
- Designed for a soft feel and distance
- Urethane cover
- Designed for a lower ball flight and less spin than the Pro V1 and Pro V1x
Srixon Z-Star
Srixon Z-Star 6 Pure White
The Srixon Z-Star uses Srixon's macromolecule Slide-Ring (SeRM) technology in its cover.
The cover uses a moveable "cross-link", which Srixon says helps the ball's shape return better than traditional balls and adds forgiveness and distance without spiking the spin.
Srixon has also designed the ball to take impact better, to be more scuff resistant, and to absorb vibrations better.
Key Points
- SeRM cover technology
- Designed to be scuff resistant
- Designed for forgiveness and distance without spiking spin
Srixon Q-Star Tour
Srixon male BALL Q-STAR Tour 2
The Srixon Q-Star tour golf ball is a three piece urethane golf ball that is designed to give players added spin and control around the green while also offering a ball that is long and straight off of the tee.
The Q-Star Tour is described as an easy to compress golf ball.
Key Points
- Three piece urethane construction
- Designed for spin and control around the green
- Designed to be long and straight off the tee
TaylorMade Project (a)
TaylorMade Project (a) Golf Balls, White (One Dozen), Large
The TaylorMade Project (a) is aimed at higher handicap golfers and golfers with a slower swing speed. It has a urethane cover.
The ball is designed to be easy to compress while still offering many of the benefits that come with the TP5 and TP5x. It is priced at around $35 per dozen.
Key Points
- Urethane cover
- Designed to be easy to compress
- Aimed at higher handicap golfers and slower swing speeds
Callaway Chrome Soft
Callaway 2018 Chrome Soft White Dozen
The Callaway Chrome Soft features a soft inner core. It is a mid-spin ball and is targeted at mid and high handicap golfers.
A softer ball is designed to balance spin, compression and a lower trajectory for golfers who struggle to hit the ball straight.
Key Points
- Soft inner core
- Mid-spin ball
- Targeted at mid and high handicap golfers
Callaway Chrome Soft X
Callaway Chrome Soft X Triple Track
The Callaway Chrome Soft X is a golf ball designed for higher swing speed players that need more spin and feel around the greens.
This high compression golf ball is designed to offer more speed to golfers who can compress the ball. It is described as having a higher ball flight than the Chrome Soft.
Key Points
- Higher compression ball
- Designed for higher swing speed players
- Designed for more spin and feel around the greens
Frequently Asked Questions About Golf Balls
Which brand of golf ball goes the farthest?
Distance depends on the golfer's swing speed, the ball's construction and conditions, and it varies between each player and each shot. No single brand goes the farthest for every golfer.
Which golf balls are the best?
The Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x are among the most popular balls used on the PGA Tour. Which ball suits you depends on your swing speed, handicap and priorities, so check the maker's specifications and consider a ball fitting.
How do dimples make the difference?
Dimples allow air to flow more smoothly around a ball’s surface, which decreases the wake and low-pressure area behind the ball, resulting in less drag. Dimples also increase lift by causing the air to move faster at the top of the ball, creating lower pressure there. Golf balls with more dimples typically spin more because they have more pressure adding to the spin.
How many balls can pro golfers carry?
Under the Rules of Golf, a golfer is allowed carry as many golf balls as they please. Tour pros are not exempt from this – they can carry as many golf balls as they’re willing to carry around themselves or their caddie is willing to lug around for them.
Do pro golfers use a new ball on each hole?
No, PGA tour players do not use a new ball on every hole. Typically golfers will change balls every 9 – 12 holes, depending on how the ball is looking. If there are any scuffs or scratches – they switch right away. If there is nothing wrong with the ball, they will play one ball the entire round.
Can pros use colored golf balls?
In professional golf tournaments, the USGA doesn’t restrict the color of golf ball you can use. However, they do restrict changing the color of the golf ball in the middle of a round. If they lose their original ball in tournament play – a player is require to use the same color and type of golf ball that they lost.
On a tighter budget or with a slower swing, see our Vice Drive golf ball review.
Learn what the layers mean in 2-piece vs 3-piece vs 4-piece golf balls.