In a game filled with misconceptions and contradictions, one of the most prevailing is for the average player, golf balls are all the same. The thinking goes that if your swing is inconsistent and if you tend to lose a few balls every time you play, the specific type of ball that you play really doesn’t matter, so you should play the cheapest one you can find.
Sure, unless you get golf balls for free like the pros, the price of all your equipment matters, and modern golf balls with their aerodynamic cover patterns, energetic cores and intricate designs are definitely equipment. However, there can be massive performance differences for you between balls that have nearly the same price. One might be a low-spinning distance ball while the other feels softer and delivers more spin around the green.
Generally, however, the best performing golf balls, the ones that can deliver more distance off the tee and the most greenside control, also tend to be among the most expensive. Costing $40 or more per dozen, they tend to have three, four or five-piece constructions to reduce spin with woods and long irons, along with soft urethane covers to enhance feel and increase spin with short irons and wedges.
There are several excellent, high-performance balls priced just below the premium offerings in the $30-$40 range. Balls in the $20-$30 per dozen range tend to be two-piece constructions and have either Surlyn or ionomer covers for increased durability. Most are distance-oriented balls that perform well off the tee, but they tend not to create the greenside spin of more-premium balls.
The best way to determine your ideal golf ball is to buy a few three-packs and try them. Hit a series of short chip shots and pitch shots first, paying close attention to how quickly the balls stop and how they react coming off your wedges. Then, try them on longer approach shots, iron shots and eventually hit each ball with your driver. When you are done, consider your priorities, how each ball performed and its price.
The list below is a great place to start discovering more about the balls you are likely to see in your local pro shop and golf specialty stores in 2022.
Best of 2022: Drivers for every handicap | Irons