What golf ball should you play?

[BrianL99]

This is without a doubt, the most comprehensive golf ball test, ever.

If you think your golf ball matters, take a look and decide what's important to you and what ball you want to play or should play. MyGolfSpy takes no money from manufacturers, all their results are legit and unvarnished.


Just a moment... (https://mygolfspy.com/buyers-guides/all/2025-golf-ball-test/)

[Mulligan07]

Very interesting read - thanks for sharing...

[Bay Kid]

Very interesting. Thanks.

[SHIBUMI]

perfect swings, perfect shots, not most golfers

Pro's play what they are paid to play

With a good golf swing you can play anything, with a bad golf swing you can play anything, its all a matter of what you believe and your confidence in the ball once you stand over it, swing may not bear out the data

Play what makes you happy, a lot of techno data but it still comes down to your swing, its always the bottom line.

Shibumi Golf
Golf Swing Surgeon:shrug:





This is without a doubt, the most comprehensive golf ball test, ever.

If you think your golf ball matters, take a look and decide what's important to you and what ball you want to play or should play. MyGolfSpy takes no money from manufacturers, all their results are legit and unvarnished.


Just a moment... (https://mygolfspy.com/buyers-guides/all/2025-golf-ball-test/)

[Michael G.]

With a good golf swing you can play anything, with a bad golf swing you can play anything,




That's the way I always felt about the clubs using secondhand clubs,
or $1000 set.

[jimhoward]

Thank you for the reference. I love mygolfspy. I do think the golf ball matters.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Maybe, depends, the better the player the more the equipment matters. tournament level vs recreation: yes vs no

[Velvet]

Maybe, depends, the better the player the more the equipment matters. tournament level vs recreation: yes vs no

Yes, I think so too. First of all, you have to hit the golf ball… a dear (wealthy) girlfriend bought the most expensive balls made. After her third try and each ball ending in the water, which was almost 90° to us, she exclaimed “These balls haven’t helped at all”

[dewilson58]

perfect swings, perfect shots, not most golfers

Pro's play what they are paid to play

With a good golf swing you can play anything, with a bad golf swing you can play anything, its all a matter of what you believe and your confidence in the ball once you stand over it, swing may not bear out the data

Play what makes you happy, a lot of techno data but it still comes down to your swing, its always the bottom line.

Shibumi Golf
Golf Swing Surgeon:shrug:


Bingo.

Unless there is a sleeper, never seen or heard of a scratch golfer from the black tees in TV.

Villages courses are so easy. They are made for speed for old people, these are not challenging courses compared to the top 100 courses in the USA.

The only significant difference in golf balls for Villages is the price and marketing.

[UpNorth]

A newbie steps up to the first tee and opens up a new sleeve of ProV1's. Hits the first ball into the water and takes out a new ball. Hits that one into the water. Takes out the 3rd Pro V1 and hits it into the woods. Goes back to the bag for a new sleeve. His buddy says "Hey, why don't you just use an old ball"? He says, "I don't have any". ;)

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Bingo.

Unless there is a sleeper, never seen or heard of a scratch golfer from the black tees in TV.

Villages courses are so easy. They are made for speed for old people, these are not challenging courses compared to the top 100 courses in the USA.

The only significant difference in golf balls for Villages is the price and marketing.

which is why I love retirement, TV, and value TopFlite balls at 19$ for 5 sleeves. .

[tophcfa]

which is why I love retirement, TV, and value TopFlite balls at 19$ for 5 sleeves. .

After about 225 rounds of golf, I’m down to the last half dozen balls from the bucket of 96 pristine quality used Titelist Velocity balls I bought from lostgolfballs.com for about $100. Those are plenty good enough for my game.

[dewilson58]

which is why I love retirement, TV, and value TopFlite balls at 19$ for 5 sleeves. .

Callaway Warbird, 24 balls for $34.
These are higher compression balls with great distance results.
The reviews say, not much green-side spin......but :shrug:

[BrianL99]

There's nothing wrong with buying reclaimed golf balls, if you just play golf for fun.

That said, if you're buying used golf balls and then complaining about the lack of prisms in the Flagsticks in The Villages, so you can't get exact yardages ... there's a huge gap in your logic and reasoning.

Just a moment... (https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/throw-these-golf-balls-away/)

Attention Required! | Cloudflare (https://forum.mygolfspy.com/topic/65340-second-hand-golf-balls/)

[PGApromike]

I've been a PGA Professional since 1991. Over the years my thoughts have been the same as to what I do, and recommend EVERY level player. Play the ball that Feels good around and on the greens. Chipping and putting. There is no test, survey or guarantee that tells you what YOU feel. Can I tell the difference between a PRO V1 and a Kirkland golf ball of the driver? Possibly, but when I walk to both golf balls they will be inside of 3 yards of each other. But I see and feel the difference chipping and putting.
The second tip I recommend is empty all the balls out of your bag when trying a new ball. Put in at least 1 dozen. Just play that ball.
If you need a water ball in your bag, then none of this thread matters, just by the cheapest balls and go play, but have fun.

[Teemotay]

Callaway Warbird, 24 balls for $34.
These are higher compression balls with great distance results.
The reviews say, not much green-side spin......but :shrug:

I used to play the Vice Pro and still like that ball, however I tried the Members Mark golf ball from Sam’s club and it is now my new favorite! I love the distance and the greenside feel.
At $28 for 24 balls, they’re a bargain and yesterday they had them in the Lady Lake store the had them marked down to $26.

I’m a mid-teens handicap so definitely not a great golfer but I agree with playing a ball that provides some confidence when standing over a shot.

[jimhoward]

I've been a PGA Professional since 1991. Over the years my thoughts have been the same as to what I do, and recommend EVERY level player. Play the ball that Feels good around and on the greens. Chipping and putting. There is no test, survey or guarantee that tells you what YOU feel. Can I tell the difference between a PRO V1 and a Kirkland golf ball of the driver? Possibly, but when I walk to both golf balls they will be inside of 3 yards of each other. But I see and feel the difference chipping and putting.
The second tip I recommend is empty all the balls out of your bag when trying a new ball. Put in at least 1 dozen. Just play that ball.
If you need a water ball in your bag, then none of this thread matters, just by the cheapest balls and go play, but have fun.


Your sound advice is consistent with every PGA professional I have met. Play one ball, and play a ball you like around the greens.

I notice however that playing a lower spinning ball off the tee results in less dispersion and more balls staying in play. I don't care about a few yards of total distance, but I do care about minimizing hooks and slices. Am I wrong to give consideration to spin off the tee? I think it matters, but maybe its just in my head.

[BrianL99]

Your sound advice is consistent with every PGA professional I have met. Play one ball, and play a ball you like around the greens.

I notice however that playing a lower spinning ball off the tee results in less dispersion and more balls staying in play. I don't care about a few yards of total distance, but I do care about minimizing hooks and slices. Am I wrong to give consideration to spin off the tee? I think it matters, but maybe its just in my head.

It matters.

The lower the rate of spin, the "straighter" the ball will fly (in general).

There are other considerations, in that you need sufficient spin to provide "carry distance", but generally you're correct.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Am I wrong to give consideration to spin off the tee? I think it matters, but maybe its just in my head.

I try to minimize hooks and slices with my stance and my swing. .
the golf ball is just the final arbiteur of my success or failure. .
And if I ever figure out how to pull an approach shot backwards, or even get it to stop on a green will be the time I will go for a higher spin ball.

. . . am envious of anyone who can do that and am envious of anyone who can actually feel a ball. they all just "clank" to me. .

but if you hit straight off the tee and hit greens regularly, I would think a higher spin ball would help your green placement of the ball. . so spend $50 to buy a box of higher spin balls and play with them and see!

As Golfy Bear says: "only you can prevent the sand and water traps!"

[Normal]

I loved the post and am always looking to improve my game. I personally like the softer Calaway for lofting and spin. Most of my issues come from the harder balls.

[Tvflguy]

At my golf skill level, when I run out of (lose..) my new Callaway yellow SuperSoft balls, I start using the OPBs.

[Jerry101]

This is without a doubt, the most comprehensive golf ball test, ever.

If you think your golf ball matters, take a look and decide what's important to you and what ball you want to play or should play. MyGolfSpy takes no money from manufacturers, all their results are legit and unvarnished.


Just a moment... (https://mygolfspy.com/buyers-guides/all/2025-golf-ball-test/)

Today I will start my round of golf with a yellow Callaway… I found it on the edge of a retention pond … the one that my Titelist slipped into after a less than Tiger-like swing.

If I were to slice my yellow Callaway into an unforgiving patch of trees, I do have both a yellow Srixon and yellow Nitro waiting in the wings!

⛳️������️

[dewilson58]

I used to play the Vice Pro and still like that ball, however I tried the Members Mark golf ball from Sam’s club and it is now my new favorite! I love the distance and the greenside feel.
At $28 for 24 balls, they’re a bargain and yesterday they had them in the Lady Lake store the had them marked down to $26.

I’m a mid-teens handicap so definitely not a great golfer but I agree with playing a ball that provides some confidence when standing over a shot.

Pretty good reviews out there on MM's

[CoachKandSportsguy]

At my golf skill level, when I run out of (lose..) my new Callaway yellow SuperSoft balls, I start using the OPBs.

I start every round with a new sleeve of whatever I have purchased. . after they are lost, I go with OPB. . . but currently i am very low on OPBs. .

[villagetinker]

All I want is a source of balls that avoid sand and surf.:a20::a20:

[dewilson58]

All I want is a source of balls that avoid sand and surf.:a20::a20:

Whiffle golf balls only go about 10 yards.

:beer3:

[TomSpasm]

My question is, how long do you use a new ball? I lose very few balls, I'm a straight hitter. Based on the recommendation of a friend, I start every round with a new ball...but think I might be wasting my money. How long do you play with one ball before replacing?

[dewilson58]

My question is, how long do you use a new ball? I lose very few balls, I'm a straight hitter. Based on the recommendation of a friend, I start every round with a new ball...but think I might be wasting my money. How long do you play with one ball before replacing?

No trees, no cartpaths, no blades.................six 18 hole rounds.

[SHIBUMI]

insinuate deep swing issues.......... if it was all one or the other than the solution is simpler
it aint the ball.............

You aint got that zing until you got them swings....do wop


Shibumi Golf
Golf Swing Surgeon:coolsmiley:



Your sound advice is consistent with every PGA professional I have met. Play one ball, and play a ball you like around the greens.

I notice however that playing a lower spinning ball off the tee results in less dispersion and more balls staying in play. I don't care about a few yards of total distance, but I do care about minimizing hooks and slices. Am I wrong to give consideration to spin off the tee? I think it matters, but maybe its just in my head.

[Teemotay]

Pretty good reviews out there on MM's

That’s what originally made me try them. The price didn’t hurt either. They’re almost half the price as the Vice Pros I was buying at Sam’s. I’m happy with them.