It's no secret that golf balls can be expensive, with some models costing upwards of $50 for a dozen. These are obviously some of the best premium golf balls that money can buy but, in the current climate, many golfers don't want to pay high-end prices for their golf balls, some will much prefer spending a little bit less whilst also getting a performance that will still benefit their game.
That is why we have taken a look at the best mid-price golf balls that are currently available, with there being loads of choice in this sector because every brand makes one or two golf balls at this price point. Also, rather importantly, we have found these golf balls to offer performance that is as close to the top premium models as ever before.
Now, we all know how important it is for you to get the best golf balls for your game, and you may feel that you’re at a stage where you want more all-round performance than even the best value golf balls can offer. However, if you aren’t quite ready for the more significant investment required to stock up with premium balls then it is good news as that is where the mid-price range comes in.
We have tested a lot of mid-price golf balls and we think our selections below symbolize everything that is good in this sector. What's more, we have also created guides on specific aspects of the game, with our other articles focusing on the best distance golf balls and best soft feel golf balls on the market.
The Quick List
Providing generous greenside spin and a useful alignment stamp, the new faster core helped keep ball speeds high, whilst the soft feel helped us when around the greens.
A great all-rounder, the Tour Response felt fairly soft around the greens, with the standout performance being off the tee and the incredibly strong ball flight.
Made of a three-piece construction, the Triad gave a soft feel off the putter and, crucially, it delivered solid distance off the tee and in the irons department.
Featuring Callaway's Triple Track design, the ERC blends a great mix of distance off the tee and a soft feel on a variety of shots. The value for money is certainly competitive in this offering.
The Srixon Soft Feel does exactly what it says on the box, with the upgraded core providing more ball speed and the soft feel creating ample spin on greenside shots.
Kirkland know a thing or two about great value golf equipment and, in the Signature 2.0 golf balls, you will find a durable, soft feeling model that won't break the bank.
Providing users with an extremely soft feel, there is more to the eye than just the eye-catching colorways. Certainly, thanks to the solid all-round performance, it is a great value option that stands out from the crowd.
Best Mid Price Golf Balls
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Top pick
Starting with our top pick and the Titleist Tour Soft golf ball. This model features a number of refinements compared to the previous iteration, including a reformulated thin Fusablend cover for reliable greenside spin. Along with the cover, there is a thick line and ‘T’ marking on the side that we found useful for alignment purposes.
In our testing, we felt that it performed well around and on the the greens, with there being a decent amount of control on a variety of chip and pitch shots. Because of the control, it gave us the confidence to really go at the flag, knowing that the spin would hold the ball on the green. What's more, what makes this an excellent value option is that the durability was superb, as it held up to the various strikes we inflicted through testing.
Where this model stood out was in how soft it felt off the face, with the powerful sensation still remaining. Overall, Titleist have managed to blend spin and distance very well indeed but, that being said, we must note that if you are a high spin player you may be better off looking elsewhere, as these balls did have a tendency to fly a little higher.
- Read our full Titleist 2024 Tour Soft Golf Ball Review
Best ball flight
TaylorMade have given an update to the Tour Response and we noticed several improvements when comparing it to the previous model. For example, the ball speed was 3mph faster and the spin numbers were slightly down over its predecessor. Because of this, the yardage has also increased, whilst the control and feel hadn't been sacrificed.
Overall, we felt that the long game performance was the strongest aspect of the Tour Response and, for a relatively low-compression ball, we were particularly impressed by the strength of the ball flight and the overall distance. Also, like the best premium golf balls, the Tour Response has a cast urethane-cover, which provides generous spin control on greenside shots.
Like the best TaylorMade golf balls, the brand always offers users interesting and quirky designs and, with the Tour Response, it's no different, with TaylorMade providing a Stripe option that features a bright color that wraps around the ball. Now, this look won't be for everyone, but we felt it created a very clear alignment aid off the tee and on the green.
- Read our full TaylorMade Tour Response 2022 Golf Ball Review
Best value
The Wilson Triad has been designed as an all-rounder for ‘the competitive golfer striving to break 80' and, in testing, it certainly delivered on being a great all-round model, with its three-piece construction and ultra-thin urethane cover providing the feel of a more premium model.
Beginning with the standout section, which was on the greens, as the Triad provided a lovely, soft feel off the putter face. However, although it felt great on putts, the greenside control and spin wasn't as strong as other models on the market, but the Triad did make up for that in the long game department.
In testing, the ball flight was strong and there was plenty of distance on offer. What stood out, to us, was the spin, which was fractionally higher on full shots than other models so, for those with slow swing speeds, this model will help get the ball airborne.
- Read our full Wilson Triad Golf Ball Review
Best for alignment
The ERC Soft ball is billed as Callaway’s longest golf ball with soft feel. It does this via the use of a high energy core and a high speed mantle, which are both engineered to deliver more distance throughout the bag.
So, are these claims true? Well, in our testing, it definitely increased carry when the ball was struck from the middle of the club and it also produced a higher launch. These extra distances achieved highlighted that less spin was being created than expected from a soft-feeling ball.
It also has a host of new technology, with a ‘hybrid’ cover helping the distance and control. Where this cover really helped, though, was in the durability. In testing, it survived a number of hits from trees and bunkers, which puts it in the best golf balls for beginners category. It's worth noting that the ERC also has the option of Triple Track technology to aid alignment, something which will prove useful when on the green and on the tee box.
- Read our full Callaway ERC Soft Golf Ball Review
Best soft feel
Featuring a two-layer construction, the Soft Feel golf ball has a soft centre core that gradually gets firmer as you move towards the cover. This construction enables it to snap back into shape more quickly and it is this process that has been improved over previous models.
Thanks to the 338 dimple cover, the Soft Feel is designed to maximize flight performance by reducing drag. What's more, it helps create the launch conditions to get the ball flying high with enough spin and height to land and stop within a reasonable distance.
In testing, it did this very well and, along with the long game performance, there is also a decent amount of grip around the greens, with the Soft Feel doing exactly what is says on the tin by being one of the best soft golf balls on the market. One final point to mention is that the 1.6mm ionomer cover produced a fair amount of control, albeit not as much as Srixon's more premium Z-Star golf ball.
- Read our full Srixon Soft Feel Golf Ball 2023 Review
Best budget model
We all know that Kirkland offer great value golf equipment, such as their Signature Irons. Here, though, we are interested in their Signature 2.0 Golf Ball, which has a three piece design and features a thinner urethane cover and a larger core for increased ball speeds and control.
In testing, the driver spin was on the higher side which, on a windy day, may cause problems, but with the irons and wedges, the spin can help performance, as you can attack the pin more, knowing there is a decent amount of control available.
Providing a soft feel off the face, the Signature 2.0 offers, arguably, the best value for money on the list, as a 24-ball pack comes in with an RRP of around $30. Certainly, if you are after a ball that performs in the short game department, the Kirkland is worth a try.
Best Color Choice
To begin with, the TaylorMade SpeedSoft Ink is a new model from TaylorMade, and is designed to be a low compression golf ball that is engineered to produce speed off the face while feeling extremely soft. Certainly, out of the box, it's the ink pattern where this model stands out and, admittedly, we know that it will divide opinion.
Performance-wise, the SpeedSoft Ink produced a high flight and copious amounts of spin, with the standout being the incredibly soft feel. In total, it has a compression delta below 50, which is why it feels extremely soft off at impact, and the soft feeling nature of the ball made it feel slightly spring-like when it came to the driver and irons.
Although not the longest TaylorMade golf ball on the market, there is a lot to like about the SpeedSoft Ink and, in our opinion, the ink pattern puts it amongst the best balls for beginners and higher handicappers, due to the fact it makes them easier to find in the rough.
- Read our full TaylorMade SpeedSoft Ink Golf Ball Review
How we test golf balls
The quality of Golf Monthly's reviews and buyers guides is built upon a rigorous testing procedure as well as the knowledge and experience of the test team that has a sterling reputation in the industry, known for delivering the key points you want to know in a concise, easy-to-digest manner.
With golf balls, our procedure revolves around indoor and outdoor testing conducted by our team of reviewers. Indoor testing always involves a launch monitor of some kind to gain an understanding of spin and other facets of performance. Outdoor testing would again involve a launch monitor but we would also put the balls to the test out on the course to get some real data and feedback as well. This way we can see how the ball performs playing a variety of different shots and in different conditions. The final point worth mentioning is that no manufacturer can buy a good review because our testing team tells it how it is.
How to choose golf balls
Soft or firm? - The best premium golf balls, and some of the models above, come in alternative versions that spin slightly less for players who prefer a firmer feel or more control off the tee. Try both from various distances to find your preference.
Cover material - Urethane-covered balls offer the best spin control and feel but do cost more. Whereas more budget conscious golf balls tend to have covers that feel harder and compromise on feel but instead give more durability. Experiment to see if you notice enough of a difference to justify the extra cost.
Long game or short game? - Which aspect of the game is most important to you? Do you want to get as much distance as possible out of your golf ball or would you prefer a model that allows your short game to flourish thanks to improved feel?
Well we have created guides for both. If you value the former then check out our guide on the best distance golf balls. Or, if you put a real premium on feel, perhaps our best soft feel golf balls guide might be a good next step. Some of the mid-price models above also try to give the best of both of those worlds' so it is an important factor to be aware of.
Price - No buying guide would be complete without at least mentioning the price factor. Even in the mid-price sector there are models which are cheaper than others. For example there is a good price difference between the Titleist Tour Soft and the Kirkland Signature 2.0 ball, so we would recommend trying out some models first, and then seeing how much you are willing to spend on a dozen golf balls.
FAQs
What is the best golf ball for the average golfer?
The term average golfer can probably be defined as someone with a mid-handicap and as such there are lots of golf balls designed for that sector of the market, many of which are in this guide - such as the Titleist Tour Soft, Srixon Soft Feel, Wilson Triad, TaylorMade Tour Response and Callaway ERC Soft. These golf balls suit mid-handicap players nicely because they perform well for players with moderate to slow swing speeds, and yet give distance, spin and control.
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