TaylorMade's Tour Response franchise has always been held in high regard in the mid-price, three-piece ball category, suiting those who want reliable performance without paying the premium price tag that comes with some of the best golf balls.

Having tested the previous iterations of this popular ball, I was keen to see how the new 2026 TaylorMade Tour Response stacked up when put to the test both indoors on a Foresight Sports GC3 launch Monitor and out on the golf course.

The big story for the 2026 Tour Response is the introduction of Microcoating technology, which TaylorMade first introduced into the TP5 and TP5x golf balls earlier in the year.

This process sees the application of an ultra-thin paint layer (thinner than a human hair) across the ball's entire surface, reducing any pooling in dimples, which ultimately affects how the ball flies through the air. This helps promote consistent peak heights, reliable distances, and a much tighter dispersion on full shots.

I'll be completely honest - I'm not a huge fan of how large the stripe is on these golf balls. I feel as though it's a little too large, and when using it, I feel my aim is far too vague.

The decreased width of the stripe on the 2026 TP5 and TP5x is exactly what I would want to have seen implemented on these golf balls, as that smaller stripe has really helped me aim more precisely and allowed me to be more diligent when setting up my putts. The stripe is also great for when practicing your putting, helping identify if you’re rolling the ball end-over-end.

One of the primary reasons recreational golfers gravitate to this ball is its feel, and the 2026 model does not disappoint, providing a really soft feel off the face with the driver, irons, and putter.

Thanks to the 100% cast urethane cover, the soft cover genuinely rivals the feel of some of the best premium golf balls on the market, and I feel it gives it a nice edge on similar balls in the price range such as the Srixon Q-Star Tour - of which I took to the studio and the course to compare the performance.

When hitting chips and pitches, that urethane cover on the Tour Response provided exceptional greenside spin, even on firm playing surfaces. It offered brilliant trajectory control and stopping power, and looking at the data from my 50-yard pitch test, the Tour Response edged out the Srixon Q-Star Tour with a spin rate of 7945 rpm compared to the Srixon's 7890 rpm.

The Tour Response also launched slightly higher (30.3° vs. 28.7°), which gave me that quick check-and-stop performance I look for around the greens and made it perfect for when short-sided and playing over bunkers.

Taking both balls indoors and using the GC3 launch monitor, the 2026 Tour Response held its own beautifully, demonstrating its ability to excel in this category and arguably punch a little heavier than its weight.

When testing with my 7-iron, the high-flex SpeedMantle layer within the Tour Response showcased its energy transfer capabilities, producing a touch more speed at 129.2mph, as opposed to the 125.3 of the Q-Star Tour. However, it was the additional spin that caught my attention, with the Tour Response spinning noticeably more (6631 rpm compared to 6290 rpm).

Due to the higher spin, the carry distance was a fraction shorter at 182.1 yards versus 183.4 yards for the Srixon, but I did see the ball falling at a noticeably steeper descent angle. I’ll happily sacrifice a single yard of carry for the added stopping power that the 6600+ rpm spin provides, particularly in the summer.

Off the tee, the Tour Response's Speed Wrapped Core - a soft inner core with a progressively firmer outer layer - did its job in generating fast ball speeds, very comparable to some of the premium balls I have tested this year, such as the Callaway Chrome Tour and its elder sibling, the TP5.

I clocked ball speeds of 167.9 mph with the Tour Response, compared to 164.8 mph with the Q-Star Tour with my driver. This little boost in speed, combined with a slightly lower launch (13.9°) but a towering peak height of 125 feet, gave me a carry distance of 291.3 yards - nearly two yards longer than the Srixon.

Now don’t get me wrong, two yards isn’t much to shout about, but with a little more spin and a touch higher flight, I felt a little more in control of the Tour Response.

When comparing the Tour Response to the TP5, I was seeing around 800rpm more with a 7-iron and around 400rpm more with the driver, which is what saw it lose around 13 yards of carry compared to the brand's premier model (291 yards vs 304 yards). Other than that, the short game control felt very comparable, and there was little to no difference when it comes to the face off the putter.

TaylorMade has managed to refine an already excellent golf ball and make this ball a serious proposition for those wanting tour-level performance at a considerably cheaper price point - $45/£39 for the Stripe model.

The introduction of Microcoating on these balls alongside the TP5 and TP5x golf balls shows just how dedicated the TaylorMade team is to producing a reliable and more affordable golf ball, and the narrowed Stripe design is a massive improvement for visual alignment.

If you are looking for a three-piece ball that produces fast ball speeds, towering iron shots, and offers plenty of short game control all at a reasonable price point, the 2026 TaylorMade Tour Response should be firmly on your radar.

Many of you reading this review may never have heard of the golf ball brand XXIO. Certainly the more recognisable brands like Callaway, Titleist and Srixon are the names that are the most prominent on our shop shelves. So when I was asked to test this new XXIO golf ball I was initially sceptical about how good it would be.

My first impressions were good. The packaging is bold and bright and opening my dozen box of golf balls I found four colors inside, a zingy lime yellow, vibrant pink and vivid orange, along with a pearlescent white.

Although it is quite fun to have a multi-coloured ball choice, it may limit the appeal, especially if you only like one of the colours in the box. XXIO Hyper RD is also sold as a ‘white only’ dozen box option for those who prefer this color ball.

Personally I loved the brightness of the balls and found them really easy to follow in the air and spot in the rough, but I would still choose to buy the plain pearlescent white dozen over the colours, as I felt that the alignment line stood out most clearly on this golf ball. In fact, the striking alignment emblem is one of the best design features in my opinion. It’s very easy to use and makes aiming putts clear and precise.

The tech description on the box promises “extreme distance” due to a high trajectory 362 dimple pattern, which is made up of seven different size dimples to help the ball travel through the air with less resistance and maintain its high ball speed and trajectory until landing.

From my very first tee shot I was wowed by the carry distance. It definitely flew slightly further than my usual ball, maybe by as much as 10 yards of carry, which is remarkable at my relatively low swing speed (approx 80mph with driver.)

The science behind this effortless performance points to the XXIO’s Rebound Frame structure, which helps the ball flex efficiently at impact, giving it that impressive carry distance through the air.

In fact, tee to green there was very little I could pick fault with this ball, except perhaps its lifespan and durability as I did notice the cover was fairly scuffed up after two rounds.

As a single figure golfer, the only compromise for me came in the spin control around the greens. Although there is an adequate amount for most recreational players, at my level I wanted a fraction more spin and stop on my finesse shots.

XXIO describes the spin control as “dependable” thanks to the new Hyper soft core and I would agree that it is a contender for one of the best soft feel golf balls. It certainly checked up enough on the slow, wet greens I was playing during testing, however, I anticipate wanting a little more check on my chip shots come the summer fast green season.

On the putting green the feel was soft enough to give me plenty of responsive feedback off the putter face, surprisingly good given that the XXIO Hyper RD is made with a more durable ionomer cover, this can sometimes give that annoying clicky sound when you strike a putt.

When checking out the best golf balls on the market, for many golfers, the XXIO Hyper RD is definitely one to consider.

When Srixon announced the 2026 expansion of its Q-Star lineup, the new Q-Star Ultispeed with Trackline immediately caught my eye, both figuratively and literally! Srixon has never been shy about pushing the boundaries of golf ball visual design - look no further than the popular Q-Star Tour Divide ball. The Ultispeed, however, is aimed at the everyday golfer who wants maxed-out distance without sacrificing overall playability.

Priced competitively at $29/£29 per dozen, this 3-piece, medium-compression golf ball is designed with speed in mind, but the real talking point here is the introduction of the unique trackline, two-stamp visual alignment system that is placed around the ball to offer maximum feedback on alignment and how it rolls.

I put the Q-Star Ultispeed Trackline head-to-head against the TaylorMade Tour Response, indoors on a Foresight Sports GC3 launch monitor, before taking it out onto the course to see how it performed down range as well as around the greens.

This ball is very fast, which surprised me given the fact that it still feels fairly soft. Srixon claims the reformulated FastLayer core and 338 Speed Dimple Pattern work together to eliminate drag and boost ball speed, and my GC3 data backed this up.

Hitting driver, the Ultispeed Trackline generated an impressive 166.1 mph of ball speed, slightly edging out the TaylorMade Tour Response (165.6 mph). Where the Ultispeed really separated itself was in its spin and flight characteristics, producing a penetrating flight, in my ideal spin window of 2298 rpm, compared to the Tour Response’s 2689 rpm.

This lower spin profile kept the peak height down to 119 feet, resulting in a total carry of 292.6 yards (over two yards longer than the TaylorMade), which isn’t much, but it could be the difference between carrying a bunker or not! If you struggle with high, spinny drives that balloon in the wind, this ball is an absolute weapon off the tee.

One thing that is worth noting is that while the Ultispeed proved to be longer on average, the dispersion both from front to back and side to side was a little tighter with the TaylorMade Tour Response.

Moving into the irons, the distance story continued, where I saw an impressive carry distance of 185.3 yards with a 7-iron. However, there is a trade-off for all this speed. The 7-iron spin dropped to 5456 rpm (compared to 6031 rpm for the Tour Response), which is very low and may prove a little difficult to hold greens in firmer conditions.

The most pleasant surprise of my testing came during the 50-yard pitch test. Historically, distance balls don’t offer much feel and control on partial wedges. However, the softer, thinner cover on the Ultispeed produced a highly respectable 7489 rpm of spin on a 50-yard pitch with a 54° wedge. This saw it sit only fractionally behind the Tour Response (7645 rpm). It hopped and checked beautifully on the green, which I wasn’t expecting given the ball speed at the top end of the bag and the price.

While the Trackline alignment system could be useful from the tee for pointing down my intended start line, it’s on the greens where I saw the most benefit. On the greens, it is an absolute game-changer for players who rely on a line to commit to their read. It fills your vision just enough to inspire confidence without feeling overly busy. If you are a traditionalist who prefers a clean, white ball, the Ultispeed is available without the Trackline alignment, so fear not.

The Srixon Q-Star Ultispeed Trackline is undeniably one of the longest, fastest balls I've tested this year in the value golf ball category. While you do sacrifice some mid-iron stopping power compared to a true tour ball, the fast ball speed from the tee, unexpected short-game spin, and the incredibly useful Trackline alignment aid make this a phenomenal option.

When it comes to the best golf balls, the market is full of premium offerings that typically demand faster swing speeds to unlock their full potential. But what about the higher-level amateur golfer who wants the feel and greenside control of a urethane cover without paying a premium? That’s exactly where the Srixon Q-Star Tour comes into play.

The latest iteration of the Q-Star Tour boasts a reworked FastLayer core with a 74 compression rating and features Srixon's signature 338 Speed Dimple Pattern. To see how the Q-Star Tour truly stacks up in the current golf ball market, I put it through its paces both indoors on a Foresight Sports GC3 launch monitor as well as taking it out on the course to see how it flew when exposed to the elements.

While Srixon targets the Q-Star Tour at those with moderate swing speeds, I was eager to see how it handled my 114mph club head speed with the driver. The three-piece ball produced a highly impressive ball speed of 164.8 mph with a launch angle of 14.4 degrees, showcasing a high, powerful ball flight.

What really caught my eye, however, was the spin rate, not because it was overly high, or low for that matter, but when compared to the TaylorMade Tour Response (the Q-Star Tour’s main competitor), it spun around 200rpm less - sitting around 2475 rpm.

Out on the course, the Q-Star Tour produced a strong, penetrating ball flight but with plenty of carry. Despite peaking slightly lower at 123 feet (compared to the Tour Response's 128 feet), it delivered an impressive 289.4 yards of carry. I was thoroughly impressed with the stability and downrange dispersion of the Q-Star on course - as you can see from the graphic below, it kept my dispersion pleasingly tight.

With a 7-iron, the Q-Star Tour delivered 125.3 mph of ball speed on average and launched at exactly 20°. It generated 5890 rpm of spin, which was a little lower than I would typically look for, but the strong peak height of 119 feet and a solid carry of 183.4 yards had me excusing that.

While it carried about a yard and a half less than the Tour Response (185.1 yards) in this specific test, I actually preferred the ball flight of the Srixon. The slightly flatter trajectory felt much more controllable, especially when trying to knock down a shot into a stiff breeze.

If there is one area where the Q-Star Tour truly shines and separates itself from the pack, it is from 50 yards and in. This is where Srixon's Spin Skin technology and premium urethane cover earn their keep.

During my 50-yard pitch test, the launch monitor threw out some fantastic numbers. The Q-Star Tour launched noticeably lower at 28.7 degrees (compared to the Tour Response at 31.3 degrees) but generated significantly more spin - 7890 rpm compared to TaylorMade's 7645 rpm.

Out on the course, the piercing flight with a pitch shot saw the ball grab on the green aggressively, giving me the confidence to attack pins tucked away. Whether I was trying to nip a spinner off a tight fairway lie or hit a standard pitch, the ball took one hop and immediately put the brakes on, giving me the same confidence I'd expect from a premium golf ball.

I was immensely impressed with the new AD333 golf ball (£28 per dozen) Srixon brought out earlier in the year, and while the Q-Star Tour is a touch more of an investment (£36 per dozen), I believe the feel and performance are worth it for those taking their game a touch more seriously without wanting to break the bank.

The Bridgestone Tour B XS has arguably the most famous seal of approval in golf - it is the ball of choice of Tiger Woods. Traditionally, the XS has been the softer sibling in the lineup, designed for players with swing speeds over 105mph who prioritize feel and workability over raw distance, and that is very much still the case in the 2026 iteration.

However, in this latest design, Bridgestone claims to have slightly bridged the gap between the Tour B XS and the Tour B X - the ball played by Jason Day and Chris Gotterup. Born from the ‘VS Blue’ prototype, the new Tour B XS utilizes the same VeloSurge core-mantle technology found in the distance-focused Tour B X, but without sacrificing the bite they demand around the fast greens played on tour. To see if it has been a success, I put the new Tour B XS up against the pinnacle of premium golf balls, the Titleist Pro V1.

Like the rest of the 2026 family, the Tour B XS features the VeloSurge technology. This denser mantle allows for a higher MOI, designed to maximize energy transfer at impact, while in theory remaining more stable through the air.

I took the Tour B XS inside on the Foresight GC3 launch monitor and on the course to capture some data, as well as out on the golf course to see how this ball flies down range and ultimately determine whether it should be considered one of the best golf balls on the market.

Straight away with the driver, I noticed my ball speed with the Tour B XS was 165 mph on average, slightly slower than the Pro V1’s 166.8 mph. However, the efficiency of the Bridgestone was really impressive and mimicked what I saw on the Tour B X golf ball during testing. It actually spun less than the Pro V1 (2146 rpm vs 2312 rpm), which I wasn’t expecting, and launched slightly higher (14.7° vs 14.1°).

This high-launch, low-spin combination meant that despite the slower ball speed, the Tour B XS actually carried 299 yards - one yard past the Pro V1. This, of course, will be player dependent, and launch conditions, speed, and spin will change golfer to golfer, but for a ball marketed on feel and spin with a compression rating I measured at 86 using the Rimac machine, matching the Pro V1 for distance off the tee is a massive win for Bridgestone.

With the 7-iron, the true character of the XS emerged, where the ball speed gap remained, with the XS trailing the Pro V1 by roughly 2 mph (122.8 mph vs 124.7 mph). However, the spin jumped significantly with the Tour B XS producing 6096 rpm of spin compared to the Pro V1's 5798 rpm. It also launched higher (21.3° vs 18.9°) and reached a higher peak height (122ft vs 118ft).

While this resulted in a slightly shorter carry (173 yards vs 175 yards), the descent angle and spin rate meant the XS offered superior stopping power, something that will be more noticeable as the firmer golf courses get throughout the season. If you are a player who sometimes struggles to hold firm greens with mid-irons, this trade-off for a couple of yards and steeper landing angles feels as though it would be worth it.

The short game data offered a surprise, considering the design behind the Tour B XS and the fact that the Pro V1x would typically offer a touch more short-game spin compared to the Pro V1. On the 50-yard pitch, the Tour B XS spun 7149 rpm, which was actually lower than the Pro V1 at 7645 rpm, albeit still very high spin, given the shot was executed with my 54° wedge.

The Tour B XS launched significantly lower (26°) than the Pro V1 (31.3°). This lower launch window is something many better players, including myself, prefer, as it allows you to drive the wedge in with a more penetrating flight rather than floating it up, providing a touch more control. Despite the lower spin number, the grab on the greens was excellent, and the feel off the face was noticeably softer than the Tour B X model I tested previously.

The 2026 Bridgestone Tour B XS is a interesting evolution of the ‘Tiger’ ball, with Bridgestone having successfully injected distance into its higher-spinning model, making it a real all-rounder. While it lagged slightly in raw ball speed, the aerodynamic efficiency makes up for it. If you want the stopping power of a tour ball but don't want to feel punished off the tee, the Tour B XS is a complete package.

I feel Bridgestone Golf has quietly flown under the radar the last couple of years with the previous Tour B lineup, especially given that Tiger Woods and Jason Day are on the staff. After testing over 240 prototypes and gathering data from tour staff and amateur golfers, Bridgestone has unveiled the new Tour B series featuring VeloSurge technology.

The 2026 Tour B range is split between the Tour B X, the subject of this review, and XS. Both are designed specifically for players with swing speeds over 105mph, while the Tour B RX and RXS are for those who swing the driver under 105mph.

The Tour B X is Jason Day’s ball of choice, as well as Chris Gotterup's, who has already won twice in 2026 using the ball. The Tour B X is ideal for golfers looking for distance off the tee without sacrificing greenside performance, with Bridgestone claiming that a new core-mantle integration will help deliver dramatic speed increases.

The engine of this new ball is the VeloSurge technology. Essentially, Bridgestone has utilized a denser mantle material to push up MOI levels. The goal here is a seamless synergy between the mantle and core to maximize energy transfer.

To see if the Tour B X lives up to the hype, I put it up against the premium golf ball benchmark - the Titleist Pro V1, to see how the numbers stacked up both indoors using a Foresight GC3 launch monitor as well as out on the golf course.

While my ball speed was almost identical between the two (166.1 mph for Bridgestone vs 166.8 mph for Titleist) with my driver, the Tour B X delivered a noticeably different flight that was evident both inside and out on the course.

The launch of the Tour B X was slightly higher at 14.8° compared to 14.1° with the Titleist and spun around 400 rpm less than the Titleist, averaging 1916 rpm. Despite the lower spin, I saw really impressive down-range dispersion outside, the tightest of any ball I have tested this year!

The result of this high-launch, low-spin combination was a healthy carry distance of 303 yards, five yards longer than the Pro V1. For a ball to shed nearly 400 rpm of spin while maintaining launch (and accuracy) is a testament to that new mantle design, and so if you are a high-spin player looking to optimize your driver numbers, this ball is a beast and is worth considering at least trying.

According to Bridgestone, testing with the likes of Jason Day produced an average ball speed increase of 2.3 mph - very impressive and noteworthy gains at the top level in the game.

Moving to the 7-iron, the performance gap narrowed, showing that the Tour B X isn't just a distance ball. Ball speeds were again neck-and-neck (124.2 mph vs 124.7 mph), although interestingly, the Tour B X actually spun slightly more than the Pro V1 in my testing, registering 5970 rpm compared to 5798 rpm of the Pro V1.

This, combined with a slightly higher launch angle (20.7° vs 18.9°), the Bridgestone offered a steeper descent angle and carried 176 yards, just edging out the Pro V1 by a single yard. This higher flight and added spin meant the Tour B X had no trouble stopping on the greens, even when I was hitting my approach shots from the rough.

On the outside, the ball retains the REACTIV iQ smart cover, which utilizes impact modifiers to stay firm on shots from the tee for speed, but react softer on shorter shots for spin. The launch on a 50-yard pitch was lower with the Tour B X (27.6°) compared to the Pro V1 (31.3°), something I generally prefer on these shots as it helps me feel like I’m driving the ball in with control rather than popping it up in the wind.

The model I tested also featured the MindSet visual technology, which featured in the previous Tour B X model - a three-step visual cue (Identify, Visualize, Focus) designed to help the separation of analytical thought and athletic execution. While I like the idea behind this, I still prefer the use of a line through the ball for putting.

The 2026 Bridgestone Tour B X is really establishing itself as one of the best golf balls on the market and definitely one of the best Bridgestone balls money can buy, performing well in every area of the bag. The fast ball speed from the tee was matched with a towering flight with the irons and impressive short game control. It’s no wonder this ball is proving to be extremely popular on tour among some of the best players in the world.

Coming to retail at $54.99, it’s right up there with some of the more expensive offerings, but the performance speaks for itself. The Tour B X is a must-try for faster swing speed players in 2026.

The headline story for the 2026 TaylorMade TP5 ball family is the solution to what TaylorMade calls the ‘invisible problem’. Through millions of dollars in R&D, they discovered that traditional paint application often pools in the bottom of dimples, creating uneven surfaces that affect aerodynamic consistency and ball flight.

The solution is a new microcoating process, which sees the balls precisely coated in paint to avoid any ‘pooling’ and reduce any large downrange flight inconsistencies. But does a microscopic layer of paint actually translate to better shots and lower scores? I tested the new 2026 TP5 ball on a Foresight GC3 launch monitor and on the golf course to find out.

The soft feel is what I noticed straight away with the TP5 yet it still provided a powerful feel through impact, unlike some 2-piece constructed balls that are among some of the best balls for beginners. I sometimes struggle with judging my distance control with my wedges with a softer ball, but for some reason, I didn’t get this spring-like sensation with the TP5.

The 2026 TP5 remains a five-layer premium golf ball, but the internal engine has been overhauled and now features TaylorMade’s largest-ever tour core, designed to decrease contact time with the face for higher energy retention.

This is paired with an updated Tour Flight dimple pattern, which was designed to minimize turbulence and create a lift-to-drag ratio that stops the ball from ballooning - something I particularly struggled with when using the previous TP5 model.

It’s interesting to note that while the TP5 is historically the softer, higher-spinning sibling to the TP5x, I saw really impressive distance out of the TP5. In fact, it was marginally longer out of the two balls for me with the driver thanks to the launch and spin, despite being slightly slower off the face.

I achieved a ball speed of 167.6 mph, which, for a ball that feels this soft, is seriously impressive and right up there with some of the fastest balls I have tested this year, such as the Callaway Chrome Tour X.

What stood out most, however, was the launch and spin relationship. I saw a high launch angle of 15.1° paired with a very low spin rate of 2124 rpm, which resulted in really impressive distance from the tee. Usually, to get spin that low, you have to sacrifice some launch or switch to a firmer distance ball. The TP5 gave me a high-launch, low-spin towering flight that carried 306 yards with a peak height of 134 feet.

The fact that I was seeing that launch and spin on the course, without the ball deviating too far off line even when the wind picked up, was a sign to me that the new painting and dimple pattern is working. I saw a really impressive dispersion pattern on my test hole, to the point I could claim with a degree of assurance that it was marginally better than my control test ball - the Titleist Pro V1.

I found the ball launched easily and flew high, and crucially, it didn't balloon. That 2124 rpm spin rate meant that even at 134 feet in the air, the ball was driving forward rather than stalling - something I absolutely loved to see.

Moving down to a 7-iron, the consistency remained solid, and so did the ball flight. I recorded a ball speed of 125.2 mph and a carry of 177.8 yards, while the spin sat at 5981 rpm - a little low for my liking, but the steep descent angle made up for the slight lack in spin.

The peak height was 123 feet with a descent angle that felt as though I could hold any green - the true test will come on the firmer greens in the summer, so check back in for updates on this!

While already having impressed me with the long game performance, this ball continued to excel with its short game performance - an area where it was always reliable. On a standard 50-yard pitch, with a 54° wedge, the performance was conclusive.

I saw a launch angle of 27° and a generous spin rate of 7598 rpm. For a half-shot, generating nearly 7,600 rpm of spin is phenomenal, particularly while using a 54° - my sand wedge loft. The ball carried exactly 50 yards with a controlled height of 23 feet.

This translates to that spinning action that better players crave and that you see the best players on the TV regularly execute. The cast urethane cover feels incredibly grabby on the face, giving you the confidence to be aggressive with chips and pitches, and despite taking off a little cover with fresh SM11 wedges for this year, the durability of the ball was another improvement I noticed with this ball over the previous model.

The TaylorMade 2026 TP5 is going to be a ball that will seriously appeal to a broad range of golfers this year. Any performance and production glitches seem to have been rectified, and you’ll likely see your golf, like mine, reap the rewards. By cleaning up the imperfections in the paint and enlarging the core, TaylorMade has created a ball that launches high, spins low off the driver, while maintaining solid control around the greens.

The TaylorMade TP5 ball is available in stores and online now with a retail price of $57/£47 per dozen.

While the standard TP5 is the headline act, the TP5x has always been the family powerhouse, typically boasting a few extra yards from the tee. For 2026, TaylorMade claims to have made the TP5x its ‘lowest spinning, fastest five-layer tour ball’ by utilising a new dimple design and microcoating process - a layer of paint thinner than a human hair (yes, you read that right) to eliminate inconsistent paint building up in the dimples.

A re-engineered Speed Gradient has been implemented using stiffer mantle layers to maximise energy transfer at impact, in an attempt to make this ball longer than not just the previous TP5x but any ball they have ever made and compete with some of the best golf balls on the market.

I think TaylorMade leads the market in visual tech and the TP5x shines with the new stripe design featuring 360° Tour ClearPath Alignment. This was the model I tested, although there are still Pix, White, and Yellow options for those who prefer more colour or a classic design.

The original stripe was never anything I was interested in, as I have always adopted an ‘aim small, miss small’ philosophy when putting, opting for a thin, drawn-on line. However, the much slimmer 360° ClearPath alignment Stripe design available on both the 2026 TP5 and TP5x is something that I could be persuaded to use.

I could see how this line would be beneficial when putting or even when being specific as to the start line when teeing the ball up. While it took me at least 9 holes for this not to look too busy on my eyes, I found the performance dot amidst the line to be a nice focus point when standing over a putt.

My testing began on a Foresight Sports GC3 launch monitor, where I confirmed the ‘fastest to date’ claims. The TP5x is very different in feel from its sibling, prioritising raw speed and a piercing trajectory, while offering a firmer feel from the clubface.

The driver numbers were impressive if you tend to play your golf by the coast or in windy conditions, but for those who play softer courses that don’t offer much run, then I would sway you towards the TP5.

I produced an average ball speed of 168.3 mph, marginally faster than the standard TP5, while launching at 13° with an ultra-low spin rate of 2018 rpm. This created a powerful, penetrating flight (peak height 110ft) that carried 302 yards with massive rollout potential if used on the right golf course. If you struggle with ballooning drives, this flat, forward-driving trajectory is exactly what you need and could add some serious yardage to your drives.

Like the TP5, the TP5x produced an incredibly consistent flight when out on the golf course, and I didn’t see any wild or out-of-character shots that I sometimes saw with the previous generation - a sign the new micropainting production process wasn’t suffering from any teething problems.

This low-spin DNA carried into the irons, where with my 7-iron, I saw an average of 179 yards carry and 5660 rpm of spin. The flight was solid (118ft peak height), but the low spin and shallower descent had me questioning whether or not I could use this ball, particularly when the golf courses firm up in the middle of the summer. If you suffer from a ballooning ball flight with your irons, I’d put my money on this ball helping fix that problem.

Around the green, the trade-off for that speed is a slightly firmer feel and at least from my testing, a slight drop in spin. On a 50-yard pitch, the TP5x launched higher (29.6°) but spun less than the TP5 at 6774 rpm. While there is still control on offer, the TP5x doesn’t provide the same check as its sibling, releasing just a little more after landing.

The 2026 TP5x is a premium golf ball that will suit some golfers who have speed to burn and want to lower their ball flight, but I would imagine the wide majority of golfers would be much better suited in the TP5. The data highlights a clear distinction - it launches lower and spins less, and while it is the perfect switch for players looking to squeeze every yard out of their swing, this does come at a little cost with a wedge in hand.

The TaylorMade TP5x and TP5x Stripe balls are available now and with an RRP of $57/£47 per dozen.

Wilson is a brand that often flies under the radar in the premium ball category, overshadowed by the likes of Titleist, TaylorMade, Srixon and Callaway. But for those in the know, the Staff Model line has quietly been one of the best value-for-performance options in golf for a while now, and I think it deserves a little more praise than it often receives.

With the new 2026 Staff Model and Staff Model X ($49 per dozen), Wilson is looking to build on that reputation and be positioned among some of the best golf balls on the market. I put both balls to the test indoors on a Foresight GC3 launch monitor and outdoors on the course to see how they compare to what is deemed to be the pinnacle of premium golf balls, the Titleist Pro V1.

The first thing I noticed on my samples is the new TRK360 alignment design. To be completely honest, I've never been a massive fan of visual technology on a golf ball like on the TP5 stripe - I’m someone who draws on a single line on my golf balls - and the bold black and silver striping wrapped around this Staff Model ball felt busy. That said, if you need help with your aim, the option is there and it definitely works, and if you like a clean look you can opt for the standard Staff Model ball with a traditional sidestamp.

That said, the more I played with it, the more I got used to it, and I guess it’s a good way to differentiate your ball from your playing partners. While its primary use is obviously to help with putting alignment, I found it surprisingly useful for feedback, as the lines should roll end-over-end on well-struck putts and wobble instantly if you mishit it.

Both of the new Wilson Staff Model balls feature a 4-piece urethane construction, although the standard Staff Model is designed with a compression of 90 (10 points softer than the X) for a softer feel and lower spin, while the Staff Model X is built for pure speed.

A tour ball needs to perform from tee to green, so I put the Wilson Staff model ball head-to-head against the Titleist Pro V1 to see how the numbers stacked up.

Off the tee, the distance race was incredibly tight, though I found the market leader still holds a slight edge. In my testing indoors on the Foresight Sports GC3 launch monitor, the Titleist Pro V1 delivered a ball speed of 166.8 mph for a carry of 298 yards, whereas the Staff Model was a fraction behind that at 164.4 mph and 293 yards.

Interestingly, the launch characteristics were distinct between the two Wilson siblings - the standard Staff Model launched lower at 13.9°, offering a more penetrating flight compared to the higher-launching 14.6° of the Staff Model X. Despite a touch more spin, and not as much ball speed, the Wilson Staff model ball showed a touch wider dispersion when tested outdoors compared to the Titleist Pro V1.

When I moved to the irons, specifically the 7-iron, the Staff Model balls really separated themselves with significantly higher spin rates. The Staff Model X generated an impressive 6180 rpm, and the standard Staff Model wasn't far off at 5980 rpm.

By comparison, the Pro V1 spun considerably less at 5356 rpm. For a player who struggles to hold firm greens, this extra stopping power is a massive benefit, though it does come with a slight trade off in distance.

The lower-spinning Pro V1 carried about three yards further than the standard Staff Model (182.3 yards vs 179.5 yards), and while that might not matter to some, for shorter hitters, that could be a significant difference.

Inside 50 yards, all three options performed like premium tour balls, offering that hop and stop flight we all love and allowed me to flight pitch shots straight at pins without worrying about the ball releasing. The Staff Model X was actually the highest spinning ball of the entire test, producing 7865 rpm, which edged out the Pro V1’s 7645 rpm.

The standard Staff Model was slightly lower at 7456 rpm, but this is where feel became the deciding factor. The standard model felt noticeably softer than the X, which had a slightly firmer and ‘clickier’ sound that I particularly like for audible feedback and help with distance control.

Overall, the Wilson Staff Model ball produced a pretty well-rounded performance both from a data standpoint and on the golf course. It’s not quite as fast as the gold standard in the premium golf ball market, but offers a feel off the clubface that rivals it, all while coming to retail at nearly $10 cheaper per dozen. If you want a tour-caliber ball and are happy with a small sacrifice of a couple of yards, you should add the Wilson Staff Model ball to your shopping list.

Wilson has just released the updated Staff Model family for 2026 and the distinction between the two balls is clear - the Staff Model prioritises a soft feel while the Staff Model X is designed for players who crave a slightly firmer feel and maximum spin, similar to that of the Pro V1x and Chrome Tour X.

I tested the Staff Model X extensively, both on the course and on a Foresight Sports GC3 launch monitor, to see if this ball had the ‘X’ factor and decide if it could actually compete with the best premium golf balls. Coming in at a slightly more palatable price point of $49 per dozen, I was excited to see the results.

From an aesthetic standpoint, the ball looks good overall but I would like to see the ‘Wilson’ logo written on the ball slightly smaller. That said, I'm a fan of the sidestamp and while I normally use a single line when setting up my putts, I found it to be thick and straight enough on the Staff Model X ball that I didn’t need to draw any further lines on the ball.

Internally, the ball features a 4-piece construction with Wilson's new V-Cor technology, designed to increase energy transfer and therefore ball speed. The compression is firmer than the standard Staff Model, sitting around the 100 mark, which gives it that more ‘clicky’ feeling off the face that many golfers, including myself, prefer.

To see where the Staff Model X fits in the market, I tested it directly against the benchmark for premium balls - the Titleist Pro V1, first indoors on the GC3 and then outside on the course, to see how it compared when it’s exposed to the elements.

When hitting driver, the Staff Model X did a good job at holding its own. In my testing, the Staff Model X delivered a ball speed of 165.3 mph for a total carry of 296 yards. By comparison, the Pro V1 was marginally faster at 166.8 mph, carrying 298 yards, but we’re talking extremely small differences.

What stood out was the difference in spin, whereby the Staff Model X spun slightly more (2546 rpm) compared to the Pro V1 (2312 rpm). This extra spin likely accounts for the 2-yard distance gap, but 296 yards is certainly not a number I sniffed at. The launch was also a touch higher at 14.6° versus 14.1°, giving the X a powerful, high trajectory that looked as though it kept moving forward rather than stalling in the air.

From a dispersion standpoint, I was really impressed with the Staff Model X, and as you can see from the graphic, I would argue it was pretty much on par with the Pro V1 in terms of down-range performance.

It was when I moved to the 7-iron that the Staff Model X truly revealed where it excels. I was generating an average of 6180 rpm of spin, which was seeing the ball come down with strong stopping power. The Pro V1 was spinning at 5356 rpm - a difference of over 800 rpm - an amount that would certainly be noticeable as the greens firm up in the summer.

Inside 50 yards, the spin numbers of the Staff Model X remained really strong, producing an average of 7865 rpm, edging out the Pro V1 at 7645 rpm. The feel is noticeably firmer than the standard Staff Model, offering a sharp, responsive feeling through impact that communicates exactly how you struck the chip. If you like to play aggressive short game shots that check up strongly on the green, this ball is a great option.

The Wilson Staff Model X is undeniably a high-performer and a model that I think should be considered one of the best golf balls on the market in 2026. It delivers exactly the speed, high ball flight, and short-game spin the packaging promises while posting comparable numbers to what is, and has been for a long time, the most played ball on professional tours. At around $10 less per dozen, this is a great option if you’re looking to save a little on ammo for the season.

Callaway truly broke into the premium ball market with the launch of the original Chrome Tour golf ball, but the brand will be hoping its newest iteration will make it a true heavyweight.

The previous generation Chrome Tour was reliable and stable, however, as someone who would typically gravitate towards the Chrome Tour X for its firmer feel and higher long-game spin, I was curious to see if the new Chrome Tour could be considered one of the best golf balls on the market.

The headline technology in this new iteration is what Callaway calls the Tour Fast Mantle. This layer is made from a new material that is stiffer and more elastic than what it has used before - think of it like a tighter, more powerful spring. When you strike the ball, this layer compresses and then snaps back into shape at what Callaway claims is 16 percent faster than previous materials.

This rapid energy return is what translates directly into that increased ball speed off the face - something that was immediately apparent during my initial indoor testing using a Foresight Sports GC3 launch monitor.

Testing began with the driver, and the data I collected was immediately impressive. The ball is designed to be low spinning, and it certainly delivered on that front, hovering just over the 2000rpm mark. While this is slightly on the low side, it is exactly what this ball is designed to do in order to maximize distance.

Despite the low spin, I didn't struggle for hang time as I averaged a peak height of 135ft, which, combined with a ball speed of 168mph, produced an average carry of 304 yards. For players who generate plenty of speed but want to scrub off excess spin for maximum distance, it seemed like a strong option straight away.

The 7-iron spin was also definitely on the lower-spinning side, clocking in at just over 5100rpm. This is consistent with the ball's design philosophy - prioritizing speed and stability over maximum workability.

This powerful engine is wrapped in Callaway's Advanced Seamless Tour Aero package. Essentially, the dimple pattern has been scientifically optimized to reduce drag, helping the ball cut through the air efficiently.

To put this to the test, I took this ball outside to test on the course and get an understanding of its performance in different scenarios, particularly its down-range dispersion when hitting driver, and how this may be affected by the exposure to the elements. The graphic below shows the dispersion pattern on a particular hole, compared to what is seen as the pinnacle of the premium golf ball market - the Titleist Pro V1.

As you can see, there is very little to separate the dispersion of the two golf balls, and given that they are both the lower-spinning siblings in their respective families, both balls produced a similar, high, yet penetrating ball flight. This flight means I saw really solid distance and stability out of both balls, which is great for those who tend to play in the wind.

Finally, the manufacturing process uses Precision Technology to ensure that every single ball in the box is built to the same high standard, so you should be able to fully trust every ball will perform as you’d expect and like every other ball in the box.

Usually, I prefer a firmer feeling ball, which is why I tend to play the Chrome Tour X. Soft balls can sometimes feel a little springy off the face, making distance control difficult on delicate shots. However, I think I could be swayed by this new Chrome Tour due to just enough responsiveness when clipping wedges.

It feels soft, but not in a way that feels uncontrolled, and so this sensation allowed me to keep excellent control with my wedges and scoring clubs. The data backed up this feeling, generating really impressive amounts of spin on shorter shots - just over 7000rpm with a 50-yard pitch shot. It bites hard when you need it to, providing that drop-and-stop performance that I look for, particularly when trying to access tucked pin positions.

For players who want tee-to-green performance, exceptional speed, and a consistent flight through the bag, the Chrome Tour is a serious contender. Even if you, like me, usually prefer a firmer feel from the putter and wedges, the feel and feedback from the new Chrome Tour is impressive enough that they just might change your mind.

The reputation of Callaway’s premium balls shifted with the introduction of the Chrome Tour family a couple of years ago, but thanks to new technology promising more speed and consistency, the 2026 lineup looks set to take things to a whole new level and compete with some of the best golf balls on the market.

While we have seen the arrival of the new Chrome Tour and Chrome Tour X - four-piece, tour-level offerings currently in the bags of staffers like Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele and Sam Burns - the Callaway Chrome Soft remains a crucial pillar in the premium ball lineup.

As the third sibling in this high-performance family, the Chrome Soft is designed for a specific type of player who prioritizes a soft golf ball, offering a high ball flight and fast ball speeds, yet perhaps doesn't generate the extreme swing speeds required to fully compress the Tour or the Tour X.

Under the hood, so to speak, Callaway has implemented some significant changes to justify the new release - the first of those and the headline addition is the revolutionary Tour Fast Mantle. This layer is created to increase ball speed by acting like a stiffer spring at impact, with Callaway claiming this material is 16 percent more responsive than previous iterations, essentially serving as a high-flex modulus engine for the ball.

I first tested the Chrome Soft indoors using a Foresight GC3 launch monitor to see how these technological claims translated to raw data and in doing so, compared this ball to another three-piece, urethane-covered ball in the TaylorMade Tour Response. Despite both of these balls being constructed using three layers, the Chrome Soft is priced the same as its siblings at $57/£49 per dozen, whereas the Tour Response is more affordable at $42/£37.

Upon first strike, the ball performed largely as expected given the nomenclature and felt incredibly soft through impact. While many players chase this sensation, I actually find it to be a double-edged sword due to the fact that the ball feels as though it springs off the face. While I understand the satisfaction of this on full shots, I find it makes wedge and distance control with the putter slightly more difficult.

When looking at the numbers, the Chrome Soft produced a mixed bag of results that will suit specific players perfectly while alienating others, but this is almost the case with every golf ball on the market.

With the driver, I was seeing ball speeds around the 167mph mark, which is very competitive against the Chrome Tour and Chrome Tour X. However, the spin was a little higher than I would typically want to see, hovering around 2700 rpm. While this helps keep the ball in the air for moderate swing speeds, faster swingers might find it climbs a little too much, especially those who play in windy conditions.

Where this ball really came alive was in the iron game. It produced extremely good distance with a 7-iron, and while it overspun a little with the driver, it was actually a little under where I would look for with this club. I was seeing spin rates around 5700 rpm - for context, I typically look for that number to be around the 6500 mark for optimal control.

If you are a player who struggles to get distance out of your irons, this lower spin profile, combined with the fast mantle, will likely add a few yards to your game, so it could be worth testing.

As always, I like to see how the ball performs outside as I feel that’s where you get a full idea of the aerodynamics package and how it performs downrange in regards to the ball's dispersion. While it was a little chilly during testing (6°c/42°f ), thanks to a slight breeze coming in from the north, I saw the Chrome Soft perform pretty well on my test driving set.

The Tour Response was also reliable in this area it must be said, but as a whole, I would have to say I saw a slightly more consistent trajectory windows with the Chrome Soft. While it looked as though the ball tended to hold its flight a touch better than the Tour Response, the graphic below shows there wasn't much in it.

The reason the Chrome Soft performed ever so slightly favourably outside was likely down to the new Advanced Seamless Tour Aero design. This is an optimized Hybrid Aero Pattern designed to stabilize ball flight and maximize distance consistency. This package is wrapped in a Precision Tour urethane cover - the same as the other balls in the Chrome family - and is produced using Callaway’s Precision Technology to ensure every ball performs identically to the last.

The trade-off for that iron distance and driver performance became apparent with the wedges. On a standard 50-yard pitch shot, I struggled to generate the high-checking spin required to attack tight pins. The ball lacked a little stopping power compared to its Chrome Tour siblings, releasing out more than I would like, and that’s without the greens getting as firm as they might come the middle of the season.

Overall, the Chrome Soft golf ball could be a great addition to a golfer's bag if they prioritize yardage with their irons and consistency or height from the tee. You may want to turn your attention to the Chrome Tour X if you’re after a little more spin around the greens.

At $10 less per dozen, the Tour Response produced pretty similar results to the Chrome Soft and actually provided a little extra spin and control with the wedges, so if you’re not brand-agnostic and don't prioritise a very soft feel, this may be where you want to turn your attention.

For players who demand more short-game spin out of their golf ball, the ‘X’ model in most golf ball families is usually where you’ll begin your search. As someone whose current ball of choice is the Titleist Pro V1x, I have always gravitated towards that distinctively firm acoustic and feedback, as I think it helps me with my distance control due to the responsiveness off the face.

Naturally, I was eager to see how the new Callaway Chrome Tour X compared to my current ball and if it could instantly be considered one of the best golf balls on the market. To do this, I put it to the test on a Foresight Sports GC3 launch monitor in the Golf Monthly Performance Lab, where we film all of the videos for the Golf Monthly Reviews YouTube channel.

I tested the Chrome Tour X alongside the standard Chrome Tour, and the differences were immediately apparent in the data and feel from the clubface. With the driver, I saw my spin rates hover around the 2100rpm mark with the Tour X, and it provided a noticeably firmer feel through impact. Interestingly, this was only a jump of about 100rpm compared to the standard model - a much smaller gap than I anticipated. This optimal spin profile allowed me to generate an average ball speed of 167mph, resulting in a solid carry distance of 302 yards and an extremely high peak flight of 140 feet.

However, the separation between the two models became much clearer with the irons. The Chrome Tour X generated a good 700rpm more spin than its sibling, and when I took the ball outside, this data translated into noticeable workability. It was incredibly easy to manipulate the flight of the X, and whether I needed to hold a fade against the wind or draw one around a corner, the ball responded instantly, all without moving excessively. It allowed me to be extremely creative and see shots I may not have attempted with other balls.

Technologically, Callaway has pushed the envelope with the introduction of the Tour Fast Mantle. For those not versed in golf ball engineering, this is essentially a new casing layer that acts like a stiff spring. By using a High Flex Modulus material - a first for Callaway - the ball is designed to be 16 percent more responsive than previous materials, which naturally should result in more ball speed. I saw about a two mph jump compared to my current ball, working out to be roughly six more yards of carry.

This engine is covered in the Advanced Seamless Tour Aero package, utilizing a Hybrid Aero Pattern to stabilize flight, while Precision Technology ensures that manufacturing tolerances are kept tight for consistent performance.

In my dispersion testing, I compared the Chrome Tour X against my standard premium benchmark golf ball, the Titleist Pro V1. I did note that the dispersion circle with the Callaway was a little wider, although I didn't experience any rogue or ‘strange’ ball flights. The stability was there, but the ball did seem to want to curve an extra five yards or so compared to what I am used to seeing and what I saw when working this ball around with the irons.

The added dispersion is the trade-off for that enhanced workability when hitting approaches into greens, although this is usually an exchange that better players would tend to welcome.

When it came to the short game, I absolutely loved the feeling of the Chrome Tour X off the face of my wedges. It has a distinct 'clickyness' that I love, but if you want a softer feeling ball, the Chrome Tour is where you’ll want to turn your attention.

This audible and tactile feedback really helped me judge my distance control on pitch shots and chips. The same sensation carried over to the putting green, where the firm click provided an immediate sense of pace that I found very reassuring and saw me regularly leaving the ball within ‘gimmie’ range.

One small gripe would be the side stamp. While it is of a decent size, it doesn't quite ‘pop’ enough visually to be a standalone alignment aid, and so I would draw my own line on the ball if I were choosing to use it in a tournament.

Overall, I would say the Chrome Tour X delivers the firm feel and high spin profile that many better players, myself included, have come to rely on. If you are looking for a ball that allows you to get creative with your trajectory and provides the requisite feedback on every shot, the Chrome Tour X is a fantastic option you should consider in 2026.

The Srixon AD333 is the franchise that defined the value ball category, offering reputable performance without the premium price tag. Now the brand is looking to continue this dominance with a set of design improvements made to this latest generation, all while remaining at an affordable £28 per dozen.

However, the landscape is changing, and the AD333 now faces stiff competition from the likes of Kirkland and Amazon, who are both producing their own balls and aggressively targeting the cheap golf ball market.

While the prices of these supermarket contenders are attractive, I found in my testing that they simply don't compare when it comes to the technology incorporated into the AD333. There is a refinement and attention to detail that many direct-to-consumer balls often lack, and while the Kirkland has proved its dominance over the Amazon Basics ball, the AD333 takes things up a notch.

In fact, moving forward, this is the ball that will be used as our test subject when it comes to all value and budget golf balls. However, for the sake of this review, I tested it head-to-head against the latest Titleist TruFeel to see how it stacked up against another heavy hitter in the category.

My testing began indoors on a Foresight GC3 launch monitor at the Golf Monthly Performance Lab to get some baseline numbers without external interference such as temperature, moisture and wind. Both the AD333 and the Titleist TruFeel actually performed pretty well at the top end of the bag, producing solid numbers in terms of ball speed.

The Srixon gave me a slightly better flight than the TruFeel due to my specific launch conditions. This was largely due to the TruFeel generating a touch more spin when hitting the driver, which robbed it of that penetrating trajectory I was getting with the AD333 and subsequently fell a little short in terms of carry.

The central story of this new AD333 is the evolution of its core and compression, which explains the performance I saw on the monitor. Srixon has fine-tuned the FastLayer core, lowering the overall compression to 68. This contrasting compression effect is designed to maximize ball speed and encourage a longer, straighter flight on low-lofted clubs, while simultaneously delivering a more satisfyingly softer feel on iron shots. I will admit, this ball felt exceptional from my irons, soft yet powerful at impact.

This performance was then showcased throughout my outdoor testing. It’s essential to test balls outdoors to demonstrate how they perform through the air and downrange, rather than just relying on a calculated number from an algorithm, which doesn't factor in the effect of dimple patterns and aerodynamics. Many balls will perform similarly on a launch monitor indoors, but very differently when aerodynamics come into play.

As you can see from the image above, the AD333 had a tighter dispersion pattern and performed well downrange, despite a cool breeze that was blowing into and out of the right-hand side.

Much of the stability shown by the AD333 is thanks to the aerodynamics having been optimized by a new 338 Speed Dimple Pattern. This has been engineered to reduce the drag coefficient, allowing the ball to cut through the air with less resistance for a more penetrating launch. Simultaneously, a higher lift coefficient helps the ball stay airborne for longer, resulting in maximum carry - something that really helped given the soft ground conditions I face during the UK winter.

It is worth bearing in mind that it was a chilly 6°C when testing outside, compared to our standard 20°C indoor temperature when testing inside. This is certainly worth noting as I had multiple layers on, and my body swings far more freely when in the heat. In the cold, my body feels significantly older than I actually am, which undoubtedly costs me a few yards of carry!

The short game is where the AD333 separated itself from the TruFeel thanks to solid spin retention. The new specialized Spin Skin coating is formulated with highly flexible molecular bonds, allowing it to dig deeper into the club face grooves at impact. This maximizes friction, helps generate increased spin, and provides the crucial control and stopping power needed on approach shots, something no golfer will ever complain about.

Visually, I also have to mention how much I love the solid blue alignment line on the side of the ball. It is large enough in both length and width that I didn't have to fuss around drawing on my own lines with a permanent marker, and it worked perfectly when helping me aim towards my target with my putter behind at address.

For £28 per dozen, the Srixon AD333 isn't just surviving the influx of budget competitors, it really is outclassing them. Thanks to a new, softer feel and enhanced distance, the AD333 strengthens its case as the definitive choice for golfers seeking the perfect blend of performance, feel, and value.

Vice has firmly established itself as a major player in the direct-to-consumer market, offering a comprehensive line-up to rival the biggest names. While the premium Pro and Pro Plus balls are aimed at high-speed players and the Tour and Drive models cater to different needs and budgets, the Vice Pro is designed as the all-around performer. I took the Tracer Pro version out for testing to see how this 3-piece urethane ball stacks up and what performance benefits the tracer alignment feature offers.

On paper, the Vice Pro is built for balanced performance, designed for golfers who prioritise a mixture of distance and short game control. It’s made from a 3-piece construction with a cast urethane cover, similar to that of a TaylorMade Tour Response, and some of the best golf balls on the market.

It boasts a 90-compression High Energy Speed Core designed to maximise ball speed for those with medium swing speeds. While this swing speed isn’t specified, I would assume it’s for golfers who swing a driver anywhere between 90mph and 105mph.

I was testing the Pro Tracer model, which features a thick, dual-colour alignment line. Off the tee, I could see how this visual aid was genuinely useful for helping with setup and visualising your start line, as well as, of course, when lining up putts.

I typically putt with a single line on the ball, and so at first I did actually find the larger graphics a little off-putting. However, once I understood that inside 10ft, these alignment cues saw my ball rolling at the hole more consistently, I gained confidence and subsequently started holing a considerable amount of putts from that range. It really started to feel like a cheat code, particularly on those nervy 3-footers.

The ball felt solid and fast off the face, and the 318-dimple pattern produced a fairly high, towering ball flight when the weather was calm. However, due to the fact that I swing my driver at around 117mph, I did find it spun up a little more with both the driver and my irons than I would typically like to see when measuring data using my Foresight Sports GC3 launch monitor.

With my usual driver and Titliest Pro V1x combination, I would expect to see around 2200 rpm of spin. However, with the Vice Pro Tracer ball, I was seeing around 400 rpm more than this, as you can see in the graphic below. This then also resulted in a shorter carry distance than I would like to see.

This was also to my detriment when playing into a wind or crosswind, I found the ball quickly lost its speed, and I saw the ball stall quite a lot and get moved by the wind. On slight mis-hits, particularly those struck towards the heel, the ball seemed to rise more than I'm used to, causing the ball to fall short of my target.

Where the Vice Pro truly excelled for me was from 100 yards and in. The thin cast urethane cover helped provide plenty of short game spin and control, and considering how soft the ball feels off the face, the cover actually held up pretty well. I put the ball through its paces in the bunker, and it delivered solid amounts of spin on well-struck chips and pitches, giving me the confidence to attack pins.

Overall, I think the Vice Pro Tracer ball is a superb option for golfers seeking fairly solid performance at the reasonable price of just under £28 per dozen, making it one of the best value golf balls on the market. It’s not the strongest performer in the wind, or if you have a faster clubhead speed, but the strong performance from 100 yards and in makes up for what it lacks in distance.

The Pro Plus is the brand's flagship ball in a comprehensive line up. It is a four-piece, tour-calibre ball engineered specifically for golfers with high swing speeds, which is why I was very keen to put it to the test.

Sitting above the mid-priced Pro and the softer Tour ball, I got my hands on the visually-striking Tracer model to see if its performance matched the bold looks.

The Tracer pattern is hard to ignore when taking these balls out of the packet for the first time. The multi-line design is similar to that of the TaylorMade TP5 Stripe ball, which has become very popular among amateur golfers. While I typically don’t like seeing a lot of graphics on my golf ball, I can see how this ball would help people who struggle with alignment from the tee and hitting their start lines when putting.

From the first tee shot, it was clear this ball is designed for those who naturally produce a decent amount of speed. I swing a driver at around the 117mph mark, and so I found the four-piece construction, combined with its high compression, translated into a powerful and penetrating flight with the driver.

I would say the Vice Pro Plus is aimed at those swinging in excess of 110mph to reap the rewards of the ball's characteristics or for those who just want a firmer feel around the greens. I was particularly impressed with the spin numbers this ball produced. My driver spin was in a good place, hovering right around the 2300rpm mark, which produced a strong flight that held its line well, even when I was into the breeze.

Interestingly Vice suggests you could rotate the Tracer graphic 90° when using it off the tee to assist with aim more effectively thanks to the combination of the three vertical and three horizontal guides, although what looks better to your eyes might differ to mine.

Through the bag, the Pro Plus offered a stable and mostly predictable flight with the irons, although I did see a few shots that came out with very little spin, causing the ball to fly a long way, almost as if I’d caught a little ‘jumper’ from the fairway, but for the most part, I was seeing the ball travel the same distance and at the same trajectory that I'm used to seeing.

However, this ball's true character shone through in the short game. The feel is noticeably firmer than its three-piece Pro sibling, which was something I particularly liked and used to with my ‘gamer’ ball.

When chipping and pitching, this firmness provided a lovely, crisp "click" at impact and gave me a real sense of control and feedback, allowing me to be more aggressive with my landing spots. It was a very familiar and confidence-inspiring sensation, reminding me of the Titleist Pro V1x - one of the best golf balls on the market.

On the greens, the Tracer's alignment benefits are obvious. It frames the ball perfectly, making it incredibly easy to see your start line and get immediate feedback on the quality of your stroke. However, if you’re not a fan of the tracer design, you can purchase these balls in multiple different color options - something Vice is well known for.

Overall, I do think this is a reliable option for those with fast swing speeds seeking low spin and a firm feel at a very affordable price point. To the point that I would class them amongst the best value golf balls given the £27 per dozen price point.

Given the visual assistance and the impressive performance through the bag, there's a strong case for this being the best ball Vice has ever made (let me know in the comments what Vice ball you like to play with). It's not for everyone, but for those seeking a tour-calibre ball without the premium prices, it's well worth a try.

The Amazon Basics Core Soft Golf Ball marks the e-commerce titan’s first venture into the golf ball space, one that is dominated by some icons like the Titleist Pro V1 and TaylorMade TP5.

While Amazon hasn’t come into the market to directly compete with these bigger brands (not yet, at least) I wanted to give the Basics Core Soft golf ball a fair crack at the whip. So I took them onto the course and put them to the test using my Foresight Sports GC3 Launch Monitor to see how they performed and whether you should consider using them.

My first impression was a little underwhelming. The balls don't arrive in a traditional dozen box, instead, you receive four loose sleeves of three balls in a standard Amazon cardboard box. I’m still making up my mind on this - is it a clever eco-conscious design saving on unnecessary packaging, or is this outweighed by the annoyance of now having four loose sleeves rattling around my bag? I’m leaning towards the latter.

Taking the ball out of the sleeve, it doesn't feel great in the hand, largely because the outer cover feels fairly cheap. This initial inspection immediately set my expectations of the ball fairly low, despite already knowing the $15 a dozen price point. The logo was also a little large, which detracted from the overall look.

Out on the course, the ‘Core Soft’ name definitely rings true, especially with the scoring clubs. After just a few chips before my round, I knew I would struggle with distance control with this ball because it felt as though it really jumped off the face. I usually steer towards a firmer feeling ball as I like that ‘clicky’ feel, particularly with my wedges and putter.

When hitting a 50-yard pitch with my usual Pro V1x, I would look to see the ball spin around 7000 rpm. The Amazon Basics Core Soft Ball was around 2000 rpm less, which was a little concerning to see.

When moving through the bag, I started to realise centred hits with my irons would feel good, yet often fall five yards or so short of where I usually am. This trend continued when stepping back to the tee, yet if anything was exaggerated.

To put it simply, the distance output was low due to the ball spinning up quite a bit, especially on heel strikes - something that was also shown by my Foresight GC3 launch monitor. It just didn't seem to have the 'pop' of some of the other best value golf balls or best cheap golf balls.

While I felt a lot of the time the Basics Core Soft ball ballooned up in the air, losing energy, which ultimately robbed it of distance, I also saw some strange behaviour from the rough, where ironically it didn’t seem to spin enough, and I experienced quite a few ‘flyers’. On average, though, particularly from the fairway, going long of the green was no issue as I was consistently shorter than with my usual gamer (Titliest Pro V1x). I would typically see my 7-iron carry around the 175-yard mark and my longest carry with the Amazon Basics Core Soft ball was 169.

If distance is something you prioritise, you may want to look elsewhere, although those with slower swing speeds might not see as significant a drop off in speed and distance as I did.

Usually, I would look for my ball to spin at around 2100/2200rpm which, with my clubhead speed and launch characteristics, would usually see the ball carry around the 300-yard mark. As you can see from the data below, this ball fell on average 20 yards short of this, likely due to the excessive backspin.

While Amazon's entry into the market is noteworthy, this first attempt feels more like a box-ticking exercise than a case to become a serious contender in the market. Golfers who enjoy a soft feel above all else might find some appeal, or those who have just started and want superb value per ball ($1.33) they can afford to lose in the trees.

But for most players, the significant drawbacks in distance, spin and consistency will likely be a deal-breaker and see them return to one of the best golf balls with better all-around performance from tee to green.

Tour Edge makes some mightily impressive golf clubs in recent years, notably the Exotics C725 driver and Exotics C725 irons, catering for a variety of player types by offering premium performance at a slightly more palatable price.

Now, it has taken this golf know-how and applied it to balls for the first time. The company claims its new Exotics ball produces ‘incredible numbers’, something I was very keen to put to the test.

WATCH: Joel Tadman tests the performance of the Tour Edge Exotics ball

In terms of technology, the Tour Edge Exotics ball is a three piece design with a urethane cover, much like that of the market leading Titleist Pro V1 in terms of construction. It boasts a high speed KinetiCore said to deliver speed, distance and stability in the wind while the fast, soft ionomer mantle layer helps with accuracy and control on approach shots. For short game spin, there’s the cast urethane cover.

On first inspection out of the box, the Tour Edge Exotics looks well made. It has a slightly duller finish than the bright white Pro V1 and the dimples don’t appear to be as tightly packed together. This explains the 318 dimple pattern total versus the Pro V1’s 388.

On the Exotics there’s also a visible seam around the golf where the two halves have been joined, whereas on most of the best premium balls it is more seamless (pun intended). This used to affect performance back in the day but the USGA’s symmetry test now ensures every ball performs similarly in different orientations.

The ball also sports Tour Edge’s new modern logo, which looks smart, and the sidestamp should be effective enough for golfers that use a line on their ball to help them on the greens.

As I clipped a few chips away it was noticeable how soft the Exotics ball felt, it didn’t sound as clicky as the Pro V1, although the difference was fairly subtle. Overall the Tour Edge probably had a slightly higher flight on chip and pitches but the level of grab on the second bounce was comparable.

I then took the ball indoors and gathered data on the Foresight Sports GCQuad launch monitor, hitting a 50-yard pitch shot, 7-iron and driver with each. The data painted a similar picture in that the numbers were very comparable, almost identical in fact. The Pro V1 provided a touch more spin with a wedge and a little more speed and distance with the driver, but we’re talking minimal differences.

But to properly assess the Tour Edge ball, I needed to hit it out on the course. So I hit three drives with the Exotics and three with the Titleist Pro V1. This is important because photometric launch monitors use algorithms to calculate distance and don’t factor in the effect of dimple design and aerodynamics, which ball companies rightly place a lot of value in.

Having hit some well-struck drives with each, it appeared that the Pro V1 started to separate a little more. While I probably struck one of the shots with the Titleist slightly better, to see it finish 14 yards further than my best hit with the Tour Edge was a surprise. I’m speculating of course, but it appeared the Pro V1 did a better job of cutting through the slight head wind and maximising total distance.

But in summary, the Tour Edge Exotics ball certainly held its own and when you consider it comes in at just $39.99 per dozen compared to the $55 of the Pro V1, you could argue there’s better value to be had, especially for golfers that prioritise performance into and around the greens as well as a soft feel.

More and more companies are making competitive products at the premium end of the ball market that are genuinely comparable to the established choices. We’ve seen it with balls like the Mizuno Pro X, the Snell Prime 3.0, the Vice Pro Plus and even the Kirkland Signature to a degree, and Tour Edge is another ball that performs well tee-to-green for a more than reasonable price.

The Kirkland Signature golf ball has earned a legendary status in the amateur golf community, primarily by shattering the established price structure of the premium ball market.

Its latest iteration - a 3-Piece Urethane Cover model sold in a 24-pack - promises tour-level materials and performance at an unbeatable value. As a dedicated gear tester, I set out to determine if this golf ball can genuinely compete with some of the game's best golf balls on performance, or if its exceptional price tag hides a critical deficiency.

The incredible price tag is the first thing that hits you: for £34.99/$34.99 for two dozen golf balls, the proposition is nothing short of extraordinary. When premium competitors are nearing and exceeding £50 a dozen, this model offers a significant financial relief. However, a golf ball’s merit needs to be measured from tee to green, not by its barcode, and I needed to know if the value came at the expense of performance.

My initial impression of the feel, which was a little "clicky" in older models, has much improved. The latest version delivers a notably softer impact, though it still has some way to go to match the truly soft, deep sensation of a Titleist Pro V1, for example.

The improvement in feel is most noticeable on the irons and wedges, particularly short chips and pitches around the green. Off the putter face, it felt solid and responsive, a pleasing experience given the price.

My testing and data gathering began indoors using a Foresight Sports GC3 launch monitor. While the spin and speed data looked promising, showing nearly identical launch conditions and minimal distance variation compared to the 2025 Titleist Pro V1, I was cautious.

It is essential to remember that a camera-based system like the GC3 only measures the first few feet of flight, projecting the rest through incredibly complex and accurate algorithms. It must be noted, however, that a ball setting off with high levels of spin can experience significant "spin decay" if the dimples and aerodynamics are not as sophisticated as they should be - a critical factor that the initial measurement can easily miss.

Because of this, I decided to take the test outdoors for a true, real-world comparison: a good old-fashioned 'pace-off' against the 2025 Titleist Pro V1. I hit 24 of each ball with both my 7-iron and driver, meticulously numbering each one to ensure I knew which ball I was comparing.

Despite the GC3 reporting only a one-yard difference in carry with my driver, when I went up to collect the balls and pace out the distance, the average difference was nearly 10 yards in favour of the Titleist ball.

It was a similar story with the 7-iron, with a 6.5-yard difference apparent here, despite less than half a yard difference being reported on the launch monitor. This suggests to me that the Kirkland ball may indeed be struggling with spin decay or some aerodynamic inefficiency over the full distance, costing the amateur golfer valuable carry yardage.

A slight lack of control becomes more apparent as you approach the green, where the Kirkland ball certainly fell short of more premium golf balls in terms of spin and performance. It produced a significantly higher ball flight and noticeably less grab on the putting surface, in particular on mid-range pitch shots around the 50-yard mark.

This lack of greenside bite is the most noticeable performance compromise I found throughout testing.

In truth, I would need even more time with the ball over a number of rounds to judge the overall consistency and how it plays in varying conditions. But even after the testing I have done, I can pretty confidently say that the Kirkland is a fairly reliable product, offering decent feel and feedback and a reasonable level of spin and control, albeit at a mildly reduced distance.

I would dispute Costco’s website's claim that these balls are "great for beginners or professionals," as the lack of greenside control would make them stand out like a sore thumb among elite players.

However, I cannot think of a ball that even gets close to representing the same extraordinary value for the beginner or intermediate player. If you're someone who loses a ball or two per round and prioritizes saving money without resorting to a low-quality rock, the Kirkland Signature is unbeatable.

Maxfli has been making a name for itself with its revamped tour golf ball lineup, which has recently seen two victories on the PGA Tour. With a very interesting price point that has the potential to disrupt the market, I wanted to put the new 2025 Maxfli Tour ball through its paces to see if it could compete with the best balls in the game…

Reading the packaging of the two Maxfli boxes I was provided with, the Tour ball is a 3-piece urethane construction that is designed to feel a little softer, fly a little lower, and spin a little less than its X counterpart.

For context, I tested the Maxfli Tour against its sibling, the Tour X, and the 2025 Titleist Pro V1, using the Foresight Sports GC3 launch monitor to get a flavour of the performance characteristics on offer.

With every club I tried—from the driver to the 7-iron and even with a sand wedge—the raw performance data between the Maxfli Tour and the Pro V1 was incredibly similar. The ball speed, carry distance, and spin numbers were all within a negligible margin. It was genuinely surprising to see two balls from different ends of the price spectrum perform with such parity.

Truth be told, the only discernible difference I could find was in the feel. The Maxfli Tour, while offering a softer and more muted sensation than the Tour X, felt a touch "clickier" off the clubface compared to the buttery-smooth feel of the Pro V1. This difference, however, had absolutely no bearing on the raw data and performance numbers, and as such will pose a question to potential purchasers: how important is feel to you?

Staying with some of the parameters that are less quantifiable with a launch monitor, the Maxfli Tour still performed admirably. Durability, for example, I hit at least 30 shots with a sand wedge, 7-iron, and driver (far more than you would hit during even two rounds of golf), and the cover stood up extremely well with only minimal marking.

The 2025 Maxfli Tour is a genuinely intriguing product that performs like a premium, tour-level ball at a price point that is frankly unmatched in the market. The fact that the Maxfli Tour is available for $39.99 a dozen makes it an incredible deal for a ball of this quality. Its ability to go toe-to-toe with the category-leading Pro V1 in terms of data makes it a serious contender for any golfer's bag.

When it comes to the best golf balls, most of the conversations around elite performance revolve around a few select brands. However, Maxfli has been making a name for itself with its modern Tour lineup, culminating in not one, but two recent victories on the PGA Tour. With a price point that genuinely disrupts the market, I wanted to put the new 2025 Maxfli Tour X to the test to see how it stacks up against some of the market leaders…

In terms of construction, with the Maxfli Tour X, we are looking at a 4-piece golf ball with a cast urethane cover, a polyhedron dimple design, and a dual ionomer mantle. To translate this into simpler terms and what that means in a practical sense, Maxfli designed this to be a firm(ish) feeling, high-flying and high-spinning golf ball for the elite player…

For context, I tested the Tour X alongside its sibling, the Maxfli Tour, and the Titleist 2025 Pro V1, and my very first observation after clipping a few shorter irons away with both was that it felt like a lively little brother to the standard Maxfli Tour ball. While the Maxfli Tour offers a soft, muted feel, the Tour X felt noticeably firmer and more responsive, and at first glance, it felt like the ball was “fizzing” a little more with backspin off those shorter irons.

The performance data of the Maxfli Tour X was where things got really interesting. As suggested by the success and victories of PGA Tour pro Ben Griffin, this ball truly delivers, although my testing revealed some surprising results for me at least…

In every category I tested with full shots – sand wedge, 7-iron, and driver – the Maxfli Tour X produced the highest ball speed output of my test selection. Off the tee, with the driver, I consistently saw numbers that were 1-1.5 mph faster than both the Maxfli Tour and the Pro V1, which translated into impressive carry and total distance.

However, despite what the packaging claims (that the Tour X is higher spinning than the Tour off every club), my personal data told a different story. In my driver and 7-iron testing, I found the Tour X to be slightly lower spinning than the Maxfli Tour ball. These things can absolutely differ from player to player depending on delivery conditions, etc, so don’t take this as set in stone, it is just what I experienced, and did so pretty consistently. This could very well be a good thing for many players, as it helps to maximize distance and maintain a penetrating flight even in windy conditions.

The real magic, though, happened with the wedge shots.

Here, the spin numbers jumped up considerably, making the Tour X comfortably the highest spinning of all three balls I tested on short shots, giving me some serious control around the greens with the ball obediently gripping up after crisply struck pitch shots.

This combination of low spin on long shots and high spin on short shots feels like a great place to be in terms of elite-level performance, and I can see why it is turning some heads even on tour.

Data aside, I slightly preferred the feel of the Titleist Pro V1 as it offered a notably softer feel; however, I anticipated this with the Pro V1 being the softer of the Titleist offerings. As such, I dragged a couple of Pro V1x’s for a more direct comparison, and I found much the same. The Titleist version just felt a touch less clicky; however, as detailed, this had absolutely no bearing on the performance and numbers, which could leave many with a dilemma when considering the potential savings on offer.

The 2025 Maxfli Tour X is a genuinely intriguing product that delivers on its promises and then some. If you're a golfer looking for a "quick ball" that delivers impressive ball speed and distance off the tee, but can also offer you spin and control around the greens, this could be a great choice. The fact that the Maxfli Tour X is available for $39.99 a dozen makes it an absolutely incredible deal for a ball of this quality. It performs like a premium, tour-level ball at a price point that is frankly unmatched in the market.

The majority of you reading this review will be familiar with many of Callaway’s popular golf ball franchises like the ERC Soft, the Warbird and more recently the Chrome Tour which, as the name suggests, is played out on the various global tours by some of the very best.

But I stumbled across a completely new ball recently which I had never seen before and it seriously piqued my interest. This mysterious model is not listed on the Callaway EU or US websites, nor can you find it on Amazon (it must be the only thing you can’t find here). It is the Callaway Hex Bite Soft and you can only buy it from UK online retailer Clubhouse Golf. The RRP is £34.99 a dozen but if you go all out and buy three dozen, the current discount being offered means you’ll only have to part with £59.98 for 36 balls. So the big question is… does the Hex Bite Soft offer genuine value or is the price too good to be true?

WATCH: We put the Callaway Hex Bite Soft ball through its paces on the course

The tech description on the box is pretty vague. It promises a “soft feel”, “incredible distance” and “optimised short game shots” - which all sounds lovely. There is not, however, any mention of the cover material, which caused alarm bells to start ringing in my head. More on that later.

Out of the box it looks like a pretty well put together ball. It has the signature hexagonal dimple pattern we expect from Callaway, the finish is bright white and the dual black arrow sidestamp will go a long way to assisting with alignment on the greens. First I hit a few putts and it delivered the soft feel but with a surprisingly noticeable ‘click’ sound at impact. Soft, in golf ball talk, usually means slow and quiet and while it delivered on the former (it felt a little spongy off the face and didn’t have as much speed as I was accustomed to) it certainly wasn’t subtle on the ears.

Around the green was where I could get a better sense of what the cover was made of and the short game control I could expect as a result. Sure enough, chip and pitch shots rolled out a little more than I was expecting, although the slightly higher flight helped to enhance the stopping power. I’m confident the cover is not made of urethane, more like ionomer or surlyn, so the control on offer with a wedge will fall short of what the best premium balls are able to muster.

To test the durability, I hit 10 shots with the same ball from a practice bunker. On close inspection, there were some minor scuffs but nothing drastic - it held up pretty well.

It was in the long game where this ball really surprised me (in a good way). Low compression, soft-feeling balls tend to be slow in terms of ball speed for most golfers. But when testing in direct comparison with last year’s Chrome Soft, one of the premium balls in the range, the Hex Bite Soft compared admirably. It was a little faster and provided lower spin, meaning my distance output was considerably higher.

This theme continued with mid-irons. Despite the lower spin, the higher ball flight meant the stopping power was similar to what the Chrome Soft offered. Yes it felt soft, with every club in the bag, and while this didn't necessarily appeal to me - the trajectory and distance output I was experiencing absolutely did.

So who should be using the Callaway Hex Bite Soft ball? Well for starters anyone who wants a solid-performing ball in all areas of the game without the premium price tag. The bulk buy deal Clubhouse Golf is currently offering makes this a compelling proposition in terms of value for money, especially for golfers that prioritise long game performance. It might not stand to attention around the green, but you’ll soon get used to having to give putts a little more juice. I would say this ball suits the majority of abilities, from high single figure handicaps all the way up to casual golfers and beginners.

Bridgestone produces some of the best golf balls on the market and cater to golfers of all skill levels. Tiger Woods has been a brand ambassador for several years and plays their premium golf ball, Tour B XS TW Edition golf ball, but the brand has numerous other options to match whatever your needs.

The new Bridgestone e12 range features three models each aimed at mid-high handicap golfers who have specific ball flight requirements. The e12 Straight will help reduce sidespin and keep your ball on the fairway, while the e12 Speed has been designed to produce extra distance. Then there is the subject of this review; the e12 High Launch, which has been specifically engineered to… well I'm sure you can guess.

Many golfers have difficulty getting the ball in the air and as a result of that they lose distance, particularly with their irons where carry is especially important. A lack of elevation is often due to a slower swing speed, which is a common issue with senior golfers and those who may be quite new to the game. There are other reasons for a low launch, but irrespective of why you might struggle for height, the good news is that some golf balls have been designed to combat this problem.

It was interesting testing all of the e12 family side by side and seeing them all do exactly what they are supposed to. The Speed did travel furthest, the Straight was indeed the easiest to keep on the fairway and the High Launch did not disappoint either.

The High Launch is the softest feeling in the e12 range. It is a two-piece construction all with a super low compression core and a surlyn cover. The difference in sound and feel between the High Launch and the Speed is very obvious, whereas the Straight sits somewhere in between.

On the golf course I found that the e12 High Launch does exactly what it is supposed to. It delivered a towering ball flight and it will add yards of carry to those who need it most, particularly with irons.

Hitting tee shots with the High Launch was a similar feeling to using the Wilson DUO soft, which is another golf ball designed to get the ball up in the air quickly and is one of the best golf balls for seniors.

The e12 High Launch isn’t the spinniest on approach shots but the extra elevation you get will definitely help when it comes to holding the green.

As you would expect from a ball in this category, it is not the most responsive around the greens so it will not suit the short game wizards who like to spin the ball and check it up quickly on pitch shots. For that you will need one of the best premium golf balls. The e12 High Launch may be limited in what it can do in the short game, but for the skill level of golfer that this ball is aimed at, it does the job.

The feel off the putter face might split opinion somewhat as some golfers like a soft feeling ball, whereas others prefer a firmer feel. The putter face itself is important here, as a soft face insert combined with a soft golf ball is going to be like hitting a marshmallow with a pillow. Personally I find that a soft golf ball generally works better with a firmer, milled faced putter as you get good feedback on the strike.

Something else worth mentioning is that the e12 family all feature the patented Bridgestone Mindset logo, which has become a staple on the best Bridgestone golf balls and is designed to help the golfer develop a pre-shot routine and to increase focus. The pattern is to trigger a three step process; identify the target, visualise the shot path and then clear your mind and focus on the green dot before executing your shot.

This will work for some and not for others, but it certainly enhances the aesthetic of the golf ball and I’m a big fan of the color scheme.

Bridgestone claims that 85% of amateur golfers are playing the wrong ball and would benefit from playing a ball that is tailored specifically to their ball flight. The e12 models are their solution to that as they believe they have all bases covered with these three options.

If you feel as though you need more height on your ball flight, the e12 High Launch is worth considering as it can definitely help.

For mid-high handicap golfers looking to add a little distance to their game, Bridgestone has released the all new e12 Speed golf ball, which is one of three options in the e12 range. All three models are designed to offer a different type of ball flight and provide whatever solution is needed for golfers who need help flighting their shots.

Bridgestone claims that 85% of amateur golfers are using the wrong ball and would benefit from being fitted for a ball to suit their own specific flight. The brand believes the e12 models cover all of those bases. So for the golfer who needs help getting the ball in the air, there’s the e12 High Launch. For golfers who suffer from a hook or a slice there is the e12 Straight, and for the golfer needing a lower, more penetrating flight with extra distance there is the e12 Speed.

On that note, whether you are looking for the best distance golf balls or the best golf balls for beginners, at Golf Monthly we have you covered with guides to cover all of your needs, from the best value golf balls to the best golf balls for seniors or slow swing speeds.

The e12 Speed features a surlyn cover paired with a ‘Gradational Compression Core’ to form Bridgestone’s “Opti-Flight” system, which is designed specifically to lower spin for a lower launch and greater roll out.

Off the tee this ball delivered great results for me. I have a high ball flight and that occasionally costs me distance as I tend to not get much roll out on drives, and most of my distance comes from carry. In winter that’s a good thing, but sometimes when the fairways are firmer you really want that extra roll that comes with a lower ball flight and I often feel like I’m missing out.

The e12 Speed certainly lowered my usual flight and will suit the golfer who plays in windy conditions and needs to flight the ball lower and puts a premium on roll out. So I could see this ball being very effective for links golf as an example. The conditions were quite firm when I tested this golf ball and that obviously helped, but in terms of distance the e12 Speed was going as far as any of the best premium golf balls I have used.

As with most distance balls, there is a trade off when it comes to approach shots. The e12 Speed is at the lower end of the spin scale which helps with distance but harms control. More accomplished players will not enjoy the lack of control and spin with short iron and wedge approaches, although personally I was impressed with the performance the e12 Speed delivered with the mid-irons. The distance was impressive and I was able to hold greens. I prefer more spin with my wedges but at the top and middle of the bag I couldn’t fault this golf ball.

Around the greens, again, it isn’t the most responsive and you are limited in the type of shot you can play with it. That being said, realistically the kind of golfer that is likely to be needing a game improvement ball such as this one is probably not going to be blessed with a short game like Phil Mickelson and won’t be requiring something that stops dead on the second bounce.

I should also mention the Mindset logo, which is a staple on all of the best Bridgestone golf balls and features on all three models in the e12 range. The idea behind this is to encourage golfers to adopt the same pre-shot routine to help with focus. Mindset is a visual cue to start a three step process; identify the target, visualise the shot path and then clear your mind and focus on the green dot before executing your shot.

If you need extra yards off the tee or if you feel like you need to lower your ball flight and spin rate, the e12 Speed might be a good option for you so give it a try and see.

If you are the type of golfer that struggles with a hook or a slice off the tee, you might want to consider changing your golf ball to something that can offer you a bit of assistance. The Bridgestone e12 Straight has been engineered to help golfers find more fairways, so perhaps this is the golf ball you need to straighten out those wayward drives?

Bridgestone has conducted millions of golf ball fittings and concluded that 85 percent of golfers would benefit from playing a ball that has been optimized for their own specific launch tendencies. So the brand came up with three models of e12 golf balls to cover all bases. For golfers who struggle to get the ball up in the air, there’s the e12 Hi-Launch. For those needing a bit of extra distance there is the e12 Speed, while the subject of this review, the e12 Straight, is of course designed to fly straighter.

The first thing I noticed when I looked at all three models side by side was that the dimple pattern on the e12 Straight is rather unique. Whereas the other two models just looked like your standard design, the dimples on the Straight are very different to the majority of balls on the market. The pattern is a carry over from the popular e12 Contact ball which is a Golf Monthly favourite and has been one of the best value golf balls over recent years.

The pattern is so unusual that my first question upon seeing it was whether this design is competition legal or not. The answer to that, for the record, is yes. My second question was whether it actually works. I’ll get to that shortly.

Before we come to performance though I’ll talk you through the technology element. It’s a three piece construction featuring a new FlexATIV cover and a polymer Active Acceleration Mantle. It is not a urethane covered ball so it will not perform like the best premium golf balls on the market, but the price also reflects that and the e12 range are some of the best mid price golf balls around.

The dimples are the key to performance with the e12 Straight, as it is designed with a Contact Force dimple pattern, which as mentioned already visibly sets it apart from its e12 siblings. This design reduces excess sidespin and flight curvature, giving you a better shot at keeping your ball in play.

Another thing to mention is the Mindset logo, which is a staple on all of the best Bridgestone golf balls and features on all three models in the e12 range. Essentially it’s a visual cue to start a three step process; identify the target, visualise the shot path and then clear your mind and focus on the green dot before executing your shot.

The jury is out for me on whether this is actually of any benefit, but from a purely aesthetic point of view I really like how it looks.

In terms of feel, all three balls in the e12 range are different. The softest of the three is the High Launch, the firmest model is the Speed which had a distinctly clickier sound, and sitting in the middle of the two is the Straight.

As for performance, the e12 Straight did indeed fly straighter than the other models, specifically off the tee and most notably with longer fairway wood shots. My go to shot with a 5-wood is a controlled fade, but I was unable to get the e12 Straight to move much. That’s a good thing for those that need it, but if you do like to work the ball then this is not for you. There is also a trade off in distance as you will likely lose a few yards compared to the ball you have been using.

While it is not the highest spinning on approach shots, I had no trouble stopping the ball on the green and it provided ample grip for me. I would say that it is more than adequate for the level of golfer it is aimed at.

Around the greens it performed as I would have expected. It doesn’t give the level of spin or control you get from a premium golf ball but for the level of golfer it is aimed at it does the job.

All in all, this is an excellent option for the wayward golfer who needs a bit of help keeping the ball on the fairway. It will be particularly useful for those with a slice and teaming this ball up with one of the best draw biased drivers could really help keep the ball in play more which in turn will help to lower scores.

The natural comparison when evaluating the new Member’s Mark golf ball from Sam’s Club is how it stacks up to the Kirkland Signature ball from Costco. So when I got my samples of the Member’s Mark Pro Series 2 golf balls and started playing them, I immediately went back to my experiences with the Kirkland, when I reviewed it in 2023.

After all, both of these balls are three-piece balls with urethane covers that sell for just a little over a dollar a ball. That’s basically a fourth of what pro line balls like the Titleist Pro V1 or Callaway Chrome Tour sells for, so it has a good chance to be among the best value golf balls. And no, these balls are probably not on that level, but can most recreational players really tell the difference?

So like the Kirkland Signature ball, I immediately asked myself this question after playing a round with them. Could I play this ball every day? And the answer to that as an 8 handicap is sure, why not? I never felt like at any time the performance of this ball let me down or that it was to blame for any shots that didn’t end up where I expected them to. So let’s get that out of the way first. It’s a pretty good golf ball that will hold greens, provide some grab around the greens on short game shots, feels good off the putter, and seems to go plenty far.

And yes, that’s basically the way I saw the Costco ball, too, except most agree that the Kirkland is a bit on the spinny side for players with high swing speeds or golfers who tend to slice the ball. That, and the distance these balls seem to go, might be where I felt the difference. The Member’s Mark ball seemed a little bit firmer, and perhaps just a little longer off the tee. But since I couldn’t use a robot, this is pretty much anecdotal. The bottom line is the ball performed well for my game, where I can get a decent amount of spin on approaches and peg 100 mph every once in a while with a driver.

But let’s look a little more into the construction of the Member’s Mark golf ball, which is available (in white only) at most members-only Sam’s Club stores and online ($27.98 for a 24-ball pack).

According to Robert Parvis, senior director and merchant of sporting goods for Sam’s Club, the Member’s Mark ball, which has a large core and thin cover, has a compression of 90. That number would be similar to the Titleist Pro V1, for example, but less, supposedly, than the Kirkland Signature Ball, which I’ve seen reported on in the mid 90s range.

Still, the Member’s Mark ball seemed firmer to me, but that might be because of the sound it makes upon contact. It definitely has a little bit harsher sound than the best premium golf balls.

What struck me, however, is how far the Member’s Mark ball seemed to go, both off the tee and with the irons. Although I didn’t play a lot of rounds with the Member’s Mark ball, it never came up short on any reasonably struck shot with an iron, and when I squared up the driver, I was surprised by where I wound up. It seemed to be as far as any premium golf ball I’ve used in the past, and was definitely longer than the Kirkland ball for me.

Of course, that’s my experience at my swing speed. How it would fare for slower swing speeds and very fast swing speeds is impossible for me to tell. But my conclusion just from playing with this ball was that it was plenty long.

It also seemed to launch plenty high for me with my irons and produce more than adequate spin on all shots, including short pitches.

“We designed the golf ball to have a mid-low driver spin to maximize performance off the tee but to also have appropriately high wedge spin for performance around the green,” Parvis told me after I had a chance to play with the Member’s Mark ball. “These characteristics you saw in your trial are backed up by our internal testing.”

Around the greens, the Member’s Mark ball seemed pretty capable. Around the greens with a 56-degree wedge, it did check up fairly quickly. The same was true out of the bunkers (I use a lob wedge on greenside bunker shots). I didn’t feel like it quite performed as good as some of the tour level balls, but again, it’s a quarter of the price. I would say around the greens it was very comparable to the Kirkland ball. And it certainly seemed like a step up from any of the ionomer covered distance golf balls on the market.

Speaking of the cover it comprises 338 dimples with seven different dimple shapes.

As for putting, I tried out several different proline balls with the putter, and the Member’s Mark had a feel that was pretty comparable – no better, and certainly no worse.

I guess my only complaint about this ball is its appearance. The logo and numbering seem very plain. I’m not sure what I would have wanted in that regard, but when you look at a Titleist, Callaway, or even a TaylorMade performance ball, they just look more premium. And I’m a big fan of having alignment marks (love Callaway’s Triple Track, especially for putting) on the ball, which in the case of the Member’s Mark is just the “Pro Series 2” marking.

Finally, speaking of Pro Series 2, you might be asking, “Was there a Pro Series 1? The answer is sort of no and yes.

“Designing and sourcing a golf ball takes a ton of work,” Parvis said, “and sometimes we have to make changes as we go through the process. You can see on the USGA website that a Pro Series and a Pro Series 2 were both certified as compliant, with almost 12 months in between. However, the original Pro Series was never sold in the market.”

The previous Tour Response ball from Taylormade was an extremely popular model with club golfers all over the globe. I have lost count of the number of players I was paired with in Pro-Am competitions who chose to put this ball into play, so I was very keen to see what the 2025 remake had to offer. Looking to sit amongst the best golf balls of 2025, I took the new Tour Response for a thorough workout.

In terms of the technology, I feel I can speak fairly authoritatively on this, having been fortunate enough to have visited the TaylorMade ball plant in Liberty, South Carolina, and seen the construction process firsthand.

The 2025 Tour Response golf balls now feature the same Speed Wrapped Core Technology on offer in the tour-validated TP5 and TP5x models. The material used in the process effectively reduces the density of the core, dampening sound and promoting a faster construction for enhanced ball speed and distance. The Tour Response balls are constructed with a 100 per cent cast urethane cover looking to reap the benefits of spin while promoting durability.

The Tour Response is a 70-compression ball, which aims to provide a seriously soft feel while reaping all the benefits of materials proven at the highest levels of the game.

“The Speed Wrapped Core, which has had incredible success in our TP5 and TP5x product, is even better in Tour Response because it enables more ball speed and more feel within a single product,” says TaylorMade's Mike Fox, Global Senior Category Director for golf balls.

The Speed Wrapped Core is surrounded by something TaylorMade is referring to as High Flex Material (HFM) which it says allows more ball/face interaction, further enhancing feel and speed.

In terms of the performance, I was seriously impressed with this golf ball. For context, I am a TaylorMade TP5x player, and there are a few notable differences starting with the feel. The Tour Response is a lot softer at impact than the TP5x, for example, and I thoroughly enjoyed that sensation, particularly on the green with my putter. The softness seemed to suit me well and I liked that the ball seemed a touch slower off the blade meaning I could put a slightly more aggressive stroke on my putts.

Similarly, with chipping, the ball seemed to stay on the face a touch longer than I’m used to, once again allowing me to be a touch more forceful at strike. There was a notable difference in flight with my pitch shots however where I noticed a little higher launch window than I am used to, and a touch less bite on the green. When I say ‘less bite’ you must bear in mind that the TP5x I normally use is a pretty responsive ball with the wedges so it’s all relative, the Tour Response would still provide ample spin in most conditions for most players.

Predictably, as a relatively quick swinger of the club (around 120mph with driver), I noticed a little drop off in ball speed with the driver, but the 70 compression of this ball isn’t necessarily designed for high-speed players like me, and when I measured a couple of my slower-swinging buddies against various models, including Callaway Chrome Soft and my own TP5x, the numbers were very comparable.

The Tour Response is available in block colors of white and yellow, both of which are beautifully finished, but the model that really intrigued me was the Tour Response Stripe. Now available in brighter, easier-to-align colors (neon orange, neon pink, neon yellow, neon blue, and navy), the 360˚ clear path alignment stripe not only looks cool but is incredibly useful on the greens. Obviously, there are still the tricky elements of reading greens and applying the correct pace, but the stripe makes things an awful lot easier to hit your start line and is something I found fantastic on those short putts in particular.

Overall, I really like this golf ball. Exceptionally soft feeling, plenty durable, consistent, and with the option of some genuinely effective visual technology, there are a lot of golfers who will be choosing this as their ball of choice in 2025.

The standard Tour Response balls will be retailing for $42.99/£37.99 per dozen, while the Stripe option will be $45.99/£39.99 per dozen.

The Wilson Triad is one of the best mid-price golf balls on the market and is an ideal choice for mid-handicap golfers who are looking for the feel and control of a urethane model without having to pay the premium price of a Tour golf ball. That being said, such is the versatility of the Triad that a scratch golfer could also use this ball and not really notice any significant drop off from whatever premium golf ball they are using. This ball is such a good all rounder that it doesn’t really have any specific weakness and will do a good job for golfers of virtually all skill levels.

Yet other than myself, I don’t personally know anybody who games the Triad and that baffles me somewhat. Is it just that Wilson balls aren’t as fashionable as the best Callaway balls or Titleist golf balls? Triad might be the most underrated 3-piece urethane golf ball on the market, especially for the average club golfer looking to lower their handicap. This ball has been specifically designed for that very purpose.

Not much has changed from the previous iteration of Triad because nothing really needed to. In terms of distance, once again it will be up there with any of the best golf balls on the market. It provides ample control on approach shots and off the face of the putter it has a lovely, soft feel and an impeccable roll. In fact, Wilson describes Triad as “the only perfectly balanced golf ball on the market” thanks to a perfect center of gravity on every ball that means there are no “heavy spots” that can cause an uneven roll on the greens. Whether this is just clever marketing or it actually gives Triad an edge over the competition when it comes to putting is hard to say, but in theory it makes sense.

The aesthetics have changed a little, with the alignment line having been given a facelift. The Wilson Staff initials have been removed from the logo too, but overall it isn’t hugely different. Given that the new Soft Duo ball has now been brought into line with the other best Wilson golf balls, there is a fairly uniform look about all of the main balls in the Wilson range.

I’ve been playing the Triad for a few years since I went to a professional driver fitting with Wilson’s tour fitters. As well as getting me fitted into a Dynapower driver that I still use today, they recommended that I switch from the premium golf ball I was using at the time (the TaylorMade TP5) to the Triad, simply because it is aimed specifically at golfers of my skill level.

Essentially, Triad is designed to help golfers hit more fairways, more greens and hole more putts. In my case I’d say the latter two are very much difficult to quantify, especially the putting. On the rare occasions I hole a putt I don’t think I can say “I wouldn’t have made that with a different ball” but since being fitted into the Dynapower driver and the Triad ball, I am definitely hitting a lot more fairways than I was before.

I tested the new Triad on the course as well as at the driving range and I put it up against the 2023 version. There was virtually no difference other than I would say the new model flew a bit straighter off the tee. Driving has become the main strength of my game as I do hit the ball pretty straight when I’m on it. If I’m a little off I can tend to push the ball right, but I rarely slice or hook the ball even on my bad shots. On the day I was testing I was just a little off and kept pushing drives to the right side of the fairway. With the older Triad I was also seeing a tiny bit of fade on those push shots, whereas the new model was usually 6-8 yards left of it due the straighter flight I was seeing.

In terms of everything else, there was no discernible difference. Perhaps if you’re Tiger Woods you could tell the difference from the sound, feel or flight, but quite honestly if I didn’t know which ball I was hitting I certainly would not be able to tell one from the other. Mid-handicap players should absolutely give this ball a try as it will perform close to the level of a premium golf ball but at a significantly lower cost.

The new Wilson Triad is available in white or yellow priced $39.99 in the US and £32.99 in the UK.

One of the best golf balls for slower swing speeds and for senior golfers is the Wilson Duo Soft, which has been given a reboot for 2025 and is now even softer, with a compression rating of 37 (the previous version was 40).

The Duo Soft has been one of the best value golf balls on the market and is extremely popular due to its incredibly soft feel and appealing price point, as well as the benefits it offers to golfers who don’t have a high swing speed.

As you’d expect from a product branded “the world’s softest golf ball”, this is indeed one of the best soft feel golf balls that really excels at the top end of the bag, particularly with driver. It isn’t suitable for high swing speeds though, as it produces high launch and spin, so the longer hitters may struggle to control it and will lose distance. If you come into that category, check out our guide to the best golf balls for high swing speeds.

The Duo Soft is a two-piece surlyn covered ball that features a newly engineered high-energy core that Wilson claims makes this ball carry longer than other two-piece golf balls, while also minimizing spin for a straighter flight. The dimple pattern has also changed slightly to get the peak trajectory high while keeping the overall flight flat.

The big change though from the previous iteration of the Duo Soft is in the looks. The Duo Soft has been distinguishable from other balls in the Wilson range due to the red and black Wilson logo and overall glossier finish (see below). The new Duo Soft is much more in line with the design of the Triad and Staff Model golf balls, as presumably the brand is looking for a more uniform look across its golf ball family.

Personally I really like the new aesthetic and I would say it’s a definite improvement as visually it now looks a lot like the best Wilson golf balls.

The low compression of this ball is both the key to its success as well as its limiting factor. It unquestionably helps boost distance off the tee for those golfers who struggle to generate much swing speed. Why is this? Well in simple terms, a fast swing causes a golf ball to compress more and spring off the club face. So golfers with faster swings will use higher compression balls, like a Titleist Pro V1x or a TaylorMade TP5. A slower swing would struggle to get the necessary compression on a firmer golf ball, so the Duo Soft compensates for that by compressing much easier, thereby increasing distance for those who need help.

Additionally, Duo Soft is a lower spinning ball which produces a lot of run. So golfers who don't carry the ball a long distance can still gain extra yardage with how it rolls out. But this added lower compression means golfers with faster swing speeds (likely anything over 100mph) will see a reduction in distance.

My swing speed has never been the fastest but unfortunately it appears to be declining now year on year! I’m not slow enough yet to need the Duo Soft, but I have played it occasionally over recent years after being given them as gifts at Christmas. I quite enjoyed using them if I’m honest, with the highlight being how it feels off the driver face.

Where it falls down somewhat is with control on approach shots and especially around the green on chip shots. That’s to be expected with a surlyn cover rather than the urethane cover that graces the best premium balls. In fairness to Wilson this is not a golf ball designed to produce lots of spin and greenside control. It serves a very different purpose, which it does very well.

I tested the new Duo Soft on the course as well as on a launch monitor and I put it up against the 2023 version, as well as against the Triad (also upgraded for 2025) which is the ball I usually play with. As I expected, there was no discernible difference between the new and old Duo Soft. The flight, feel, distance and overall performance were all similar but I did note a slight increase in height with the newer model. In comparison to the Triad, the differences I saw were also as expected. The Triad has a firmer feel, provides more spin on approach shots and is easier to control when chipping around the green as it has more check and grip, whereas the two-piece Duo Soft tends to roll out more and gets its stopping power through height.

The new Duo Soft is available in white, red, orange, green and pink and I would absolutely recommend this ball to any golfer who lacks swing speed, while the inconsistent high handicap player could also benefit from this golf ball, not least because of the appealing price point and pleasing feel.

The most popular golf ball on tour has just been given a makeover and with so many of the world’s best players already making the switch without hesitation, I was keen to unpack exactly what’s got everyone so excited.

Since it burst on the scene in 2000, the Pro V1 franchise has understandably dominated the market. It was ahead of its time and continues to set the standard when it comes to green-to-tee performance but also consistency and durability. The R&D that goes into producing the number one ball in golf is significant - did you know that every Pro V1 golf ball must pass more than 90 quality checks, while the dual core Pro V1x must pass more than 120? It’s a serious operation.

The Pro V1x differs from the Pro V1 in that it boasts a four-layer construction versus its sibling’s three and as a result, Titleist says it should ‘fly higher, spin more on full swing shots and have a firmer feel. The high gradient core this time around has been reformulated to, as Titleist puts it: ‘steepen the spin slope’ maintaining low spin off the tee while increasing spin with the scoring clubs and provide a measurable gain in ball speed. To put this to the test, I took a dozen white box samples to Peterborough Milton golf club to hit them on the Foresight Sports GCQuad launch monitor before putting them in play over multiple rounds at my home club, Burghley Park Golf Club.

The data was really interesting, although only paints part of the picture as it doesn’t factor in the effect of the dimple pattern on the flight and consistency of it through the wind. But it can offer some guidance as to the ball speed golfers can expect and the results were very positive here.

The 2025 Pro V1x was faster for me than the previous iteration despite me swinging the driver 0.5mph faster with the old model teed up. The spin dropped by around 150rpm and on a similar trajectory my carry distance increased by three yards, four yards in total. Given the discrepancy in clubhead speed, it would fair to assume that most golfers will see at least a 1mph ball speed gain by switching into the new Pro V1x, which is significant when you consider that short game spin performance remains exceptional.

With a 7-iron in hand I experienced a slight drop in spin and this also was the case on a full wedge shot and 50-yard pitch shot, although the level of spin remained higher than most of the new premium balls for 2025 I tested at the same time, including the new Z-Star golf ball and Mizuno Pro ranges. Interestingly, the Pro V1x provided significantly more short game spin than the 2025 Pro V1 ball the shorter the shot was - there was an approx 400rpm difference on a pitch but on a full shot with a 54° wedge the spin was very similar.

Out on the course I definitely noticed a little uptick in yardage, making it one of the best golf balls for distance. I could carry trees and bunkers with a normal swing and strike that I would previously only be able to cover when I hit my Sunday best. There’s no question that the flight is as strong as any ball on the market, holding its line impressively when in crosswinds and rewarding well-struck drives and iron shots. Titleist claims the Pro V1x provides up to a 15 percent reduction in land area size with driver thanks to the added stability but I couldn’t say with any certainty that any increase in accuracy was down to the ball alone.

Versus Pro V1, the X does feel noticeably firmer when chipping and putting, which is a sensation I prefer. You get that lovely audible ‘click’ sound when nipping the ball cleanly with a wedge with the Pro V1x coming out a little lower and really stopping to attention on the second or third bounce. The Pro V1 is by no means floaty but I like how the Pro V1x provides that juxtaposition of lower flighted chip and pitch shots for control of distance as well as a higher flight off the tee for longer carries.

Which ball is right for you is player dependent but I lean towards the Pro V1x because of how it feels as well as the higher flight with the driver. The goal starting out with the new Pro V1 balls was to provide more speed off the tee while maintaining control with the irons and wedges and these balls deliver on this brief to a tee. It demonstrably provides more ball speed output, albeit it fairly marginal, and is undoubtedly one of the best premium balls around given that Titleist has managed to give golfers more of what they want without sacrificing other key areas of performance golfers of all ability value. Does it justify the £52 per dozen price tag? Only you can answer that question.

The new Titleist Pro V1x balls will be on sale from January 30th.

The year 2025 represents the 25th anniversary of the ball that changed golf forever. Who would have thought when Billy Andrade (one of 47 players who made the switch that week to a brand new ball) won the 2000 Invensys Classic despite being on the brink of losing his PGA Tour card, it would become one of the most dominant equipment franchises of all time. Now here we are over a dozen iterations later and the new Pro V1 and Pro V1x balls are upon us. But what has changed and what performance uplift can golfers expect?

Given the market leading position Titleist has with its premium golf ball franchise, you won’t be surprised to hear there has not been wholesale changes made to the design and the main alterations are not visible to the eye. Besides a more filled in side stamp, much of the tech enhancements have been implemented to the core of the three-piece Pro V1 and four-layer Pro V1x. Specifically, the materials that make up the core have been reformulated to increase ball speed and steepen what Titleist is calling the ‘spin slope’ effectively maintaining low spin off the tee while increasing spin with the scoring clubs.

Continuing from the previous 2023 iteration is the spherically tiled, 388 tetrahedral dimple design that optimises distance and delivers a penetrating and consistent flight as well as a soft cast Urethane Elastomer cover for exceptional greenside spin. All these things combine to create one of the best golf balls for total performance on every type of shot.

The feel off the face with Pro V1 remains noticeably different to the 2025 Pro V1x ball. It’s much softer and there’s less audible feedback when pitching, chipping and putting. Not to the level of the very soft Srixon 2025 Z-Star golf ball, but not far off it.

I conducted my main testing in two parts - the first being on the Foresight Sports GCQuad launch monitor and the second out on the golf course over multiple rounds to assess actual playing distance and ball flight. The soft, wintery conditions weren’t ideal but I was able to get a decent sense of how the ball performed.

Nothing about how the Pro V1 performed on the launch monitor blew me away, but there weren’t any causes for concern either. Ball speed output with the driver was solid and the spin around 200 rpm less than Pro V1x. Coupled with a lower peak height, it carried around three yards less than Pro V1x for my 107mph clubhead speed. These trends nearly all reversed for me with a 7-iron in hand as the Pro V1 became faster and higher flying, leading to a couple of extra yards, although the spin remained around 200 rpm less. On a 50-yard pitch shot with a 54° wedge, the spin reduction with Pro V1 widened to 400rpm less than Pro V1x.

So while the launch monitor performance was solid but unspectacular, on the course is where this ball really shone. I’ve always been a Pro V1x user, and I was hurt by the lower flight of Pro V1 with driver in the wet conditions in terms of total distance. But the way the ball cut through the wind really impressed me - I didn’t see the big drop offs in distance hitting into the wind as I was expecting and crosswinds also seemed to have little impact on the trajectory. It is this consistency and reliability that makes outcomes more predictable and when you consider the golf ball is the only piece of equipment you use on every shot, this can only bring more confidence over the ball.

Is the Pro V1 longer than the prior generation? That’s hard to say with any certainty and it will be somewhat player dependent but I’d wager most golfers will be up to a handful of yards further down the fairway with the latest model versus the 2023 version. A ball fitting may well encourage you to switch and with Pro V1x you’ll likely get a little more short game spin as well as a firmer feel and higher flight off the tee if that's something you're after.

Where Pro V1 really excelled for me in testing was on iron shots. I felt in complete control of the ball from a variety of distances and centred strikes were rewarded with consistent carry distances. If this is an area of the game you prioritise, you’ll love what the 2025 Pro V1 ball has to offer.

The new Titleist Pro V1 balls will be on sale from January 30th with an RRP of £52 per dozen.

Mizuno is having another crack at the premium ball market with the launch of the Pro range which is a double act that includes the impressive Pro X and the subject of this review, the Pro S. Feeding off the heritage of the popular Mizuno Pro irons, which includes models like the Pro 245 iron, the Pro S golf ball claims to ‘meet the demands of golfers at the highest level through advanced aerodynamics, enhanced speed, and exceptional control to complement any playing style.’ Is it one of the best golf balls money can buy? I was keen to find out.

The Mizuno Pro S is a three-layer ball comprised of a high-speed ionomer mantle which has been made six per cent thicker, a soft butadiene rubber core and an ultra-soft urethane cover that has been made 12 per cent thinner. Distinguished with its black play number versus the blue on the Mizuno Pro X golf ball, there’s also a 332 Axial Flow Dimple design said to reduce drag through the air regardless of weather conditions. Keen to see how it stacked up, I put the Mizuno Pro S ball through its paces on the Foresight Sports GCQuad launch monitor at the excellent Peterborough Milton Golf Club, as well as on the golf course.

My first impressions when testing this golf ball was that it feels noticeably softer than the Pro X. There wasn’t as much audible feedback when chipping and pitching, which won’t be to everyone’s taste - I personally prefer to hear a clicky sound on those sorts of shots. They did, however, react sharply on the second and third bounce - the urethane cover certainly helps generate a healthy amount of spin on the shortest greenside shot.

Indoor testing on the launch monitor suggested that for my driver swing speed of 108 mph, the Pro S didn’t perform optimally compared to the Pro X. Soft generally means slow for most golfers and that was certainly the case for me with the Pro S clocking in nearly 3mph slower with the driver, resulting in carries that averaged six yards less - although 268 yards was six yards longer than the recently launched Srixon 2025 Z-Star ball off the tee, so it wasn’t short by any means.

Mizuno claims the Pro S offers lower long game spin and that was certainly the case for me - spinning over 300rpm less with a driver and flying six yards lower through the air than the Pro X. It also spun nearly 600 rpm less with a 7-iron - mid iron performance was very good and comparable with the Pro X - in fact both balls provided above-average distance and stopping power with this club in hand. On a 50-yard pitch shot, the Pro S again delivered around 600rpm less spin.

It’s great to see such a stark difference in spin profiles and trajectories between the two balls so golfers clearly fit into two camps. The Pro S offers significantly lower spin and a flatter trajectory on all shots but especially the driver, so if you find your drives ballooning and you need to knock some spin off or height, it’s arguably a simpler way to fix this problem than buying a new driver!

You might be giving up a little short game control but not enough to cause a problem when short sided. I think the Pro X is a phenomenal golf ball and will probably offer a slightly broader appeal, but the Pro S certainly has its place. I love the Mizuno Pro scripting with the Mizuno run bird logo and overall this ball certainly has a premium look that exceeds the modest £40 or $47.99 per dozen price tag, which represents excellent value among the best premium golf balls.

Titleist has understandably been the dominant force in pretty much all golf ball categories but especially the premium ball market given its heritage, R&D and popularity on tour. But in recent years other companies have upped their game to become genuine rivals and in the Mizuno Pro X, the Titleist Pro V1 has another worthy contender to fend off.

Think of Mizuno and your mind would likely spring to soft-feeling irons and perhaps forgiving drivers in more recent times but let me tell you right now - with the imminent release of the Pro range, Mizuno now makes some of the best golf balls on the market.

The Pro balls replace the RB Tour franchise and boast a new construction that includes a 12 percent thinner urethane cover and a six percent thicker mantle layer, a combination that Mizuno claims significantly enhances ball speed while maintaining a soft, responsive feel.

Take a ball out of a sleeve for the first time and you see the Mizuno Pro scripting. It’s super cool and carries over from the impressive Mizuno Pro irons, some of the best golf irons around. The Pro X is distinguished from the Pro S golf ball with its blue play number. I also like the arrow sidestamp, which will be useful for those that use a line on their ball for alignment.

To put Mizuno’s claims to the test I took a sleeve over to Peterborough Milton Golf Club to hit drivers, 7-irons and 50-yard pitch shots on the Foresight Sports GCQuad launch monitor before putting the ball in play on the course for multiple competitive rounds. The numbers were frankly astounding.

The three-layer Mizuno Pro X produced driver ball speed of 156.2mph, which was comparable to the recently launched Z-Star Diamond ball I really liked, but because it launched considerably higher with low spin it flew four yards further. It was also longer than the Z-Star XV and seven yards longer than the Titleist 2023 Pro V1x. I noticed more distance on the golf course too - both the new Mizuno Pro balls have a 332 Axial Flow Dimple Design which claims to reduces air resistance for a consistent, stable flight. While it’s hard to properly validate such claims, I was certainly further down the fairway on some holes than I was accustomed to.

But the positives don’t stop there. The Mizuno Pro X was also significantly faster and higher flying with the irons paired mid-to-high spin and a descent angle close to 50 degrees to maximise stopping power. In fact, both the Mizuno Pro balls were up to four yards longer than any of the new Srixon Z-Star balls with a 7-iron in hand. On a 50-yard wedge shot, the Pro X ball provided over 7000rpm of spin, which is by no means market leading but it was 600 rpm more than the Mizuno Pro S and it’s more than enough to get the ball to check up quickly by the hole when well struck.

The feel of this ball also really impressed me. It manages to be firm but not excessively so, providing a responsive sensation on putts and shorter wedge shots that is noticeably different to the soft Mizuno Pro S ball. It’s very comparable to the Pro V1x if truth be told, which is certainly no bad thing.

So what’s the catch? I genuinely don’t know if there is one. Is being too cheap a problem? Coming in at £40 or $47.99 a dozen is significantly cheaper than all it’s rivals in the three-piece, premium ball sector but I’m not seeing any trade off in performance or durability. Speaking of which, the cover held up surprisingly well. Even after two rounds on a wet winter course, the outer layer still only had some very minor scuffs on it with no obvious decolorisation.

This could well become one of the most underrated products launched this year. With the price of golf balls becoming increasingly more difficult to justify, the Mizuno Pro X provides a more affordable alternative that can compete with, and in some areas outperform, the so-called market leaders. Speaking honestly - the rest of the balls I had have gone straight in my bag and I'd have no issue if I pulled one out for an important round.

Legato Golf was launched a little over two years ago but I’ll be honest, until I recently received a couple of boxes of balls to test, I’d never heard of them. No matter, I hadn’t heard of OnCore golf balls before I tested them either but I ended up gaming them for a good while and I'd rate them among the best golf balls I've used. So I had a completely open mind as far as the Legato LTX 3085 is concerned.

The first thing to say is that the price is very appealing. Thirty bucks a dozen on Amazon for a 3-piece urethane covered ball seems like great value, assuming the performance is up to scratch of course. You can pick them up even cheaper during sale events, and when you also factor in the free postage for Prime members the value on offer here is impressive.

Legato describe this ball as “Maximized Distance with Softer Feel”. It features innovative three-piece construction, wrapped in a premium urethane cover which is designed to ensure a soft, responsive feel with every shot. A 350-dimple design maximizes aerodynamics, offering steady performance in any condition. Having thoroughly tested this ball I find nothing in that description to be inaccurate.

My golf ball of choice currently is the Wilson Staff Triad, which is aimed at my handicap range (I currently play off 11) and is a ball I’ve become very comfortable with. It’s a three-piece construction with a urethane cover, and a compression of 86. The Legato LTX 3085 is almost identical in its specifications; 3-piece construction, urethane cover, compression of 85. The LTX 3085 certainly suits my game more than it does some of my more skilled colleagues here at Golf Monthly, which is why I was happy to be the one testing this golf ball.

Upon opening the box and taking a first look, I instantly liked the aesthetic on offer, especially the font used on the logo. It’s a nice looking golf ball, very classy. There’s a 'Bold Track' alignment aid for those who enjoy that sort of thing. It isn’t for me as I find myself stressing out too much in case I haven’t lined it up correctly, or worrying whether the ball has moved slightly after I have set the line. But many golfers like the alignment line so if that’s your thing then there’s one you can use, and it’s a good one.

In terms of performance out on the course, it was solid and compared well with my Triad. Off the tee there was very little difference when it comes to distance or flight. The Legato had a slightly higher launch with driver and increased spin but it was nothing too egregious. While it would be categorised as a firmer feeling golf ball, I'd say it’s at the softer end of the firm scale and it’s a pleasing sensation when it comes out of the middle of the driver.

One issue I did have was that the launch was surprisingly low for me with my fairway woods. Usually my 7 wood will send the ball to the moon, but the Legato was flying much lower than I’m used to.

When it comes to approach shots, again, the feel was pleasing and the control was impressive. It was easy to flight and had plenty of stopping power, particularly with the shorter irons which noticeably launched lower but still had tons of spin. Around the greens the Legato performed well enough in terms of spin and control on chip shots and out of bunkers, and the feel off the putter face was fine, albeit a bit muted. It doesn’t exactly spring off the face so that’s something that might take a little getting used to if you make the switch to the Legato.

One of the things that most impressed me when testing this golf ball was its durability. It’s one of the most durable golf balls I’ve used, which given the urethane cover is impressive. Some urethane covered balls can scuff quite easily but that was not the case here and - providing you don't go in too many bunkers - you can easily get a full round and more out of one of these balls.

I fall right into the ideal handicap range for a ball like this so it certainly suits my game. A low single handicap player might not have quite as high an opinion of the Legato, but if your handicap is anything from around 10 and upwards then this could be a good option for you, especially given the price point. It isn’t going to replace the Titleist ProV1 but it’s certainly a good value alternative to some of the best premium golf balls around.

The Srixon Z-Star XV golf ball has and continues to be popular among its tour players because of the way it combines competitive driver distance with high levels of short game spin, a blend of attributes the world’s best players like Shane Lowry and Hideki Matsuyama demand. Now into its ninth generation, Srixon claims to have refined these properties in the latest iteration to broaden its appeal even further.

If you’re seeking a full rundown of the tech enhancements found on and inside this ball, head over to my Srixon Z-Star ball review for all the details on the new biomass urethane cover, spin skin+ coating and the Fast Layer DG Core 2.0. The Z-Star XV specifically features added firmness partway through the core to boost ball speed for greater distance and improved iron spin. To validate these claims, I hit drives, mid-iron shots and 50-yard pitch shots indoors on a Foresight Sports GCQuad launch monitor at Peterborough Milton golf club before taking them to the course and putting them in play over multiple rounds.

The feel of this ball is one of the main points of difference within the Z-Star range. It’s one of the firmer feeling balls I’ve tried within the premium golf ball category, arguably tiptoeing on what you might expect from some of the best distance balls because of the noticeable ‘click’ sound at impact on even the shortest chip shots. But what this ball provides that distance balls don’t is that reaction on the greens where chip shots take two hops and then stand to attention. Rest assured, you can be very aggressive on your landing spots around the green with the Z-Star XV as the spin provided by the cover is consistently high.

But the other big point of difference this ball provided was from the tee, specifically the ball speed on offer. This was one of the fastest balls I’ve tested with the driver, and combined with mid-to-low spin meant it was equal to the new Z-Star Diamond ball in terms of carry distance output but on a slightly higher flight.

It also flew far and noticeably higher with a mid-iron in hand and also came down steeper, which meant the stopping power was excellent for a ball that has such a firm feel (remember that a soft or hard feel has little correlation to spin). Control into and around the greens with wedges also impressed - while some of its rivals may spin a little more on certain shots, there’s ample control here for golfers that want to see their ball react and stop sharply.

It’s a tough call as to whether I’d put this ball in play over the impressive Z-Star Diamond. As a Pro V1x ball user, I quite like the firm and clicky feel and higher long game flight as well as how stable and boring it was. It’s player dependent of course but the Z-Star Diamond edges it for me because of the added short game spin but it was a close call - I think many golfers will get more total yardage out of the XV, which is why I imagine many tour players gravitate towards it.

Performance wise for me, there was a lot of crossover, but feel comes down to personal preference and the Z-Star XV is in a different world in terms of the sensation off the clubface. Firm, fast and grippy - if you put it in play I’m confident it won’t disappoint.

While the Srixon Z-Star has now run into its ninth generation, this is actually only the second iteration of the Z-Star Diamond, a ball that was created to serve the needs of Brooks Koepka when he first signed with the brand back in 2021.

It has always been a premium golf ball designed to sit somewhere in between the Z-Star and Z-Star XV in terms of its feel and spin profile, something I was keen to put to the test for myself out on the course and on the launch monitor.

In terms of the tech, head over to my Srixon Z-Star ball review for a full rundown of the new biomass urethane cover, Spin Skin+ coating and the Fast Layer DG Core 2.0. Where the Z-Star Diamond differs in design is with its slightly firmer core and reduced compression, which ‘minimizes driver spin for distance off the tee while maintaining greenside spin’. I’ll be the judge of that.

The data I gathered on the Foresight Sports GCQuad launch monitor at Peterborough Milton golf club certainly caught my attention. Srixon claims the Z-Star XV is the longest ball in the range but for me, the Z-Star Diamond kept up in terms of ball speed and distance and with a lower trajectory and less spin - ideal for those that want to see a more penetrating ball flight.

But it was with the irons and wedges where the Z-Star Diamond really stood head and shoulders above its siblings. Distance with a 7-iron was comparable with the other models while offering a touch more spin. On a full sand wedge shot, the Z-Star Diamond was spinning over 1000rpm more than the Z-Star and 700rpm more than the Z-Star XV. This pattern continued on a partial wedge shot where the Z-Star Diamond generated around 800rpm more spin than both the other balls. I was really not expecting this sort of difference, especially when Srixon actually claim it’s the Z-Star that offers the most greenside spin ( you'll see from the data below that the Z-Star actually spun the least for me of all three balls with wedges).

Clip a few chips away and it becomes clear this might be the best feeling ball in the Srixon premium range too. Not as dead or spongy as the Z-Star, but a little more gentle than the firm-feeling Z-Star XV - it really does strike the perfect middle ground.

This is undoubtedly a ball I could play and have done for the last few rounds - I couldn't fault the experience, the durability stacked up too although the gold numbering doesn't quite do it for me, it cheapens the overall look slightly.

That said, it’s one of the best golf balls on the market so it's no wonder a few tour players choose the Z-Star Diamond over the XV. It was as long off the tee for me while providing an extremely high level spin control into greens on iron shots but especially wedge shots. For high speed or spin players with the driver, this is a compelling alternative that really doesn’t get the recognition it deserves - it's incredibly underrated.

Srixon is now into its ninth generation of Z-Star and for 2025, the brand has made some fairly significant changes to the design and more importantly the materials used in this premium ball that golfers should be able to notice in terms of performance ramifications.

The three-piece Z-Star has always been the softer-feeling ball within its premium line up and that mantra hasn’t changed. New for this iteration, however, is a reformulated FastLayer DG Core 2.0, which starts soft at the center and gradually firming from the inside out for optimum spin and distance output. There’s also a Spin Skin+ coating that increases the cover’s friction for added greenside spin. The use of a stronger urethane paint in this generation also helps improve resistance to dirt and grime.

But arguably the headline tech story is the newly formulated, extra thin premium urethane cover made with biomass materials derived from biopolyol extracted from corn. This is said to reduce carbon dioxide emissions during the manufacturing process when compared to traditional petroleum based methods. Based on previous years’ global sales, Srixon suggests this will equate to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by approx 30.7 tons, or the equivalent of 31 million plastic bottles.

We’re in no position to refute this claim, but it would be interesting to see if there was any trade off in performance so I took the balls to Peterborough Milton golf club to test them indoors on the Foresight Sports GCQuad launch monitor before taking them out on to the course.

Compared with the 2025 Z-Star Diamond and Z-Star XV, which are both played out on tour, the standard Z-Star did fall short in a few key performance metrics. The lower compression core meant for our driver swing speed (108mph) it was significantly down on ball speed. It also spun the most with the driver - not excessively but enough to create shorter carry distance by eight yards on average. It was far more comparable to the other two balls with a 7-iron and offered a good amount of spin and control on partial wedge shots. Slower swing speeds may well find these performance characteristics more useful with the driver but many good players will likely experience a better total package with the Z-Star Diamond and Z-Star XV.

Where the Z-Star really separates itself is with the feel. It feels noticeably softer off the face than pretty much any other premium, urethane-covered ball on the market on all shots but especially on and around the green. You get barely any audible feedback when chipping - by contrast the Z-Star Diamond and especially the Z-Star XV have an obvious ‘click’ sound at impact. This feel translates to putting too but it maintains good speed off the face. If you use quite a firm feeling putter, perhaps a milled model, you might find this softer-feeling ball marries well.

I certainly noticed the higher flight with the driver and more importantly, it was very consistent, holding its line well in crosswinds and not losing too much yardage when playing into a draft. Despite its soft characteristics, the cover held up well with only very minor scuffs showing after a full 18 holes and the bright white color finish proved to be robust.

To be honest the appeal of the Z-Star is arguably more limited than its siblings but if you value both a super soft feel as well as a high level of short game control then this is a ball you will enjoy playing, it's undoubtedly one of the best soft feel golf balls on the market. Available in both white and yellow, the Srixon Z-Star is available from 22nd February with an RRP of £48.99 or per dozen.

While the Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x golf balls are often regarded as some of the best premium golf balls, there's another model in the Pro V1 franchise that is far less talked about. The 2019 Pro V1x Left Dash, previously only available on tour, was made available to golfers of all abilities in 2019 for £48 per dozen, but for how many is this ball actually suitable and can it truly be considered one of the best golf balls?

The key technology behind this ball, according to Titleist, is a large dual core which is aimed to promote high speeds and low spin. The data retracted from my launch monitor while testing would agree. When comparing this ball off the tee to the ProV1x, the Left Dash was a noticeable 3mph quicker in ball speed and 300rpm (revolutions per minute) less, resulting in a 7 yard gain in carry which, as you can imagine, I was delighted with.

Upon prior research, the Left Dash has been said to sound and feel ‘clicky’ and this was certainly evident. Interestingly, the numbers with a 7 iron were almost identical. The ball definitely felt fast off the face with the irons and driver. While fast ball speeds aren't necessarily a bad thing, when chipping, I noticed that the Left Dash released out a touch more and felt noticeably firmer than the Pro V1x. This was something that also ran true with the putter and I noticed that my pace control was definitely a little off with the Left Dash ball. Perhaps this could be attributed to the fact that I use a softer ball when playing regularly.

The Left Dash has a similar feeling to that of the TaylorMade TP5x and the Srixon Z-Star XV. Both of which have the lower spinning, firmer feeling premium ball of each respective company.

Taking everything into account, Titleist have delivered in what they say this ball will achieve: a high flight, low spin, firmer feeling premium ball. The 2019 Pro V1x Left Dash proved itself strong in all areas of the bag when struck well and with speed and I could certainly see how in windy conditions or playing on softer greens and how this ball could be suit many high speed golfers. The lack of greenside spin and firmer feel off the putter face, would see me opt for a softer, higher spinning ball such as the standard Pro V1x in place of the Left Dash, especially when facing firmer course conditions.

PXG is re-entering the premium golf ball market with its release of two new balls, the Xtreme Tour, and the Xtreme Tour X. In this review, I am taking a look at the spinner, higher flying of the two, the Xtreme Tour X, to see how it stacks up against the best golf balls of 2024.

Starting with the tech, the Xtreme Tour X is a three-piece construction ball that features a polybutadiene core designed for high-speed performance, and a firm ionomer mantle layer looking to achieve maximum ball speeds, particularly with your longest clubs. PXG has then added a soft urethane cover to optimize spin, feel, and control.

I was a particular fan of just how white these golf balls are, which may seem like a strange thing to say, but when you see as many golf balls as I do, you begin to realize there are many different variations of white, and this is an especially bright one. For those interested, PXG also provide the Xtreme Tour X in a bright yellow option. In addition to the finish, I absolutely love the alignment aid on the side of these balls. As a serial user of the line, mainly on shorter putts, the bold black line was a great help, but also the perpendicular finer line was an extremely helpful guide for leading-edge alignment.

Despite the additional work PXG has put into the feel of this ball, I still found it significantly firmer than my gamer ball the TaylorMade TP5x. That aside, it produced some excellent spin around the greens for me and the durability of the ball was excellent, especially given the lengthy short game sessions I subjected it to. 

The ball speed was probably the main story for me with the Xtreme Tour X. As you can see from the below data, I found a fairly significant uptake in speed from my current gamer and it was also a little quicker than its sibling the standard Xtreme Tour ball all the way through the bag for me. This translated to some fairly impressive carry numbers for a premium ball that offers plenty of spin.

The Xtreme Tour X does exactly what PXG said it would compared to the standard model, although maybe not as dramatically as I was expecting. Spin jumped up a little from the Xtreme Tour for me but not much more than 150rpm at any point through the bag, and with that, my peak heights increased a touch but it was so minimal I probably wouldn’t even have noticed had it not been quantified by my Full Swing KIT launch monitor, as it only amounted to a matter of a few feet.

As a high spinner of the golf ball generally, I think my favorite of the two was the standard Xtreme Tour, but truth be told, other than a noticeably firmer feel, there wasn’t too much between the two balls in terms of the data in my testing. 

As a family of balls, the Xtreme Tour and Tour X are a significant step up for PXG in the premium ball market. At $49.99/£44.99, I think they are pitched about right, and anyone looking to investigate what distance and spin gains can be made by switching balls this off-season should definitely add PXG Xtreme Tour X to their test list.

PXG is looking to disrupt the premium golf ball market with its release of two new balls for 2024 in the Xtreme Tour and the Xtreme Tour X. According to PXG, these balls offer very different playing characteristics to one another and in this review, I am taking a look at the standard Xtreme Tour model to see if it can sit amongst the best golf balls of 2024.

Starting with the design, the Xtreme Tour features a three-piece construction. It has a polybutadiene core which is designed for high-speed performance, and a firm ionomer mantle layer looking to enhance ball speed and distance off the tee. PXG has then added a soft urethane cover to give you the spin and control required around the greens.

From a visual point of view, these are some of the whitest golf balls I have ever seen (apart from the yellow versions, obviously) with quite a glossy, shiny finish to them, much more so than the Titleist Pro V1 or the TaylorMade TP5 balls. Don’t ask me why, but I really like the vivid finish on these balls. Furthermore, I absolutely love the alignment aid on the side. As a user of the line, mainly on shorter putts, the bold black line was great, but the perpendicular finer line was a really helpful guide for leading-edge alignment.

In terms of the performance, despite being dubbed the softer of the two balls, which it undoubtedly is, I still found it a touch firmer than my gamer ball the TaylorMade TP5x. Far from firm, just audibly a little higher pitched particularly with short wedge shots and chips, but I did not mind it at all. It produced ample spin around the greens for me and despite a couple of very long wedge sessions, barely marked up at all which was very impressive. 

What was more impressive for me however was the ball speed and distance output. Throughout the bag, I picked up around 2 mph on my TP5x with a very similar spin, and this translated to around 3-4 yards with everything from wedge all the way up to the driver. As I said, the spin numbers were also very comparable so this was a pleasant surprise.

Overall, I genuinely enjoyed testing these balls and found the performance comparable to any of the more established names in the premium ball market. At $49.99 or £44.99 per dozen, they aren’t the cheapest balls out there, but also not the most expensive. In fact, they'll come in a little cheaper than many other tour-played balls and my testing has shown that you're not giving up a great deal. 

If you are looking to freshen up your choice of ball this off-season, require some extra yards through the bag and like a firm feel to your golf ball, then the PXG Xtreme Tour should definitely make your test list.

Inesis is a very interesting golf manufacturer. Sitting under the umbrella of Decathlon, a value sports equipment behemoth, with 2080 stores in 56 countries, it has been making some waves in the value golf equipment market in recent years. I was recently sent the Inesis Tour 900 ball to test so I took it out onto the course to see what it had to offer. Looking to sit amongst the best balls in golf, it has some stiff competition…

In terms of the tech, the Tour 900 is a three-piece urethane-covered ball. Inesis has lowered the compression slightly from its previous iteration, dropping to 95 from 100 which should have the effect of softening feel. A new faster core has been added to boost ball speed and a thicker Surlyn mid-layer has also been implemented in search of more distance.

My first impressions were strong. The Tour 900 features an “ice blue” color on the cover, which to the naked eye is still essentially white, but the subtle hint of a blue tinge makes the cover very sharp and comparable to the best premium balls. I also enjoyed the solid black line on the side of the ball. As someone who does use a line to help me on shorter putts, this is a handy addition that negates the need for messing around with marker pens pre-round. 

However, the look of the ball is far less important than its performance characteristics, so I took the Tour 900 out for 9 holes at Saunton Golf Club, before hitting the pitching area to see what it could offer me. The most notable positive for me was the feel which I found to be extremely soft and particularly enjoyable on and around the greens. On greenside pitches, the Tour 900 seemed to just stay on the clubface for a fraction of a second longer than some of the other best soft feel golf balls, which I found both a nice sensation and also useful in terms of control. There were none of those jumpy strikes that I sometimes see on more value-orientated golf balls and the levels of spin were exceptional. Similarly, with the putter, the feel off the face was lovely. Very subtle and a very muted sound at impact.

Further up the bag, the performance was less comprehensive. The extremely soft feel and high levels of spin did translate to some significant distance drops in my testing. On my FullSwing KIT launch monitor, I found it to lag behind my gamer TaylorMade TP5x ball by around 6 mph on average with driver and 3-4 mph with 7 iron, which coupled with some fairly high spin numbers translated to a not insignificant reduction in distance output.

I should say however, that I am a fairly high-spin player in general and seek out golf balls that reduce spin, so this is not the ideal profile of ball for me. Lower speed and spin players would probably see some far better results than me in the long game with the Tour 900.

Flight-wise, other than the high spin number and slightly reduced speed, the Tour 900 was a very stable golf ball and distance numbers were consistent which is the mark of a well-constructed ball. 

The Inesis Tour 900 ball will be retailing for 35 euros per dozen and is available to purchase from the Inesis website. 

While Bridgestone holds a relatively small share of the golf ball market, the product it releases is always of the highest quality. The Bridgestone Tour B RSX golf ball is new this year and is one of four new golf balls into their lineup for 2024. The Tour B X and XS for driver swing speeds over 105mph and the RX and RXS for those wanting a premium golf ball that will perform best for driver swing speeds under 105mph.

I took the Tour B RXS out onto the golf course to test by hitting different shots and from different lies to see if this golf ball could be considered one of the best golf balls on the market.

From the tee I was impressed straight away with the performance of this golf ball, seeing really good distance when sending a drive down the fairway. A new Reactiv X system means this golf ball has been cleverly designed so it performs well throughout the bag. Through the use of Reactiv IQ Smart Cover technology, Bridgestone has created a ball that springs from the clubface with ease and promotes a powerful yet high launching ball flight. I did find when the wind picked up, this ball wavered off-line more than I would normally see, which is probably due to the higher spin rate, but this is worth bearing in mind if you tend to play your golf in windy conditions or already have a higher trajectory. 

Anyone seeking a little extra carry from the tee should check this ball out, however because of the high spin, I did see a little drop-off in terms of my roll out on the fairways. While a 105mph driver speed is still fairly quick, especially within club golfers, I think the soft feeling, high spinning nature of this ball will see it become quickly recognized as one of the best golf balls for slow swing speeds.

This ball feels soft from the club face when striking iron shots and this soft feel also made controlling the ball around the greens seem very easy. I often struggle with some of the best soft feeling golf balls when it comes to distance control on the green but that didn't seem to be an issue with this ball.

One thing that may sound a little odd but something I love about these balls is the simple ‘B’ Bridgstone logo. I think this gives the ball a really premium look without being too distracting by only covering a small portion of the ball. Another thing visually I think Bridgestone has nailed with this golf ball is the addition of MindSet technology. This cleverly designed visual cue on the golf ball ensures you have a specific and repetitive process over the ball before hitting your putts. It has been co-designed by Jason Day, a Bridgestone ambassador and a golfer who is widely known as one of the best putters in the game of golf. I certainly found this helped me with my putting from inside 10ft by making me stick to a process while taking any other negative thoughts away from my brain.

Overall this golf ball is superb and one that I urge any golfer to try. At $49 a dozen, the performance as you would expect was solid from tee to green but I would say it’s on and around the green where the Bridgestone Tour B RXS golf ball stood out to me. The soft feel and visual technology on offer made getting up-and-down a much more regular occurrence than with other golf balls I have been testing.

Bridgestone has been making golf balls for a while now but it’s only really been since Tiger Woods joined the brand as an ambassador that it gained a serious presence in the golf ball market. Tiger, alongside PGA Tour players Jason Day and Matt Kuchar, use the Tour BX golf ball but this review is about the Bridgestone Tour B RX golf ball - a ball designed for golfers with driver swing speeds under 105mph who want to increase their distance from the tee.

As a golfer who typically swings the driver at around 116mph, I channelled my inner Fred Couples for this review, swinging with a slower, smoother tempo to see what performance I would experience and if it could be considered one of the best golf balls for slower swing speeds. As it happens, the Tour B RX golf ball is actually the choice of the aforementioned 1992 Masters champion.

I tested this ball at the same time as testing the Tour B RXS and it was immediately noticeable that the RX ball was built for added distance compared to the RXS golf ball. The feel was much firmer off the face through impact. The brand has introduced a gradual compression core which allows for high initial ball speed and low spin. This was certainly evident on the golf course with the driver, seeing a high but penetrating ball flight through the air. 

I struggled with the ball wandering from my target line when the wind picked up with the RXS golf ball but there was no such issue with the RX ball. It felt like there were good levels of stability with this ball and even when I made a more aggressive swing at my normal swing speed, the ball didn’t climb up like I expected to and performed just as well as other premium golf balls I have tested in the past year.

One area where I feel as though I struggled a little with the Bridgestone Tour B RX golf ball was from hitting iron shots from the rough. Where this ball did produce slightly less spin, I feel as though I struggled to control the ball a little when hitting from the first cut. I saw a lot of balls fly fairly low with a lack of stopping power, which made it difficult to hit greens having missed the fairway. 

Where I saw the RXS ball perform so well around the greens because of its soft feel, I was expecting the RX golf ball to be slightly harder to control and with less spin due to its firmer feel but that wasn’t the case. While it does feel firmer with a wedge or putter in hand compared to the RXS ball, it features the same Reactiv Smart Cover technology which is designed to create friction and keep the ball on the face for longer - thus creating more spin. I’m someone who prefers a firmer feeling ball around the green anyway, like the Titleist Pro V1x and some of the other firmer feeling best golf balls. 

Bridgestone has now added the ability to purchase its Tour ball franchise with MindSet technology, which I absolutely love. This three-stage process gives you a solid pre-shot routine which you can follow implement using the visual cues on the golf ball. This was created with tour player feedback through Jason Day who is regarded as one of the best putters in the world. While I normally putt with a line on my ball and it took a while to focus on a dot, it gave me a repetitive cycle to revert to before striking my putt.

I would say the Bridgestone Tour B RX golf ball is perfect for golfers of all abilities and to be honest even all swing speeds. Despite the ball aimed at golfers with driver swing speeds of 105mph and less, I would argue that the lower spinning nature of this ball means that golfers of swing speeds up to 115mph would be absolutely fine to use this ball without suffering from excessive spin.

Coming to retail at $49.99 these aren't the cheapest golf balls on the market but they do offer superb performance, while retailing a touch cheaper than other major manufacturers' premium golf balls. 

While all the talk around golf ball releases is normally centered around the best premium golf balls and in TaylorMade’s case, the new TP5 and TP5x golf balls, the brand has also added a less expensive ball to its line up in the form of the TaylorMade SpeedSoft Ink.

The TaylorMade SpeedSoft Ink is completely new for 2024 and is a low compression golf ball engineered to produce speed off the face while feeling extremely soft. This blend of feel and performance is what leads me to think this will become one of the best golf balls for slow swing speeds for those who are searching for a few extra yards without losing the buttery feel that the best soft feel golf balls provide.

The SpeedSoft Ink golf balls possess a really distinct visual design, with splashes of color splattered on the golf ball the undoubtedly enhances the visibility when searching for your golf ball in the rough. I’m not someone who is a fan of a ‘busy’ looking golf balls like these or the TP5 Pix golf balls but in testing, I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t easier to find my ball in the long grass. You could argue this added 'findability' means they will be some of the best balls for beginners and higher handicappers. For those who prefer a classic looking ball, the SpeedSoft range will also be available in all white and yellow, so you can still play the SpeedSoft for its soft feel and distance, without the vibrant colors that feature on the SpeedSoft Ink balls.

After reading the characteristics of this ball on the rear of the box, I gained a good understanding of what I was likely to see when testing them out on the course and needless to say, they performed just as intended. The SpeedSoft Ink golf balls have a compression delta below 50, which is why they feel extremely soft off the face at impact. As someone who typically prefers a more ‘clicky’ feel from the clubface, like you would get from the Titleist Pro V1x, the impact experience of the SpeedSoft Ink wasn't for me but I completely understand why people prefer this over a firmer feeling golf ball. Some of the best distance golf balls have a firmer feel and while the SpeedSoft Ink wasn't the longest ball I have tested, it was no slouch and the soft feeling nature of this ball made it feel slightly spring-like when it came to the driver and irons, which is something those searching for distance and height will love.

While this ball is labelled as a mid-launching golf ball, I would say I saw this ball spin and climb a little higher than I was initially expecting and so this is something to be aware of if you know you typically produce a lot of height naturally. The higher launch and spin did mean I could be more aggressive on the course and attack pins I may not otherwise have gone at, meaning I did actually produce a few more birdies than normal during my testing, despite not being as far down the holes off the tee as I was used to with my gamer.

I would say the TaylorMade SpeedSoft Ink golf balls are comparable to the likes of the Callaway Supersoft and Srixon Soft Feel in terms of both feel and performance, so if you already like these balls but want to add a little color to your game, then these SpeedSoft Ink balls are a great option.

The TaylorMade SpeedSoft Ink Golf ball is now available to buy with an RRP of £26 while the regular white and yellow model SpeedSoft balls will retail at £24.

Bridgestone Golf has released a new range of Tour B golf balls for 2024 including the RX, RXS, X and XS. In this review I will be looking at Tiger Woods’ ball of choice the Tour B X and seeing if it sits amongst the best golf balls of 2024.

Tiger isn’t the only PGA Tour player using the Tour B X, with Matt Kuchar also putting it in play, and Jason Day gaming the ‘MindSet’ version. More on that later…

The previous iteration of the Tour B X was very popular with our Golf Monthly Editor Neil Tappin who awarded it a very strong 4 and a half stars out of 5 in his 2022 review so I was keen to see how things had moved on. 

Bridgestone says that the new Reactiv X system creates more rebound on tee shots to increase distance and stays on the face longer on approach shots which provides more spin and a softer feel on shorter, more precision shots.

In testing, I tried to spend as much time on and around the greens as I did hitting full shots to provide a comprehensive and rounded review. In terms of the long game performance, I found the ball speeds to be consistent and very close to my current gamer the TaylorMade 2024 TP5x.

It would be fair to say that the spin numbers were on the lower end of the spectrum throughout my long game testing. With driver, I was at around 2100 rpm, 7 iron produced an average of 6300 rpm and my pitching wedge was spinning at 9100 rpm, which was enough to remain playable while providing some real stability of flight in the wind. 

Around the green, I found the Tour B X to be a decent performing ball. Finding a middle ground in terms of feel, not too firm but also not super soft, it produced a pleasing dull click at impact and seemed to stay on the face a touch longer than the previous iteration. Whilst not loaded with spin, there was still ample to provide a good level of control even on particularly firm surfaces, as you would expect from a ball in the bag of some of the world's best players.

I did put these balls through quite a lot of punishment during testing and they stood up really well from a durability point of view. Only minimal scarring to the cover was apparent after a few mid range bunkers shots but nothing to raise any concern.

Bridgestone has also introduced a new concept which it refers to as MindSet. Essentially this is a new logo that has been printed on the side of the ball, scientifically designed to help you separate analytical thoughts from athletic performance. 

It is designed to provide a visual cue to remind you of a three step process to get your mind ready to perform the shot at hand. These steps are; identifying your target, visualizing the shot path and finally focussing on the dot to clear your mind and help you execute. 

It may sound a bit complex when reading this, but in practice it is actually very straightforward, and although I was initially skeptical I actually found it quite an effective way of adding a bit of structure to my pre-shot routine.

At $49.99 a dozen, I think the Tour B X is well priced and is a ball certainly worth testing for the higher swing speed player looking to optimize their distance with a premium feeling golf ball. 

Bridgestone Golf has released a new range of Tour B golf balls for 2024 including the RX, RXS, X and XS. In this review we will be assessing the Tour B XS and seeing if it sits amongst the best golf balls of 2024.

The previous iteration of the Tour B XS was a very popular ball, so I was interested to see how the 2024 version had moved on. 

Bridgestone says that the new Reactiv X system creates more rebound on tee shots to increase distance and stays on the face longer on approach shots which provides more spin and a softer feel on shorter, more precision shots.

Bridgestone also says that this ball is designed for players who produce more than 105 mph of driver speed and as someone who fits into that category, I was keen to explore the performance. 

On my long shots, I found the ball speeds to be consistent albeit a little bit slower than the Tour B X version, averaging around 1.5 mph slower throughout the bag.

Spin numbers were most definitely on the higher side for me throughout my long game testing, with the driver coming in at around 2400 rpm, 7 iron producing approximately 6800 rpm and pitching wedge spinning around 9650 rpm. This predictably produced a significantly greater peak height, and as such a sharper descent angle which would be ideal for those playing on generally firm greens. The downside I found was a good 8-10 yards of distance loss on my driver which for me nullifies the benefit. I may be able to hit my approach slightly higher and spin it a touch more, but I would likely be hitting one more club from where my tee shot ends up so the additional spin would be canceled out by the significant less loft in my hand.

Around the green is where the Tour B XS really shines. I don't know if I have tried a spinnier ball around the greens since the balata days, and I seriously enjoyed my short game session with this ball. Feeling the cover grip on to the club face was a real throwback and the reactions on the greens were exceptional. Off well struck pitch and bunker shots, the Tour B XS would dig into the green like it was pitching into Velcro! I actually felt my technique improving as I could freely and aggressively attack the ball knowing that it wouldn’t get away from me on the first bounce, allowing me to throw the ball further up the green and check it up obediently.

As my short game session was so much fun, it went on for quite a while so I did put these balls through quite a lot of punishment during testing and they stood up really well from a durability point of view. Just some tiny blemishes to the cover were apparent after a few mid-range bunker shots but nothing that you wouldn’t see on any of the other best premium golf balls.

Bridgestone has also introduced a new concept which it refers to as MindSet. Essentially this is a new logo that has been printed on the side of the ball, scientifically designed to help you separate analytical thoughts from athletic performance. It is designed to provide a visual cue to remind you of a three step process to get your mind ready to perform the shot at hand. These steps are; identifying your target, visualizing the shot path and finally focussing on the dot to clear your mind and help you execute. 

It may sound a bit complex when reading this, but in practice it is actually very straightforward, and although I was initially skeptical I actually found it quite an effective way of adding a bit of structure to my pre-shot routine.

At $49.99 a dozen, the Tour B XS is sensibly priced and is a ball certainly worth testing for the higher swing speed player looking for maximum control around the greens.

As someone who has intermittently gamed the TaylorMade TP5x over the past few years, I was very interested to see how a very impressive tour-validated golf ball could be significantly improved, and whether it could cement its position as one of the best golf balls.

My intrigue was further piqued when reading the technology information from TaylorMade. Essentially, the brief that its R&D team were working towards was to create a ball that produced more speed but somehow felt softer! Those two performance characteristics are usually mutually exclusive. 

So how has TaylorMade tackled this challenge? Well the big tech story is the new ‘Speed Wrapped Core’  which is essentially a new lower density acoustic material that makes up the core of the ball before the three further layers of surlyn are added, and finally the urethane cover. This new core sounds much softer in its original state than previous iterations which according to TaylorMade, allows it to be made harder and faster without compromising feel or acoustics. 

The finish of the standard TaylorMade 2024 TP5x is very clean, and the alignment aid on the side is subtle but useful. I was fortunate enough to visit the TaylorMade ball plant in South Carolina and witnessed first hand the attention to detail in the construction process, so the precision and quality of finish came as no surprise to me.

In terms of performance, I was genuinely impressed. In testing, I found everything that TaylorMade had claimed to be absolutely correct. Before I had even collated any data, I could immediately detect the improvement in feel throughout the bag, with a lovely soft impact and muted audio to rival any of the best premium golf balls. In terms of golf balls, feel is absolutely critical so this was a great start.

The launch monitor data did nothing but reinforce my feelings that I was hitting a much improved product from the previous iteration. Throughout the bag my ball speeds went up. This ranged from around 1.5 mph in my irons all the way up to 3 mph with the driver. 

I found spin levels in my long game to be almost identical to the previous generation TP5x, and the familiar stable flight in the wind was still very much present. If you need extra spin around the greens then the standard 2024 TP5 model will be the one for you, but there is still ample grip on any short game shot with the TP5x.

I have now played three PGA tournaments with the TaylorMade 2024 TP5x and have been particularly impressed with the durability of the ball. I am a pretty high speed player, and as such have a lot of wedges into greens but the cover stood up admirably to any punishment my wedge grooves dished out.

With golf balls, there usually isn’t too much to say about the looks, but that isn’t the case here. TaylorMade has invested heavily in what it calls visual technology. 

There is a new Pix version of both the TP5 and TP5x ball which has a noteworthy change to its appearance. The familiar triangle pattern has now been updated to a square and the orange accent color has been made even more vibrant based on player feedback.

TaylorMade is also adding never before seen customisation options by elevating its TP5 Pix limited edition programme, and adding a new MySymbol collection in Europe. MySymbol will offer a large range of fresh, individual logo options for consumers to choose from.

The TP5x comes in both white and yellow and is available at a recommended retail price of £44.99 and the pix version at £47.99.

This is a seriously impressive golf ball and based on my testing and tournament results already, I am going to be putting it into play myself. The additional speed is always useful but to achieve that with a notably softer feel and zero compromise on any other performance characteristics is excellent. 

The TaylorMade TP5 golf ball has been updated for 2024, so I have taken it for a thorough test to see if it remains amongst the best golf balls on the market.

The big technology story centers (ironically) around the core of the ball. TaylorMade has altered the material that makes up the core, now using a lower density acoustic material that sounds, and in turn feels, softer than before. Being so much softer in its original state allows TaylorMade to make it harder and faster to boost speed without losing out on feel or acoustics. 

As Michael Fox, Senior Director of Product Creation, Golf Balls says: “Our learnings from countless player and Tour tests show that golfers, unsurprisingly, favour a softer more muted sound with added distance. Historically, the challenge has been the inability to improve one without negatively impacting the other. With this understanding, we've evolved our golf ball design process by uniquely decoupling feel and speed through material advancement, a complete departure from the conventional.”

There often isn’t too much to say about the looks of a golf ball, but that isn’t the case with the TP5 range. TaylorMade has invested heavily in the visual technology side of ball design and there are still some developments to come in that regard (watch this space).

Performance wise, the TaylorMade 2024 TP5 is an interesting one. It provides everything it suggests it will - tons of greenside spin and a seriously soft feel throughout the bag, but it does just feel a bit niche to me. Its sibling, the 2024 TP5x, also produces fairly high levels of spin around the green, but in addition, gives a decent ball speed advantage, and I don’t know how many players there are out there that would prioritize a few extra rpm over mph! That’s not to say that those players aren’t out there, they definitely are, I just feel that the bulk of the TP5 family sales will be from the TP5x in 2024 and beyond. 

Whilst it was around two mph slower off the driver face for me, the spin didn’t jump up excessively. It only produced approximately 200 rpm more at the top end of the bag than the TP5x version, and produced a very consistent and manageable ball flight. Nothing too aggressive and certainly nothing too floaty, just in a really nice window.

Around the greens is where the TP5 starts to really excel however. The feel is marshmallow soft and the ball seems to stay on the wedge face for an eternity, rolling up the grooves and imparting very impressive levels of grab of the green, to the point where I almost felt it helped my technique! Just knowing that the ball was going to grab that much allowed me to be more aggressive and free with my delivery, not worrying that a chip or pitch might get away from me.

Durability was another plus point. I seriously put these balls through their paces, particularly around the short game area and and wear was impressively minimal for one of the best soft feel golf balls.

As I said, I do feel that these are somewhat of a specialist offering and most people would see more benefit from the TP5x version, but in the right circumstances and for the right player, the new TP5 will be really useful. 

There are a new Pix version of both the TP5 and TP5x ball which have a slightly different look to them. The familiar triangle pattern has now been updated to a new square shape and the orange accent color has been made even brighter based on player feedback.

TaylorMade is also adding never before seen customisation options by elevating its TP5 Pix limited edition programme and adding a new MySymbol collection in Europe. MySymbol will offer a large range of fresh, individual logo options for consumers to choose from.

The Taylormade 2024 TP5 comes in both white and yellow and is available at a recommended retail price of £44.99 and the pix version at £47.99.

While a lot is said about the performance of the best best premium golf balls, they do retail at the highest price point as a result and so using these balls on a tight golf course with plenty of penalty areas can become expensive. At the other end of the scale, you have the new Titleist 2024 TruFeel golf ball which comes in at just $25/£26 per dozen, but how much performance is actually on offer? I took them out for some testing both on the course and indoors on a Trackman 4 launch monitor to see if they could be justified as one of the best value golf balls on the market.

I’m a true believer that the golf ball is the most important piece of equipment in your bag. Picking the right golf ball for your game is extremely important as they all offer different feels, spin and flight characteristics. My testing with the Titleist 2024 TruFeel ball began around the greens.

Titleist has incorporated a softer 3.0 Truflex cover on this golf ball to provide more greenside spin and control than we have ever seen before in the TruFeel franchise. The 2024 Trufeel provided somewhat of a ‘springy’ feel on and around the greens. The red lines stamped on the ball for additional alignment were also a nice touch and certainly helped me with my close-range putting.

Now that’s not to say it didn’t feel soft, it definitely did, but you are aware that it is not the same soft cast urethane cover you find on the likes of the Pro V1 ball. I was particularly surprised with the spin I was able to generate around the greens and therefore my confidence grew enough to trust that I could hit different shots around the greens at different trajectories, knowing how the ball would react when it hit the green.

While I continued to see success through my irons, it was when I got towards the top end of my bag where I started to notice a slight drop off in overall performance compared to my normal ball of choice - The Pro V1. Of course, these are two completely different balls, aimed at different golfers, but when the Pro V1 is considered the bench mark in the golf ball market, I figured if the TruFeel could get anywhere close to its performance, for less than half the price per dozen, it will speak volumes as to how good this new 2024 TruFeel actually is and certainly cement its place as one of the best cheap golf balls. 

A new TruTouch core introduced in the 2024 TruFeel golf ball to promote longer distance and although it produced adequate distances with driver, it was nothing to write home about and literally fell short of the Pro V1. When testing indoors I did see ball speeds creep up to 165mph which for a 2-piece ball is still fairly impressive. Where I noticed the difference with the TruFeel compared to the likes of a Pro V1, was the ability to control trajectory from the tee and with my longer clubs. The spin climbed up quite a bit and made it hard to flight the ball down or make a normal swing without the ball producing some serious hang-time. It must be noted that I swing driver on average around 116mph, so if golfers with slower swing speeds give it a try they are likely to see different results off the tee - the TruFeel could even become one of the best golf balls for slow swing speeds. 

Overall I think there is some really solid performance on offer from the Titleist 2024 TruFeel golf ball and while it may not compete directly with some of the best golf balls, it certainly has its place in the market. This should seriously be considered as one of the best golf balls for beginners and one of the best golf balls for higher handicappers, considering it is one of the less expensive balls on the market and yet the performance was reliable.

Understandably the first ball that springs to mind when talking about Titleist is the Pro V1 and Pro V1x. However, this year sees a new iteration of, in my opinion, one of the most underrated balls in golf - the Titleist Tour Soft. Coming to retail at $40/£34 per dozen, these balls are saving you a decent amount of money compared to the best premium golf balls but how does the performance stack up? I tested these mid-priced golf balls indoors on a Trackman 4 launch monitor at My Golf Matters in Berkshire and out on the course to get a good understanding of the performance package.

The first thing worth mentioning is how premium the packaging looks before you take them out of the box, and then how pearly white they are once removed. The reformulated thin Fusablend cover has been designed for reliable greenside spin but also adds a shimmer to these balls that really helps them standout. This actually became very helpful when looking for my ball in the thick rough out on the golf course.

These balls are also offered in a yellow and green option for those wanting even more assistance in locating or tracking their ball through the air so the 2024 Tour Soft should be considered one of the best yellow golf balls on the market. As someone who currently plays the Pro V1, I have become used to the franchise name and two arrows as an alignment aid on the ball, but the additional thicker line and ‘T’ marking on the side of the Tour Soft golf balls was really handy, particularly when aligning putts from inside 10 feet.

The balls themselves are, as the name suggests, extremely soft. That said, they still felt powerful off the face and the data I captured suggests what I gained in soft feel, I didn’t actually lose as much as I thought I would when it came to distance. Yes, If you are looking for outright speed, choosing one of the best distance golf balls would provide the most, but the 2024 Tour Soft offers a balanced blend of performance attributes. Some of the best soft feel balls struggle to maintain speed but that wasn’t so much the case with the Tour Soft.

On an average of five well struck drives I saw an average ball speed of 168.7mph, just 3mph less than I average with my ball of choice, the Titleist Pro V1, and an average carry of 288 yards with the Tour Soft ball compared to an average carry of 299 yards with the Titleist Pro V1. The discrepancy here came by way of added spin. As a high spin player the Tour Soft did climb a little too high with spin and therefore resulted in a slight lack of distance but other than that, the performance was really solid.

Out on the course I did see good levels of spin with the wedges and around the greens. I managed to spin pitch shots and flighted wedges just as I would want to and the Tour Soft felt great while chipping and putting. The Tour Soft ball proved to be somewhat durable with one ball lasting multiple wedge shots and 9 holes while testing, but did suffer from a few minor scuff marks.

Pound for pound I think the Titleist 2024 Tour Soft ball holds its own with some of the best golf balls on the market given the rounded performance it offers from tee to green.