The New Premium Ball Every Golfer Should Try In 2026

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.

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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.